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Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →At alt.ctrl.GDC 2025, the controller was part of the game: players bounced on a seesaw to aim a cannon, swung a prop sword to slice to a beat, and pressed a giant plush cat. Make:’s Sam Freeman reported on five favorites from an exhibition of 20 games—not a complete catalog—where physical interfaces changed how each game was played.
What is alt.ctrl.GDC?
GDC describes alt.ctrl.GDC as “a unique showcase of alternative controllers created by independent developers.” The idea is to pair custom games with unusual, developer-made or repurposed hardware, making the physical act of playing part of the experience. The 2025 examples below come from Make:’s March 28, 2025 report by Sam Freeman, which displayed an August 28, 2025 update. They are selected projects, not a ranking or a full exhibition list.
For current event information, GDC’s alt.ctrl.GDC page lists the 2027 conference for March 1–5, 2027, at Moscone Center in San Francisco. It describes an open submission process for developer-made or repurposed hardware paired with a custom game. Submission deadlines and event logistics can change, so consult GDC’s page for the current details.
Five games that make the controller part of the play
| Game | Physical interaction | Players and source-supported detail |
|---|---|---|
| Back Off Me Booty | Bounce on a seesaw to tilt and aim a pirate-ship cannon. | Two-player cooperative shooter; the project page also documents keyboard controls and a DIY setup. |
| ChromaCorp | The Make: report describes a puzzle experience; it does not specify a distinctive controller interaction. | ArtCenter team; Make: reported it won that year’s alt.ctrl.GDC Award and described the experience as roughly 20 minutes long. |
| Sashimi Slayer | Aim and unsheathe a costume samurai sword in time with the rhythm game. | Make: identifies an Arduino, gyro, and switches in the controller. |
| How to Pet Your Cat | Kneel by an oversized plush cat and pet or smack its rear; the interface detects touch location and pressure. | DaChu Interactive describes it as a two-player game with pressure-sensitive Arduino input. |
| Limbitless Journey | Control a wheelchair by flexing muscles. | Make: connects the project to Limbitless Solutions’ earlier work with 3D-printed prosthetics and games that teach children to control their limbs. |
Back Off Me Booty: a cooperative seesaw shooter
Two players bounce on a seesaw to tilt their aim and fire at enemies from a pirate-ship cannon. The University of Utah team described it as a “cooperative seesaw shooter,” a useful description of how its hardware turns balancing and timing into shared play.
#1 Best Overall
- Small Form Factor Fight Stick featuring an 8-button layout and 8ft. cable
- Great for both Arcade and Fighting Games
- Compact, lightweight and portable design
- Features Classic 8-Button Layout and HORI’s Original Joystick with V-cut Housing
- Officially Licensed by Sony
The project page includes setup instructions, Arduino code, and keyboard controls for playing without the seesaw. Its documented seesaw setup uses an Arduino Nano 33 IoT development board with a built-in IMU and two buttons. The instructions also describe an alternative using an Arduino Mega 2560 paired with an MPU-6050. These are board-and-sensor options within a larger setup, not complete controllers by themselves.
For a DIY build, follow the project’s own instructions. They still require a physical seesaw, buttons, wiring, and a computer. The keyboard option offers a way to try the game without constructing that unusual interface.
Rank #2
- Compatible with Switch and Windows.
- Supports ultimate software - customize button mapping and create macros
- Dynamic button layout - button mapping changes with mode functionally and visually
- Ultra-moddable arcade stick - Universal mounting plate supports Sanwa arcade sticks
- Three ways to connect: Bluetooth, 2.4g and wired USB-C. The included 2.4g receiver has a special hidden compartment to store it safely.
ChromaCorp: a puzzle about stolen color
Make: reported that the ArtCenter team behind ChromaCorp won the alt.ctrl.GDC Award in 2025. Freeman describes a roughly 20-minute puzzle experience about taking down a corporation that stole color from the world. That award reference belongs to the 2025 exhibition; it is not a claim about later events or the game’s current availability.
Sashimi Slayer: rhythm-game swordplay
In Sashimi Slayer, from Shrimp Fried Rice, players slice simulated seafood by aiming and unsheathing a costume samurai sword to the beat. Make: reports that the controller uses an Arduino, a gyro, and switches. The sword’s movements turn rhythm-game input into a physical performance rather than a sequence of button presses.
Recommended Free Tools
Rank #3
- Excellent function and high quality control.
- Used for any wooden or metal controller. Plastic base holder.
- Available round or square connect face.
- Easy to operate, Switch can be replaced easily.
How to Pet Your Cat: a plush, pressure-sensitive interface
How to Pet Your Cat centers on a handcrafted, oversized plush cat-butt controller. Players kneel and pet or hit it; Make: says the controller tracks where and how hard it is touched. DaChu Interactive’s project page describes a two-player experience with a pressure-sensitive Arduino interface that detects touch location and intensity. The technical description comes from the project team.
Limbitless Journey: muscle movement and wheelchair control
Freeman’s report describes Limbitless Journey as an extension of Limbitless Solutions’ work with 3D-printed prosthetics and games designed to teach children to control their limbs. In the GDC demo, players controlled a wheelchair by flexing muscles. That account describes the exhibit; it is not a current product specification or an assessment of accessibility in other settings.
Rank #4
- Compatible with Switch/Switch 2, PS4, PS3, Xbox Series S/X, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PC Windows, macOS, Steam Deck, Android.
- Compatible with Sanwa Denshi buttons and joystick that is perfect for customization
- Supports the XINPUT and DINPUT when being used on PC
- Supports the Turbo functions with different speed settings.
- F300 is compatible with PS5 by MAYFLASH Magic-S Ultimate adapter or MagicBoots-S5 Converter.
Why these controllers matter
These projects make different movements—not just different buttons—central to play. The seesaw turns coordination into aiming, the sword translates motion into rhythm, the plush interface registers touch and pressure, and Limbitless Journey uses muscle flexing as an input. ChromaCorp’s place in the report shows that the exhibition also includes inventive game experiences beyond the particular movements highlighted here. The examples illustrate alt.ctrl.GDC’s premise without implying that every game in the exhibition works this way.
Quick Recap
Sources and scope
- Make:’s report by Sam Freeman, published March 28, 2025, with a displayed August 28, 2025 update, is the source for the selected games and the exhibition count.
- GDC’s alt.ctrl.GDC page supplies the showcase description and current conference context.
- Back Off Me Booty’s project page provides build instructions, code, and keyboard controls.
- DaChu Interactive’s project page describes the plush cat controller and pressure-sensitive input.
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