Best Controller for Rocket League in 2021
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By
Jacob Woodward
- Updated June 17, 2021
- 9 Min Read
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Table of Contents
Rocket League has been a staple in the gaming scene for many years now and still a go-to for those wanting a bit of faced paced action that’s not all about guns and adventure. Due to this, Rocket League is on a wide range of platforms including PC, Xbox, PlayStation and more.
While it might be a ‘child-friendly’ title, there are certainly very intense games that happen in Rocket League and it has even reached the level of ‘eSports’ with teams competing to secure that cash prize.
If you want to up your game and maximize your skill level, you’re going to need the best controller for Rocket League so that you can control both car and ball with extreme accuracy. Luckily, we’ve compiled this list of the best Rocket League controllers so you can quickly find the right one for you.
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How We Choose
In choosing the best Rocket League controllers, we wanted to provide you with not only robust and hard wearing options but also ones that aim to provide you with some customizability so you can fit them to your playstyle. We also chose to give you a number of models that cater to different budgets so if you’ve only got limited cash, you should be able to find one that’s right for you.
We’ve tested a wide range of controllers from the extraordinary to the more basic variants so that we’ve been able to whittle down the long list of controllers to this pool of best options.
Without further ado, let’s get into the best controllers for Rocket League!
Best Controllers for Rocket League
Best Controller for Rocket League
Xbox Elite Series 2
The Xbox Elite Series 2 controller is rightly at the top of our list for the best controller for Rocket League due to its premium quality and customizability that’s almost unrivalled.
Building on some of the faults that the Elite Series 1 controller had, the Elite Series 2 offers up a top tier experience for all games and more importantly, Rocket League. You’re able to customize the controller to the max with not only remappable inputs but also with the paddles, joysticks, and directional pad that can all be switched out for other included options. This, therefore, will allow you to switch up your acceleration, brake, and more inputs so that you can achieve your optimal controls.
The build quality is obviously great due to it being a first-party Microsoft controller and the second iteration of the Elite line. The feel is of a matte nature, exuding premium, and the grips on the handles allow you to keep firm control even under the intense stress of overtime.
While many might use the Elite Series 2 as a wireless controller, you can use it wired too. We’d probably recommend this too as it’ll decrease latency and get those button presses in as fast as possible. If you do want to use it wirelessly, it runs off Bluetooth tech so it’s an extremely simple process to get it set up.
Best Value Controller for Rocket League
PlayStation DualShock 4
You might be thinking why the PS4 controller and not the new PS5 DualSense controller? Well, as a whole, the PS4 variant is better for competitive titles due to it’s low input latency and it’s instant compatibility when wired to PCs. It’s also slim and light which the newer PS5 controller is not, making it more preferred for those that like the traditional feel.
The buttons are obviously fantastic and for those that have been PlayStation fans for years will be instantly at home with the DualShock 4. The back triggers are great-feeling too, giving you top control over the acceleration of your car in-game.
While we’d recommend going wired with the DS4, you can, of course, use it wirelessly too. This is handy for those that want the best of both worlds and, it’s always nice to have the option.
One complaint that some find with the DualShock 4 is that the joysticks wear quite badly over time. This is a little annoying considering it’s not exactly the cheapest controller on the market but really, this only occurs if you’re hammering hours upon hours of time onto this thing. It also lacks any additional buttons which is unfortunate for those who are used to that configuration but for those that aren’t, this shouldn’t be an issue.
Best Professional Controller for Rocket League
Razer Raiju Tournament Edition
Razer, known for its wide array of fantastic PC peripherals, also produces some pretty great controllers that even eSports pros use. One such controller is the Raiju Tournament Edition which is a fantastic choice for Rocket League due to a number of reasons.
First off, let’s talk about the layout of the controller. The Raiju is almost like a hybrid of PS4 and Xbox controllers with the buttons in the usual place but with the joysticks in the Xbox format. This is great for those that want the best of both worlds or are simply used to the stick layout of the Xbox.
