With how many controllers there are on the market, you may find some difficulty in finding something good that can connect to your PC. I’ll be going through the top 6 picks for Xbox 360 controllers that can be used on your Windows PC.
I’ll be giving you the good and the bad with each controller. The prices vary, depending on which type you go for. This list is calculated by the reviews each one has received. Keep in mind, sometimes controllers can have manufacturer defects, which is why I’ve compiled this list, to weed out those controllers that have more problems than not.
Astarry 2.4GHZ Game Controller
This controller comes in with 4.4 stars on Amazon and 8,000 reviews. It’s a nice price point of $24.99 for the black controller and $26.99 for the white one.
It’s a reasonably priced controller and is raved about for its longevity. We all know the lifespan of controllers can vary wildly, so finding one that is reasonable in price and won’t break after a few uses is very nice.
It has a 30-foot range, so you can sit back and relax while you game. It does take AA batteries as well, so make sure you pick those up if this is the controller you decide to go with.
The biggest downfall of this one is you’ll need to purchase a 360 receiver in order to plug it into a PC. You can buy one of those here. The price is a little high on this, but you’ll be able to use it for any other 360 controllers you get.
Microsoft Xbox 360 Wireless Controller
This is another black Xbox 360 controller. It has a 4.4 average rating with over 9,000 reviews. It’s at a fantastically low price of $23.95.
It also boasts that nice 30-foot range. Similar to the other one, it takes AA batteries. However, if you do not want to keep changing out batteries, you can purchase a rechargeable battery pack here. You can get them used at $24.99. So, it ends up paying for itself with the cost of batteries these days.
It does come with a wireless receiver as well. However, if you have Win10 or a 64-bit system you may want to reconsider as some of the complaints are that it doesn’t want to work with certain versions of Win10 and some have mentioned it doesn’t work with 64 bit at all.
2.4GHZ Gamepad Joystick Controller
This controller comes in at 4.5 stars and 2,700 reviews. The price is one of the better ones at $25.95.
Unfortunately, this controller will need a receiver to be purchased separately in order to use with your PC. It will not work with an Xbox 360, so if you planned on buying a controller you could play on both systems, this is one you should pass on. It also uses AA batteries.
The one issue with this is that if you have Win10, it may not work if plugged into a USB 3.0 and the automatically detected drivers will sometimes not work. The fix for that is to simply install the drivers manually. If you have any other windows OS, it should work fine with plug-and-play.
Xbox 360 Wireless Controller with Charge Kit
So, this controller is a little bit pricey compared to the others at $54.99. It does have a 4.6 rating. There aren’t a ton of reviews, about 400, but most people seem to find it enjoyable and durable.
This one will still need the receiver to connect to the PC. However, the big plus is that it comes with the charge kit. You won’t have to spend the extra money buying batteries. You should get about 35 hours of gameplay per charge, which is pretty good.
Xbox 360 Wireless Controller
This official Xbox controller comes in at 4.6 with 7,000 reviews. It is pricey because it’s an official controller, $89.90.
This one does not have a receiver or a battery pack, so you’ll have to purchase the adapter separately and use AA batteries. This one, because it’s an official controller, can be used on all your Windows computers and even on the Xbox, if that’s what you’d like.
It has an adjustable vibration setting to help maintain your controller’s battery life.
Xbox Core Wireless Controller
This controller is another official Xbox one. It comes in at 4.6 stars and over 50,000 reviews. You can get it new for $59.99 but there are cheaper used ones also available.
This controller will use AA batteries, but you can purchase battery packs separately. It also will need the receiver to play on the PC. Alternatively, you could buy the USB-C cable to plug it in and play until you have the receiver.
The controller comes in a variety of different colors and designs. You can most likely find a style that matches your setup. Overall, this controller is one of the top picks for controllers you can buy on Amazon.