What is the best joystick or controller for Microsoft Flight Simulator?
Compare the best flight simulator controls for PC, Xbox and PS5, with joystick, HOTAS, yoke and gamepad picks for MSFS 2024 and 2020.
For most Microsoft Flight Simulator pilots, the best controller is a joystick with smooth centre response, twist rudder, an integrated throttle and a hatswitch. Our all-round PC pick is the VKB Gladiator NXT EVO; on Xbox, it is the Turtle Beach VelocityOne Flightstick. Casual pilots can stay with a gamepad.
This advice covers Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020. MSFS 2024 supports PC, Xbox Series X|S, PS5 and PS5 Pro; MSFS 2020 was never released for PlayStation. Their control menus and default profiles differ, but the hardware buying decision is much the same.
Best flight simulator controls for PC, Xbox and PS5
The best flight simulator controls depend on your platform, preferred aircraft and available desk space.
| Controller | Best for | Why it stands out | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xbox Wireless Controller | Casual PC or Xbox flying | Compact, familiar and particularly convenient for cameras and cockpit interaction | Short thumbstick travel makes fine pitch and roll corrections harder |
| DualSense wireless controller | Casual MSFS 2024 flying on PS5 | The dependable starting point for the PlayStation version, with no separate flight hardware required | A gamepad cannot match the precision or control travel of a proper flight stick |
| Logitech G Extreme 3D Pro | Low-cost first PC joystick | Twist rudder, a throttle slider, hatswitch and a practical button layout | Its older potentiometer-based design can develop centre jitter or axis noise with wear |
| VKB Gladiator NXT EVO Space Combat Edition | Best all-round PC joystick | Precise centre control, twist rudder, a base throttle and plenty of useful inputs | PC only, and MSFS may require manual binding rather than a complete default profile |
| Turtle Beach VelocityOne Flightstick | Best joystick for MSFS on Xbox | Explicit Xbox support, integrated power controls and enough inputs for a useful console profile | Its power levers are not a substitute for a full-size separate throttle |
| Thrustmaster T.Flight HOTAS One | Simple Xbox HOTAS setup | A supported stick-and-throttle combination with twist rudder | Centre control is less refined than on stronger PC-only joysticks |
| Turtle Beach VelocityOne Flight | Combined Xbox or PC yoke setup | Yoke and power controls in one package for general aviation and airliner flying | Needs considerably more desk space than a joystick |
Availability and pricing change by region, so we would not choose solely because of a short-lived discount. Platform support, centre precision and an appropriate layout matter more than lighting or a large advertised button count.
Best flight simulator controls for PC
The VKB Gladiator NXT EVO is our best flight sim joystick for PC because it combines accurate pitch and roll control with twist yaw and a usable base throttle.
Windows also has the broadest peripheral support. An older USB joystick may work even when MSFS has no ready-made profile, provided Windows detects its axes and buttons. At the lower end, the Logitech Extreme 3D Pro remains a sensible first stick when priced appropriately; our lower-cost PC joystick recommendations explain the alternatives and their compromises.
Best Xbox flight simulator controls
The Turtle Beach VelocityOne Flightstick is the strongest one-piece Xbox choice, while the Thrustmaster T.Flight HOTAS One suits pilots who specifically want a separate throttle.
Check the exact product variant before buying. A joystick working over USB on Windows does not make it Xbox-compatible, and similarly named PC and Xbox editions can contain different electronics. Cloud streaming adds another restriction: use a gamepad unless the service and device explicitly support flight-peripheral passthrough.
Which controls should PS5 pilots buy?
The DualSense controller is the safest starting point for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 on PS5 and PS5 Pro.
MSFS 2024 is the first Flight Simulator released for PlayStation, and compatibility must be confirmed for each joystick, throttle or pedal set. A PlayStation-branded peripheral is not automatically guaranteed to have a working MSFS profile. Before buying for any console, use our PC, Xbox and PS5 controller compatibility check to verify the exact model and platform edition.
Should I buy a gamepad, joystick, HOTAS or yoke?
