Adding gamepad compatibility gives players comfortable, responsive input across
phones, tablets, PCs, TVs, and more. Creating a great gamepad experience
requires careful planning across input transitions, menu navigation, and core
gameplay mechanics. To help you navigate these choices, this guide outlines key
considerations, recommended practices, and common pitfalls for building
intuitive physical input into your game. For API references and multiplatform
input guidance, see [Support game controllers](https://developer.android.com/games/sdk/game-controller/overview.md.txt) and [Enable natural input on
all form factors](https://developer.android.com/games/develop/multiplatform/enable-natural-input-on-all-form-factors).

## What's in this guide

Review the following sections to design and refine controller support for your
game:

- **[Essential design considerations](https://developer.android.com/games/sdk/game-controller/essential-design-considerations.md.txt)**: Learn the core requirements for gamepad integration, including declaring gamepad support in your Android manifest, switching automatically between input devices, and supporting full gamepad navigation across all in-game menus, heads-up display (HUD) elements, and dialogs.
- **[Recommended practices](https://developer.android.com/games/sdk/game-controller/recommended-practices.md.txt)**: Apply practical guidelines for comfortable, intuitive gameplay, including designing for player ergonomics, organizing inputs hierarchically, providing clear visual feedback, and more.
- **[Common pitfalls](https://developer.android.com/games/sdk/game-controller/common-pitfalls.md.txt)**: Identify and refine input choices that can limit responsiveness and comfort, such as relying only on a virtual mouse for core gameplay and reusing mobile touch physics for analog sticks.