The Most Bizarre Game Controllers Ever Made

Gaming has always been about innovation, but some controllers push the boundaries of creativity—straight into the realm of the absurd. From motion-sensing bananas to foot-operated dance pads, the history of gaming peripherals is filled with oddities that defy conventional design. Here’s a look at some of the most bizarre game controllers ever conceived.

The Power Glove (Nintendo, 1989)

One of the most infamous oddities in gaming history, the Power Glove was Nintendo’s ambitious attempt at motion control—long before the Wii Remote. Shaped like a futuristic gauntlet, it allowed players to control games with hand gestures. Unfortunately, its clunky design and unreliable tracking made it more of a novelty than a functional input device. Despite its flaws, the Power Glove gained cult status, immortalized by its memorable (and exaggerated) appearance in The Wizard (1989).

The Sega Activator (Sega, 1993)

Imagine stepping into an octagonal ring of infrared sensors to control a game with your entire body. That was the premise of the Sega Activator, a full-body motion controller for the Genesis. Players had to perform exaggerated movements to trigger inputs, but the laggy response and awkward setup made it frustrating to use. While it was a bold experiment in immersive gaming, the Activator quickly faded into obscurity.

The Donkey Konga Bongos (Nintendo, 2003)

Who needs buttons when you have bongos? Designed for Donkey Konga and Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat, these plastic drums turned rhythm games into a percussive frenzy. Players tapped, clapped, and slapped their way through levels, proving that unconventional controllers could be surprisingly fun—if a little silly. The bongos remain a beloved oddity among Nintendo fans.

The Wii Balance Board (Nintendo, 2007)

Nintendo struck gold with the Wii Balance Board, a pressure-sensitive platform used for fitness games like Wii Fit. Standing on it to simulate yoga poses, ski jumps, and hula-hooping was both entertaining and occasionally embarrassing. Though not as bizarre as some entries on this list, its sheer unexpectedness—turning a bathroom scale into a gaming device—earns it a spot.

The PlayStation Move “Sharp Shooter” (Sony, 2011)

Sony’s attempt at motion-controlled shooting involved strapping a PlayStation Move wand into a plastic rifle shell, creating the Sharp Shooter. While it provided a more immersive experience for shooters like Killzone 3, its bulky design and limited compatibility made it a niche accessory. Still, holding a faux sniper rifle to play games was undeniably quirky.

The Banana Controller (2019)

Yes, you read that right. In 2019, a developer created a working NES controller made from a banana. Using capacitive touch sensors, the fruit could register inputs when tapped. While not a commercial product, it perfectly encapsulates the spirit of bizarre controller experimentation—because why shouldn’t a banana control Super Mario Bros.?

Conclusion

From gloves to bongos to literal fruit, game controllers have taken some truly strange forms over the years. While many of these oddities were commercial failures, they remind us that gaming is as much about creativity as it is about functionality. Who knows what the next generation of bizarre controllers will bring? One thing’s for sure: the line between genius and madness has never been thinner.