Up your VR immersion level with a fine HOTAS controller

2019-03-01 By 0 Comments

Hands On Throttle-and-Stick (HOTAS) controllers employ a joystick and throttle grip setup to emulate the controls in an authentic aircraft’s (or spacecraft’s) cockpit. These controllers have always been popular in the flight-sim world, but they’ve taken on a new life in the VR world. Games like Elite Dangerous, War Thunder, EVE: Valkyrie, and House of the Dying Sun can all be used with a HOTAS controller, and the immersion level is immediately ramped up when you place your hands on the hardware. If you’re thinking about investing in this new type of controller, I’ve rounded the best HOTAS controllers out there now.

Best for most people

Thrustmaster T-Flight HOTAS X

Staff Favorite

With an affordable price, comfortable grip on throttle and stick, weighted base, and detachable build, the Thrustmaster T-Flight HOTAS X should satisfy most people. It has 12 programmable buttons and five programmable axles so you can set things up how you want, and it connects to your PC with USB-A.

$55 at Amazon

Best mid-range option

Thrustmaster T.16000M FCS