People are always looking for a way to stand out among their peers, and the members of the gaming community are no exception. Console players’ options for making their environment their own is admittedly limited in comparison to PC players, since for the most part, they’re stuck with the officially offered themes and avatars. PC gamers can build some pretty sweet environments since a keyboard and mouse setup can be customized in numerous different ways, but some people genuinely just prefer console gaming and the charm of using a controller.
The smooth, matte set up of an Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, or PlayStation 4 controller is undeniably ergonomic. They’re set up to be held for long periods of time and to allow the player to develop the skills to play games using muscle memory. Even the Nintendo Switch’s Joy-Cons are versatile and easy to use, especially since they can be snapped into a holder that makes them into a traditional controller.
However, sometimes these devices are just a little too generic, and that’s where custom controllers come into play. Gamers can create their own custom controllers, commission one-of-a-kind ones, or purchase existing designs from sellers all over the world. Some of them are awesome and envy-inducing, while others make us appreciate the simplicity of the basic controller that every console comes with.
We have scoured the internet and come back with a huge collection of custom controllers for all different consoles. Most of them are pretty cringe-worthy - if only because people go so far with their love for things and end up sacrificing functionality or any semblance of taste in order to cram as many things as possible onto their controller - but there are a few gems that we would love to have for ourselves!
30 Embarrassing: Pikachu Certainly Looks A Little… Different
Someone obviously put a lot of love into making this Pokémon-themed controller for the GameCube. Unfortunately, Ash Ketchum’s sidekick and fan-favorite, Pikachu, is only recognizable when the controller is upside down - and even then it just doesn’t look quite right. Maybe it’s the fact that only one of the eye-buttons is an actual button and the other is drawn on and halfway raised by the joystick… Or maybe it’s the fact that the mouth is off-center from the nose? We’re not sure, but even so, this is definitely one of the most creative (and cringe-worthy) custom controllers we’ve ever seen.
29 Embarrassing: Ever Wanted To Constantly Feel Like You’re Being Watched?
This intricately detailed controller was created by Domino FX and objectively speaking, we have to admit that the execution of the design is awesome. It’s too bad that the end result is horrifying! Imagine how strange it would feel to hold this eye-sore of a controller in all of its lumpy glory… Eugh. Playing horror survival games can already make you feel like you’re being watched without adding actual eyes into the mix - plus, which ones are you supposed to look into? All of them? That’s just not possible.
28 Awesome: Gaming Will Be Easier When You’ve Got The Avengers To Back You Up
Imgur user thedesignant created this hand-painted PlayStation 4 controller as a birthday gift for his son. The cobalt blue paint job that serves as a background is so matte that it looks like it came that way. On the left, it features The Cap, and on the right, it features Iron Man. The touchpad has Spider-Man firing a web over to the d-pad. All of them are posed in front of a cool cityscape. The characters are done in a unique style while still maintaining their original Avengers glory. Someone’s got a pretty awesome dad!
27 Embarrassing: Honestly, No Words Needed For This Toothy Controller
The increasingly infamous Domino FX strikes again with this controller. We’ve found that the execution is pretty much perfect, yet again. The joysticks have been replaced with eyeballs that are two different colors, and there’s a third eyeball, in yet another color, embedded into the left side of the controller. The right side has a design that’s either an intestine or a brain, although we’re not entirely sure which. That’s all pretty weird, but it’s not too weird, right? Sure. But what about the set of teeth that protrude from the bottom of the controller? Those are a deal-breaker.
26 Embarrassing: Controller? What Controller?
We know that you can’t actually see the controller above because it’s camouflaged, so you’ll just have to take our word for it. Unless the plan is to drag a gaming console out into the middle of the woods to pass some time in between wildlife-sightings on a hunting trip, we just don’t see the need to have a camo controller. This isn’t one of the worst custom controllers we’ve ever seen, but camouflage everything a trend that needed to be stopped before it even started.
