A PS1 game is only as good as its d-pad. Touchscreen controls are a compromise and a keyboard is worse, so a controller is the first purchase that actually changes ePSXe — on Windows, Android, or Android TV. These are the sensible tiers, with the trade-offs stated and no invented test scores.
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Best all-rounder for retro: 8BitDo SN30 Pro style pads
8BitDo’s SN30 Pro-class controllers pair a proper, clicky d-pad — the control PS1 games live on — with analog sticks for the DualShock era, in a shell that suits 2D and 3D alike. They connect over Bluetooth and USB to Windows and Android, and ePSXe maps them through the standard flow in our controller setup guide. 8BitDo has no public affiliate program, so our link goes to Amazon like any other shopper’s: 8BitDo SN30 Pro on Amazon.
Best for Android phones: a telescopic controller (GameSir G8 class)
A clamp-on controller that turns the phone into a handheld is the single biggest Android upgrade: real sticks and triggers, no desk required, and ePSXe’s split-screen and TV features still work when you unclip. GameSir’s G8-series is the reference design in this class: GameSir G8 on Amazon. Whichever brand you pick, confirm USB-C passthrough charging and that the pad presents as a standard gamepad to Android.
Best budget wired: Logitech F310
The F310 is the decade-old answer to “I need a pad today, cheaply”: wired (zero pairing drama), XInput/DirectInput switchable — the DirectInput mode occasionally rescues older setups — and a d-pad that is adequate rather than lovely. For a dedicated retro box or a CRT corner (low-end setups), it is hard to beat per dollar: Logitech F310 on Amazon.
Consoles’ own pads and PowerA
An Xbox or PlayStation controller you already own is the rational first try — connect before launching ePSXe and map it. Licensed third-party options such as PowerA’s wired pads sit in the same price conversation as the F310 with a more modern shell; our link currently points at PowerA’s official store while our network application is pending.
What actually matters (and what doesn’t)
- D-pad quality — decisive for PS1. Sticks matter second.
- Connection order — every pad works better paired before launch; most “ePSXe doesn’t detect my controller” reports are ordering, not hardware (fix guide).
- Extra buttons and macros — nearly useless for PS1. Don’t pay for them.
- Rumble — supported on the right pad/emulator paths, but treat it as a bonus, not a buying criterion.