A simulation can only be as good as the interface through you experience it, so a good PC flight joystick is critical to the flight sim experience. There are a wide variety of joysticks available, and they range in price from as little as $20 to over $300. Let's take a look at some of the best joysticks on the market today.
Why it's best: If you're looking for the most realistic flight sim experience possible you'll certainly want to give this Saitek system consideration. It consists of two parts – a joystick and a throttle controller – for maximum realism.
The joystick is a comfortable and filled with features. It includes four 8-way hat controls, 5 buttons, and force-sensing rudder control. The throttle is even more impressive, as it is a double-throttle design. If you're flying a twin-engine jet in a flight sim you'll be able to set the throttle for each engine individually. The throttle also includes one mouse hat, four 8-way hats, one K-switch, four position switches, one scroll selector and two rotary controls. If you know what all those controls are for this is probably the best controller for you.
Of course, these features don't come free. The Saitek Pro-Flight X65F typically costs around $330. That's a heck of a lot, but it's worth it if you're really into flight sims. See more reviews, photos, prices, and specs
Why it's a best pick: The well-built CH Products Fighterstick will appeal to flight sim fans who want a joystick that feels extremely solid. The Fighterstick is a heavy controller, which means it will stay put during even your most extreme maneuvers, and user reviews indicate that the joystick holds up well to abuse. The product is backed up by a 2-year warranty, which is better than the 1-year warranty provided by most joystick manufacturers.
The Fighterstick isn't a slouch when it comes to features, either. It includes three 4-way hat switches, 1 eight-way hat switch, and four buttons on the stick. Two rotrary wheels are included for trim adjustments and a throttle wheel can be found at the base of the stick.
The Figherstick is sold alone for around $120, which isn't bad for such a well-built product. A throttle controller is available separately for about the same price. See more reviews, photos, prices, and specs
Why it's a best pick: A step down from the Saitek 65F, the X52 Pro is offers the same package with fewer features. The build quality of the X52 Pro is not as impressive as the X65F or the Fighterstick, however, and this seems to show in user reviews. The X52 Pro has a 4-star overall user rating on Newegg, and most negative reviews mention problems with long-term reliability.
Still, the X52 Pro packs in a lot of features. It has four primary buttons, a two-stage trigger, two 8-way hat switches, rudder twist, a rotary mode selector, and three based-mounted toggle switches. The throttle includes two buttons, a scroll wheel, a mouse controller, one 8-way hat switch and two rotary controls.
The X52 Pro is sold as a package with the joystick and the throttle control for $200. This is a reasonable price for such a package. If you'd like a joystick and throttle, but you're on a limited budget, the X52 Pro is a good choice. See more reviews, photos, prices, and specs
Why it's a best pick: The joysticks and controllers we've discussed so far are excellent, but their prices are too high for casual flight sim enthusiasts. They're also not optimal for arcade flight games.
Enter the Thustmaster T.16000M. This joystick is built for the average gamer. Its features include one multi-direction hat, 12 reprogrammable base buttons, three stick buttons and a throttle. This is a bit weak for a true sim, but it's perfect for less realistic games. Thrustmaster knows this, and ships the controller with a copy of Tom Clancy's HAWX.
The price is typically $80, which is far more palatable. Surprisingly, the T.16000M includes a two year warranty. If you're looking for a solid, basic joystick the Thrustmaster T.16000M is it. See more reviews, photos, prices, and specs
Why it's a best pick: The Logitech Extreme 3D Pro is bargain-priced joystick for gamers who don't take their flight games too seriously. It is built well enough, but it pales in comparison to the Thustmaster joystick, nevermind the Fighterstick. It is made entirely of relatively cheap plastic and probably won't last as long as more expensive options. It is, however, around $25 – you could go through five of these before you'd exceed the price of a Fighterstick.
While lacking in quality, the Extreme 3D Pro makes up for it with buttons. It has twelve reprogrammable buttons including four on the stick, one multi-directional hat switch and a throttle. These are the basic controls you'll need for an arcade-style flight game. This joystick won't impress, but it is a good option if you only play flight games occasionally and can't justify the price of better joysticks. See more reviews, photos, prices, and specs
Amazon.com$22.99