25 Awesome: Probably The Controller Tony Stark Would Play With!
Ever thought about the kind of accessories Tony Stark would use for his console of choice? Or what his console of choice would be? If not, we bet you are now. The obvious (and absolutely non-negotiable) answer is that he would prefer the PlayStation 4, and this Ironman-themed controller from ViViDModz on Etsy is exactly what he would play with. The shiny, metallic red and gold base is subtle in a good way, with gold accents, glowing white joysticks, and a cool icon of Ironman’s face.
24 Embarrassing: Jigglypuff, Are You Okay?
This Pokémon-themed monstrosity was inspired by the artwork of Samstrojny. The worst part has to be the eye-buttons because the placement is nightmare-inducing, and Jigglypuff’s somewhat realistic eyes make them look creepy. The ears are surprisingly well done though, and the letter-change on the X/Y buttons is clever. For what it’s worth, this controller was intentionally made awful by SmashproofGC and Design_OOS, which should probably bump it up to awesome since they nailed exactly what they were going for… But the eye placement is just too unsettling!
23 Embarrassing: We Get It, Call Of Duty Is Awesome
The Call of Duty franchise has been around for years, and it’s one of the most popular ones of all time, which obviously means that it’s built up a pretty passionate fandom. Sometimes the things the fans create are pretty cool, but other times, they’re just a little bit much. This PS4 controller from DominoFXcustoms falls into the latter category. The distressed paint with rusty-looking accents seems like it’s the result of a badly treated controller, rather than having been done intentionally as part of a themed aesthetic.
22 Awesome: If The RCPD Needed An Official Controller, It Would Be This One!
The Resident Evil subreddit was treated to user Pr1magen’s custom PS4 controller about a year ago. It’s the perfect tribute to the first few games in the series, with a STARS theme instead of the somewhat overused Umbrella one. The blood splatter is as tastefully done as a blood splatter can be, and goes perfectly with the touchpad, which took inspiration from the health display system in early games. The blue background seems to be inspired by the uniform worn by Leon S. Kennedy in Resident Evil 2. Speaking of that, this controller would be perfect to play the upcoming Resident Evil 2 remake and its DLC with.
21 Embarrassing: Something About This Alien Controller Is Just Unsettling
This creative controller from XQ Gaming is obviously inspired by the Alien film franchise. The matte black base of the controller has lots of interesting details, including some sweet-looking green claw marks, but it falls apart after that. The actual concept of making a controller into an alien model is pretty neat, but something about the execution just seems clunky and cluttered. All of the strange but minor flaws might have been forgivable, if not for the fact that the touchpad is obscured (and probably rendered non-functional) by the alien’s head.
20 Embarrassing: There’s A Lot Going On With This Controller
The first word that comes to mind to describe this controller is tacky. It’s an unappealing mix of two terrible shades of purple and pink, with strange-looking floral accents and a mess of butterflies. The butterflies are designed to look like they’ve been bedazzled, and the whole thing looks like it’s intended to be glittery or shiny or something, but it’s actually all part of a drab, flat matte surface. The real question is: would it have been better or worse with 3D gems and actual glitter?
19 Awesome: This Fallout Controller Looks Like It Came Straight Out Of The Game
Anyone who’s into video games has heard of the Fallout franchise. Honestly, we would be willing to wager that even people who aren’t into video games have heard of the Fallout franchise. The games offer an immersive, unique setting that seamlessly combines retro nostalgia with high tech futurism, all set against a dystopian, post-apocalyptic backdrop. This awesome controller from Domino FX looks like something straight out of the Vault. It’s a beat-up piece of modern technology that’s gotten grungy and rusted time, with faded radioactive symbols on the buttons and joysticks, and of course, some iconic Vault-Tec propaganda.
18 Embarrassing: Maybe Everything Doesn’t Need To Be Bedazzled
Don’t look directly at this controller for too long or it will give you a headache. Seriously. This might look like a cheaply bedazzled monster at first glance, but it’s far from it. According to Matthew Walker, whose stepdad made this piece, the base is solid gold, every single shimmering gem on the top half is a diamond, and the joysticks are rubies. It was a custom creation for a singer that apparently has more money than taste. This is a prime example of the fact that just because you can do something doesn’t mean that you should.
