Gaming joystick review 2023

Hello and welcome to our big gaming joystick test! Are you thinking of replacing your old gaming joystick with a more powerful one? Or have you never had a gaming joystick and would you like to try gaming with it? Then you've come to the right place with our gaming joystick comparison!

Gaming joystick test: The best gaming joysticks at a glance

Gaming Joystick Guide: Everything you need to know about gaming joysticks!

Surely you still have one or two questions about “gaming joysticks” and we want to answer them in this article. Here you will find an overview of everything important, so it will be easy for you to find the right gaming joystick for you and your system.

What is a gaming joystick and what do I need one for?

The gaming joystick has its origins in military technology. But for many years he had completely disappeared from the gamer scene. But now it seems to be experiencing a revival, because it can be found on many desks again. That's no wonder, because more and more games are coming onto the market where the best results can only be achieved with the joystick. Especially with car simulations, sports games and flight simulations, the joystick is almost indispensable for precise control. 

Many gamers consider the feeling of controlling the flight simulator with a gaming joystick to be more realistic than controlling it with a mouse or keyboard. You can only keep some aircraft in the air with a gaming joystick, here you don't have a chance with the mouse or keyboard. The modern models have three axes to ensure the exact transfer of movements. 

In addition, many of the gaming joysticks also have a vibration mode, which makes the gaming experience even more real. The return of the joystick was also happily welcomed by left-handers among gamers, as there are models of gaming joysticks especially for them and they also fit extremely well in the hand.

How much does a gaming joystick cost me?

In principle, one would think that such a small peripheral device cannot be very expensive. Well, you can certainly buy a gaming joystick for over 200 euros (the absolute frontrunner in our research was a joystick for a whopping 370 euros!), but whether that makes sense and helps you win, we dare to doubt. 

Basically, you can rely on the fact that the more functions and special features you want with your new gaming joystick, the more the price will rise. Expect to pay around $30 to $100 for a responsive, ergonomic, solid joystick. But then you have a durable device with which you can certainly have many years of fun.

Buy a gaming joystick? That's something to note!

Of course, your new gaming joystick must above all feel good in your hand, ergonomically so to speak. There are special models available for left-handers, which should definitely be taken into account when purchasing, so that there is no annoying bad buy. Of course, your new gaming joystick should have a certain stability or the necessary weight for it. 

It is also very important whether your new gaming joystick offers enough configuration options. Be sure that it fits your existing system, is compatible with it. If you want a gaming experience that is as real as possible, make sure that your gaming joystick has vibration mode or force feedback. Be sure to look for plenty of buttons and basic functions as well. 

A good gaming joystick should have at least four buttons. Above all, good thrust control is important here, or even better, two separately controllable thrust controls. Among the high-priced models, there are even those where you have an external thrust control on the Desk can place and then you can keep your one hand on it to steer and then operate the joystick with your other hand (this is called “HOTAS”). 

But you can also purchase an extra set of pedals together with your new joystick - this depends entirely on the intended use of the joystick. But you have to realize that the more gimmicks and features you want, the more your new gaming joystick will cost you. Here you have to think about it in advance.

Gaming joystick test: our conclusion

If you like playing flight simulations, want to control helicopters and fighter planes as precisely as possible and simply want to experience the most realistic gaming experience possible, then you can no longer avoid a gaming joystick. These small peripherals, originally from military technology, have nothing in common with the clumsy blocks that were the first models. 

Here you can really see an incredible development and the modern models are mostly very powerful, durable components, which will make your gaming experience even more realistic. If you like to play corresponding games, we would definitely advise you to buy a gaming joystick, because it will make gaming even more fun. Have lots of fun with it!

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