A twist-rudder joystick offers the best balance of accuracy, versatility, price and storage for most MSFS pilots.
| Control type | Choose it when | Compromise |
|---|---|---|
| Gamepad | You fly casually, play from a sofa or need controls that are easy to store | Limited control travel and too few convenient bindings for complex aircraft |
| Joystick with twist rudder | You want one device capable of flying light aircraft, airliners, helicopters and fast jets | It does not reproduce the cockpit layout of a yoke-equipped aircraft |
| HOTAS | You want a separate throttle and many controls available without reaching for the keyboard | It occupies more space, and combat-oriented layouts do not always suit civil aircraft |
| Yoke and throttle quadrant | You mainly fly yoke-equipped general aviation aircraft, turboprops or Boeing-style airliners | Most yokes provide no natural yaw control, making pedals or another rudder axis desirable |
| Rudder pedals | You regularly fly taildraggers, helicopters or crosswind approaches | They add cost, floor-space requirements and another axis that can conflict with existing bindings |
A mistake we see repeatedly is buying the most cockpit-like equipment before checking mounting space and yaw control. A premium yoke without a practical rudder input can be less useful than a good mid-range joystick with twist rudder. Pilots committed to general aviation or Boeing-style flying should compare the best yoke options for MSFS 2024 before choosing a stick.
What makes the best joystick for Microsoft Flight Simulator?
The best joystick for Microsoft Flight Simulator has predictable movement around the centre, dependable yaw control and enough accessible inputs for the functions used on every flight.
- Smooth breakout force: the stick should start moving without a sudden jump. This is especially valuable during rotation, the landing flare and helicopter work.
- Twist rudder: choose this for an all-in-one setup unless you already own pedals. A lockable twist mechanism is useful if pedals will be added later.
- Integrated throttle: even a small lever provides better power control than repeated keyboard presses.
- Hatswitch and reachable buttons: prioritise elevator trim, brakes, flaps, camera reset and autopilot disconnect over a high but awkward button count.
- Stable base or mounting points: a precise mechanism is wasted if the base slides or lifts during full control inputs.
- Grip size and handedness: some grips are designed primarily for the right hand. Check button reach and comfort before choosing a side-specific model.
- Reliable axes: contactless sensors can reduce wear, but check which axes use them. Some products retain potentiometers for twist or throttle.
Sensor type alone does not determine whether a joystick is good. Spring design, mechanical play, grip comfort and firmware also affect control quality. A clean, inexpensive potentiometer-based stick can fly well; a badly designed contactless stick can still feel imprecise.
Which flight sim controls suit each type of aircraft?
A conventional joystick is the safest mixed-fleet choice, while specialised controls make more sense once one aircraft category dominates your flying.
Airbus and other sidestick airliners
A sidestick with a separate throttle most closely matches Airbus cockpit ergonomics.
The Thrustmaster TCA Airbus range is the obvious themed family, but check the exact suffix and platform designation because its PC and console variants are not interchangeable. A conventional joystick remains fully functional; matching the grip shape does not change the aircraft's flight model.
General aviation, turboprops and Boeing-style airliners
A yoke and throttle quadrant provide the most convincing long-term layout for aircraft fitted with a yoke.
This arrangement makes pitch inputs, power changes and multi-engine management feel more natural. It also occupies more space, and pedals become more valuable because most yokes do not include a conventional yaw axis.
Helicopters and taildraggers
A precise joystick and rudder pedals are more useful than a premium yoke for helicopters and taildraggers.
Both demand frequent, graduated yaw input. A self-centring desktop joystick remains a compromise compared with dedicated helicopter controls, and an ordinary throttle is not a true collective, but this setup is far easier to manage than a gamepad or yoke.
Mixed fleets and first serious setups
A twist-rudder joystick is the best first upgrade when you regularly switch between light aircraft, airliners, helicopters and military types.
It improves precision immediately, stores easily and remains useful after adding pedals or a separate throttle. That upgrade path wastes less money than building a fixed cockpit before learning which aircraft you fly most.
