Controllers and Joysticks

If you’re wondering what kinds of joysticks and controllers can be used with the MiSTer, we hope to compile a confirmed list to save you from a headache. In the meantime, a user from the Atari forums has claimed that the following devices have been tested with the MiSTer successfully.

USB Adapters

Basically, the idea is to use some kind of USB-based joystick or controller that can plug directly into the MiSTer or into a USB OTG hub (preferred method). If the joystick or controller doesn’t have a USB cable, you’ll need an adapter that converts it into USB.

2600-Daptor II
AliExpress USB OTG two-player controller adapter (there are 3 types, Genesis, NES, and SNES)
Colecovisio-Daptor (only tested joystick handling, not the number pad)
Hyperkin PS1/PS2 adapter
MayFlash Gamecube USB adapter
MayFlash Universal USB adapter for PS1/PS2/PS3/Xbox
Neogeo-Daptor
Retrode (only SNES/Genesis adapter part works, not carts)
Retro Freak controller adapter (this is a nice one because it supports NES,SNES, Genesis, and PC Engine)

Wireless Dongles

These usually support a variety of wireless gamepads

8BitDo NES Retro Receiver
8BitDo SNES Retro Receiver

Gamepads

Wired, or wireless with dedicated dongle

8BitDo SFC30 gamepad
Retro Freak controller
iBuffalo SNES
iBuffalo Famicom (BGCFC801)
Logitech F710
Retrolink NES2 (dogbone)
Any standard PlayStation 2 controller

Arcade Sticks

Burn to Fight(tm)

Hori RAP Pro VLX Hayabusa
Mayflash F300 Arcade Fighting Stick for Xbox360 / PS3 / PC

PCBs / Encoders

For DYI people

AliExpress USB encoder board

Troubleshooting

If your joystick doesn’t work or is missing directions (e.g. up works but not left):

Connect MiSTer to the UART serial console (e.g. via Putty)
Open the menu core

When any USB device is connected and you move directions, you should see messages like these:

Input event: type=EV_ABS, Axis=1, Offset:=255
Input event: type=EV_ABS, Axis=1, Offset:=127
Input event: type=EV_ABS, Axis=1, Offset:=0
Input event: type=EV_ABS, Axis=1, Offset:=127