Most modern controllers are designed around 3D games. Analogue sticks dominate. The D-pad is an afterthought — positioned awkwardly, rarely precise, tolerated rather than prioritised. For retro gaming, where the D-pad is the primary input for almost everything, this matters more than most people realise until they try to play R-Type with a DualSense and find themselves dying on movements they’re not making.
The good news is that the retro gaming controller market is excellent in 2026. 8BitDo in particular has spent fifteen years making controllers that take the D-pad seriously, and their current range is the best it has ever been. Here’s what to buy at every price point.
The Most Important Thing: The D-Pad
Before the recommendations — a brief word on why the D-pad matters so much for classic games. NES, SNES, Mega Drive, Amiga, arcade — every game from these platforms was designed around cardinal directions and diagonals registered clearly and consistently. The original SNES D-pad is still considered one of the finest ever made: a cross shape that registers each direction cleanly without accidentally triggering adjacent ones.
The Xbox Series controller’s D-pad is poor for this purpose. The PS5 DualSense is better but not great. The Switch Pro controller is surprisingly good. 8BitDo’s SN30 Pro is excellent — which is why it leads this list.
Best Overall: 8BitDo SN30 Pro (Hall Effect) — from £34.99
The SN30 Pro is the standard recommendation and has been for several years. The current version now comes with Hall Effect joysticks as standard — a significant upgrade that uses magnetic rather than resistive sensors, eliminating stick drift over time. It’s Bluetooth, USB-C charging, compatible with Switch, Switch 2, PC, Mac, Android, Steam Deck, and Raspberry Pi.
The D-pad is excellent — SNES-style, precise, well-positioned. It’s the right size, neither too heavy nor too light, and the button layout covers everything you need for 8 and 16-bit gaming. The SN30 Pro does what a retro gaming controller should do: disappear into the game rather than draw attention to itself.
Available in G Classic (grey SNES-style) or the newer Crystal Purple and Jade Green colourways.
Check 8BitDo SN30 Pro on Amazon UK →
Best Budget: 8BitDo SN30 Pro USB — from £22.08
If you’re primarily playing on PC or Raspberry Pi via a wired connection, the SN30 Pro USB is the same excellent D-pad at a lower price point. No Bluetooth, no rechargeable battery — plug it in and it works. Ideal for a dedicated RetroPie setup where wireless isn’t necessary.
Check 8BitDo SN30 Pro USB on Amazon UK →
Best for PlayStation 1 Era: 8BitDo Pro 2 — around £40
PlayStation 1 games use all four shoulder buttons — L1, L2, R1, R2 — in ways that the SNES layout doesn’t accommodate comfortably. The Pro 2 adds two programmable rear paddles and a layout closer to the DualShock, while keeping an excellent D-pad. If your retro gaming extends to PS1, N64, or Dreamcast titles, the Pro 2 is the better choice over the SN30 Pro.
Check 8BitDo Pro 2 on Amazon UK →
Best for Mega Drive: 8BitDo M30 — around £30
The M30 is designed specifically around the Mega Drive’s six-button layout. It’s smaller and lighter than the SN30 Pro, closer in form to the original Mega Drive controller, and the button mapping is exactly right for Streets of Rage, Sonic, and the Mega Drive’s fighting game catalogue. If you’re primarily playing Mega Drive games it’s arguably a better choice than the SN30 Pro for those titles.
Compatible with Switch, PC, and Raspberry Pi. Also works perfectly with the Mega Drive Mini 2.
Check 8BitDo M30 on Amazon UK →
Best Premium: 8BitDo Ultimate 2 — around £55
The Ultimate 2 is 8BitDo’s flagship — Hall Effect joysticks and triggers, two rear paddles, Bluetooth and 2.4G wireless options, a charging dock, and customisable button mapping via the 8BitDo Ultimate Software. It’s more controller than most retro gaming requires, but if you’re also playing modern games and want one controller that does everything, the Ultimate 2 is the answer.
Check 8BitDo Ultimate 2 on Amazon UK →
For Authenticity: USB Adapters for Original Hardware
If you want to play retro games with original controllers — an Atari joystick on a Raspberry Pi, an original SNES pad on your PC, an Amiga mouse for Cannon Fodder — USB adapters are the solution.
The Retro-Bit USB controllers are the most practical licensed originals, reproducing the exact form factor of original SNES and Mega Drive controllers with a USB connection. For original Atari-style DB9 joysticks, adapters are available that connect to modern hardware.
Check Retro-Bit USB controllers on Amazon UK →
Check DB9 USB adapters on Amazon UK →
For Arcade Games: Arcade Sticks
Fighting games, shoot ’em ups, and classic arcade titles play differently with a proper stick. The 8BitDo Arcade Stick uses Sanwa components — the same hardware found in professional arcade cabinets — and connects via Bluetooth or USB. It’s the natural companion to an Evercade or Raspberry Pi arcade cabinet build.
We’ve covered arcade sticks in more depth in our Best Arcade Sticks 2026 guide.
Check 8BitDo Arcade Stick on Amazon UK →
Which One Should You Buy?
Primarily 8 and 16-bit games (NES, SNES, Mega Drive, Game Boy): 8BitDo SN30 Pro. It’s the right choice for most people.
Mainly Mega Drive specifically: 8BitDo M30. Better layout for that library.
PS1, N64, or later systems as well: 8BitDo Pro 2. The extra shoulder buttons matter.
Wired PC or RetroPie setup, budget-conscious: 8BitDo SN30 Pro USB. Same D-pad, lower cost.
One controller for everything: 8BitDo Ultimate 2. Overkill for retro gaming but excellent for everything else too.
Want the original feel: Retro-Bit licensed USB controllers or a DB9 adapter with original hardware.
For more on setting up a retro gaming system, see our complete retro gaming setup guide and our best Raspberry Pi kits roundup. Prices correct at time of publication — check Amazon for current pricing.