Do you prefer playing with Keyboard or controller more, and for what type of games?
Do you prefer playing with Keyboard or controller more, and for what type of games?
Do you prefer playing with Keyboard or controller more, and for what type of games?
Definitely depends on the game.
A controller with two analog sticks and two analog triggers has six analog axes of input. A keyboard and mouse has two. There are definitely games that can benefit from more analog axes -- think twin-stick shooters. You can use digital inputs for movement, but it's also less-precise.
On the other hand, a mouse can provide both rapid and precise movement, more-so than an analog stick. And a keyboard has a lot more keys, which is important for some games. And a keyboard is going to be a lot better for text input.
Controllers have output to players, in the form of rumble motors (and with some controllers on some platforms, more-exotic options). There's no widespread support for any kind of output from the mouse or keyboard. Use of rumble motors can add immersion.
While I've used a mouse as a flight input in Freespace 2, generally-speaking, I think that a controller's analog sticks are better for flight sims (though if you're playing an old-timey WW2 flight sim, probably getting a full-size stick with all the extra controls is worthwhile).
On the other hand, it's very hard for a controller to compete with the keyboard and mouse for first-person shooters. I've used one for some games that were designed for consoles and aren't very demanding in response and often have vehicles that are better-controlled with a controller -- I'm playing Starfield with a controller. But one is simply going to do much better with a keyboard and a mouse, if one practices with both. Playing an FPS with a controller feels like driving a truck.
Some games, like a number of strategy games, are going to be much-better played with a mouse. I have a hard time seeing Paradox's grand strategy games being played with a controller, even with a lot of work on the control scheme.
Ditto for RTSes. I've tried a few with controllers, like Supreme Commander, and it definitely benefits from a mouse.
Playing interactive fiction of the classic sort, where one types in commands, really, really needs a keyboard. There are ways you can mitigate a bit of the pain, and some point-and-click adventure games have tried to do this, provide a limited set of preset commands, but it's just not great.
Playing pretty much any game designed for a D-pad, I'd rather play on a controller. Yeah, you can get okay with a keyboard, but it just doesn't feel the same, not nearly as fluid.
And there are a few other input options that aren't seen much any more:
And there are a few other input options that aren’t seen much any more:
I raise the bar. Using a DIY 5.- EUR head tracker in NMS mapped to a virtual gamepad and my X52 Pro joystick mapped to another virtual gamepad and some keyboard keys just because (Why waste a perfectly fine HOTAS system just because the game is too stupid to support this?) :D
…and also KBM because this is simply more comfortable on foot.
Yes, it's complicated and it absolutely depends on the game and even… location? Like, on the couch I prefer some sort of gamepad controller too.
Different tools for different purposes. Strategy game, or a game where precise pointer control matters? Mouse and keyboard.
Racing, platformer, fighting game, that sort of thing, controller.
KBM. As I played on a keyboard and mouse since so long, I lost the usage of controllers. And whenever I have to use controlers, it's a bit of a pain. So I don't, as much as possible.
Tho in some games I tried, like elite dangerous, I had to use a controler for movement as on keyboard it was painfully slow, or too fast, but also just to be able to use most of the controls.
I prefer controller for basically everything except fps games. I don't really play more keyboard designed games though, like civ, very often. If I do I'll def use keyboard though
So no keyboard for Hollow Knight (nice avatar, btw)? I couldn't imagine how horrible I'd be at a game like that on a keyboard!
Haha yeah no that would not be enjoyable for me. But, at the same time, the world record for smb1 is by a player on keyboard, so different strokes!
Also thanks!
Depends on how much shooting is involved.
Mouse aim trumps controller aim after all. But for games that aren't shooting-focussed I favour controllers because I can flop back.
Controller: Witcher, Cyberpunk, Senua's Sacrifice, Shadow of War/Mordor
Mouse and Keyboard: Diablo, things that end in "Craft"
HOSAS: Flying things