Steam Controller Review: The Ultimate PC Controller?

If you were to use one word to describe the Steam controller, it would probably be . . . “Weird”. But much like that goth person you looked at with side glances while thinking you could totally date them, the Steam controller is much more than meets the eye. In fact, while it may outwardly look a bit strange, it offers a ton of functionality that is pretty much unbeatable and impossible to find on other controllers.

That being said, I wouldn’t say that the Steam controller was necessarily made for everybody, or as a full-time replacement for a keyboard and mouse. As you’ll see, the Steam controller can be quite complex sometimes, like Newtonian fluids . . . . are they solids or are they liquids, and can they please make up their minds?

Steam Controller Performance

Talking about the Steam Controller performance is actually surprisingly difficult, and not so much because it isn’t good, but more because it’s very much suited to the individual.

At a big-picture level, the overall controls actually feel pretty good and respond incredibly well. There’s very little to no jigglyness that you might expect with cheaper controllers, and even the paddles in the back of the controller are actually pretty solid. The trackpads are also pretty excellent and responsive, with haptic feedback as you move across giving some pretty important physical information about what your control is sensing.

The real problem though is when you consider the absolutely tons of customization you can do to the thing, plus the fact that what customization you want to do tends to rely a lot on the game type that you’re planning to play. For example, you can increase trackpad sensitivity for FPS games, where camera speed is incredibly important. On the other hand, you can just completely change the keybindings to help more with 2D combat games like Mortal Kombat.

That’s the crux of the matter when it comes to performance; ultimately, it depends on how much effort you want to put into customizing it to exact needs, and how likely you are to get comfortable with that customization. Thankfully, there is a pretty awesome Steam community behind the controller, and there are loads of different profiles for different games out there, so if you don’t want to do too much of the heavy lifting, you can get a helping hand.

That’s actually one of the places that the Steam Controller shines, as it can work on pretty much any game, even if the game itself doesn’t support game controllers, which is pretty cool.

Steam Controller vs. Mouse and Keyboard

Ultimately though, the Steam Controller was made as an alternative to a mouse and keyboard, and how effective it is at doing that varies with use on a person to person basis. Realistically, if you’re already sitting at a desk and have a mouse and keyboard right in front of you, there’s very little motivation to actually use the Steam controller.

On the other hand, if you have a Steam box or living room gaming system, the Steam Controller is incredibly handy, as you don’t have to find some weird or uncomfortable solution to having a keyboard and mouse.

Personally, I think the people who will be served the most by the Steam controller are those who either want a lot of control over the customization, or people who might have accessibility issues where using thumbs is much easier than controlling a mouse. Luckily, it does support both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, which is pretty good when we’re talking about the utility.

All that being said, it’s not a bad controller by any means, it’s just different, and how much mileage you get out of it will vary a lot by your actual needs. Since it’s not a traditional controller that essentially works out of the box for most games, it does take a bit more effort to use. Whether that’s an effort you want to expend is pretty much something only you can answer.

Steam Controller Design

The whole ‘alternative’ aspect of the Steam controller actually manages to make its way into the design as well, and at first glance, it can certainly look a little wonky. Once you actually use it and spend some time with it though, you start to get comfortable with it very quickly. It’s one of those things where your brain just filters out the odd information over time, so you don’t really notice the issue as much.

Of course, it’s still a little bit odd, and the two trackpads will probably throw anybody into a spin when it’s first used. They do look and feel pretty great though, and the haptic feedback means you aren’t always wondering if it’s sensing your inputs or not. Not to mention that they’re pretty striking to look at.

The shoulder and trigger buttons are pretty standard like you’d find on most controllers, although they certain mold into the shape pretty well while feeling pretty solid. The standout here though is probably the paddles in the back, which are both an interesting inclusion and add some variety into how you can control a game.

Incidentally, the cover in the back that holds the paddles comes out with an easy push of a button right below the controller, which gives you access to the battery compartment for easy replacement. The top also has a micro-USB slot if you’d rather use the controller wired rather than wirelessly.

So in terms of functionality, it’s actually pretty impressive.

The only really weird thing that I’d mention is the four XYBA buttons, which are placed off-center . . . toward the center of the whole controller. This can sometimes be a double-edged sword, as having them so close to each other means that you aren’t doing a ton of moment to control a game (which is useful in combat for example), but on the other hand, it will certainly take a bit of getting used to.

Aside from that, you get two arrow key buttons, which are essentially just ‘start’ and ‘select’ buttons, as well as a big ole’ Steam key in the middle which opens up the Steam UI. These are nothing fancy or cool to look at like the Xbox logo is on the Xbox controller.

Steam Controller Pricing & Alternative

The Steam controller currently goes for more than $100, which is a bit expensive compared to the base controllers for the PS4 and Xbox, although not too far off what you might pay for special editions. The reason it costs a pretty penny is probably due to availability, as the market for Steam Controllers is pretty small, so they don’t produce as many, which would bring the price down significantly.

Of course, if you’re looking for an alternative to the steam controller that is a bit more user-friendly and still works on the PC, you can go for an Xbox Wireless Controller that retails for way less than the Steam Controller. If you are going to use it on the PC and need a guide, we have a great one on how to connect an Xbox controller to a PC.

If you’d like something a bit cheaper and don’t mind it being wired, there’s the Logitech Gamepad F710, which goes for more than half the price…

Honestly, though, I don’t really think there’s a proper alternative to the Steam Controller, especially given the functionality it offers and the two trackpads.

Steam Controller FAQs:

Is the Steam Controller Better than Xbox Controller?

Yes and no. In terms of functionality, the Steam controller is pretty unbeatable, as you can change pretty much anything about it that you want except its physical properties.

On the other hand, the Xbox controller works right out of the box, so you don’t have to play around with settings and customizations.

Do I Need a Steam Controller?

If you have the budget to purchase it, you should probably give it some hefty consideration. While you don’t technically need the Steam controller, it can be very useful in certain circumstances.

What Games Are Compatible With the Steam Controller?

Pretty much any game on Steam is compatible with a Steam controller, is the controller itself uses a general config that works with the game to essentially replace your standard mouse and keyboard inputs.

Does the Steam Controller use Bluetooth?

Absolutely, and it uses Wi-Fi as well so you have both options at your disposal.

Steam Controller: Final Verdict

As you can see, the Steam controller is a bit like a chameleon; it can work great in one circumstance for one person, but be completely useless in the same exact circumstance for another. Of course, if you relish the idea of a controller you can customize to your heart’s content, then you should certainly grab on, as you won’t be disappointed. I mean, there’s a good reason we included it in our list of the highest-quality PC controllers.

Performance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

In terms of customization of usability, this controller has some of the best performance around. Everything is responsive and the controller is well built. The only reason it didn’t get a perfect score for this is that a lot of users may find the controller difficult to get into

Design: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The overall design is excellent and it looks striking and interesting. That being said, the lack of a ‘normal’ movement pad and the two conflicting parts of how to use it can be a pain.

Price: ⭐⭐⭐

This is a bit more difficult to pin because it’s a little bit expensive for what it is and it’s constructive. Sure, it’s innovative and interesting, but is $100 or so really worth the price for it?

Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

While the Steam Controller has some issues, for the most part, it’s a pretty good controller for those who need extra customization or have accessibility issues. Yes, it’s a bit pricey, but for some, it could be well worth the cost. If you get the Steam Controller, you might want to focus on some great F2P Steam games and allow your budget to recover.

If you’re looking for a new gaming PC to complement your Steam Controller, we recommend looking into Alienware Aurora R8 or the latest HP Omen 880.