Raspberry Pi

Best RetroPie Controllers in 2022

The RetroPie is an operating system that enables your Raspberry Pi to be a retro-gaming machine so you can play retro games on the Raspberry Pi including the arcade and classic PC games.

Now to play these games, we need some type of controller so, in this article, we will explore the five best controllers which can be used to play games on the RetroPie.

What are the best RetroPie controllers in 2022

There are many controllers for playing games on the RetroPie but the five best RetroPie Controllers are explored in this article:

  1. Xbox Elite Wireless Controller
  2. 8Bitdo SF30 Pro Controller
  3. DualShock 4 Wireless Controller
  4. Xbox One Controller
  5. Xbox 360 controller

1 : Xbox Elite Wireless Controller

One of the World’s most popular controllers for gaming enriched with a lot of features is the Xbox Elite Wireless controller which can be interfaced with the Raspberry Pi to play the RetroPie games. This controller is customizable so the gamers can customize it according to their own ease. It has hair-trigger locks and swappable components including interchangeable paddles.

The best thing about the Xbox Elite wireless controller is that it has a battery charge time of forty hours which is pretty good for gamers and can charge the controller using the USB-C type cable.

2 : 8Bitdo SF30 Pro Controller

The 8bitdo has been releasing the different models of the controllers for the last 30 years of the video games. You can either connect the controller by D-input or the X-input via Bluetooth. This controller is lightweight at only 250 grams and prominent features of the controller are its motion controls and the rumble vibration. Other than Bluetooth, it can also be connected with a USB cable and is highly compatible with Windows, macOS, Raspberry Pi, and Steam.

3 : DualShock 4 Wireless Controller

This controller is designed for the PlayStation but can be used to play the games on the RetroPie. It has the controls on its side with high sensitivity, a light bar is present on the controller which is changing its color depending on the actions of the game, can allow you to connect the 3.5 mm audio jack handsfree with the controller, it has the built-in accelerometer and gyroscope that detects the motion of rotation and even it is tilt. Lastly, it has built-in speakers to hear the sounds of the games and can be connected to the Raspberry Pi and PCs.

4 : Xbox One Controller

The Xbox One controller has been released by Microsoft and it can be connected to the Raspberry Pi using a wire. The first feature of this controller is that it is connected with a cable to the PC and the Raspberry Pi, so the gamers who are tired of charging their controllers should use the Xbox One controller. The D-pad of the controller has been improved now it can sense the motion precisely, and moreover, the contours of the controllers are designed in such a way that it can comfortably fit on your hand.

5 : Xbox 360 controller

The Xbox 360 controller is another important controller which should be discussed with the readers if you are deciding to choose the controller for the RetroPie. This controller is also introduced by the Microsoft team and is available in different colors like black,  gray, and white. The controller contains the d-pad controller, two joysticks,  and some buttons like face buttons, trigger buttons, and bumper buttons to play the games on the Retropie.

Conclusion

There are many other controllers as well as the Vilros Wireless Switch Style Gamepad Controller but we have discussed the top five controllers which are being widely used in 2022 and the recommended choice of the gamers. In this write-up, we have explored different types of controllers which are being used with the RetroPie on the Raspberry Pi.

About the author

Hammad Zahid

I'm an Engineering graduate and my passion for IT has brought me to Linux. Now here I'm learning and sharing my knowledge with the world.