GameFlow vs PadForge

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.

PadForge is a free Windows application that maps physical input devices to the virtual controller format a game expects. It remaps gamepads, wheels, flight sticks, keyboards, mice, touchpads, MIDI devices, HOTAS, arcade sticks, and VR controllers, producing keyboard-and-mouse or virtual-controller output. Up to 16 virtual controllers can run at once, including Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo, Steam, VR, MIDI, and keyboard-and-mouse shapes. Per-app profiles can switch automatically when a game takes focus, and 13 starter profiles are included. Gyro tools provide calibration, smoothing, and gyro-to-stick or gyro-to-mouse mapping. Supported Steam community layouts can be imported. Razer Chroma and Logitech LIGHTSYNC lighting are supported through their local software engines. A browser on the same Wi-Fi network can serve as a controller for up to 16 phones without installing an app. Remote Link shares controllers between PadForge PCs over a network or the internet. The maker says there is no telemetry.