The RPG genre has always been at the forefront when it comes to video games. Whether it’s titles from decades ago that popularized RPG games, or morerecent games taking the world by stormandracking up awards at The Game Awards.
The RPG genre hosts some of the most recognizable games to ever be created. Further within the genre are multiple subgenres that can surprisingly diversify exactly what RPG a game is. For the most part, these games stick to the controls that best fit the gameplay, but others also include different controls to experience them to offer accessibility. However, not every game that contains multiple controls are equal, with entries providing some better experiences on keyboard and mouse.
Among the plethora of successful games CAPCOM has produced,Monster Hunter Worldwas their most successful in theMonster Hunterseries. As one would expect with the series,Monster Hunter World’sgameplay focuses on taking onmonsters with various weaponry.
While the controller support is actually very good, different playstyles can impact the experience. For example, utilizing ranged weapons will be more smooth on keyboard and mouse due to the freedom of the mouse. Other avenues, such as the melee combat, will be better suited to controllers instead.
Path of Exileis one of those games that doesn’t look like it would be suited for controller at first. This would be correct as keyboard and mouse is the way most users would play.
The controller does offer a more relaxed gameplay experience, especially whenPath of Exile’scombat can start to cause pain in the hands and/or wrists due to its intensity. However, a downside compared to keyboard and mouse is the UI navigation, a notable sore point for playing with a controller as it can be awkward to navigate the menus.
Massively Multiplayer Online games are usually connoted with keyboard and mouse, withBlack Desertbeing not that much of an exception.
Black Desertdoes offer controller support, but the general experience is that keyboard and mouse allow more availability when playing. With keyboard and mouse, it gives more precision when turning the camera and moving a character. Keyboard and mouse also give more accessibility when it comes to moving characters in conjunction with abilities, as some of the mapping on controllers can make this clunky.
Divinity: Original Sin 2and its controller support once again fall under the downside of UI and inventory management awkwardness. Owing to the design of controllers, navigating the inventory can take more time than it would on a keyboard and mouse by simply clicking.
On the topic of simply clicking, moving throughout the game and world is just more convenient on a keyboard and mouse. Clicking in the world without having to manually move a character allows for more overall ease and accessibility.
Final Fantasy 14is a game that doesn’t necessarily offer bad controller support. In fact, it’s designed with that in mind, but provides superior gameplay via keyboard and mouse.
Another MMO,Final Fantasy 14’scontroller mapping doesn’t allow for the same precision that keyboard and mouse accessibility does. Having to alternate between different hotbars due to the lack of buttons but large number of abilities can make playing awkward, especially when first learning. Compared to keyboard and mouse, where every ability is available to be mapped to the keys without having to alternate them, controllers don’t offer this convenience and ease. Although, humorously, somefans have made controllers with a different approach.
Another game from Larian Studios,Baldur’s Gate 3demonstrates the same downsides thatDivinity: Original Sin 2features.
Controller support is very functional and works properly, but just doesn’t reach that same level of ease and accessibility that playing on a keyboard and mouse does. Managing inventories and navigating the UI can be a bit clunky, and having to manually input controls to command a character what to pick up only for them to hover about doing nothing makes for an inferior experience. Nothing will beat the functionality of clicking on an item or location to tell characters exactly what to do.
WhileWorld of Warcraftdoesn’t include official controller support, addons can allow it,a feature most players utilize anyway.
It offers the same clunky nature thatFinal Fantasy 14includes, but this time amplified, asWorld of Warcraftwas only intended for keyboard and mouse support. Nothing could be worse than fighting a boss, only to accidentally switch between different hotbar settings and mess up a class rotation. The controller support isn’t exactly bad, but it’s clear to see that this game was meant for a keyboard and mouse.
