Is Elden Ring better with controller or keyboard on PC?

The launch of Elden Ring might have been one of the biggest events in gaming history, and with the new Shadow of the Erdtree expansion now announced, you’d be right in asking if the game is better with controller or keyboard.

From Software, developers of Dark Souls and Bloodborne, are well-known for their expansive lore, challenging game mechanics, and immersive level design. What they’re perhaps not as well equipped for is PC ports. Dark Souls for PC has brought forwards funny moments such as eternal ladder sliding thanks to mismatched frame-rates and disappearing NPCs, however the use of a keyboard has consistently been a bigger issue.

However, Elden Ring isn’t just a PC port, but a game natively developed for PC. The issues with previous From Software games have generally been that using a keyboard as your control interface has often been frowned upon. Not necessarily because it’s impossible, but more to do with the fact that keyboard and mouse aren’t geared for use in third person RPG games.

Elden Ring: Controller or Keyboard?

If you’re wondering what the best form of input is for Elden Ring, it’s probably not a Guitar Hero controller or Dance Dance Rev mat, but a regular game controller. There shouldn’t be much of a debate here, as the FromSoft community has consistently championed the controller for its games. In fact, using a keyboard is actually frowned upon – though that shouldn’t really stop you.

Controllers are certainly the superior input device for third person RPG games, and Elden Ring is no different. The game certainly suits having tight controls all within fingers reach, and the ability to manoeuvre movement and angle with sticks gives you an advantage over those using a keyboard and mouse.

If you’re thinking about what controller to use, we’d recommend either the DualSense Edge or regular DualSense controller.

We’re going to be keeping an eye out for the latest updates on topics such as Elden Ring, especially as the upcoming expansion promises to be huge. In the meantime, you might be interested in reading about Sons of the Forest, including the best graphics settings for Steam Deck. Make sure to check back in with us periodically for the latest updates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Elden Ring a PC exclusive?

Elden Ring is playable on PS5 and Xbox, so it’s not a PC exclusive.

Are the controls to Elden Ring difficult to learn?

The controls to Elden Ring aren’t particularly difficult to master, and you should be able to learn them fairly quickly.