25 Controller-First PC Games That Play Better From The Couch

These PC games are built with seamless gamepad control, clear HUDs, and mechanics that translate cleanly to a living-room setup. Each one supports controllers out of the box on PC and offers features—from rumble and radial menus to local co-op—that make them easy to enjoy from the sofa. Below, you’ll find release years, studios, and practical notes like player counts and useful control options so you can pick what fits your setup.

‘Elden Ring’ (2022)

FromSoftware and Bandai Namco built full controller support into the PC version, with in-game button prompts that switch to your connected pad automatically. Lock-on targeting, quick item cycling, and mount controls map cleanly to shoulder buttons and sticks. The game supports vibration on compatible controllers and works with Xbox and PlayStation layouts on PC. Online co-op and PvP are available from the couch with a single pad.

‘Hades’ (2020)

Supergiant Games ships native controller support on PC with fully remappable inputs and responsive analog movement. Aim-assist on casting and snap-to target options help with precision from a distance. Rumble feedback is supported on common XInput devices. Runs well at high frame rates, which pairs nicely with analog dash and attack timing on a gamepad.

‘Devil May Cry 5’ (2019)

Capcom’s PC release recognizes XInput and DualShock/DualSense controllers, swapping on-screen prompts accordingly. Target lock, style switching, and Exceed inputs are designed around shoulder buttons and triggers. The game supports high frame rates and vibration on compatible pads. Optional auto-assist features can be toggled without touching mouse/keyboard.

‘Monster Hunter: World’ (2018)

Capcom’s action RPG includes full gamepad support on PC with radial menus for items and slinger actions. The target camera and lock-on options are tuned for analog sticks, and rumble is supported. Co-op hunts are online, so one controller on the couch works fine for a single screen. Button prompts adapt to your connected controller brand.

‘Rocket League’ (2015)

Psyonix designed car control around analog sticks and triggers; the PC version supports XInput, DualShock/DualSense, and Steam Input remapping. Local split-screen supports up to four players on one PC with multiple controllers. Cross-platform online play is enabled if you prefer to stay on the couch solo. In-game deadzone and sensitivity sliders are available for fine-tuning stick feel.

‘Forza Horizon 5’ (2021)

Playground Games and Xbox Game Studios include native controller support with adjustable steering assists, ABS, and stability control. Xbox controllers on PC use impulse rumble for trigger feedback when braking or losing traction. The UI is legible at living-room distances, and the game supports high frame rates and ultrawide displays. Cross-play and cross-save (within the Xbox ecosystem) help you bounce between couch and desk.

‘Red Dead Redemption 2’ (2018)

Rockstar Games ships full controller support on PC, including adaptive on-screen prompts for Xbox and PlayStation layouts. Cinematic camera, lock-on aiming options, and horse controls map well to analog sticks and triggers. Vibration works with XInput pads, and you can remap controls in-game. Photo mode, story, and Red Dead Online are all playable solely with a controller.

‘Hollow Knight’ (2017)

Team Cherry’s platformer recognizes controllers on PC by default and allows remapping. Analog movement, precise jump modulation, and combat inputs are optimized for a pad. Vibration is supported on compatible controllers via Steam Input. The clean HUD and simple button economy make it comfortable at TV distance.

‘Cuphead’ (2017)

Studio MDHR’s run-and-gun supports two-player local co-op on PC with controllers. Inputs are responsive with analog movement and dedicated buttons for dash, shoot, lock, and parry. The game supports high frame rates and rumble on common pads. Co-op drop-in is handled from the character select with no keyboard needed.

‘Ori and the Will of the Wisps’ (2020)

Moon Studios and Xbox Game Studios provide full controller support with remappable abilities. Precision platforming, bash, and combat powers are mapped to shoulder buttons and triggers for minimal finger travel. High frame rate support and a clear HUD help readability from a couch. The game supports vibration on compatible controllers.

‘Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice’ (2019)

FromSoftware and Activision ship native controller support with analog movement and parry on shoulder buttons. Lock-on, prosthetic tools, and combat arts are mapped for quick access without menu dives. The PC version supports vibration on XInput devices. Input latency remains low at high frame rates, aiding timing-critical deflects.

