4 Best Star Citizen Hotas / Joysticks [Cyber Monday]
Check out the best recommended by gamers joysticks for Star Citizen
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Key notes
- The best way to enjoy a BDSSE (Star Citizen) is to use a Joystick or HOTAS.
- Find out the best Star Citizen Hotas / Joysticks ranging from budget to high-end.
- Some of these flight sticks are highly recommended by pro gamers.
Simulation video games like the Star Citizen and Elite Dangerous have 6 DoF (Degree of Freedom). You need a HOTAS (Hands on Throttle and Stick) or HOSAS (Hands-on Stick and Stick / Dual-Stick) to control the six axes of your aircraft optimally.
While the keyboard and mouse do work, the best way to play games with 6DoF is to use a HOTAS or joysticks. While Dual Joysticks are the preferred method to control a virtual aircraft, a single joystick controller can work for less PvP combat-oriented games.
In this article, let’s find out the best Star Citizen HOTAS/Joystick that takes your virtual flight simulation experience to a new level.
Note: All the prices and offers in this article are subject to change, so be sure to check the official product page to get the latest deal. If the product/offer you’re looking for is no longer available, you can try to find it on its official manufacturer page or get another one from our list.
What are the best Joysticks / HOTAS for Star Citizen?
- Thrustmaster T16000M FCS – best overall value
- Thrustmaster 2960778 – great if you’re on a budget
- Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog – high-end & premium feeling
- Logitech Extreme 3D Pro – great option for beginners
Now let’s find out more about the pros and cons of each joystick.
Thrustmaster T16000M FCS – best overall value
- Excellent joystick control
- Comfortable to use
- Configurable controls
- Detachable components for left/right-hand use
- Buttons on the stick feel clumsy
The Thrustmaster T16000M FCS offers the best bang for your bucks when it comes to dual sticks. It features ambidextrous 16k, allowing you to operate the joystick with your left or right hand with equal precision.
However, you need to work with the detachable components to make it work for left-handed use.
Thrustmaster T16000M FCS comes with the decent build quality, and the throw of the stick is as smooth as it gets.
There are tons of buttons that you probably won’t use for Start Citizen, but it is there, and you can configure if required.
Thrustmaster 2960778 – great if you’re on a budget
- Classic joystick design
- Excellent sliding throttle action
- Tons of button on the throttle
- Number of compatible accessories
- Looks dated
The HOTAS variant of Thrustmaster 2960778 T.16000M FCS is a good budget option for Start Citizen player who wants to go with HOTAS only.
Thrustmaster 2960778 T.16000M FCS is an excellent option if you are not much into PvP combat but want to do trade runs, exploration, and stuff.
It offers enough axes to achieve the 6DoF needed for Start Citizen. It also offers exclusive precision featuring the Hall Effect accurate technology magnetic sensors paired with 14 action buttons.
Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog – high-end & premium feeling
- Excellent build quality
- Plenty of button and switches
- Throttles offer surgical precision during gameplay
- Stable because of its heavy build
- Second Pro
- Expensive
Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog offers everything you need from high-end flight sticks, except the price. With incredible build quality, enough buttons and switches for customization, and excellent joystick, throttle, and hat switches, it lets you control almost any sort of movement.
It features dual replica throttles 3D magnetic sensors that allow you to enjoy surgical precision over a USB connection to your PC.
Included TARGET software lets you configure and program the controllers using the Drag and Drop inches principle.
Logitech Extreme 3D Pro – great option for beginners
- Easy to use
- Durable
- 12 configurable action buttons
- Reliable
- Doesn't include a separate thruster
Logitech Extreme 3D Pro is a surprisingly well-built joystick for the price. It has no LED lighting or LCD screen, nor does it offers hundreds of programmable buttons, but what it does offers is a durable and reliable flight stick for Start Citizen and other simulation games.
Logitech Extreme 3D Pro excels in ease-of-use. It offers 12 action buttons, an eight-way hat switch, and a rapid-fire trigger. All the controls can be customized and assigned multiple controller configurations.
This buying guide will surely help you choose the best joystick for your circumstances.
Don’t hesitate to share your experience with us by using the comment section below.
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