17 Embarrassing: Even The Biggest Patriots fan Wouldn’t Want This
Sports fanatics can be found worldwide, in any country and culture. If there’s a sport, there are fans. Diehard ones. However, it should be said that there are very few sports lovers in the same league as the fans of Western football. Hearing people refer to themselves as “we” and “us” with people they’ve never met is totally normal during NFL season. Tom Brady is a divisive topic of conversation, but that’s not what’s wrong with this controller. It’s just the fact that it’s dedicated specifically to him reminds us of young teens with celebrity crushes and seems a bit… uh, obsessive, to say the least.
16 Awesome: Pokéball Joy-Cons Will Help You Catch’em All
A lot of people thought that the limited selection of Joy-Cons for the Nintendo Switch was disappointing, but Imgur user Bostian decided to take it into his own hands. He threw together a concept design then set to work on making it happen, and the end result is awesome. The paint is smooth, the lines are clean, everything fits perfectly together. These are so well-done that they look like they could have manufactured as officially licensed Pokémon merchandise, perhaps as part of a promotion for the upcoming Switch titles - which will allow players to have a Pokéball of their own, but still no themed Joy-Cons.
15 Embarrassing: How Do You Even Hold This?
There are few things more amazing to look at than this intricately detailed steampunk controller from cybercrafts, which may lead you to ask why it wound up listed as embarrassing instead of awesome. The truth is that the perceived lack of comfortable functionality is what makes this controller the perfect candidate to be here. The gears and detailing would probably start to irritate your hands with their sharp edges after a while, and it is always a dealbreaker when a custom controller’s design obscures the use of the touchpad. As a decorative piece, this is awesome, but as an actual controller? Ehhh…
14 Embarrassing: Are You OTT? Do You Want Everyone To Know You’re OTT? Perfect.
This isn’t the most obnoxious custom controller design in history, but it’s definitely somewhere in the top 25. People who are way too into Grand Theft Auto would probably love to get their hands on this controller, but for the rest of us, it’s just a little too much. This controller has been completely covered in $100 bills and the circular pieces have been replaced with two different types of bullets - 9mm shells for the x, triangle, circle, and square, and 12 gauge shells for the joysticks. The touchpad and the PlayStation logo are unobscured, though, so at least it has that going for it.
13 Awesome: Spending All Summer Gaming With This Controller Is A Better Idea Than Going To Camp
This custom PlayStation 4 controller was inspired by the main antagonist of the internationally lauded slasher franchise Friday the 13th. The original film was released over two decades ago in 1980, but that hasn’t stopped the franchise from retaining relevance all the way up to present day, where one of the most popular online multiplayer games is based on it. Reddit user scourge_of_carpathia’s creation takes immediately recognizable inspiration from Jason’s iconic hockey mask, and it’s a shining example of how things don’t always have to be overly-detailed to be cool.
12 Embarrassing: It Might Be The Trypophobia Factor But No, Thank You
There sure are a lot of slasher film-inspired PlayStation 4 controllers, right? This one from Domino FX takes its inspiration from Freddy Krueger, the infamous serial killer from Wes Craven’s A Nightmare on Elm Street. He was burned alive, which left him horribly disfigured and gave inspiration to the lumpy, misshapen, sickeningly y pink design of this controller. The sculpting work is admirable, but something about all of the holes is just unsettling - I mean, the idea of holding onto the controller for an extended period of time and having them imprinted into your skin is just gross.
11 Embarrassing: Bruce Wayne’s Least Favorite Controller
This custom PlayStation 4 controller from ModdedZone takes inspiration from plenty of different source material. It features comic book art on one handle with one of the tattoos found on Jared Leto’s version of the Joker on the other - and of course, the PS4 button has been replaced by the iconic Heath Ledger from Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight. All of that canon-mixing is already a lot, but when you add in some lime green joysticks, purple buttons, and a classic black and white diamond print background, it crosses the threshold into obnoxious.
