GameFlow vs JoyShockMapper
GameFlow
github.comJoyShockMapper
github.comSide by side
| Figure | GameFlow | JoyShockMapper |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 2 |
| Spec score · Game Controller Mapper Software | 8.9 (#1) | 8.5 (#5) |
| Documentation depth | The repository includes a 365-line wiki covering concepts, mappings, platform interop, phone protocol, overlays, themes, troubleshooting and contribution guidance. | The README contains command references, calibration procedures, configuration-file behavior, troubleshooting, and known issues. |
| Gyro aiming | Gyro aiming supports local, player and world frames, smoothing, drift calibration and stick or mouse output. | Gyroscope movement can control the mouse for precision aiming. |
| License | The repository is marked MIT licensed. | The repository is released under the MIT License with an as-is warranty disclaimer. |
| Purpose | GameFlow is cross-platform gamepad tooling that transforms gamepad, keyboard, mouse or phone input through saved profiles into virtual-controller output. | JoyShockMapper maps game controller input to keyboard, mouse, or virtual controller events for playing PC games. |
| What it does | GameFlow transforms gamepad, keyboard, mouse or phone input through saved profiles into virtual-controller output. | JoyShockMapper converts controller input into keyboard, mouse, and virtual-controller events for PC games. |
Plans
In their own words
GameFlow
GameFlow is free, cross-platform gamepad tooling that routes gamepad, keyboard, mouse, or phone input through saved profiles to virtual-controller output. Mapping options include autofire, remapping, shift layers, SOCD cleaning, stick trim, gyro aiming, touchpad mapping, button combos, and freeze macros. Custom control logic can be written in sandboxed Lua through MoonSharp. Profiles are editable JSON documents that users can create, duplicate, rename, import, and export. A phone browser on the same local network can act as a controller without an installed app, with support for up to 16 phones. GameFlow can generate a transparent controller-overlay URL for an OBS Browser source, and its motion server exposes DSU/Cemuhook over UDP for Cemu, Dolphin, Yuzu, and Ryujinx. The application requires .NET SDK 10.0 or later and uses SDL3 for gamepad and joystick input on Windows, Linux, and macOS. Windows virtual output uses HIDMaestro in user mode; Linux and macOS virtual gamepad output are not built yet.
JoyShockMapper
JoyShockMapper maps game controller input to keyboard, mouse, or virtual controller events for PC games. It supports gyro controls and flick stick for aiming and turning. Buttons can map to keyboard or mouse inputs with tap-and-hold, chorded, and simultaneous-press options; stick modes can control the mouse or trigger keys, including scroll-wheel and flick-stick modes. The project describes support for DualSense, DualShock 4, paired JoyCons, and Nintendo Switch Pro Controller. It loads commands from text configuration files, and its download includes example gyro configurations. JoyShockMapper is free, with a Windows release and Linux builds available from source. Development primarily targets Windows, and Linux builds may not always work. Linux use requires read and write access to /dev/uinput and the relevant /dev/hidraw device; focused-window detection works only on X11. Virtual Xbox or DS4 output requires separate ViGEm bus software. The releases page lists v3.6.1 as the latest release.