Sure, it's an expensive unit, but you will know your money's been well spent as soon as you lift the lid on the packaging and pull the setup out. It is sorely missed on a stick with other controls that can mimic the rudder but on budget sticks that allow no such added control. It’s a shining example of complete control featuring analog thumb sticks, RGB lighting 16-bit aileron and elevator axis, 189 programmable controls, and more.

Each programmable button can be configured to execute simple single commands or intricate macros involving multiple keystrokes, mouse events, and more.An update to the aging X55, the Logitech X56 HOTAS improves nearly every aspect of the older Saitek design, but it still has many of the same features that made its predecessor great. And not just buttons either; extra hat switches adorn the throttle itself, one that can be split in two should you need discrete control, and there are a host of toggles and metal flick switches too. The throttle is ergonomic and smooth and has an easy tension resistance adjustment dial on the side. There is the potential that all this can get confusing, but once you've got yourself all mapped out and are used to it, the Raptor Mach 2 is a dream.

It's great to see cross-compatibility with the Xbox Series X/S, although the Xbox branding does pull away from the authentic look a little.It moves intuitively as you pitch the plane's nose up or down and is so much nicer than the push-pull motion of many yokes on the market. Still, if you can splash out on this more airworthy kit, then the Thrustmaster TCA Sidestick Airbus edition won't disappoint you. The issues are, one: you can't use the throttle passthrough for the stick, and two: the stick alone can cost almost as much as the combined Raptor Mach 1 HOTAS.

It's fragile enough to make you think it could break under pressure, and while a safety feature is always a welcome addition to any joystick, it leaves only one hat and pinky button accessible. It's also got the much-needed Z-axis rotation for rudder control, although the press of a switch will enable you to operate the rudder via a rocker on the front of the throttle grip.However, on a flight stick, the d-pad has a hat on top, which the thumb can easily push to activate the switches. He built his first gaming PC at the tender age of 16, and finally finished bug-fixing the Cyrix-based system around a year later. Not only is an advanced HOTAS like X56 mirroring what you see on screen in the latest games, the controls are also confidently positioned in your hands. These joysticks help make the experience of flight or other highly-mechanical experiences so much better.

Baby blue isn't my first choice for gaming PC accessories, but I suppose it's a change from the standard black garb. Bagging the best PC joystick is a great way to pilot a Tie-Fighter in Star Wars: Squadrons or a plane across the globe in Microsoft Flight Simulator for the ultimate flight sim experience. Quickly and easily switch from points of view to weapons and more—the 8-way hat switch is designed to accurately capture specialized input specific to flight sims. The joystick can also be reconfigured to your liking with a modular design, making this stick particularly friendly to lefties. Companies like VKB and Virpil have everything you need for a wildly more advanced cockpit environment if you want something closer to the real deal and have the money to spend.The Raptor Mach 1 stick has just enough buttons and hats accessible to the fingers and thumb; two of the triggers even have a safety lock feature so you don't end up kicked off the squad for accidental friendly fire. It feels great to use in-game, too, providing you with all the possible control permutations you could need without ever having to go near your keyboard again. So there's not a huge number of handy buttons, but on the base, there is not only a great deal to make up for it (including ones dedicated to flaps and throttle), but there's also the option to mode switch up to two levels with two functional modes and button shift. Whether you’re in the heat of a dog fight or about to drop the landing gear in the space station, X56 supplies the heroic environment you need for the best experience.