Products at a Glance
How we picked the best flight sim joystick
Well, it should be apparent from our intro that you don’t actually need a joystick to play a flight simulator – however, to play them the way the devs intended you kinda do! The extra buttons, knobs, and switches bring far more controls to your fingertips and certainly make the games more enjoyable. yes, you can play with a controller, no you shouldn’t if you have the option not to.
The thing is that most accessories, and peripherals such as joysticks, yokes, rudder pedals, and the like tend to cost a pretty penny. And, unlike buying a new controller, can’t really be used for any other type of game. So it’s a bit of a niche purchase and you have to make sure you a) are going to use it long term, and b) spend the right amount of money in the first place.
With that in mind, we have dug deep to find the best five PC joysticks out there today across a whole spectrum of budgets and features. There really is something for everybody in here – well everybody looking to buy the best joystick at any rate. Let’s crack on.
If you’re looking for more flight simulation recommendations, then head over to our Best Rudder Pedals for Microsoft Flight Simulator article. As well as, our Best Flight Simulator Accessories guide.
Product Reviews
- Great starter stick
- Reasonably priced for what you get
- you won't feel the need up upgrade it quickly
- Only easily availble in moire expensive flavor (with the throttle)
- Orange detailing spoils the look a bit
You are going to see the name Thrustmaster appear a lot on this page. The company has been around in the flight seem scene for many, many years and seemingly is no reaching the top of the game. The clumsily named Thrustmaster T16000M HOTAS is absolutely brilliant in every department as a starter stick apart from its name.
The HOTAS will serve you equally well in Flight Simulator 2020 and DCS World as it will in Elite Dangerous or Star Citizen. It’s been a tough time for gamers looking to buy peripherals for flight sims due to combined problem of the sudden popularity and general supply shortages of, well, just about everything across the board. this means that although the joystick on its own is, in theory, a purchasable peripheral, it’s nigh on possible to pick it up without the throttle as well, which pushes the price up, but, well you will also have a throttle for your flight sim which is great.
The stick is ergonomic and has plenty of triggers, hats, and inputs but we found the orange plastic a strange choice but it doesn’t make any real difference, other than giving the stick a more gamey look than you might appreciate.
The Thrustmaster T16000M is a great entry-level stick that you won’t need to upgrade any time soon and in terms of initial cash outlay, sits at a nice reasonable level.
- Modern design
- Modular for both left and right handers
- Difficult to find in stock
- Great for airliners, not so much for fighters
Thrustmaster’s latest foray into flight sticks is this licensed Airbus controller. In 2020 it announced a partnership to bring branded products to the flight sim marketplace and the opening release is this great stick modeled on the actual sticks found in the Airbus 320 and 320neo. 17 assignable buttons, hats, and switches all make this a worthy competitor to the above, especially if you are intending to fly jetliners in Flight Simulator 2020 rather than fighter jets in DCS World. One of the most standout features is that the stick can be modified with a screwdriver for both left and right-hand use, this is a pretty unique feature and a great touch. You can pair it up with the matching Airbus throttle (assuming you can find it to buy anywhere).
The Officer Pack listed above bundles the two together and is the best opportunity at the moment to actually get your hands on one.
- Sturdy as the real thing
- All-metal construction
- Plenty of inputs
- Designed to be incorporated into a larger setup
- Expensive
I remember the Warthog being released around the same time as I was really into Elite Dangerous and looking for a stick but couldn’t really justify its premium price at the time to play a single game. I always looked on admiringly though at its metal construction and even the fact it doesn’t actually come with a base and is intended to be screwed down into your own setup. this obviously risks taking a product for a niche market and making it even, er nicher. That should be a word.
It is based on the plane of the same name – the A-10 and oozes quality and should last a lifetime of flying. 19 action buttons, two POV hats, and plenty more to recommend it. Just make sure it covers all the bases you need before jumping in.
