Controllers for mobile gaming

[SSj_Ness (Yiffed)]

What are some decent, inexpensive ones? Has anybody used some of them? You know, the kind that connects to a phone physically (like Sony's Backbone, for example).

 

[Cats]

For retro gaming, the updated Neo Geo CD Bluetooth with the clicky thumbstick from 8BitDo is legitimately the best retro controller I have ever laid hands on. It feels exactly like the wonderful original version and is much more robust. It will connect to your device via bluetooth or the included cable and serves as a perfect controller to play all your old pre-PS2 Era games on.




Though I am guessing you may be looking for a newer controller with dual thumbsticks etc. In that case can't you bluetooth or cable in a new PS5 controller or something? I figure that must work with smartphones...maybe you need an app or something. I could be wrong I am not up to date on any of the new gaming stuff

 

[Celebrate Nite]

Just an FYI, even with the controller physically connected, they all use bluetooth connections, which means you're going to have SOME sort of input lag. Even the Sony Backbone you mentioned, which boasts about "low-latency", which could mean anything at this point. They also have their own firmware, so that's more unnecessary bloat you're sticking on your phone.

Think of it like a new [insert brand name here] computer that comes with their own shit instead of just windows alone, which at this point is just spyware that tracks how you use your computer.

 

[Xarpho's Return]

Just an FYI, even with the controller physically connected, they all use bluetooth connections, which means you're going to have SOME sort of input lag. Even the Sony Backbone you mentioned, which boasts about "low-latency", which could mean anything at this point. They also have their own firmware, so that's more unnecessary bloat you're sticking on your phone.

I've always been curious as to how much input lag is going to be an issue and how much of it is a meme. The only time I noticed it was playing on a cheap, dying Logitech F310 playing Hollow Knight, and that was a severe case.

 

[Grub]

I've used an 8bitdo sn30 for pretty much any kind of gaming on my PC or my phone for like 10 years or something like that now. I had to take it apart and clean it once when the dpad stopped working properly but otherwise it's been pretty solid. The lack of analog triggers kind of sucks but it's pretty much never been a problem for the games I play.

 

[TheDarknessGrows]

Grab a Chitu Mobapad for 40 bucks and call it a day.

 

[Baked Al-Aqsa]

Are you specifically dead set on gaming on your phone? I've been trying for at least 10 years, but every single gamepad I tried sucked in one way or another. Not to mention, it's my phone and I found that I couldn't play a game for more than an hour before getting too ADHD and just switching to doomscrolling forums/binge watching youtube.

Have you looked into those Chinese handheld emulator thingies? Supposedly they're pretty good and $100 gets you pretty far in terms of quality and capability these days.

 

[Involuntary Celebrity]

Here's my cool idea I just had: get one of those joycon phone mounts:


but then use it with an actually good 3rd party joycon for adult hands (I can recommend the DOYOKY Epoch):


I'm ignoring the inexpensive part.
But at least this way you could substitute it with cheap joycons and be able to find a million actual reviews unlike all the random mystery rebrand phone controllers on amazon

 

[User names must be unique]

Never mind a controller, I still haven't found a mobile game worth playing.

 

[Carpenter Trout]

What are some decent, inexpensive ones?

Gamesir and 8bitdo controllers tend to be good.
Both work on Android as well as PC and various consoles.
Despite what people say, 8BitDo aren't exactly cheap, but do cost much less than first party controllers for Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo's consoles.
I used to recommend RetroBit controllers, but their quality is going down the drain rapidly these days.

 

[Rei is Shit.]

I've used an 8bitdo sn30 for pretty much any kind of gaming on my PC or my phone for like 10 years or something like that now. I had to take it apart and clean it once when the dpad stopped working properly but otherwise it's been pretty solid. The lack of analog triggers kind of sucks but it's pretty much never been a problem for the games I play.

I bought one of these and put the pcb in an actual SNES controller.

The 8bitdo Sega Saturn clone is really good, with a d-pad that feels just like the real thing and a better form factor.

 

[Rembrandt]

Never mind a controller, I still haven't found a mobile game worth playing.

Mobile gaming in this case just means emulation of older consoles on Android.

 

[Cats]

I bought one of these and put the pcb in an actual SNES controller.

