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[Ermac]

I recently picked up Volgarr the Viking and realized I have so many of these 2D indie game in my steam catalog. I also have a good number of controllers laying around I can use to play them:

360 Pad
Pros: Most compatible
Cons: DPad

PS4 controller. Pros: DPad. Cons: can be wonky to connect sometimes (for me anyway)

I also have Mayflash adapter for the Classic Controller:

 

[vgamer1]

Dual Shock 4. If you have trouble with bluetooth it works perfectly over any MicroUSB.

 

[Speevy]

Retro-styled indies are not typically designed in the same way that NES and SNES games were.

As a matter of fact, they're pretty much all designed to work fine with the Xbox 360 controller.

 

[Crayon]

If you already have all of those, the ds4 is a no-brainer. The dpad on the xbox controller makes it hard to pick the right grenade, let alone throw a fireball.

 

[Rich!]

Wii U Pro Controller

 

[Drkirby]

Of those 3, the Wii Classic Controller IMO, PS4 pretty good too. I feel the best you can get is a USB Saturn Controller.

 

[Card Boy]

 

[Speevy]

I have something like this.

 

[T-Matt]

Classic controller or wii u pro controller are tops for me. Thankfully on PC you can basically use whatever you like. Don't need to compromise.

 

[Card Boy]

I have something like this.

You can get them for as little as $2 from ebay the more you spend the faster it will arrive and you can get better quality ones.

 

[Lactose_Intolerant]

I have to setup deadzones on my 360 pad because the sticks don't naturally go back to center anymore.

I don't even use it that much.

 

[Crimsonclaw111]

Those fightpads shaped like the Saturn controller are really good imo.

 

[Tizoc]

I used a PS4 controller to play various 2D style games on my laptop and had great results. Just make sure you are using the proper software to have your PC/lappy properly accept the PS4 controller.

 

[MrCunningham]

Best retail SNES USB pad is the Buffalo: http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B002B9XB0E/

There are also quite a few Sega Saturn USB pads out there, but the build quality on them are not the greatest. I really wish there were some better 6 button controller options.

 

[Card Boy]

Best retail SNES USB pad is the Buffalo: http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B002B9XB0E/

There are also quite a few Sega Saturn USB pads out there, but the build quality on them are not the greatest. I really wish there were some better 6 button controller options.

Not a fan of the turbo buttons on it.

 

[Fredrik]

I use a wired 360 pad simply because there is no need to set it up, you just plug it in and it instantly works and buttons are mapped correctly with the right button art in games etc.

 

[Ermac]

Where can I get a USB Saturn pad?

 

[ChronotriggerJM]

Dualshock 4, Sony dpads are great in my opinion. Great control without being cramped. Those little dpads Nintendo's been using since the game cube are awful. Though I'm not sure how the pro controller holds up.

 

[Ape]

Try the Xbone controller OP. It's the best around.

 

[Coffee Dog]

Wii U Pro > all

 

[CountAntonius]

MadCatz Portable Rockband Drum Kit Controller

 

[nabe_shogun]

I've been using the xbox one controller lately. The d-pad is so much better than the awful one the 360 has. I also have a mayflash adapter which accepts ps2, saturn and n64 controllers. It works well, however there are quite a few games it doesn't work with.

 

[Shadow Hog]

Personally? A keyboard.

I mean, it's certainly not for everybody, and it's great that so many alternative options exist... but hell, I've been playing 2D games on PC since the DOS days with this thing, and it only very rarely fails me (I've had some issues with diagonals and hitting ASD, although moving the action keys down to ZXC or up to QWE works around that nicely). It's all digital input, after all; it's not like with a 3D game where a lack of analog input could come back to bite you. (And if it is one of those 2D games where analog input is actually in play, I have a wired 360 controller on-hand. D-Pad isn't ideal for 2D, but the analog's fine.)

 

[jblank83]

Wii U Pro

(not the Wii Classic in OP)

 

[jackal27]

Wii U Pro + Mayflash adapter.

Your PC will read it as a 360 controller. Never look back son. Never. Look. Back.

 

[Voliko]

I use a PS3 controller. I'm sure the WiiU pro controller and the DS4 would also get the job done. Playing 2D games with the 360 pad is basically unplayable for me.

 

[Yaboosh]

MadCatz Portable Rockband Drum Kit Controller

Lacks shoulder buttons and the rounded dpad is weird.

