Fortnite has been a staple in gaming for a while now, but Fortnite Festival is a fresh and exciting twist on the battle royale we all know, adding a musical rhythm to the mix. Inspired by classics like Guitar Hero and Rock Band, Festival turns the spotlight on your timing skills, making speed and accuracy the name of the game. With this in mind, owning one of the best controllers for Fortnite Festival can make a huge difference if you're looking to hit every note flawlessly.
The goal is simple: you need a controller that lets you hit each button quickly and without mistakes, ensuring no note slips by. While the concept isn’t overly complex, certain controllers truly shine in Festival’s rhythm-focused gameplay. Lucky for you, we've curated a list of the top contenders—ranging from trusty gamepads to specialized instrument-style controllers—to help you dominate the stage.
Best Controllers for Fortnite Festival - Quick List
- CRKD NEO S Purple Wave (Fortnite Festival Edition) - the best regular controller tailored towards Festival
- PDP RIFFMASTER Wireless Guitar (PlayStation) / Xbox Version - a great controller to help you become a guitar hero
- PowerA Advantage Wired with Lumectra - a budget-friendly gamepad to rock out with
- PlayStation DualSense Edge / Xbox Elite Series 2 - the best options for Festival on console
CRKD NEO S Purple Wave (Fortnite Festival Edition)
Best regular controller for Fortnite Festival
* prices are subject to change
Why we chose the CRKD NEO S Purple Wave
When it comes to controller and music crossovers, one device stands above the rest: the CRKD NEO S, particularly the Fortnite Festival Edition. This gem isn’t just one of the best controllers for the regular game—it’s also a standout for mastering rhythmic timing.
What sets it apart is the detachable 5-fret accessory. Snap it on, flip the controller on its side, and you’re instantly shredding through on-screen notes with pinpoint accuracy—just like a real guitar. Once you’ve finished rocking out, flip it back and take full advantage of its hall-effect thumbsticks, mappable back buttons, and adjustable trigger lengths to improve your precision and speed while playing the regular game.
TL;DR - Reasons to Buy
- The 5-fret accessory is tailor-made for rhythm games like Festival.
- It features hall affect thumbsticks, back buttons, and adjustable triggers to improve your skills in regular Fortnite.
PDP RIFFMASTER Wireless Guitar
Best guitar controller for Fortnite Festival
- Amazon - $157.99 / £127.93 - PlayStation Version
- Amazon - $118.99 (8% off) / £109.95 - Xbox Version
- Walmart - $129.99 - PlayStation Version
* prices are subject to change
Why we chose the PDP RIFFMASTER
For those wanting to bring extra realism to their Fortnite Festival experience, the PDP RIFFMASTER is a must-have. This officially licensed guitar-inspired accessory is now fully compatible with Festival mode, letting you truly rock out like never before.
Designed to mimic the feel of a real electric guitar, it features buttons running down the neck for authentic gameplay. With a 30-foot low-latency wireless connection and a 36-hour battery life, you’ll have the freedom to perform without limits. Plus, on-the-fly volume controls on the D-pad let you crank it up to 11 whenever the moment demands.
TL;DR - Reasons to Buy
- Adds realism to the Fortnite Festival experience.
- It can be used wirelessly for complete freedom while playing.
PowerA Advantage Wired with Lumectra
Best budget controller for Fortnite Festival
* prices are subject to change
Why we chose the PowerA Advantage Controller
The PowerA Advantage Wired Controller with Lumectra is a highly-rated, budget-friendly gamepad equipped with everything you need to excel in both Fortnite and Festival. Its two mappable back buttons let you assign those hard-to-reach notes for faster, more precise gameplay, giving you the edge in every track.
As a wired controller, there’s no latency or need to recharge—just plug in and play. And when it’s time to leave the stage, the three-way trigger locks help you react faster in intense Fortnite shootouts. To top it off, its vibrant RGB Lumectra lighting brings the Festival vibe right to your living room.
TL;DR - Reasons to Buy
- It has mappable back buttons for quick access to notes.
- The Lumectra lighting adds a show-like-feel to your setup.
PlayStation DualSense Edge or Xbox Elite Series 2
Best console controller for Fortnite Festival
* prices are subject to change
Why we chose the PlayStation DualSense Edge / Xbox Elite Series 2
For console players, it doesn’t get much better than the DualSense Edge for PlayStation and the Elite Series 2 for Xbox. While they might be a bit over-the-top for Fortnite Festival alone, these controllers are perfectly built to help you dominate almost any game you play.
Both can be used wirelessly and come with back buttons or paddles that you can map to those tricky Festival notes, ensuring you hit every beat. They also feature FPS-friendly perks like adjustable triggers and interchangeable stick caps. Plus, with the ability to save custom profiles, you can easily switch setups between Festival mode and battle royale gameplay in seconds.
TL;DR - Reasons to Buy
- Both devices are built to excel in playing almost any game you can think of.
- You can save multiple profiles to both of them for quicker access to your Festival setup.
Final Thoughts
Whether you're shredding through notes or gearing up for a Victory Royale, the right controller can make all the difference in Fortnite and Fortnite Festival. With these top picks, you’ll be ready to rock the stage and stay ahead of the competition.