Now that PC gamers have matured and have come to accept that there are good reasons to choose a gamepad over a mouse or keyboard, we can get down to the difficult task of choosing from the best PC controllers currently on sale on Prime Day.

For me, this is an easy choice: the prices on the 8BitDo controllers are already incredibly reasonable even without the discount, but this promotion makes them a real bargain.

Let me start with a short story about why. Once upon a time, I had a bunch of Xbox controllers and really enjoyed them. (There's a lot to like about 8BitDo's controllers, from the retro to the modern, but mainly I like that the company remembers its roots and its gaming audience, and the company name “8BitDo” epitomizes that (the “Do” in “Nintendo,” by the way). The company seems to genuinely care about games and the gamer's experience, which is evident in their many controllers.

Take my own 8BitDo Pro 2 Wireless for example. First and most obvious is the retro-inspired (but modernized) design. When I hold this in my hands, I look at it carefully and think about it, and it makes me nostalgic for my childhood. I didn't even own a Nintendo system, so perhaps it resembles a PlayStation 1 controller. Or maybe I am experiencing a kind of “anemoia” (a term I recently learned that sounds like a dangerous chemical, but actually means a longing for a past one has never experienced).

However, retro design isn't everything, which is good news considering that 8BitDo has a more modern controller; the Pro 2 is surprisingly well made, sturdy, and above all, satisfying. Honestly, the button clicks are the best I've ever felt on a controller. It's the same kind of pleasure I get typing on a good mechanical keyboard. Sometimes I use the DPAD instead of the analog stick to move around in games because of this clicking sensation.

Which brings me back to the fact that 8BitDo remembers the gaming experience. When I am gaming, I do not need a million plus bells and whistles. All I need is something that feels great and doesn't break, especially if it reminds me of the nostalgia of childhood gaming.

The kind of bells and whistles I like are the ones that are more useful to me, like the rear paddles, and give me more freedom and more options, like the ability to switch between plug-and-charge, replaceable batteries, and stand-alone charging packs.

On Prime Day this year, you can get the Pro 2 Bluetooth (USB-C connection for faster gaming) for $40 (a $10 savings) at Best Buy. It's not a bad controller by any means, but it doesn't have the same impact as the 8BitDo controller.

If you prefer a more modern Xbox-style design, the 8BitDo Ultimate and Charging Dock is also available on Amazon for $56 (a $14 savings). Carla Phillips also uses and recommends this dock. Here is what she has to say:

“I use the Ultimate as a controller for most things. Its build is much more comfortable than most of the other Xbox-style controllers I've used, which is important to me as I tend to get hand cramps with many controllers after a few hours. The battery life is also excellent, about 40 hours from my testing, and it only takes a couple of hours to recharge after a flat tire. I would use any excuse to recommend this controller to anyone and will take it to my grave.

Also, the 8BitDo SN30 Pro Bluetooth gamepad is slightly discounted at Best Buy for $40 ($5 off). The quality should be just as high, so take your pick.