Razer Wolverine V2 Chroma review: Razer's Xbox controller almost feels like cheating, if you don't mind the cable

Razer's Wolverine controller for Xbox proved itself to be a capable alternative to the Xbox Elite Controller and other competing solutions. The company since returned with a Razer Wolverine V2 version, which improved on the original in almost every way. However, it drew criticism for omitting other features, such as the back paddles. Now, we have an all-new version that brings with it a refreshed design.

The Razer Wolverine V2 Chroma is here, now featuring pretty RGB lights and a whole range of features that all types of gamers should pay close attention to. While it is double the price of a standard Xbox Series X|S controller, it does provide a wealth of features that are otherwise unavailable to regular Xbox controllers. This gamepad also builds on the original V2 in various ways, making me wonder why it wasn't actually called the V3. Although, there is now an actual Razer Wolverine V3, which is indeed amazing and also wireless, but it's still worth considering the V2, it's significantly cheaper than the wireless Razer Wolverine V3 Pro if you really want Razer Chroma lights. The Razer Wolverine V3 Tournament Edition successor is however cheaper from its RRP, but there's no pretty lights to speak of.

This is the Razer Wolverine V2 Chroma, and even though it has V3 successors now, it remains arguably one of the best Xbox controllers money can buy. If you don't mind wired controllers, and can grab it lower than $100 in a Prime Day or Black Friday deals event, that is.

Razer Wolverine V2 Chroma: Price, Specs, and Availability

The Razer Wolverine V2 Chroma enjoys good availability at all major retailers, including the likes of Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy. You can also grab it from Razer's own website. The controller comes in both black and white configurations, to match your Xbox Series X or your Xbox Series S. It's also fully compatible with Windows PC.

The Razer Wolverine V2 Chroma RRPs for $149.99, but it's frequently on sale at around $99 or lower. This is a good thing, because the similar wired Razer Wolverine V3 Tournament Edition is $99 as standard. The premium successor option, the wireless Razer Wolverine V3 Pro, comes in at $199. The regular Razer Wolverine V2 non-pro comes in at around $55, without Razer Chroma lights.

Razer Wolverine V2 Chroma: The good stuff

I've generally been sceptical of third-party controllers, but Razer made me a believer right out of the box with the Wolverine V2 Chroma. The Wolverine V2 Chroma is a wired option compatible with Xbox consoles and PC. It lacks wirelessness due to restrictions from Xbox previously, which was a bummer. Microsoft has since lifted some of those restrictions, leading to its wireless successor in the Wolverine V3 Pro. However, despite the cables, you definitely shouldn't let that put you off the V2, though.

Design-wise, the Razer Wolverine V2 Chroma is artificially similar to the standard Xbox controller, with the familiar offset joysticks, ABXY buttons, and even the new Xbox Series X|S share button. Where the V2 Chroma starts to diverge is in its premium features, which make the doubled price point seem more than fair.

The Wolverine V2 has rubberized, textured grips that Xbox Elite Controller users may be familiar with, complete with magnetic interchangeable joysticks, a couple of which can be found inside the box with different cap styles. Across the top, we also have additional shoulder buttons, with a further four buttons on the reverse in the form of back paddles. Since the first version of the V2 removed the back paddles from the V1, seeing them return with gusto is a welcome improvement. You also get trigger locks for good measure, which reduces the travel time of the triggers, allowing you to fire more rapidly in shooters and other games.

Usually, on third-party controllers, there's this uncanny sense of "ugh" while doing direct comparisons to Microsoft's home-grown buttons and triggers. I can safely say there's no such sense of "ugh" with the Wolverine V2 Chroma. In fact, the buttons and triggers are among the nicest I've used, and it wasn't long before I forgot almost entirely that I was using them. They even have a clicky "mouse-like" actuation feel to them, which is interesting.

The additional buttons can be configured fairly extensively using the Razer Controller app, free on Xbox and Windows 10/11. This app lets you assign various functions to the buttons, including the standard Xbox controls, as well as a few additional toggles courtesy of Razer, one of which almost feels like cheating.

Although it took a fair bit of practice to get used to, the sensitivity clutch feature on the Wolverine V2 can be truly game-changing in some scenarios. Playing sniper rifles in Call of Duty or marksman characters like Widowmaker in Overwatch, holding down a paddle assigned to the sensitivity clutch reduces the speed at which the joysticks actuate motion.

I could keep the sensitivity high for movement, but lower the sensitivity for making more precise shots at a distance. I'm usually fairly terrible at landing headshots, but I can say without a doubt, this almost immediately helped. It'll take some training to get used to the positioning, but it's impressive what a difference it can make.

When you combine the trigger locks, the sensitivity clutch, and the back paddles, the Razer Wolverine V2 Chroma has far more utility than the standard controller, giving you a noticeable advantage in competitive play. In games like Chivalry 2 with fairly complex controls, being able to map regular actions to the paddles makes motion far easier, since you don't have to take your fingers off the thumbsticks for any reason.

Razer Wolverine V2 Chroma: The bad stuff

No product is perfect, and the Razer Wolverine V2 Chroma is no exception. The most notable and obvious omission is wirelessness. As I mentioned earlier, Microsoft had restrictions on third-party wirelesss controllers previously, which puts limitations on the tech's use. The Wolverine V2 Chroma comes with a detachable USB-C cable this time, although I'm not sure exactly why you'd ever want to detach it. Given that USB-C doesn't anchor itself into ports as well as Micro-USB does, I'm not sure this was the best choice.

The other downside is potentially the price, although I'd argue that it's quite generous given all of the features you're getting here. A regular Xbox controller costs around $40, but the Razer Wolverine V2 Chroma costs more than triple, at $150. It's often on sale for lower than $99, but the Razer Wolverine V3 Tournament Edition RRPs for $99 as standard, albeit without lights.

If you're someone who doesn't think they'll use the extra features, or someone who doesn't get too competitive in games like Call of Duty or Fortnite, I'm not sure losing wirelessness is worth the asking price.

Razer Wolverine V2 Chroma: Should you buy it?

The Razer Wolverine V2 Chroma is a great product that defied my personal stigma I somewhat irrationally attach to third-party controllers, perhaps stemming from the deluge of poor-quality stuff we used to get in the '90s. The ergonomics are on point, the buttons and sticks are top-notch, and the feature set is generous for the price point.

You should buy this if ...

✅ You're a competitive gamer looking for an additional advantage
✅ You like sparkly Razer lights

You shouldn't buy this if ...

❌ You're a more casual gamer who is already pretty happy with the regular Xbox controller
❌ You don't care about the lights, in which case you should get the newer Razer Wolverine V3 Tournament Edition

It's loathsome somewhat that this lacks wirelessness, due to the previous restrictions, but Razer can hardly be blamed for that — although, it may be a dealbreaker for you. It has a wireless controller successor now of course, but it's more in the price range of the Xbox Elite Controller, and hardly what I'd call an affordable alternative.

RELATED: Razer Wolverine V3 Pro vs. Xbox Elite Controller Series 2

The Razer Wolverine V2 is indeed a more affordable alternative to the likes of the Xbox Elite Controller or the SCUF Instinct Pro Controller, though. It brings you paddles, hair triggers, and that immensely cool sensitivity clutch that is a sniper's dream. For any form of competitive play, the Razer Wolverine V2 Chroma is more than worth it. And hey, RGBs makes us all better gamers, right?