Review: The GameSir Super Nova – A Budget-Friendly Hall Effect Controller

Hey, let’s talk about this new gadget, the GameSir Super Nova. Yep, it’s another one of those controllers from GameSir, a pretty cool company out in China that keeps surprising us with their gadgets. They’ve got this knack for mixing high quality with a price that won’t murder your wallet. The Super Nova just joined the lineup, strutting its stuff with fancy Hall Effect sticks and a design tough enough to survive even my clumsy hands.

I played around with the Super Nova on my PC, my phone, and even my Switch. But—oh, a plot twist—it doesn’t work with Xbox. Major facepalm moment if you ask me, but hey, life’s full of disappointments, right? Despite this, it won my heart, like, thumbs up big time, during my gaming marathon.

So, who am I, you might wonder, spilling the beans here? I’m Sean, your friendly neighborhood Windows and gaming news guy. Been into this stuff since the days of dial-up and floppy disks. I’ve spent way too many hours maxing out in games with absolutely no regret. Seriously, why did I grind for that trophy in, like, the 90s RPGs? No clue. But here I am, totally qualified (I promise!) to tell you about the Super Nova.

Alright, back to business. You can snag this thing for around 50 bucks over at Amazon. The colors? Keep it simple with blue or pink. Oh, and did I mention the faceplates? You can swap them out like fashion accessories. But that dock. WOW. It’s a lifesaver. Had mine set up so that just picking up the controller wakes it up. Talk about neat tech.

And flashy lights? Heck yes. The RGB syncs up with the dock lighting. It’s pure eye candy. The controller also connects like any way you fancy—Bluetooth, dongle, or a plain old wire. Personally, I’m a dongle fan. So reliable!

Now, beyond the cool tech, let’s get real about the not-so-great stuff. The app’s a struggle. GameSir’s software? Great in theory, but a nightmare when trying to connect wirelessly. And calling the thing “Nova Pro” when it’s supposed to be “Super Nova”? Someone, please explain. Anyone?

Am I being harsh? Probably, because when it connects, the app works wonders. You can totally redesign your controller setup if you’re into that. Swap buttons, tweak RGB colors, or map fancy macros. Just wish it didn’t feel like I’m hacking a mainframe to connect.

Gotta admit, I felt a pang of sadness with no Xbox love. Alas, no game pad is perfect. More back buttons wouldn’t hurt, buuut maybe that’s just me being picky. I mean, the controller is for PC, Switch, and mobiles, and it does the job there.

In a nutshell? If you crave a budget-friendly game controller and can live without Xbox life, get this. It’s so comfy for long game sessions, and spoiler: no sweaty hands here. Yeah, I’m serious. But skip it if you need that Xbox compatibility or prefer extra paddles.

Despite battling with the app once or twice, the Super Nova and I had a good time. Over 100 hours of gaming bliss, with barely a blip. It’s a subtle hero in the 50-dollar gamepad world. Worth a shot? I’d say, why not. Just avoid stepping on the dock—trust me.