Start with the discovery shelf that matches how you want to play: use taste-based shelves for personalized suggestions, or global shelves for broadly surfaced games. Then shortlist two or three options and check each game’s description, genre and tags, and video preview or screenshots before choosing. In S&box, discovery presents games rather than a fixed menu of classic game modes.
Where should you start?
Pick the kind of session you want before scrolling: perhaps a relaxed solo game, a social session, or something competitive. That gives you a useful filter when the list feels too large to assess one game at a time.
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Facepunch’s S&box update, published 1 September 2026, says the main menu was rebuilt around games and a new discovery algorithm. It also says the server browser was removed because Facepunch considered it the wrong discovery path for S&box. The update describes the change as putting games front and center, with video previews intended to show what they look like in play. Read Facepunch’s update.
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What do the discovery shelves mean?
The shelves fall into two broad groups. The labels can help you decide where to look, but Facepunch has not published the ranking formula or enough detail to treat any shelf as a guaranteed match.
#1 Best Overall
- Compatible with Windows and Android.
- 1000Hz Polling Rate (for 2.4G and wired connection)
- Hall Effect joysticks and Hall triggers. Wear-resistant metal joystick rings.
- Extra R4/L4 bumpers. Custom button mapping without using software. Turbo function.
- Refined bumpers and D-pad. Light but tactile.
| Shelf family | Examples | Useful when… |
|---|---|---|
| Taste-oriented | “Because you played X,” “Players like you played,” and “More Genre X games” | You want suggestions related to prior play, similar players, or a genre you already enjoy. |
| Global-metric | “Trending,” “Up & Coming,” and “Highly Rated” | You want to browse games surfaced through broader platform metrics rather than start from a personal preference. |
These are different routes into discovery, not a ranking of which games are best. A globally surfaced game may not fit your mood, while a taste-oriented suggestion is still only a candidate.
How do you narrow the list?
- Choose a mood or play style. Decide whether you want solo or social play, competitive or casual activity, and a short session or a longer commitment. Use only preferences that matter to you.
- Pick the relevant shelf family. Start with taste-oriented shelves if you want personalized suggestions. Browse global-metric shelves if you want a broader set of options.
- Shortlist two or three candidates, then inspect them. Compare the game’s genre and tags with its description. Watch the video preview or check screenshots where available to see whether the actual play seems to match what you want. If the listing does not make session style clear, do not assume it.
What does that look like in practice?
For a relaxed solo session, begin with a taste-oriented shelf or a genre shelf that fits your mood, then look for descriptions and previews that show solo play at a pace you like. For a competitive social session, focus on listings whose descriptions and previews clearly show that kind of play. In either case, compare a small number of candidates instead of treating popularity or personalization as proof of fit.
Rank #2
- Tri-mode Connectivity: Wired for Xbox, 2.4G & Wired for PC, and Bluetooth for Android. The G7 Pro supports seamless connectivity across Xbox, PC, and Android. Effortlessly switch between modes using the convenient physical mode switch.
- TMR Sticks: The G7 Pro features GameSir's Mag-Res TMR sticks, combining Hall Effect durability with traditional potentiometer performance. This advanced technology delivers stable polling rates for smooth, drift-free gaming with low power consumption.
- Hall Effect Analog Triggers: The GameSir precision-tuned Hall Effect analog triggers provide unmatched smoothness and linear input for precise control. Featuring clicky Micro Switch trigger stops, gamers can easily switch based on their preferences.
- 1000Hz Polling Rate on PC: Experience ultra-responsive gaming with a 1000Hz polling rate on PC, available through both wired and 2.4G wireless connections. This ensures instantaneous input registration, reducing lag and optimizing your performance for the most competitive gameplay.
- GameSir Nexus App: The G7 Pro is compatible with the upgraded GameSir Nexus app, which brings a significant upgrade over the original. It introduces powerful new features such as gyro settings, stick curve adjustments, and button-to-mouse mapping, giving you deeper customization and more control than ever before.
How much can the discovery algorithm tell you?
Facepunch’s 1 September 2026 update says the old discovery page showed the same 31 games to everyone, which it described as 1.2% of games on the platform. Facepunch says the new algorithm reaches around 70% of games, giving most games a chance to reach at least a few players. It attributes the remaining 30% to games missing basics such as a thumbnail, genre, tags, or screenshots. These are Facepunch’s reported coverage figures, not an independent audit, and they describe discoverability—not the likelihood that a recommendation will suit you.
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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11The public update names shelf types but does not explain the personalized ranking formula, the signals it uses, or exact ordering rules. That means you can use a shelf to find candidates, but you cannot infer why a particular game appeared or conclude that its position predicts your enjoyment.
Rank #3
- Versatile compatibility: supports Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One X/S consoles and PC Win10 and above (including the game platform Steam).
- Precise control: features Hall joysticks and Hall triggers for a comfortable feeling, long service life and improved game accuracy.
- Plug and Play Convenience: Wired USB connection (removable) for easy setup and instant play without the need for additional drivers.
- Customizable experience: Includes 2 custom backbuttons that allow users to eliminate false triggers and improve their gaming experience.
- Impressive gameplay: Provides a pulsating vibration trigger and an asymmetric vibration grip motor for intense tactile feedback.
Can you browse outside the in-game menu?
The community-powered s&box Explorer catalog shows listings with titles, descriptions, tags, and filtering controls. Its page says it is not affiliated with Facepunch and that its data comes from sbox.game and updates daily. It can help you explore the range of listings, but its filters are not confirmed controls in the official in-game menu.
S&box is also a creation platform: Facepunch’s Getting Started page is for people exploring the engine and starting projects, rather than for players choosing what to play.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Multi-Platform PC Gaming Controller: Working with Switch, PC, Android, and iOS devices via Bluetooth, wired, and wireless dongle connections.
- Hall Effect Joysticks: Delivering enhanced recentering performance for smoother control and superior anti-drift capability. Plus, with anti-friction rings.
- 2-Way Trigger Lock: With trigger stops, gamers can toggle between short and long pull positions. Additionally, gamers can activate hair trigger mode by pressing M+LT/RT (triggers must be in the long pull position).
- 1000Hz Polling Rate: This ensures that your inputs are registered almost instantaneously, minimizing lag and maximizing your performance during competitive play.
- Mechanical Circular D-pad: Designed for quick reactions and accuracy in every direction, this D-pad elevates your gaming experience with superior responsiveness.
Rank #4
- XBOX WIRELESS CONTROLLER + USB-C CABLE — Includes the XBOX Wireless Controller in Carbon Black and a 9' USB-C cable. Play wirelessly or plug in for a wired gaming experience, right out of the box.*
- WIRED OR WIRELESS, YOUR CALL — Connect the included 9' USB-C cable for zero-setup wired play on console and PC. Go wireless when you want the freedom to play from the couch, the desk, or anywhere in between.
- PC READY. NO EXTRAS NEEDED — Plug the USB-C cable into your Windows PC and you're playing instantly. No adapters, no Bluetooth pairing, no additional purchases required. Works across the XBOX app, Steam, and more.*
- MODERNIZED DESIGN — Experience sculpted surfaces and refined geometry designed around how you actually hold a controller. Stay on target with a hybrid D-pad and textured grip on the triggers, bumpers, and back case.
- UP TO 40 HOURS OF BATTERY LIFE — Get up to 40 hours of wireless battery life on standard AA batteries. When the batteries run low, plug in the included cable and keep playing without missing a beat.*
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