It’s well-known that different genres suit various methods of control, such as specialized equipment, traditional controllers, or the classic combination of a keyboard and mouse.
I’ve dabbled my fingers on countless gaming keys, and though some games eventually opted for different control methods, the swiftness of mouse-controlled movements and the sheer versatility of key inputs remain unmatched in my gaming experience.
In my youth, I spent countless hours playing Minecraft on a computer, finding the game rather clumsy when transitioning to a console because of the controller. However, I experienced a stark contrast with Portal 2; I initially played it with a controller and subsequently felt as if a burden had been lifted off my shoulders upon switching to keyboard and mouse.
Generally speaking, the control experience for these game genres tends to be either excellent or disappointing, often depending on the specific title. The quality of play with a keyboard and mouse is typically used as a benchmark, with games being ranked based on how much improvement this input method brings to the overall gaming experience.
10. Puzzle
Figure It Out
The classification of Puzzle games is quite expansive, making it appear as though games like Portal and Tetris belong to the same category. However, the choice between using a controller or a keyboard for these games largely depends on the specific title and its design, not on the genre itself.
As a devoted fan, I firmly believe that keyboards often stand shoulder to shoulder with controllers, even outshining them in some puzzle games. Take the classic examples of Tetris or Puyo Puyo, where you’ll find countless players opting for keyboard control. The same goes for any first-person puzzler; I find the keyboard and mouse (KBM) setup to be significantly more effective.
Regardless, most of the puzzle games I believe work best with a controller mainly rely on the use of analog sticks, but these functions can often be mimicked effectively by a mouse, albeit not as smoothly as with the original device.
The game that I am familiar with isn’t designed to be played using a keyboard and mouse; instead, it requires the use of two joysticks (sticks) and analog triggers. This level of control is difficult, if not impossible, to achieve with a keyboard and mouse setup.
9. Rhythm
Super Precise
For a long period, rhythm games primarily relied on unique, gimmicky peripherals. However, in contemporary times, the majority of rhythm games are designed to function with standard input controls, often performing optimally when played using a keyboard.
For instance, playing OSU! is challenging with a controller, but using a mouse doesn’t perform as well as a drawing tablet. However, if you tend to get very sweaty, most people can handle the game just fine with a keyboard and mouse setup (KBM).
As digital-only games such as Friday Night Funkin’ and Fortnite have emerged, catering to a broader base of casual gamers, traditional physical items like plastic guitars, turntables, drum kits, and similar accessories have become less popular.
Instead of using a controller for those games, it’s more convenient when there’s a keyboard layout mirroring the on-screen inputs. This setup allows your brain to process the actions more efficiently, and pressing keys synchronously with on-screen events seems effortless.
8. Simulation
Testingcheats True
Console simulation games such as The Sims have repeatedly attempted to create an optimal control setup, but with exceptions like the Wii, they’ve fallen short, often feeling slow and clumsy in comparison to keyboard and mouse controls.
Although the simulation genre encompasses a wide range of games, similar to puzzle games, it might surprise you to find that games labeled “Simulator” on Steam can vary greatly, leading to a puzzled expression as you compare them with your collection of seemingly unrelated titles.
In essence, most games modeled after The Sims, which are primarily simulation-based, tend to perform poorly when played with a controller, whereas titles such as Persona 5 and Animal Crossing function quite well.
In summary, these games can be played acceptably with a keyboard, but more complex simulation games are poorly handled by other input methods. Therefore, it seems reasonable to include them in this particular list.
7. Deckbuilder
A Royal Flush
As someone who has dabbled in console-based card games, I can tell you firsthand that the experience often feels somewhat cumbersome and clunky compared to using a keyboard and mouse. The latter makes the gameplay feel fluid and immersive, helping me get into a rhythm effortlessly.
Navigating cards, choosing them, and most notably organizing them within any Deckbuilder can often feel limiting, as you move through them sequentially at a set pace. However, using a mouse for selection greatly enhances the experience, making it feel more fluid and precise, almost a hundred times improved.
On multiple occasions, I’ve attempted to enjoy Slay the Spire, yet despite some handy shortcuts to streamline menu navigation, the core gameplay experience often leaves me wading through what seems like a swamp.
Indeed, Microsoft showcased its innovative spirit by incorporating Solitaire into Windows. This move suggested that card games, which date back to about half a century ago, would seem incomplete on any platform lacking a user interface specifically designed for them around that time.
6. Strategy
Construct Pylons Faster
As a gamer, when I delve into strategy games swarming with countless elements and showering me with an ocean of statistics, there’s nothing quite like having a keyboard and mouse to navigate the chaos.
As a gaming enthusiast, I find that some strategic games, such as the peaceful Pikmin, are perfect for those relaxed gaming sessions when using a controller. However, most strategies can become quite challenging and slow-paced if one doesn’t have the swiftness and precision of a mouse to navigate around.
