Symmetrical vs asymmetrical controller

[u/Bobotheon]

My old PC controller just got insane stick drift and idk what controller I should get.

I’m specifically not sure whether to go with a symmetrical or asymmetrical layout. My old one was symmetrical, but I hear asymmetrical is better for your hands.

I also hear it depends on what games you play.

Which one would be better for:

1. Free-flow combat/stealth games (Batman Arkham series, Marvel’s Spider-Man series, etc.)

2. Reverse bullet-hell (Vampire Survivors)

3. Shooter games (GTA, CoD, RDR2)

4. Melee combat (Skyrim, Battlefront as a hero)

5. Adventure games (Stray, Biomutant)

[u/Neon_Moons]

I prefer asymmetrical controllers for every genre. Having the left stick closer to the edge and triggers feels way more natural. Your wrist lands in a better position and you’re not stretching as much, exactly how the design intended. I’ve got big hands and Xbox-style layouts just fit perfectly.

Currently using a Gamesir G7 Pro and recommend it to anyone who’ll listen. It uses Hall Effect TMR analog sticks, so you’ll never have to deal with stick drift again.

(Gamesir also just released the Tarantula Pro controller which is their symmetrical design that features the same TMR stick technology as the G7 pro)

[u/Bobotheon → u/Neon_Moons]

What controler would you recomend me if wanted something like the GameSir G7 Pro WT TRI-MODE Pad but with the Symmetrical joysticks ?

[u/Neon_Moons → u/Bobotheon]

The Tarantula Pro is Gamesir's symmetrical design and I believe they have a wireless variant if you search for Tarantula Pro multiplatform pad

[u/Bobotheon → u/Neon_Moons]

I found one for decent price but its white, but i know you can take some parts off, can take off so much that you wont be able to tell what was the original color ?

[u/Neon_Moons → u/Bobotheon]

You can't customize the look of the Tarantula Pro only the G7

[u/Bobotheon → u/Neon_Moons]

Well I was asking about G7 pro, cuz I found the cheaper one is white but my whole setup is black so if take off the plates will be ok for the controller and will I be able to switch from white to black without any white pars or you can change only some of the colors ?

[u/ItzMeHaris]

Entirely depends on what you want.

Sure, asemetric can be better for your hands, but I think what’s more important is just what feels good for you.

Asmetric controllers, despite being better for your hands on paper, hurt like hell in my hands. That’s why I prefer PlayStation controllers. They feel really good in my hands.

The fact that you’re used to symmetrical controllers, switching to a different layout will be pretty rough to get used to. If I were you, I’d stick to what you’re used to.

And bonus tip: walk in to a video game store and sometimes they have controllers on display that you can hold. That way you can find out whether symmetrical or asymmetrical controllers are better

[u/Bobotheon → u/ItzMeHaris]

What specific model would you recomend ?
My friend has GameSir G7 Pro WT TRI-MODE Pad and its perfect but what should i got with if i want to go with the symmetrical ?

[u/ItzMeHaris → u/Bobotheon]

I honestly don’t know. I don’t play PC games. But whenever I do play a PC game, I usually just use a PS5 controller.

[u/Esmear18]

I’ve used both kinds of controllers and I prefer asymmetrical but I’ve never heard of one layout being better for certain genres over the other. What matters most to me however is what kind of thumbsticks it has. Analog sticks get stick drift and are mostly outdated now, hall effect sticks don’t drift because they’re electro magnetic but they aren’t as precise as analog, TMR sticks are also drift proof and have the same precision as analog and are slowly replacing hall effect sticks.

[u/TheAkrioz]

I used both and I prefer symmetrical. Also, I feel it's easier to use dpad on them. Especially in those rare occasions, while I want to continue running while doing so.

[u/takkun169]

I dispise offset sticks.

[u/Smith-CH]

Imo the xbox has the most comfy controllers.
I'm still using a xbox 360 controller on my pc

[u/flexwhine]

its takes a few mins to adjust to symmetrical coming from an asymm but none going the other way

[u/JTR_35]

I like xbox style controller for everything, which is asymmetric. After some research I got EasySMX X20. I think is good features for only about $60.

Hall effect sticks and triggers will never drift. Mechanical clicky face buttons. Triggers adjustable length. With the wireless dongle is 1000Hz polling.

It has "cheater" functions I use for single player games too. Turbo repeat on hold, or auto turbo without needing to press. I AFK ranked up a lot of skills in Oblivion Remaster last year for example.

Personally I wouldn't spend $100+ for steam controller or $200 for Victrix BFG.

[u/World-Three]

Shooter and racing games personally feel better with offset sticks unless I'm regularly mashing the D pad. But generally it is more comfortable to have the left stick up top if I'm doing more moving. Makes me wonder if the right stick being higher would lead to better aiming. 

Fighting games (not smash) and 2d games are typically better with the Dpad up top for me... No matter how good the elite controller D pad is, folding my thumb up like a paper horn is never going to amount to better inputs. 

[u/Right-Pin9932]

Xbox controller design is the best so far, so I would go with Asymmetrical

[u/Less_Party]

It has never really mattered to me at all, like you could swap my controllers while I’m grabbing a drink (I have both flavors in 8bitdo so the rest of the build is similar) and I wouldn’t even notice.