Every gamer is familiar with awful controllers like the
Power Glove. But what about the real diamonds in the rough? The controllers so bad you just have to buy them. We’ve scoured the last few decades of gaming to bring you some of the
weirdest controllers in the world, but with a twist. Despite looking completely bizarre, each of these controllers is secretly awesome in its own way. So scroll on and be
surprised.
48
U-Force Controller The U-Force NES controller was a genuine glimpse of the future. Watching kids play games just by waving their hands over this futuristic interface looked like Star Trek brought to life.
49
OnaCon This is exactly what it looks like: a Fleshlight-style controller to help players enjoy scintillating titles like 3D Custom Girl. Once you get over the secondhand embarrassment, you have to admire their dedication to the pervert market.
50
ASCII Keyboard Controller This bulky monster was made for playing Phantasy Star Online on the Gamecube. People make fun of it, but once you find a comfy position, an integrated keyboard and controller are very versatile.
51
NES Hands-Free Controller The idea of playing NES with one hand may make you think someone is a little too eager to find the princess (if you know what we mean). However, this was actually designed as one of the first controllers for gamers with disabilities.
52
Namco Jogcon Aside from the lack of analogue controls, this looks like a normal Playstation controller. What’s up with the thing in the middle, then? Simple: it’s a force-feedback wheel to help you better control your car in Ridge Racer IV.
53
Rez Trance Vibrator We get it: the idea of an official Playstation 2 vibrator is pretty funny. But once you get over all the sexy possibilities, this offers the perfect way for you to feel each beat and each bass drop in Rez.
54
Rail Driver and Ship Driver controllers The people who sink all of their gaming dollars into things like train and sailing simulations are already a breed apart. It was only a matter of time before someone made them special controllers.
55
Namco NeGcon This is another attempt from Namco to make an at-home racing game controller. The ability to swivel each side of the controller really did make racing easier and more comfortable.
56
Mortal Kombat Kontrol Pad Playstation Controller Using this controller took a lot of time because you had to track down different SMART cards for various characters. Once you had them though you could play Mortal Kombat and perform special moves and even fatalities with a single button!
57
Fire Dragon USB Controller This USB controller looks like something Indiana Jones would “borrow” for a museum. It looks great, and it’s surprisingly comfortable to hold and use.
58
Steel Battalion Controller This controller looks less like an XBox peripheral and more like you tore a chunk out of an arcade game. But it successfully turned the original XBox into the cockpit of a Gundam-style fighter.
59
DJ Hero Deck The DJ Hero turntable didn’t do much beyond help you play DJ Hero. But it helped you feel that much more like a DJ, and modern programmers are creating new uses for these controllers every year.
60
Konami DDR Hand Pad It’s easy to make fun of this Dance Dance Revolution Hand Pad. But not everybody had the space or budget for the lifesize pad, and this made DDR more accessible to gamers all over the world.
61
Sonic Screwdriver Wiimote The Wiimote already looks a bit like the famous Sonic Screwdriver from Doctor Who. This controller makes the connection explicit with an awesome design and 100% Wiimote functionality.
62
Donkey Konga Bongos You can only use the Donkey Konga Bongos to play Donkey Konga titles. But this controller turns those rhythm games into a truly immersive experience.
63
Tony Hawk Ride Skateboard This skateboard controller was far from perfect. But it used cool design and built-in accelerometers to make virtual skating seem more realistic and engaging.
64
Nintendo Labo Nintendo secured their reputation as mad scientists with the Labo games and cardboard contraptions. Not only is it fun to turn cardboard into things like keyboards and fishing poles, but these creations played surprisingly well.
65
Sega Dreamcast Fishing Rod This insanely specific Dreamcast controller is actually perfect for Sega Bass Fishing and some other fishing titles. It perfectly simulates arcade fishing fun, and it’s not too far off from the real thing.
66
Samba de Amigo Dreamcast Controller As you might imagine, you can only really use this Samba de Amigo Dreamcast controller on Samba de Amigo. But Sega gets props for creating sensor-bar controllers seven years before the arrival of Nintendo Wii.
67
Epic Mickey Wiimote If you’ve never played Epic Mickey, you know it’s all about using a paint brush to fix and change the world of Mickey Mouse. This special controller adds to the immersion while retaining the original responsiveness of the controls.
