The ROG Raikiri II is my new go-to game controller — and I can’t put it down

I’ve been a PC gamer all my life, but I have to admit: lately, I’m starting to see the appeal of couch gaming. There’s just something about sinking into the sofa at the end of the day and enjoying your games on a giant screen. Unwilling to give up the graphical advantages of an RTX 5090, I built a PC into my entertainment unit, set up the Xbox Full Screen Experience, and do most of my gaming in an all-ROG living room setup. But the new ROG Raikiri II truly completes the battlestation — so much that I’ll never go back to my old controller.

With an extra-fast polling rate, premium buttons and sticks, and a host of extra features, this is the ultimate controller for living room gaming, whether you’re playing on a PC, an Xbox, or an ROG Ally docked to your TV. After two months of use, I'm hooked.

The Raikiri II’s micro-switch buttons are an absolute revelation

When the Raikiri II was first introduced at Gamescom, I held it in my hands and immediately knew we’d built something premium. While I liked the original Raikiri, this felt like a step up in every way, from the soft anti-slip grip on the handles to the ultra-smooth anti-drift TMR joysticks. But the buttons are the true star of the show: the face buttons, D-pad, bumpers, and back buttons all use micro-switches for a low-travel, clicky feel. At first, I was very skeptical about how they’d feel in actual gameplay. When you've spent 38 years of your life using traditional controllers, change is scary.

But as soon as I plugged it in and fired up some Hades 2, it was game over for every other controller I’ve ever used.

The micro-switch face buttons feel incredible, and the lower travel and instantaneous tactile feedback make them feel insanely responsive. And because they're paired with a 1000Hz polling rate over the 2.4GHz wireless connection, they are insanely responsive. As soon as my thumb begins to press down, my character reacts on-screen. And for a fast-paced game like Hades 2, this made a huge difference in my ability to dash around each biome with lightning-quick reflexes. I even switched back to my old controller mid-run, and it suddenly felt like I was slogging  through molasses. The Raikiri II’s buttons just feel that good.

The Raikiri II also provides four customizable back buttons, giving you the ability to personalize and remap your games’ controls to fit your needs — and because they’re placed exactly where your fingers grip the handles, they also lend themselves to faster input. I’ve found this particularly useful in games that use the shoulder buttons and triggers in quick succession — instead of having to move my index finger between the two, which can feel a bit slow, I can map the back buttons to act as shoulder buttons for faster multi-finger input.

Speaking of the which: like its predecessor, the Raikiri II features dual-mode triggers, which allow you to switch between full-travel analog triggers to short-throw buttons with the same micro-switches as the rest of the controller. I found this handy in Hades 2, but they really shined when I switched to Call of Duty, where a quick trigger finger is an absolute must if you’re going to take down fast-moving opponents. And when I’m done mowing down enemies with an assault rifle, I can flip my triggers back to full-travel mode for a round of Forza Horizon 5, giving me the best of all possible worlds.

Premium accessories complete a premium package

A controller this nice deserves the full accessory treatment, and ROG deliversed. Inside the box is a hard-shell carrying case with an open grommet on the back that allows you to charge the controller while it’s in the case — perfect if you want to take it on the road. When you’re at home, you can use the Raikiri II’s included charging stand, which can be set up at two different angles to suit your preferences.

The Raikiri II lasts 50 hours on battery with the RGB and vibration turned off, so I don’t need to charge it all the time, but when I do, it’s easy: I can just plop it onto the stand, and the pins along the back will make contact and charge up while I sleep. I don’t have to fuss with any cables or AA batteries; it’s just always ready to go.

Inside the case area also lies another set of interchangeable joystick caps with a longer stem, for those who prefer a bit more precision with their joysticks. I prefer the standard sticks myself, but I’m always happy to see more choice given to the gamer — and you can also do quite a bit of deadzone and sensitivity tweaking in ROG’s Gear Link webapp, giving you full control over the Raikiri II’s input without ever having to install separate software.

The perfect companion for your PC, Xbox, or ROG Xbox Ally

While PC is my personal platform of choice, the Raikiri II was built to seamlessly transition between whatever machine you play on. It’s also certified for use on Xbox Series X and S via either USB-C or its 2.4GHz wireless adapter, complete with the iconic Xbox button along the top.

But look closely and you’ll also notice two other buttons that perfectly match the ROG Xbox Ally handheld. The Raikiri II was designed alongside the Ally, making it the ultimate controller for your docked handheld. Connect your ROG Xbox Ally or ROG Xbox Ally X to a TV or monitor using the ROG Bulwark Dock, and the Raikiri fits in perfectly with your living room setup. Bring up your Xbox library or tweak settings in the Command Center right from the extra buttons on the controller, no key remapping necessary.

However you play, the ROG Raikiri II is ready. Check out your local retailers for pricing and availability, and get ready to game like never before.