We could use some sub forums that aren't about specific games but rather about specific things like hardware, OS, whatever else, so that not everything is dumped in general, huh? Maybe? Anyway, here I go (skip to the bolded for tldr):

I'm one of those who bought a joystick to play with games like Elite Dangerous and (at some point) Star Citizen as well as oldies like Freespace 2 and IL2-Sturmovik: 1946. I've even dabbled a bit in the Microsoft Flight Simulator series and all sorts of other flight and space combat games. Recently however I got hold of MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries and its joystick implementation absolutely ROCKS! I was extremely surprised as I didn't have a PC back then so I never played the series before but the controls are simply sublime and the gameplay is precise and incredibly fun. Steering the mechs has an amazing feel. I'm personally using the rudder controls to control the torso rotation and the joystick axis for the pitch and leg movement but I know others handle this aspect differently, it just works for me (using a decent joystick with a twist axis for the rudder instead of a full HOTAS setup, that will come in the future). My other hand sits on the keyboard for the rest of the complex functions (where more expensive setups would utilise a throttle piece) as they don't all fit on this joystick's few buttons which are reserved for basic targetting and weapons controls. In practice it's a beautiful thing!

I'm now looking for more games that possibly play like MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries or are otherwise as fun with a joystick. The obvious answer is MechWarrior 2, by many considered the best of the series, but until that gets on gog (please do it soon!) it's an absolute bitch to get a hold of and then even more of a bitch to get it working on a modern OS with all the different versions that exist. It's on my to do list though. The other versions of MechWarrior 4 with the campaigns kind of fill the same spot, they're hard to find but I might get to them. Don't suggest MechWarrior Online, I tried it and its joystick implementation is dreadful, it's a game clearly geared towards mouse and keyboard gameplay, much like War Thunder (but at least War Thunder is fun to play with a joystick if you don't care to compete and just play single player missions and what not, it plays like Wings of Prey which was pretty fun itself, MechWarrior Online just feels WRONG).

Anyway, in short, fellow joystick fans, please suggest some more joystick compatible games that are fun to play and aren't simply flight/space simulators (or games that play too similarly to those, like Aquanox which is basically a space sim even if it's underwater) as I'm pretty sure I'll mostly know of it already. I was thinking some light not-quite-simulator TANK games would be great as they have the same basic controls as a mech (tracks for movement, a cannon turret that rotates around the base like the torso of a mech does in theory) but I can't find which ones would cater to my needs (I don't want a full simulator with multiple crew roles to separately fill or complex commanding of full battalions besides your own tank and other such features that would disrupt the joystick based gameplay or even require switching to the mouse). Please also post where to find them if they'e readily available on gog or elsewhere.

Major bonus points if they have refined control reconfiguration abilities, MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries handles that wonderfully but MechWarrior 3 does not and neither does MechWarrior 2 from videos I have seen showing the settings screen. If there's another thread with this kind of information please point me to it. The few gog mixes I found via google (which failed me hard in a more general search and that's why I resort to this thread, I didn't know where else to go) aren't updated much and mostly list flight and space games too.

Thanks in advance! I'm crossing my fingers here!

Rebel Assault. Seriously. The mouse controls in the original are abominable. Part 2 plays rather well with one in comparison.

While we're on the subject: TIE Fighter and X-Wing (yeah, yeah, space sims, I know). Unfortunately, I may not have the patience for these type of games that I once did, but they still play great with ye olde flight stick.

My mental Wayback Machine recalls some driving sims that let you use a joystick, but I don't know for certain which ones. Maybe the first couple NFS titles, and I think F1 Gran Prix.

Might sound odd but old DOS titles like doom/quake/duke3d/blood/shadow warrior/hexen/heretic...

also Mechwarrior because MECHWARRIOR, and any racing game I can get it to work in.

Except for the obvious phallic joke I don't have a joystick, so none.

I was hoping for games that make sense to use a joystick with because mechanically it's a sound theory for whatever imaginary machine of death they're emulating rather than a work around for the lack of more specialised hardware (like a racing wheel for racing games) but sure, keep the ideas coming even if they don't quite fit the mold, after all the title asks what YOU play with a joystick. I know people who played oldie soccer games with a joystick for example, I'm sure it beats a keyboard and mouse (but probably not a comfortable gamepad or better yet an arcade style stick)! Don't let my current infatuation with MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries stop you from sharing your craze!

You are my hero!

Joysticks... haven't used one since the Atari days :P

Well there was a SNES joystick which didn't work well for StreetFighter 2... But that's 1995 or so... hmmm... I have distinct memories of a SNES controller long before I bought one. Strange...

I have always used one when playing Microprose F1 GP. Originally a simple CH Flightstick, nowadays Logitech Extreme 3DPro.

Used to have wonderful evenings with a friend, competing through a season. Set up to have numerous approx 3 minute turns.

He did eventually get a sterring wheel and pedals, but I still did better with the joystick.

How effective a joystick would be with other driving / racing sims I couldn't say. Fun memories though.

I tried a joystick with Grand Prix Legends once, but I couldn't even stay on track; I still wonder how Paryrus' staff were able not only drive the cars with a joystick, but do it very fast too! It literally took me several years to break their laptimes (at least the ones in the replay files that came with the game) in all racetracks.
That being said, "joystick = flight sim" for me. :P

Man, with old school players gaming in the eras of the likes of MechWarrior and X-Wing I expected more replies but I guess even back then it was mostly all about the flight and space games rather than ground vehicles and MechWarrior was the exception to the rule. It's a beautiful exception and it's a shame there aren't many more, here's to hoping MechWarrior 5 and Heavy Gear Assault are great :(

Oh, I just discovered the Tribes/Starsiege prequels, Earthsiege, were mech simulators, I had no idea! Earthsiege 2 in particular looks quite promising but that's probably as impossible to find and get working as MechWarrior 2. GOG should get those games as well as MechWarrior, maybe the rights holders are easier to get a hold of.

Edit: it looks like HighRez Studios released the old games in the Tribes series for free officially some year or two ago! I wonder if they're nicely packaged to work out of the box. Probably not but I sure hope so! Earthsiege 2 here I come!

http://www.tribesuniverse.com

Edit: so yeah they're just the original cd isos for the old games, I'd have to figure out dosbox properly to install them etc :(

Playing Doctors and Nurses,the joystick gets a good work out.

I want to get a joystick for the good old football games, sensible, goal, player manager. They suck with gamepad.

Try checking out my Gog Mix for Mech & Tank Sims. Some of those might work well with a joystick. Also, if you want to play flight sims with a joystick, be sure to check out my Gog Mix for Flight Sims.
Happy Gaming. :)