Best joystick and throttle combinations for MSFS 2024?
Compare the best joystick and throttle combinations for MSFS 2024, with picks for PC, Xbox, PS5, Airbus, GA, twin-engine and budget flying.
For most PC pilots, the best Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 joystick and throttle combination is the VKB Gladiator NXT EVO plus VKB STECS: precise, modular and available with twist rudder. Choose the Thrustmaster TCA Captain Pack X for Airbus flying or Xbox, and the T.16000M FCS HOTAS when value matters.
Which joystick and throttle combination should you buy?
The right combination depends on your platform, preferred aircraft and need for independent engine levers.
| Best for | Joystick and throttle | Why we recommend it | Main drawback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best all-round PC combination | VKB Gladiator NXT EVO and VKB STECS | Accurate controls, adjustable centring, good button capacity and separate throttle levers. A twist-equipped grip removes the immediate need for pedals. | PC only, with several STECS configurations to choose between. |
| Airbus and Xbox flying | Thrustmaster TCA Captain Pack X Airbus Edition | Airbus-style sidestick, twin thrust levers, reverse range and useful flap and speed-brake controls. The X edition supports PC and Xbox. | The throttle detents feel less natural with general aviation aircraft and require aircraft-specific profiles. |
| Lower-cost PC setup | Thrustmaster T.16000M FCS HOTAS | Precise main stick axes, twist rudder and a separate TWCS sliding throttle in one established package. | The throttle has only one main power lever, while the twist axis and throttle rail can develop noise or friction with wear. |
| Premium PC controls | VIRPIL Constellation Alpha grip, compatible VPC base and MongoosT-50CM3 throttle | Highly adjustable feel, extensive controls and split throttles suited to complex aircraft. | Expensive, physically large and best used with desk or cockpit mounts. The base, grip and throttle may be sold separately. |
| Twin-engine controls in one package | Logitech X56 HOTAS | Two throttle levers and plenty of switches without assembling a modular system. | The grip is large, and USB power or duplicate-input problems can cause ghost commands on some systems. |
| Compact console setup | Thrustmaster T.Flight HOTAS One for Xbox or T.Flight HOTAS 4 for PS5 | Accessible integrated throttle and stick packages made for their respective console families. | Far fewer axes and controls than modular PC systems. Confirm explicit MSFS 2024 support for the exact console model before buying. |
If you are also considering a yoke, gamepad or stick without a separate throttle, see our broader comparison of MSFS sticks, HOTAS units and other controllers.
Can you mix joystick and throttle brands?
On PC, the joystick and throttle do not need to come from the same manufacturer. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 sees each USB device separately, so a VKB stick can work with a Thrustmaster, VIRPIL or Logitech throttle.
Mixing brands is more restrictive on consoles because ordinary PC USB controllers are not recognised. Use hardware explicitly licensed for Xbox or PlayStation and supported by MSFS 2024; a console logo alone does not guarantee that a particular simulator accepts the device.
Separate devices also need separate bindings and profiles. Our guide to combining a joystick with a throttle quadrant covers that workflow without requiring matching brands.
Do you need rudder pedals as well?
You can start without pedals if the joystick has a twist rudder axis, but pedals are the better choice for helicopters, taildraggers and precise crosswind control.
- VKB Gladiator NXT EVO: choose a grip configuration with twist if you do not own pedals.
- TCA Airbus and T.16000M: both provide twist rudder control.
- Thrustmaster Warthog: the stick has no twist axis, so pedals or another rudder control are effectively required.
- Premium modular sticks: check the exact grip rather than assuming twist is included.
The Warthog remains popular because of its metal construction and substantial throttle, but its stiff centre and lack of twist make it less convincing for light general aviation than newer adjustable designs. Existing owners can use our Warthog binding guide for Microsoft Flight Simulator to adapt it for GA flying.
What matters most when choosing a combination?
Axis layout matters more than the number of buttons printed on the box.
- General aviation and bush flying: prioritise a smooth centre, fine pitch control and twist rudder or pedals. The VKB combination is our strongest all-round choice.
- Airbus aircraft: choose the TCA Captain Pack for its sidestick, twin levers and Airbus-style detents.
- Twin-engine aircraft: buy a throttle with two independently assignable levers. STECS, TCA, VIRPIL and X56 provide this; the TWCS throttle does not.
- Helicopters: an adjustable stick with light centring is more useful than a heavily sprung combat stick. A conventional throttle can work initially, but it does not reproduce a collective.
- Small desks: account for the throttle footprint and stick height. Premium controls can be uncomfortable when placed directly on a high desktop.
How should the controls be configured in MSFS 2024?
Even the best HOTAS feels poor when default bindings leave two devices controlling the same axis.
- Create named profiles: keep separate profiles for general aviation, Airbus aircraft, helicopters and other types with unusual detents.
- Bind each flight axis once: assign the joystick to the aileron, elevator and rudder axes, then assign the throttle to either the general throttle axis or individual engine axes. Do not bind both versions simultaneously.
- Remove unwanted defaults: clear throttle, mixture, propeller and rudder assignments from gamepads or unused levers if they move cockpit controls unexpectedly.
- Calibrate before changing sensitivity: verify full travel, centre position, dead zones and throttle detents. Aircraft with an EFB may also require their own idle and reverse-thrust calibration.
A mistake we see constantly is using large dead zones to hide an incorrect binding or bad calibration. Follow our MSFS 2024 joystick and throttle calibration procedure first; add only enough dead zone to stop genuine centre jitter.
Throttle detents are not universal. An Airbus idle or reverse position may correspond to the wrong power setting in a turboprop or piston aircraft, which is why aircraft-specific control profiles are essential rather than optional.