The customizability is fantastic with a number of additional buttons that you can utilize to tailor to your specific preferences. There are additional buttons next to the triggers as well as on the back which act as paddles. These can all be remapped thanks to the handy Razer app that you can download on your phone. Additionally, you can also adjust the sensitivity of all of the inputs so that you can make those sharp turns in an instant or add some dead zones if you want to ensure you don’t accidentally make a wrong move.
The build quality of the Raiju is stellar not only providing you with hours upon hours of use but will also take a hit if you manage to drop it. It looks great too with a sleek, stealth look about it as well as a bit of lighting where needed.
Best Customizable Controller for Rocket League
Valve Steam Controller
One controller that you might have been shocked to make the list of the best Rocket League controllers is the Steam Controller. After not a great reception from consumers, the Steam Controller isn’t exactly a go-to for many so why does it deserve a spot on this list?
First off, there’s a whole host of customization options allowing you to set up your controller just the way you like it. This is fantastic for a game like Rocket League which has a number of inputs that people like on specific buttons to have the maximum impact.
Additionally, instead of joysticks, it’s a touch-sensitive pad in place instead. This aims to mimic more of a mouse feel which is fantastic for Rocket League where you need fast movement to navigate your car around the arena and get a touch on the ball.
You can use the Steam controller both wirelessly and wired which is great for both hardcore and more casual users allowing to reduce latency with the wire inserted and have more freedom when you want to kick back and relax.
The build quality is actually very good and you shouldn’t encounter any issues even after the rigorous button pressing you’ll put it under. However, the main body does have a cheaper plasticy feeling that others do not but it shouldn’t be a deal beaker and has no real impact on overall sturdiness.
Best Durable Controller for Rocket League
Xbox Core Controller
The more basic Xbox Core controller makes it onto our top Rocket League controllers list due to its overall reliability and the fact Xbox controllers of this ilk have been such a staple in gaming for so many years now. It’s also widely regarded as the best feeling controller due to its size and how the buttons/joysticks are laid out.
The one thing that sticks out for the Xbox Core controller is it’s build quality. It has a premium matte feel and great sizing that fits both small and large hands. The handle grips have also been improved over the Xbox One variant as well as Bluetooth tech as standard if you want to hook it up wirelessly.
Unfortunately, with this being the ‘basic’ Xbox controller, there are no official ways to remap the buttons to change it to your liking. There are also no additional buttons or paddles as standard so if you’re someone who likes that extra functionality, you could be left wanting a little. But that being said, for those who aren’t bothered about this, the standard Xbox controller is a really solid choice that’s also not too pricey.
Things To Consider
Button Customization
Nowadays, most games allow you to switch up what buttons do what in-game. Rocket League is one such game and if you want to get the perfect feeling controls for your car, it’s probably best you do so.
Some controllers offer this functionality where others do not so this is something that certainly needs to be considered when picking up your next controller for Rocket League. The more premium options almost always have this functionality allowing you to fully remap the buttons to your liking. However, the more budget options often lack this so keep that in mind when picking out your next device.
Wired vs Wireless
The wired vs wireless controller debate is always going to come up when considering the best controllers on the market. This is especially true when focusing on the best controller for Rocket League due to its high competition nature and the need for lightning fast reflexes.
In our opinion, you should always opt for either a wired controller or a wireless controller that plugs directly into your device. This decreases overall latency and makes your inputs come to life instantaneously. Yes, we are talking about milliseconds here but every single millisecond matters when at playing high level Rocket League matches.
On the flip side, if you’re a more casual Rocket League player, a wireless controller would do perfectly well and certainly gives you more freedom, especially if your seat and setup are far away from each other.
FAQs
Conclusion
Xbox Elite Series 2
So, what is the best controller for Rocket League? In our opinion, we think the Xbox Elite Series 2 is the top selection. You can fully customize it to your liking not only in terms of button mapping but also with the fact that you can switch up the additional paddles on the rear. Moreover, the feel and robust nature of the controller means you’ll have excellent grip as well as it lasting for years.
However, if you’re more of a PlayStation fan and want that controller layout, you can’t go wrong with the basic DS4 controller. It’s a worthy pick up and will do well in your Rocket League endeavours.
