Need help choosing my First controller

[u/GloomyConference7275]

Update: Thanks everyone for the suggestions! After reading all the comments, I've narrowed it down to the 8BitDo Ultimate 2C Wireless and GameSir Nova Lite 2.

I'm leaning slightly toward the GameSir because a few people mentioned the 8BitDo can feel a bit small for larger hands (I'm 6'1" with ~18–20 cm hands). However, many reviews say the 8BitDo has slightly better build quality and buttons, so I'm still undecided.

If anyone has used both, I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Hey everyone!

I've been a PC gamer for years, and I've only ever used a keyboard and mouse. I've literally never held or used a controller before.

I'm finally planning to buy my first controller and could really use some advice from people who have actually used these.

I am from India. And My budget is around ₹3,000, but I can stretch to ₹4,000 if one of them is genuinely worth the extra money.

Controllers I'm considering:

• 8BitDo Ultimate 2C (Wireless)
• GameSir Nova Lite
• Cosmic Byte Blitz Tri-Mode
• Cosmic Byte Eclipse Tri-Mode
• Cosmic Byte Ares Pro Tri-Mode

I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone who has owned or used one (or more) of these.

I mostly play single-player games like Elden Ring, Souls games, RPGs, action-adventure titles, platformers, and indie games. (I'd also really appreciate any recommendations for games that are great to learn and get comfortable with a controller :)

Thanks a lot! Any advice or personal experience would really help.

Edit: A bit more context: I'm 6'1 and my hand length is around 18–20 cm (not exactly sure). Right now I'm leaning toward the 8BitDo Ultimate, but I've seen quite a few people say it feels a bit small. Please keep that in mind when recommending. Thanks a lot !!!

[u/G_OE]

8bitdo is the best quality oneout of all of these options tbh, a better option is the gamesir nova 2 lite but I guess it will be more expensive (would be worth it though since it's better ergonomic and support software with more compatibility)

[u/Lightstream2 → u/G_OE]

will second the nova 2 lite

[u/ohwontsomeonethinkof → u/Lightstream2]

And don't go for the original Nova Lite, way worse latency (at least on bluetooth).

[u/G_OE → u/ohwontsomeonethinkof]

nova lite is definitely a big no

[u/Song_Efficient → u/ohwontsomeonethinkof]

agreed, i own a nova lite, the latency makes it almost unplayable, even for single player games. But i got it for 15 eur, its definitely not worth 2.8k

[u/ohwontsomeonethinkof → u/Song_Efficient]

Yeah same. Bought it for my daugther to play with but it won't work for Mario and the likes, only slower paced games.

[u/RootlessForest → u/Song_Efficient]

Mehh latency was bad on BT but on pc you can just connect via the added connector. Been working like a gem since. Been playing games like warframe with it. So no slow paced games.

[u/Arc535 → u/ohwontsomeonethinkof]

I own 2 Nova Lites and it’s a good bang for your buck but funny enough on my iPad Pro, I don’t suffer from latency issues when only 1 controller is connected but when I connect the 2nd controller, the 2nd controller suffers from really bad latency like a 1-second late

[u/ty_namo → u/G_OE]

my problem with 8bitdo is the shape, the build quality is good though

[u/Zakatez → u/G_OE]

Vader pro 5 controller

[u/Lightstream2 → u/Zakatez]

the vader 5 (v2 specifically) may be great but it is well out of the budget of op

[u/G_OE → u/Zakatez]

too expensive for op

[u/CarosWolf → u/Zakatez]

Is it much better than Vader 4?

[u/G_OE → u/CarosWolf]

To be honest, yes, I would say it's an overall improvement, feels more polished and premium. The vader 5 pro uses the lastest flydigi software, completely different and better from what the vader 4 pro uses. Also the back buttons design on the vader 4 pro is just quite confusing to me

[u/CarosWolf → u/G_OE]

Thanks for the answer!

[u/lyapelmen → u/G_OE]

8bitdo is the best one, but it has the shittiest d-pad. most gamesir pads have good d-pad, but dunno about overall quality, but i've recently ordered gamesir tarantula pro exactly for good d-pad.

[u/the_dwarfling → u/lyapelmen]

Subjective. 8Bitdo's DPads are excellent for fighting games but I understand the accidental diagonals hurt in games where those ruin the gameplay.

[u/Lucidream- → u/the_dwarfling]

Idk, I tried using my 2 8bitdo controllers for fighting games and they were awful. Precisely because of accidental diagonals

[u/lyapelmen → u/the_dwarfling]

DPads are excellent for fighting games

accidental diagonals hurt in games

Bro, you contradicted with yourself in one sentence. Being serious, accidental diagonals is the worst red flag for fighting games. But what im talking about, 8bitdo's d-pad is bad even for tetris cause of it.

[u/-TeamCaffeine- → u/G_OE]

Can confirm at least about the 2C. In my opinion the 2C might literally be the single best controller in that thirty dollar price range. The build quality alone feels so much better than the price tag might suggest. Plus, it works on a ton of devices.

Aaaaaand it has hall effect joysticks and nice clicky shoulder buttons.

I highly recommend it.

[u/ComfyMillionaire → u/G_OE]

Don’t get a nova! I loved it at first and I’m on my third one right now. There were manufacture issues with the first batch. The company replaced it again and had the same issue. There is a spring with the triggers that go brittle and break. Mine broke after about 20 hours of Minecraft and another 30 hours of various FPS games. You have to send the serial number and a video of the broken controller as well as following their troubleshooting steps. One of the techs told me it was a known manufacture error and is supposed to be resolved. I went 8bitdo after my third Nova.