Best Accessible Controller for PlayStation

Sony’s palm-sized, turtle-like Access controller is one of the more useful additions to adaptive gaming in recent memory. It earned an 8/10 from our reviewer, and for good reason: the kit is highly customizable, with swappable buttons, adjustable stick length and caps, plus expandable input support through four 3.5 mm ports for compatible accessories.

It can sit flat on a table or tray, rest in your lap, or mount to an AMPS pattern setup. Sony also lets players build as many as 30 custom control profiles on a PS5, with three stored directly on the Access controller, and a dedicated button makes switching between them easy enough to avoid becoming a second job.

It is not perfect. The Access controller does not support Remote Play, and it lacks a touchpad and haptics. Still, our reviewer summed up its value bluntly: “The Access Controller’s ingenuity solved my issues and opened gaming back up for me.”

Other Game Controllers to Consider

There are plenty of controllers on the market, but only a few are worth pulling off the shelf for a closer look. These are the other models recently tested.

Nacon Revolution 5 Pro

Nacon’s Revolution 5 Pro is a highly customizable PS5 controller with Hall Effect sticks and triggers, programmable rear paddles, and a strong D-pad. You can adjust the weight, stick length, grips, and trigger actuation to suit your preferences. Battery life is rated at 10 hours, and you can connect a headset over Bluetooth or with a wired plug-in.

The tradeoff is obvious: it is expensive, and unlike Sony’s DualSense controllers, you do not get haptic feedback or adaptive triggers.

Logitech G Pro Racing Wheel

For racing fans with serious budgets, Logitech’s G Pro Racing Wheel adds a convincing layer of realism. It uses force feedback and vibrations to help communicate different surfaces, while the gear shift paddles use Hall Effect sensors. There is also an OLED display for adjusting settings without opening the companion app, which is handy when you would rather be racing than menu-diving.

Nacon Revolution X Pro

The Nacon Revolution X Pro is a wired controller for Xbox and PC with a detachable, braided 10-foot USB-C cable. Its customization options are broad: interchangeable thumbsticks, programmable back buttons, and included weights let you dial in the feel. A profile button cycles through four presets, a switch changes configurations, and there is a 3.5 mm headphone jack.

Most of the tuning happens in the Revolution X app for Xbox or PC, which is not exactly a triumph of software elegance. The controller works well enough, but it can feel cheap, even with the weights adjusted, and the rear triggers are awkward. At full price, it is hard to justify for a wired controller, although discounts are common.

GameSir Cyclone 2

The GameSir Cyclone 2 is unusually strong for the money. It has an Xbox-style layout, two customizable rear paddle buttons, and hair triggers with a physical switch inside each trigger so you can choose between short and long actuation points.

It also includes a generous number of shortcuts for changing vibration intensity, button layout, and control stick dead zones on the fly. For many players, though, GameSir’s newer G7 Pro will be worth the extra $25.

8BitDo Ultimate

8BitDo’s Ultimate controller packs a lot into a still-reasonable price. At a glance it resembles an Xbox controller, but it adds five central front buttons and two rear paddles. It is built for customization, too: using 8BitDo’s software, you can remap buttons, adjust stick and trigger sensitivity, assign macros, and change vibration intensity.

There is an updated version of the controller now available, and this guide will be refreshed once it has been tested.

Charging Accessories

Wireless controllers are convenient, right up until their batteries run dry and remind everyone that convenience has a power cord somewhere nearby. A charging dock helps keep things tidy, and several solid options stood out in testing.

Sony DualSense Charging Station

The official Sony charging station is the best pick for DualSense controllers. It is compact, charges two controllers, and keeps your PS5’s USB ports free. Docking is simple, with a satisfying click when the controller seats properly.

Xbox Charging Station

This stylish charging station works with Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One wireless controllers. It includes battery packs and replacement battery doors. The molded plastic cradle makes the controllers easy to drop in, and you can tap the top to change the lighting. The main downside is that it is bulky.

Switch Pro Controller Dock

This charging base can power a Switch Pro controller and two Joy-Cons at the same time. It is easy to use, although the Pro controller requires a USB dongle to be inserted first. A PowerA charging dock is slightly more compact, but it is currently out of stock. If you only need to charge Joy-Cons, the HyperX Chargeplay Quad is a cheaper alternative at $15.