I’ve got a new favourite mobile phone controller: GameSir’s Galileo G8. Most expandable clamp controllers (GameSir X2, Backbone, etc) trade at least a little comfort for an ultra-portable plug-and-play gamepad. A full-size controller with a phone mount can be a hassle, especially out and about. With the Galileo G8, you get the best of both worlds: the convenience of a telescoping controller that you can slide your phone in and out of in seconds, with the comfort, size, and ergonomic design of a console controller.
What’s in the box
Open the Galileo G8 box and you’ll find the controller packaged securely, including some donut-shaped foam protectors for the analog sticks–a nice touch that I don’t think I’ve seen before. There are also three alternative thumbsticks (small, tall, and dome-shaped), an instruction booklet, and GameSir’s usual set of after-sale service pamphlet, certification tag, and brand sticker.
Sadly, there’s no case included like there you get with the GameSir X2. That was a nice touch that helped make the X2 safely and easily transportable right out of the box, without any other accessories needed. The lack of an included case for the G8 isn’t a deal breaker—it’s not hard to find cases that will fit it, albeit imperfectly—it would have been a welcome addition, and it’s something that X2 owners might expect.
Plug and play
Getting the Galileo G8 up and running couldn’t be simpler: slide the controller grips apart, slot your phone in and connect it to the USB-C connector, and let the spring-bound extension mechanism clamp back to hold the phone securely in place between rubber grips. A moveable USB-C connector supports a wide range of phone models. The connector can tilt, too, which helps with sliding your phone into place—you can plug it in on a bit of an angle and then lay it flat in the holder, rather than having to line it up perfectly square first.
If you just want to get straight to playing, that’s all there is to it: it’ll turn on and start working as soon as it’s plugged in. GameSir does have an app that you can use for firmware updates and some customisation features—more on those in a bit—but outside of a few specific scenarios, it’s not needed. This is the definition of plug and play, and the whole process takes a couple of seconds.
The only catch is if you have a phone case thicker than 1mm, which will stop the USB connector from plugging all the way in. In that case, your options are to either remove the case each time or cut away some of the rubber grip around the USB connector. This problem isn’t unique to the G8, but it’s one shortcoming for an otherwise excellent controller, and one that I’d love to see solved.
Fine form
Form factor is where the Galileo G8 shines. Where a lot of phone controllers focus on compactness, the G8’s ergonomic controller grips and full-size buttons and thumbsticks make for very comfortable use. This holds true even in long bursts of play: I’ve had a few marathon 3+ hour play sessions without any sort of discomfort, compared to the hour or so at most I get with more compact controllers before my hands start cramping up.
That finesse extends to a lightweight yet sturdy build and premium controls, too. The buttons are responsive and reliable, with just the right amount of “click” tactile feedback (but not too loud). There’s good travel on the triggers, as well as the option of hair trigger locks, and hall effect joysticks deliver precise analogue inputs (without the risk of drift through long-term wear in the contacts). The D-pad is particularly nice: an extremely responsive plus-shape D-pad that handles diagonals well and allows the kind of precision that a lot of 2D games demand. Whether you’re tap dodging bullets in an arcade shoot-em-up or throwing out dragon punches in Street Fighter, the G8 has your back.
A few extra features found out the excellent design. Additional “L4” and “R4” buttons are conveniently positioned at the back of the grips, remappable to any other button on the fly. There’s a dedicated screenshot button and macro button that can be used to toggle a range of different settings (hair triggers, rapid fire, etc.) without using GameSir’s config app. USB charging pass-through and a 3.5mm headphone jack are very welcome, especially if you want to play more battery-intensive games for longer sessions.
Getting personal
As well as the G8 works out of the box, there’s a lot you can do to tailor it to your needs, if you’re that way inclined. As mentioned earlier, it comes with three other thumbsticks of different shapes and sizes, which can be swapped in easily without any tools, thanks to removable magnetic faceplates. That also opens the possibility of easy cosmetic changes by way of alternative face plate designs (although GameSir doesn’t have any for sale at the time of writing).
Button macros allow a limited degree of key remapping: mapping other buttons to the R4 and L4 back buttons, and swapping the ABXY buttons between Xbox layout (as the physical buttons are labelled) and Nintendo layout. The Gamesir app opens up a lot more possibility for custom bindings, including game-specific controller settings and G-Touch mode, which lets you play touchscreen-only games with the gamepad, albeit with some caveats outlined in the next section. The app has a built-in game launcher as well, if you want that, although it’s personally not something I’ve found that useful. (If anything, the fact that I don’t need to use the app much at all is a big positive.)
Perfect play
With its flawless balance of comfort, convenience, responsiveness, and build quality, the Galileo G8 can turn your phone into a marvellous portable game device. (I take my Switch with me everywhere I go, but my phone’s become my default handheld.) Any games with controller support will work, which both Android and iOS have an abundance of—from ports of classics like Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, where touchscreen controls are just never going to cut it, to games like Genshin Impact that are designed with mobile controls in mind, but still benefit from a good game pad. The ever-growing assortment of quality emulators for Android make a G8-connected phone into a fantastic retro game machine.
Game streaming opens another door to console-style games on your phone. The Galileo G8 works with both Xbox Cloud Gaming and PlayStation Remote Play out of the box—it’s one of the few mobile controllers that works with the official Remote Play app, thanks to its built-in “PlayStation Mode”. The console-style design of the controller is a natural fit, and as long as your internet connection is up to the task, this is an ideal setup for streamed games. It works well enough with a phone, but the G8 will fit a 7-inch tablet, too, if you want a larger screen and an even better play experience. (My dream of an armistice in the console wars and Game Pass and Remote Play apps on Nintendo Switch will likely never happen, but this is an excellent alternative.)
Lastly, the G8’s G-Touch mode opens the door to using a controller for touch-only games, although mileage will vary depending on the game in question. It works by creating (or downloading) custom profiles that map touch inputs on specific parts of the screen to buttons or analog sticks, so that pressing those buttons simulates touching the screen. In games where the controls are fairly static—like those on-screen virtual gamepads that you often see—it works pretty well, as long as you take the time to configure it correctly.
It’s less effective for games designed more organically around touchscreen play, where the required touch inputs are more dynamic and variable. (How would you map something as simple as “A = select”, when what you want to select could be anywhere on the screen at any time, depending on lots of different factors?) That’s obviously out of GameSir’s control, but it makes G-Touch mode a bit more hit-and-miss, so temper your expectations accordingly—my hopes of playing the mobile versions of the Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters with a controller were quickly dashed.
Worth it? Hell yeah
Like I said right at the start, the Galileo G8 has become my mobile controller of choice, despite the (admittedly minor) issue of not working with thick phone cases. It’s got the comfort and familiar design of a console gamepad paired with the convenience of extendable clamp-style controller. Sturdy build, responsive buttons, and full size hall effect joysticks make for a reliable controller, and native support for Xbox Cloud Gaming and PlayStation Remote Play make this a perfect choice for game streaming. If you want a hassle-free way of turning your phone into a dedicated game machine, the G8 is the way to go.
All the comfort and reliability of a console controller, all the convenience of an extendable clamp-style mobile game pad, and none of the hassle of a full controller/phone mount setup. One of the best mobile controllers you'll find.