 

[Buddha Beam]

I use one of these, too. It's great. Like slipping on an old pair of shoes.

 

[Haunted]

I have a wireless 360 controller connected. Might have gotten an XB1 controller but they only support wired and I don't like the triggers as much as I do on the 360. Not a fan of the stick placement on the Dualshocks. Using Wii controllers means that the in-game button prompts in many games are fucked up.

 

[MrCunningham]

Not a fan of the turbo buttons on it.

But it still is the best of the USB knockoffs, in terms of quality. These feel real close to the original pads. Unless you know of any others out there with a good build quality to them.

Where can I get a USB Saturn pad?

There are lots of different models available on Amazon. But unfortunately most are made of a cheaper build quality than the official. Usually made from cheaper plastics and lower quality pcb boards. Sega Saturn pads. Sega of Japan did produce USB controllers for PC, but they stopped making them and now cost a lot on Ebay when they do appear. These ones are pretty much 1:1 to the original Saturn pads. .

 

[kasane]

arcade sticks

edit: oh ds4 imo

 

[akachan ningen]

DS4

There are workarounds to make it work for any game.

 

[Htown]

I use the Mayflash adapter with the Classic Controller Pro from the Wii.

 

[World SkiFree]

Retro-styled indies are not typically designed in the same way that NES and SNES games were.

As a matter of fact, they're pretty much all designed to work fine with the Xbox 360 controller.

I use a wired 360 pad simply because there is no need to set it up, you just plug it in and it instantly works and buttons are mapped correctly with the right button art in games etc.

I use a wired 360; heck, many games actually show the 360 controller as the model for button mapping. I love it.

I have a great pre-dual shock PS1-type Logitech USB controller which is terrific for MAME, dpad heavy stuff. Rarely use it now. I have always liked the analog stick in the 360 and the dpad has never been more than an item/weapon selector since I started using it. It's good for that ...

Sounds like the Xbone and PS4 controllers are tops, too.

 

[super-famicom]

I use a Dualshock 4. I also have one of these

 

[Orayn]

I designed and 3D printed this one with indie/retro/2D games in mind. The innards are from a Logitech F310, so it even has native Xinput support.

My d-pad design was flawed and it's pretty hard to use because of that, but I'm hoping to make a revised version to address the issues.

 

[Decado]

Is Sony going to release an updated version of the ps4 pad? Heard the current one has terrible battery life issues.

 

[aasoncott]

 

[Im a Manatee]

wired XBone controller is the GOAT for comfy couch gaming. D-Pad rights the wrongs from the 360 pad and the bumpers are the best yet.

 

[Krejlooc]

Sega saturn controller

 

[cyberheater]

I use one of these sometimes. It's great for that old style arcade feel.

 

[Deleted member 125677]

Arcade stick for games that support it.

Sega Saturn pad if you want a normal retro controller.

Wii U Pro is the only current mainstream controller with a decent d-pad. Get a mayflash adapter and it emulates 360-controller. Perfect if you want a new normal controller.

 

[Decado]

I use one of these sometimes. It's great for that old style arcade feel.

Switched to this to play volgarr. Unplayable on 360 d-pad.

 

[n0razi]

I use a 360 pad for the convenience even though I have a ds4 and a classic pro

 

[Arturo]

I've been using this beauty, the NES30 controller and it works like a charm with OpenEmu on my iMac. It feels great in the hands, and the D-pad and buttons are really good.

It works with Mac and Windows (supports both Bluetooth and USB), but you can also use it with iOS and Android devices and it supports Wiimote emulation.

http://www.nes30.com

They also have another one, the F30, which looks like the Famicom controller, but I haven't tried it.
http://www.fc30.com/eng/

 

[hateradio]

I now use the DS4 exclusively since my DS3's battery died, along with the whole thing for some reason.

Does it hurt your left thumbs as much as the original?

I've been using this beauty, the NES30 controller and it works like a charm with OpenEmu on my iMac. It feels great in the hands, and the D-pad and buttons are really good.

That looks really cool.

 

[KainXVIII]

Xbone Pad
Pros: Most compatible (but little worse than 360 pad), dpad
Cons: bumpers

 

[itwasTuesday]

I use a madcatz vanilla sfIV pad to play Rogue Legacy and Volgar.

 

[TI82]

This surprisingly became my favorite controller of all time.

 

[Ingueferroque]

I love my usb Saturn and Neo Geo joypads for 2d gaming.