The 8bitdo Sega Saturn clone is really good, with a d-pad that feels just like the real thing and a better form factor.

yeah the 8bitdo ones have definitely impressed me more than I thought they would, I can't really shill for their Neo Geo pad enough though I already posted that. The company Retrobit also has some really great Genesis pads. The BIG6 is a pad I still use sometimes when I wanna play Sonic with the original Genesis shield d-pad (my favorite non-stick d-pad)



See it's like the 6 button genesis controller but in an actual adult-sized chassis, like the 3-button Genesis pad but with the additional three face and two shoulder. It's perfect for playing Genesis games. You can get it Wireless, Genesis input, USB the works. Just make sure you specify which if you are gonna order one as they are all differently packaged.

 

[the rat]

Can't you connect a more recent revision of the Xbox One controller to a phone? I swear they added Bluetooth to it at some point, even then you could find a USB OTG cable and connect it (or say a 360 controller, i'm pretty sure they work) that way.

 

[The Last Stand]

Try the Xbox One Bluetooth Controller.

 

[Grub]

I bought one of these and put the pcb in an actual SNES controller.

The 8bitdo Sega Saturn clone is really good, with a d-pad that feels just like the real thing and a better form factor.

It'd be cool if they had one with joy sticks as well. I play enough 3d games that I do get good use from the sticks. The six button pad is nice sometimes though. Especially for fighters, though I don't play a lot of them, but for n64 emulation it would be nice. Mapping the c buttons to the second joystick works fine for most games but some games would work better if they were buttons. Having them mapped to both a right stick and 4 buttons would be pretty great. There's also a few steam games I have that would benefit from extra buttons. I have Unepic on steam, it's a 2d side scrolling action adventure, but it's not really made for a controller and there's no in game controller support. You can use software like joy2key, but the game has a lot of spells and shit like that and uses the number keys to map them. Even having two extra buttons would make a big difference.

 

[Celebrate Nite]

I've always been curious as to how much input lag is going to be an issue and how much of it is a meme. The only time I noticed it was playing on a cheap, dying Logitech F310 playing Hollow Knight, and that was a severe case.

I had one of those controllers once that looked similar to this (I forgot what brand specifically it was)

it has a wire you connected to the phone and like an A/B switch that made the controller work depoending on the game

I tried Sonic 2 mobile version (the widescreen one that has the hidden palace zone in it) and there was a noticeable half second delay on the movement, especially the jumping.

This was years ago though so for all I know, they could have improved the technology by now (doubt it)

 

[CHARizard]

Whatever you do avoid the Backbone. It works fine, but its the most uncomfortable controller I have ever owned. I got one as a gift a few years ago and did an entire playthrough of Fallout 4 through XCloud on it, my hands hated me worse than playing AC6.

I have a Xbox adapter that works well but is a bit bulky. Currently looking at the Gamesir G8 and have heard good things. You can also look at 3d printed options, I had Nintendo Switch rails printed for my ipad that worked ok on the mini.

 

[Dialtone]

Red Magic has a nice controller that can be purchased with their phones but they also sell it as a standalone piece, it works well for me

 

[SSj_Ness (Yiffed)]

Just an FYI, even with the controller physically connected, they all use bluetooth connections, which means you're going to have SOME sort of input lag.

I'm not going to be playing action games anyway, mostly RPGs, visual novels, adventure games, etc, so I don't mind getting something with delay or mediocre controls. As long as it's cheap and easy to use it should be fine, but thanks for the info, it's good to know.

Never mind a controller, I still haven't found a mobile game worth playing.

There's actually some decent stuff, but it's like finding a needle in a haystack. Google Play makes the eShop look like a curated list of great games by comparison, and that's really saying something.

Are you specifically dead set on gaming on your phone? I've been trying for at least 10 years, but every single gamepad I tried sucked in one way or another. Not to mention, it's my phone and I found that I couldn't play a game for more than an hour before getting too ADHD and just switching to doomscrolling forums/binge watching youtube.

Have you looked into those Chinese handheld emulator thingies? Supposedly they're pretty good and $100 gets you pretty far in terms of quality and capability these days.

I've already got a Steam Deck for that kind of use. I'm mostly interested in this because there's a few mobile games that aren't compatible with it (some are actually on Steam, like Another Eden, but they aren't Steam Deck compatible for whatever reason). Plus I just like lighter devices, Steam Deck is kinda heavy despite being quite good.

I had one of those controllers once that looked similar to this (I forgot what brand specifically it was)
View attachment 6050978
it has a wire you connected to the phone and like an A/B switch that made the controller work depoending on the game

I tried Sonic 2 mobile version (the widescreen one that has the hidden palace zone in it) and there was a noticeable half second delay on the movement, especially the jumping.

This was years ago though so for all I know, they could have improved the technology by now (doubt it)

This is the kinda thing I had in mind. Looks pretty simple.