The 7 Best Apple Arcade Controllers

Apple’s arcade gaming service has become one of mobile gaming’s best-kept secrets, offering a mix of casual and hardcore titles for gamers of all stripes. Arcade has a growing number of controller-enabled titles, and fans, Those looking to delve deeper into the content library or enjoy the best games from iOS across the App Store will want the best possible gamepad at their fingertips. Here’s our list of the best iOS gaming controllers for Apple Arcade and beyond.

Sony DualSense and DualShock 4 controllers

Two of the best mobile gaming controller options available may already be in your living room. Sony’s DualShock 4 controller for PlayStation 4 and DualSense controller for PlayStation 5 are both supported on iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV devices, making them perfect candidates for your favorite Apple Arcade games.

Sony’s controllers are familiar and have the build quality you’d expect from the leader in console gaming. When playing on Apple Arcade you won’t be warned when the battery is low like on Sony’s PlayStation systems, but other than that and no audio passthrough, connecting to your Apple devices is quick and easy, and most Games with controller support should work seamlessly.

Backbone One for iPhone

Gamers looking for a mobile controller experience with a premium, engaged feel have a worthy competitor in the Backbone One. The controller features a design that expands to fit any iPhone model with a Lightning connector without charging, including a headphone jack and a familiar dual analog stick setup. It supports Apple Arcade games and other cloud gaming services like Stadia, Luna, Game Pass and PlayStation Remote Play. Fans can even choose between the standard version of the controller or a PlayStation edition developed in collaboration with Sony.

Steel series Nimbus+

Steelseries is best known for making gaming peripherals for PC gamers, but the company has been bringing its expertise to the mobile market with the Nimbus controller for years. With a comfortable design engineered to work with iPhones, compatibility with every device in the arcade line, and a battery that lasts up to 50 hours of playtime on a single charge, it’s not hard to see how the Nimbus+ is earning a reputation as a has developed one of the best available controllers for Apple Arcade.

Razer Kishi 2

Like the Backbone One, the Razer Kishi 2 mobile controller brings a bit of the swagger of the Nintendo Switch to your mobile gaming setup. The Kishi features a mechanical D-Pad and microswitch buttons, user-programmable multi-function buttons, and console-like features like video and screenshot capture right from the controller. Gamers can expect the Kishi to work with any game with controller support in Arcade thanks to the controller’s compatibility with the Made for iPhone (MFi) system and external services like GeForce Now.

Gamevice for iPad and iPhone

Gamevice’s line of controllers is inspired by the Switch in design, much like some of the other options on the list, but the company’s iPad controller is one of the few mobile controllers designed just for the iPhone’s larger sibling device. Fans can expect support for Apple Arcade and other controller-compatible games on the App Store, along with Game Pass, Stadia, Luna, and the other cloud gaming services available on iOS.

Rotor Riot MFi certified gamepad

Rotor Riot’s MFi gamepad is a worthwhile option for gamers interested in a console-like setup but with less Bluetooth. The controller features a wired design that draws power from the phone instead of requiring a separate charge. Apple Arcade games are certified for use with the Rotor Riot controller through the Made for iPhone program. For gamers of a particular boxy console, the form factor will be incredibly familiar.

Xbox wireless controller

Microsoft’s Xbox controller, which originally launched with the Xbox One and continues to go strong with the X and S series consoles, works great on the iPhone and iPad alongside its home turf. As long as your Xbox controller supports Bluetooth, it should be discoverable as an Xbox Wireless Controller in your phone’s Bluetooth settings after you put it in sync mode.

Newer versions of the Xbox controller, designed for the latest consoles, can keep your iPhone on internal storage, allowing you to switch between your phone and your Xbox with a single tap of the sync button at the top. Arcade games with controller support will work just fine, but some of the features you’ll find on Xbox, like battery indicator and support for external peripherals, aren’t found anywhere on iOS. Using regular AA batteries on the Xbox controller is also an issue with frequent use, making a rechargeable battery a must-have upgrade for almost any gamer.