PC gaming has become increasingly popular over the last decade, with many developers now porting their games to popular desktop platforms like Steam and the Epic Games Store, and PCs offering objectively better graphics (and often higher frame rates) than consoles. An added benefit of playing a game on PC rather than on a console is the ability to choose between using a mouse and keyboard or a controller.
There are multiple benefits to playing games on either a mouse and keyboard or a controller, with a mouse and keyboard generally favoring precision and camera speed, and a controller typically aiding in character movement and skill execution. At the end of the day, it comes down to personal preference, as most of these issues do. That being said, there are some games that offer much better gameplay with a controller.
10 Remnant II
Remnant II is a third-person looter-shooter by Gunfire Games, and is the highly anticipated sequel to Remnant: From the Ashes. Often described as "Dark Souls with guns," Remnant II equips players with up to two guns and a melee weapon and sends them through levels in which almost everything is procedurally generated, including a region's aesthetic.
While it could be said that Remnant II is better played with a mouse and keyboard due to its gunplay requiring the precision of a mouse, movement in Remnant II is vitally important, as it is with most Soulslike video games. As such, a controller is necessary for more precise omnidirectional movement. Additionally, the aim assist feature in Remnant II assures that its controller users can make precise shots when needed.
9 Middle-earth Series
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and Middle-earth: Shadow of War are two of the best Lord of the Rings games ever made. They introduced the critically acclaimed "Nemesis system," in which enemies can remember their encounters with the player and react accordingly. Shadow of War improved the already successful system by procedurally generating orcs and allowing players to fight and recruit them.
Although the Middle-earth series certainly places an emphasis on stealth, it is an action game at its core, giving players a wide range of abilities to use in its free-flow combat, inspired by the Batman: Arkham series. Players will find playing the Middle-earth series with a controller to be more beneficial than with a mouse and keyboard, as the fast-paced battles and vast array of skills demand a combat readiness that only controllers can provide.
8 Horizon Zero Dawn
Horizon Zero Dawn and its sequel Horizon Forbidden West are considered graphical masterpieces and two of the best-looking games ever released. On top of that, they serve up engaging narratives, brilliant character development, exciting combat, and rewarding exploration. Although Horizon Forbidden West has yet to be released on PC, Zero Dawn is currently available on Steam and the Epic Games Store.
Third-person games are generally better played on a controller, and Horizon Zero Dawn is no exception. Although a mouse and keyboard can certainly help with aiming Aloy's bow and other ranged weapons, almost every other action, including movement and the use of abilities, is better performed on a controller.
7 Assassin's Creed Series
Assassin's Creed is to Ubisoft what The Elder Scrolls is to Bethesda. Assassin's Creed is Ubisoft's golden child, and will likely continue to be for some time. Although the series has gone through its share of setbacks, it continues to be one of the most popular and recognizable franchises to this day.
It's difficult to deny that Assassin's Creed was built for a controller, as it seems so many of each game's mechanics are controller-friendly. The only thing a mouse and keyboard can really help with in any Assassin's Creed game is the camera's movement speed. However, this isn't entirely necessary, as there is almost never any need to quickly look behind or beside the player character.
6 Elden Ring
Elden Ring is an action RPG developed by FromSoftware that earned such critical acclaim that it was named 2022's Game of the Year. Unlike the majority of Dark Souls games, Elden Ring is a much more accessible experience and places a greater emphasis on exploration and discovery.
As was previously stated with Remannt II, Soulslike games like Elden Ring require precise movement, as many of them revolve around evading an enemy's attacks during combat. As such, Elden Ring is much easier with a controller. Additionally, powerful attacks require the use of two keys on a keyboard, whereas they only require the use of triggers on a controller.
5 God of War (2018) and God of War Ragnarök
God of War (2018) and God of War Ragnarök have taken the world by storm in recent years, as the 2018 title won Game of the Year, and Ragnarök just barely lost to Elden Ring in 2022. The two titles continue the story of an older Kratos, with much of their narratives revolving around Kratos' relationship with his son Atreus.
It could be said that it's better to play any God of War game with a controller, but that especially applies to the two more recent titles released in the last five years. These games were clearly designed for a controller, as the camera stays very close to the player character and combat is generally more melee-focused than it is ranged.
4 Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade
Final Fantasy VII Remake is the first game in a trilogy of complete remakes of the 1997 Square Enix classic Final Fantasy VII. Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade was released as an enhanced version of the game, with additional scenes and an extra playable mission centering around the character of Yuffie Kisaragi.
Unlike the original Final Fantasy VII's turn-based Active Time Battle system, the Final Fantasy VII Remake incorporates real-time action into its combat by allowing players to move around freely during battles. Because of this, Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade is better played with a controller, as controllers typically favor movement and the use of abilities.
3 Star Wars Jedi Series
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and its sequel Star Wars Jedi: Survivor are two of the best games set in the galaxy far, far away, and while Ubisoft's upcoming Star Wars Outlaws might become a contender, the Star Wars Jedi series will likely remain at the top when it comes to authentic Jedi experiences. No other games before it have made players feel like a true Jedi quite like this series.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor both rely on fast movement and reaction time from the player, so it's best to use a controller when playing each of them. The accessibility of controls and omnidirectional movement that controllers provide make for a much smoother combat experience than a mouse and keyboard.
2 Batman: Arkham Series
Widely recognized as some of the best superhero video games ever made, the Batman: Arkham series is responsible for improving and pioneering a combat system that has continually influenced games like it. The consistently engaging narrative throughout each game, its memorable characters, its excellent world design, and its rhythmic free-flow combat all make for an authentic and unforgettable Batman experience.
Due to the rhythmic nature of Batman: Arkham's combat, it's most beneficial to use a controller when playing it. Arkham's combat relies heavily on precise timing and movement, and since it is generally not fast-paced, there is really no need for the speed that a mouse and keyboard can provide.
1 Marvel's Spider-Man Series
Insomniac's Marvel's Spider-Man and Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales are two of the greatest superhero games ever made, next to the Batman: Arkham series. While their open worlds were criticized for a lack of innovation, their combat, narratives, and characterization have all contributed to their massive success.
As it is with most third-person games of this genre, Marvel's Spider-Man and Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales are better on a controller than they are on a mouse and keyboard. Using a mouse and keyboard will typically result in a very unintuitive and clunky experience, and since these games are meant to feel smooth and rhythmic, they are best played with a controller.