Not interested in the past titles with limited control buttons for setup
Not interested in the past titles with limited control buttons for setup
Hi everyone. I've been a PC gamer for about 25 years. However, in the past few years I've decided to stop. The main issue is that most games demand a lot of key presses on the keyboard, which feels too complicated—especially for console titles. Gosh, I miss Doom and II where you only used arrow keys and shooting buttons. Most modern games require many keys, making it hard for me, especially since I need to react quickly and I'm 45. I've never tried using any controllers. I played all my games with a keyboard and mouse (hundreds of titles). Recently I own a wired Xbox controller but haven't used it much. What do you think? Should I give it a try? Is it easy to adapt? Can it work well for FPS games? Which games would be suitable?
I've spent a lot of time playing PC games and often get annoyed with titles that have too many buttons. For about 20 years I've relied only on a mouse and keyboard. About 2-3 years ago I switched to a controller for most single-player, non-competitive games because of arthritis issues. It took me just a few hours to get used to it, and a couple weeks to feel confident with it. Comfort and ergonomic controls really matter—nothing beats a well-designed controller. I'm a bit disappointed I didn't try one sooner. Edited October 29, 2025 by ItTakes2ToMango added a salty comment
Check if your current controller is up-to-date. The latest models, such as those for PS5, offer better performance. Playing FPS games requires using the right controller for optimal experience.
It's fine enough as it is. Which FPS titles are you referring to? I'm not into competitive games with a controller—just general play. For instance, I'm currently using a controller to play Cyberpunk 2077 and just finished Kingdom Come Deliverance 1 on the same device. It's smooth at around 1 FPS, mostly melee-focused, which is great. For single-player FPS games, I don't know any that require such high speeds. Also, aim assist makes sense for a reason.
Besides COD and Battlefield, you shouldn't face much difficulty using a controller on these titles. However, for COD and BF, getting comfortable would definitely come with time, even if it would be longer than in the other games.
The main reasons to use a mouse and keyboard in games are: 1 – you require the accuracy of a mouse, such as in first-person shooters or point-and-click management games; 2 – the numerous input commands make a full keyboard necessary. This could stem from UI design choices on the game itself or simply from the complexity of the game, which I likely won’t enjoy. Almost everything else is played with a controller, though FPS can work fine with one as well, but I personally don’t prefer it.
I genuinely think many modern PC titles offer impressive default setups (though I usually remap melee and grenade buttons). However, I tend to lose interest if a game feels overly complex—like in Witcher or Dragon Age—and the mechanics become confusing, leading me to stop playing. Regarding controllers, most games recognize them automatically without any setup. Some require an extra step with an X-map, but you’ll often find ready-made profiles online. Getting used to a controller can take time; it might feel like your abilities are missing and you’re just a beginner. But persistence pays off—within hours you’ll adapt, and after a few hundred hours the difference fades. In fast-paced shooters, though, you might still miss the finesse of a mouse. If you enjoy controller play and want a special feel, I recommend the Elite controller. I fell in love with it right away—it fits perfectly in my hand. This experience probably stems from my early Xbox days (original and 360). While I mostly play M/K, I occasionally need a controller for co-op games like Abzu or It Takes Two, and I always use the Elite.
It seems you're questioning whether most games have enough content, but overall it looks manageable. Modern titles tend to be more straightforward, with only certain games feeling overly complex. I've played around 50 in WoW and found it quite balanced. I don't rely on a controller and find it less suitable for many types of games. Personally, I prefer MMOs much more. This should apply to most games except for obvious FPS and RTS titles.