- Cheap and cheerful
- Easy to use plug-and-play functionality on Xbox
- Wide range of features and functions
- Could have better stability
You simply don’t need to spend a fortune at the outset when you are unsure whether you are going to get the right amount of use out of a flight simulator joystick. The Turtle Beach VelocityOne Flightstick is another great option on our list and can be picked up for around $130 which is a great deal when you think how much a standard games controller can cost you these days.
The VelocityOne Flightstick offers a wide range of features, including an OLED flight management display, rudder controls, and force feedback. These features can be helpful for improving the immersion and realism of your flight simulator experience. However, they may not be essential for all users.
Overall, the Turtle Beach VelocityOne Flightstick is a great option for budget-minded flight simulator enthusiasts. It offers a wide range of features and functions at an affordable price point. If you are looking for a reliable and comfortable joystick to improve your flight simulator experience, the VelocityOne Flightstick should be your top choice.
- Little risk to try out joystick flying
- Capable and better than not using it!
- Big deadzone
- Plastic and lightweight.
We finally get to a stick that isn’t made by Thrustmaster but rather the other bastion of flight simulator peripherals – Logitech. In our other flight sim pages, we have raved about the Logitech G / Saitek collaborations but it is fair to say this stick is squarely aimed at the budget market like the stick above.
The Extreme 3D has a grand name but at a cost of around $30 – although even it is not immune from scalpers tax at the moment. This is not meant as a slur in any way but there really is nothing remarkable about this joystick. It does what it is supposed to for as little investment as possible. If you are looking for a low-risk / low-cost way to get into the flight simulator ecosystem then ta-daaa.
If you think of it as simply a better way of trying out Flight Simulator 2020 then you will be fine – of course, if you decide the game is for you this is quickly going to go onto eBay and be replaced with something more substantial so it might not turn out to be as cheap in the long run as you expected.
Features and considerations
There are several features you should consider before buying a new flight sim joystick.
- Compatibility: Most importantly you must ensure your flight sim joystick is compatiable with your flight simulation games. Most of the time, these joysticks will be able run with multiple platforms, but it is always best to double-check.
- Number of buttons and axes: Generally speaking, the more buttons and axes your joystick has, the more control you’ll have over your aircraft. However, more programmable buttons and axes can also make the controller harder to use. So, bear this in mind when shopping around.
- Build quality: Flight sim joysticks can take a lot of wear and tear, especially if you’re gaming for hours! So it’s important to choose one that’s well-built. Look for a joystick with a sturdy construction and high-quality materials.
FAQs
What other accessories do you need to play a flight sim?
If you want to play Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, you technically don’t need any accessories to get your flight airborne. However, as previously mentioned, by not utilizing the plethora of accessories on the market such as yokes and joysticks, you simply won’t be getting the full experience. We recommend at least picking up a joystick at a minimum as you’ll get some feel of what real flying is like without spending hundreds of dollars.
What is the best flight simulator?
Wow, that’s quite the question and the answer all depends on whether, for your gaming experience, you want to be a civilian-style pilot or start buzzing around in military jets. The main game for the former at the moment is undoubtedly the poster boy that is Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, although X-Plane 11 is still highly thought of.
For all things military then check out DCS World. It’s free to get into but if you want to fly the good stuff it can get expensive real fast!
How much is a flight simulator?
So you really want to get into them eh? Many flight sims such DCS World or War Thunder (though some would argue that’s not an out and out sim) offer a free tier to snare you in. Games such as Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 cost upwards of $50 but can be played for ‘free’ if you an Xbox Game Pass (Ultimate for the PC version) or regular for the newly released Xbox version. Xbox Game Pass is a ridiculously good deal at the best of times but if you want to try a flight simulator, well it’s just paid for itself, hasn’t it?
Our Verdict
It was actually a pretty close decision between the T16000M and the Airbus joysticks for the best flight sim joystick but while the Airbus one feels right for airlines, the Thrustmaster feels right no matter what aircraft you choose so it wins the day. it’s a modern stick that has a loyal following and the cost is not so high as to be off-putting. The biggest deal is being able to find one to buy, but if you see one available then you snap it up immediately.