My gaming new year’s resolution? Finally buy this one peripheral for my PC

Sometimes, it’s not the biggest new purchases that shake up your gaming lifestyle, but the little ones. That’s why instead of finally shelling out for the best graphics card in the new year, or picking up a PS5 bundle, I’m going to be changing the way I play with a new peripheral.

I’m a PC gamer and so the mouse and keyboard is my bread and butter. That’s doubly the case given that my favorite genres are strategy, city-building and sims – games built with the old clicker and typer in mind. But slowly I’ve been tempted by enough other games that I’m adding one peripheral to my gear set-up, to see if it can boost my PC gaming.

This is, as you can tell by the picture, a controller, and I’m hoping its dual sticks and triggers will change what it feels like to play games. I may have tested lots of tech but controllers aren’t among them (save for my forays into buying too-cheap PS4 replacements). So I’ve run through our list of the best controllers for PC gaming, to see which of the site’s hardware editors’ picks tempt me most.

Victrix Pro BFG, our favorite option

Our top-rated pick of that entire buying guide is the Victrix Pro BFG, which looks partly like a fun-colored controller and partly like the best Lego set that still plays games.

By that I mean, it’s incredibly customizable: you can remove modules and replace or move them, so I can turn the Victrix into the controller I want it to be. That includes various types of joystick, face buttons, and even a ‘FightPad’ if I decide to get into fighting games. I also love modular tech that lets me fiddle around with a screwdriver!

Beyond the customization, by all accounts this is a lovely fast controller which is comfortable to hold. It’s a little costly for my budget, but it undercuts lots of its rivals – and having covered a few deals seasons in my time, I’ve definitely see it go for less. Maybe this’ll end up in my basket next Black Friday…

GameSir Tarantula Pro, for my muscle memory

When it comes to consoles, I’ve typically been a Playstation kinda guy, yet most PC controllers use the same asymmetrical design as Xbox controllers typically have. Not wanting to rewrite my gaming muscle memory, I’m tempted by the GameSir Tarantula Pro which we deem the best symmetrical PC controller.

By ‘symmetrical’, I simply mean that the joysticks are both lower, instead of low on one side and high on the other like on most other controllers. The D-pad and face buttons are all higher. Beyond that this is a controller very similar to the DualShock 4, and in our review we praised its many comfortable and well-functioning design choices.

I must say, I’m also pretty won over by the Tarantula’s price: it’s the cheapest of the three picks I have on this list, and often retails for even less. My only confusion is the glut of extra face buttons which, according to our review, don’t really do much.

Razer Wolverine V3 Pro, for competitive online gaming

Not since I owned a PS3, when online play was free, did I play loads of multiplayer titles. The rise of extraction shooters has tempted me to check one out – but I need something to help me overcome the skill barrier that I’ll be faced with.

That’s why another option I’m considering is the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro, which GamesRadar counts as the best PC controller for speed. It’s a Pro controller, which means it’s primed for competitive gameplay, but is quite expensive. Hence why it’s my third pick.

The Wolverine has all the face buttons you’d expect from a controller but also four back buttons, two bumpers and rubber grips. But the ‘Pro’ elements come into play in myriad other ways: the buttons use mouse switches so are fast to play, which can give a competitive edge, and the tall thumbsticks add some extra versatility when trying to make gentle motions. Precision sniping in Battlefield, here I come.

• See all PC controllers at Amazon

We've also had our hands on the best Xbox Series X controllers and the best PS5 controllers. Or, check out the best Nintendo Switch 2 controllers for something more portable.