The Steam Controller doesn't appear to be a hit for competitive play, so here are the alternatives I'd recommend instead

A side by side of the Steam Controller with the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro 8K — (Image credit: Future / Valve)

Membrane face buttons, a rigid D-pad, a limited 250Hz polling rate, and no trigger stops are all appearing to be common gripes from the first round of Steam Controller reviews.

Overall, Valve's new PC controller is being received really well by critics, especially for its convenience and trackpad quality of life features. But for a price of $99 / £85, it may leave some players looking for a bit more for their money, especially if they're looking for something they can play competitive games with. Having sifted through the first wave of Steam Controller reviews, a common theme seems to be that it just doesn't cut it for those types of competitive fighting or FPS games, even with plenty of great comfort and battery life.

Sure, the gyro and trackpad mouse controls give it a totally unique way to translate mouse and keyboard strategy games to the couch, or to allow gamers to control a PC more intuitively while browsing and typing. Moreover, there are lots of great, modernized features like the inclusion of TMR thumbsticks. But there are a slew of controllers I've tested and reviewed in the last year or two that allow you to unlock faster polling rates, swap out thumbstick tops, lock them in a shorter actuation, and give you a more responsive feel thanks to microswitch buttons.

With that in mind, I've rounded up some of them that are particularly suited to competitive players who were holding out for the Steam Controller. If that's you, and there's one or two features specifically that you feel Valve hasn't covered, read on. It is worth mentioning that while all of these controllers tick a lot of the same boxes as Valve's in terms of functionality, none of them have the same ability to use mouse controls via trackpads. If that's not a deal breaker for you, then let's dive in.

Microswitch face buttons & D-pad

The menu and display on the Nacon Revolution X Unlimited controller — (Image credit: Future / Duncan Robertson)

If the Steam Controller's membrane face buttons aren't doing it for you, and you'd much rather have clicky microswitch ones, I'm happy to say you have so many other choices right now. I'd say the majority of gamepads these days come with microswitches; in fact, the only ones that don't tend to lean into a more traditional feel, or just straight-up aren't trying to be "competitive" controllers.

If you're up for spending more money than you would on Valve's gamepad, I'd take a look at the Nacon Revolution X Unlimited. Of all the controllers I've tested, I think Nacon has developed the very best microswitch face buttons. They're clicky and have that responsive feel you're probably looking for, but they feel luxurious and almost mimic membrane in terms of their cushioned actuation. That last bit may put you off, but rest assured, they don't feel spongy, and a really short travel distance means they don't lose their speed.

Besides that, you get six extra buttons, lots of physical parts to swap around, and a similar big and broad feel to Valve's Steam Controller.

Nacon Revolution X Unlimited: $185.99 at Amazon | £199 at Argos

If you're looking for a cheaper alternative for this particular feature, I'd recommend looking at the GameSir G7 Pro, since it has similarly designed microswitch buttons as the one I described above, has four extra mappable buttons, and TMR thumbsticks.

GameSir G7 Pro: $79.99 at Amazon | £89.99 at Amazon

A faster polling rate

The Razer Wolverine V3 Pro 8K in the hand of a reviewer — (Image credit: Future / Duncan Robertson)

One thing that is truly surprising about Valve's Steam Controller is that (at least at launch) it's locked to a 250Hz polling rate, which is far less than most PC and Xbox Series X controllers that have launched lately, which usually tend to give you a 1,000Hz speed.

There are loads of 1,000Hz controllers out there, so it's honestly worth looking around if this is something that bothers you. But just as an extreme alternative, a couple of gamepads have even taken things to the absolute limit by providing an 8K polling rate. First was the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro 8K, which strips back the weight and feel of the popular Xbox controller for an Esports-facing, super-speedy pro controller that makes a mockery of latency.

You might think that 8,000Hz is overkill, and you'd be right. Honestly, past a certain point, there will be no way for a human nervous system to register the differences in that kind of speed, or at least, have the reaction skills for it to really make a difference. What you're buying here is peace of mind that latency isn't going to hamper your performance, and insurance that a TMR controller is being used to its full potential.

Razer Wolverine V3 Pro 8K: $199.99 at Amazon | £179.99 at Amazon

Then again, if you're looking to save some money, you could wait and grab the new GameSir G7 Pro 8K PC model when it's released? That way you'll still get the super-fast polling rate but won't miss out on the rumble motors in the grips. That'll cost you $89.99 at Amazon when GameSir makes it available, or you can pre-order it through the brand's website now.

Trigger stops and swappable parts

Victrix Pro BFG for Xbox on a wooden desk in front of purple lighting — (Image credit: Future / Duncan Robertson)

If you were interested in the Steam Controller but you're disappointed by its lack of customization and on-board playstyle switch-ups, I don't blame you. The ability to make a controller your own in this day and age is paramount for competitive players, and gives you a lot of value for money.

The alternative I'd look to, which gives you trigger stops and a case full of swappable parts, is the Victrix Pro BFG for Xbox. It has a modular design, so it really acts as a blank canvas for you to make your own, depending on the game you want to play and your own preferences as to where you want the sticks to be.

Victrix Pro BFG for Xbox: $179.99 at Amazon | £117.99 at Amazon

If you're looking to spend as little as possible, I can also recommend the PowerA OPS V3 Pro, which doesn't have as much in the way of swappable parts, but has an impressive amount of customization hiding just under its surface. Its thumbstick heights can be adjusted by twisting them - no annoying bits to potentially lose and no faff of trying to actually swap them around with tools. And, of course, it has some trigger stop switches on the back.

PowerA OPS V3 Pro: $64 at Amazon | £29 at Amazon

Check out the best Nintendo Switch 2 controllers for more inspiration, or hit the starting grid with the best racing wheels for PC.

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One of my earliest memories is playing SuperMario64 and wondering why the controller I held had three grips, but I only had two hands. Ever since I've been in love with video games and their technology. After graduating from Edinburgh Napier University with a degree in Journalism, I contributed to the Scottish Games Network and completed an Editorial Internship at Expert Reviews. Over the last decade, I’ve been managing my own YouTube channel about my love of games too. These days, I'm one of the resident hardware nerds at GamesRadar+, and I take the lead on our coverage of gaming PCs, VR, controllers, gaming chairs, and content creation gear. Now, I better stop myself here before I get talking about my favourite games like HUNT: Showdown, Dishonored, and Towerfall Ascension.