Many of these games frequently require you to shift focus between numerous details scattered across the screen, and repetitively pressing the D-Pad to navigate through menus more than a hundred times can be exhausting and avoidable.
In many menu-rich games, it’s often argued that strategy games in particular are best suited for keyboard and mouse on PC, as compared to controllers, which can feel awkward or clumsy.
5. Sandbox
Crafting in Mind
Experiencing sandbox games like Minecraft, Stardew Valley, or Terraria on consoles could give you the impression that controls are smooth, but switching to keyboard and mouse input can unlock a whole different realm of gameplay possibilities.
In my gaming experience, I often find myself grappling with the same issue – the speed of movement in first-person games can sometimes be frustratingly sluggish or annoyingly rapid. This challenge is even more pronounced when managing a bulky inventory and navigating through countless buttons these games tend to have.
If you jump back into gaming following a break on your console, you might find it uncomfortable due to the lack of smooth movement with the inventory button, confusing control schemes featuring numerous unnatural key bindings, and the act of mining being laborious and tedious.
It’s challenging for me to find any sandbox game that performs superiorly using a controller instead of a keyboard and mouse. Every title I’ve encountered feels clumsy or uncomfortable to navigate due to controls that don’t seem designed for them.
4. Idle
Keep Gambling
Have you ever played Cookie Clicker and wished it were more enjoyable with a controller? Although I understand that’s unlikely for most people, as someone who has logged an impressive 2400 hours in Cookie Clicker, I can confidently say that idle games are best suited for the PC environment.
Rapidly clicking items is convenient with a mouse if you have extra money to spare, but it becomes uncomfortable when using a controller, requiring quick triggers pushes or button presses, or spinning joysticks – none of which feel satisfying.
A more intuitive approach is to hover your mouse over each upgrade or item you wish to purchase, then return to clicking. While it’s possible to mimic this behavior on the provided list, the original method offers a smoother user experience.
Despite its capabilities, there’s just something about the controls that doesn’t offer the same level of tactile feedback and satisfaction as other gaming devices. As a result, it’s rare to find less popular idle games getting adapted for consoles. Instead, they tend to thrive more on PC monitors.
3. Shooters
Easier 360s
It’s been a longstanding argument among enthusiasts about which method of control works best for shooter games: Keyboard and mouse or controllers. While the former provides swift, accurate aiming, the latter is often criticized as less effective and requiring more aid to use.
Instead of directly bridging the skill gap between players, gunners often implement a variety of techniques such as providing aim assistance in controllers, along with innovative approaches like gyroscopic controls, flick sticks, and touchpad mechanisms. However, these experimental methods are not universally accepted, with some gamers expressing strong disapproval towards them.
Regarding input devices, whether it’s any game, using a keyboard and mouse continues to be an ideal choice due to their versatility, offering numerous buttons for convenience, and the mouse maintaining its exceptional, adjustable feel, even in diverse games such as Marvel Rivals.
Players are resorting to using one half of the controller for navigation and the other hand for aiming with a mouse, making it clear that games of this type are largely controlled by those who use Keyboard and Mouse setup.
2. MMO
Grinding Skill Points
When it comes to overloading you with numerous menus, figures, inventory control, statistics, and requiring repetitive button-mashing interactions, Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) games dominate this category. It’s rare to find such games on consoles because of their complexity and intricate nature.
They are congested, filled with miniature interface components, and most frustratingly, typing out “buying girlfriend” consumes significantly more effort using controllers. Regrettably, the Steam Deck may not provide much improvement, as the buttons lack the satisfying feel of a simple click.
In my experience, configuring a controller for an MMO always necessitates an unusual transition to map every button, followed by using the analog stick as a substitute for the mouse. This setup, however, feels more intuitive when using a keyboard and mouse.
It has proven challenging for me to identify even one instance, just one MMO that feels intuitive and not overly complex when controlled with a gamepad, rather than a keyboard and mouse. However, I couldn’t think of any such game, which suggests this might be an uncontested truth.
1. Text-Based
Obvious Entry Incoming
It appears that Text-Based Adventure games and similar genres, which require extensive writing, serve the same purpose as my current typing activity on a digital keyboard: they all revolve around the act of composing text using a keyboard or a controller.
Using a controller for games with text chat can make the experience frustrating at best. Typing in Wi-Fi passwords or lengthy messages is especially cumbersome on a controller, making it a strong argument for connecting a keyboard to your console instead.
The text-based adventure genre essentially revolves around writing, and it thrived because of the captivating virtual typewriters included in most computers. However, it struggles to adapt to console systems as a rule.
These are specific types of games, though not widely popular, carry significant importance, and are primarily found on personal computers, except for rare cases where you might need an uncommon control setup similar to the Phantasy Star 2 GameCube controller.
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2025-02-27 20:41