Is an Xbox controller good enough for Microsoft Flight Simulator?
Yes, an Xbox controller is good enough for sightseeing, training flights and casual instrument flying, but a joystick is noticeably better for landings, taxiing and helicopter control.
The main limitation is physical travel. A few millimetres of thumbstick movement must represent the aircraft's full control range, so tiny corrections during a flare or crosswind are harder to judge. The same limitation applies to the DualSense on PS5.
- Keep the gamepad when: convenience, storage and sofa play matter most.
- Upgrade to a joystick when: you over-control in turbulence, fight the aircraft during the flare or struggle to hold a stable pitch and bank angle.
- Add pedals when: crosswind rudder, taildragger ground handling or helicopter anti-torque control becomes a regular part of your flying.
Do I need rudder pedals and a separate throttle?
No, neither is essential when your joystick already has twist rudder and a throttle axis.
Pedals make the larger difference for taildraggers, helicopters, coordinated turns and crosswind landings. Models with independent toe-brake axes also improve differential braking during taxiing. With a conventional yoke, pedals move from an optional extra to a practical part of the setup.
A separate throttle is most useful for multi-engine aircraft, airliners, or propeller and mixture management. Extra levers do not improve pitch and roll precision, so buy the better joystick first if the budget forces a choice.
Why does a new joystick feel wrong in Microsoft Flight Simulator?
Most poor new-joystick experiences come from duplicate bindings, digital commands assigned instead of analogue axes, reversed inputs or excessive dead zones.
- Test the hardware first. On Windows, open
joy.cpl, select the device and inspect its properties. Every axis should move smoothly, reach its expected travel and return consistently to centre. - Create a clean MSFS profile. Open the simulator's control settings and remove assignments you do not need. Do not assume the default profile is correct for every revision of the same controller.
- Bind analogue axis commands. Assign pitch, roll, rudder and throttle to commands containing
Axis. Digital commands such as aileron left or elevator up behave like keyboard presses and make an analogue stick feel abrupt. - Remove duplicate inputs. When adding pedals, unbind joystick twist from rudder unless you deliberately need both. Check the gamepad, keyboard, throttle and other connected devices for overlapping pitch, roll, yaw, brake or power assignments.
- Check direction and full travel. A reversed throttle or brake axis can leave power, spoilers or brakes partly applied. Reverse only the individual axis whose physical direction is wrong.
- Tune sensitivity conservatively. Add only enough dead zone to stop genuine centre jitter. If the aircraft is twitchy, soften response near the centre rather than creating a large dead area followed by a sudden input.
- Review assistance options. Assisted rudder, take-off assistance and related handling aids can fight or mask a physical controller. Disable only the aid affecting the input you are diagnosing.
The exact menus differ between MSFS releases, so follow our MSFS 2024 and 2020 joystick setup walkthrough for the full binding and sensitivity process. Start with elevator trim, brakes, flaps, landing gear, view reset and autopilot disconnect rather than trying to fill every button immediately.
Which MSFS controller should I buy?
Buy a twist-rudder joystick unless your platform, preferred aircraft or seating arrangement gives you a clear reason to choose something else.
- Best casual controller: Xbox Wireless Controller on PC or Xbox; DualSense on PS5.
- Best low-cost PC joystick: Logitech G Extreme 3D Pro, provided its price reflects the older design.
- Best all-round PC joystick: VKB Gladiator NXT EVO Space Combat Edition.
- Best Xbox flight stick: Turtle Beach VelocityOne Flightstick.
- Best simple Xbox HOTAS: Thrustmaster T.Flight HOTAS One.
- Best combined Xbox or PC yoke package: Turtle Beach VelocityOne Flight, with pedals as the logical later addition.
If you are buying one device, a good joystick produces the largest improvement over a gamepad and works across the widest range of aircraft. Choose a yoke first only when yoke-equipped general aviation, turboprops or Boeing-style airliners are your clear priority and you have space for the wider setup.