‘Resident Evil 4’ (2023)

Capcom’s RE Engine release on PC includes full controller support with dynamic on-screen prompts. Aim and quick-turn are tuned for analog sticks, and the weapon wheel is designed for radial selection on a pad. Vibration and trigger feedback are supported on compatible controllers. Accessibility toggles like aim assist can be adjusted without leaving controller input.

‘The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt’ (2015)

CD Projekt Red built a pad-friendly radial menu for signs, items, and bombs on PC. The interface scales cleanly to TV viewing distances, and button prompts switch based on connected controller. Horse controls, lock-on, and quick cast options map to shoulders and triggers. Next-gen updates retained full controller support on PC with improved performance.

‘Horizon Zero Dawn’ (2017)

Guerrilla Games and Sony Interactive Entertainment brought native controller support to the PC port with adaptable button prompts. Weapon wheel selection and ammo crafting are designed for radial menus. Analog aiming sensitivity is configurable, and vibration is available on compatible pads. HUD elements can be scaled for couch play.

‘Yakuza 0’ (2015)

Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio and Sega ship full controller support on PC, including rumble and on-screen button prompts. Combat, mini-games, and menu navigation are all gamepad-friendly. The title supports high frame rates, which keeps analog inputs responsive. Save and subtitle options are adjustable entirely from the pad.

‘NieR:Automata’ (2017)

PlatinumGames and Square Enix include native controller support with lock-on targeting and seamless shifts between melee and shooting. Button prompts adapt to Xbox or PlayStation layouts on PC. Vibration is supported, and inputs are remappable through the in-game menus. High frame rate support helps with analog dodge and attack timing.

‘Persona 5 Royal’ (2019)

Atlus and Sega deliver full controller support on PC with clear, large-format UI suited to TV screens. Turn-based commands and contextual shortcuts are mapped for fast navigation with a pad. The game runs at high frame rates on PC and supports vibration on compatible controllers. Button prompts adjust to the brand of gamepad you’re using.

‘Tunic’ (2022)

Developer Andrew Shouldice and publisher Finji provide native controller support, with move, dodge, and lock-on built around analog controls. The in-game manual and menu navigation are optimized for pad input. Vibration works on common XInput devices. The clean HUD and scalable text suit couch play on a TV.

‘Rayman Legends’ (2013)

Ubisoft Montpellier and Ubisoft support four-player local co-op on PC with gamepads. Controls are simple—jump, attack, and glide—mapped for pad comfort. The game recognizes multiple controllers simultaneously for couch sessions. Menus and level selection are navigable entirely with a controller.

‘Overcooked! 2’ (2018)

Ghost Town Games and Team17 enable up to four-player local co-op on PC with full gamepad support. Drop-in play and controller remapping make setup quick for living-room sessions. Online co-op is available as well if you mix couch and remote players. Clear iconography and scalable text aid readability from a distance.

‘It Takes Two’ (2021)

Hazelight Studios and EA support local split-screen and online co-op with full controller support on PC. The game requires two players and is designed for mirrored inputs on pads. Friend Pass works for online play, and couch co-op uses two controllers on one PC. All UI and prompts are gamepad-native.

‘Shovel Knight’ (2014)

Yacht Club Games’ PC version supports controllers with configurable inputs and rumble. The ‘Treasure Trove’ content adds local co-op options and additional campaigns. The minimalist HUD is readable from TV distance. Button prompts adapt to controller type via Steam Input.

‘Dead Cells’ (2018)

Motion Twin designed movement and combat around analog sticks and shoulder buttons, and the PC version has full controller support. Inputs are remappable, and vibration is available on compatible pads. The interface is clean for couch play, and the game runs at high frame rates. Daily runs and DLC content are accessible entirely with a controller.

‘Vampire Survivors’ (2022)

poncle added robust controller support on PC, including analog movement and auto-fire mapping. Local co-op for up to four players is supported on one screen with multiple controllers. The UI scales well to TV size and keeps text legible from a couch. Runs smoothly on modest hardware, making multi-controller sessions easy.

‘Batman: Arkham Knight’ (2015)

Rocksteady Studios and Warner Bros. Games include full controller support on PC with lock-on, counter, and gadget wheels mapped to pad inputs. Driving and combat are tuned for analog sticks and triggers. Vibration is supported on XInput devices, and button prompts switch to your connected controller layout. The interface and mission selection are navigable entirely with a gamepad.

Tell us which couch-friendly PC games you’ve been enjoying lately—and what we should add next—in the comments!