Joystick Gremlin
Joystick Gremlin configures joystick-like devices by mapping their physical inputs to virtual controls, keyboard keys, or mouse inputs.
What Joystick Gremlin is
Joystick Gremlin configures joystick-like devices by mapping their physical inputs to virtual controls, keyboard keys, or mouse inputs. It runs on Windows and relies on vJoy virtual joysticks to forward inputs and apply transformations such as axis response curves and dead zones. Multiple physical devices can be combined into one virtual device. Profiles can include inherited modes, customizable mode switching, and conditional actions, while macros replay event sequences according to configured conditions. Python scripts support specialized setups, with script variables configurable through the interface. Included tools cover input viewing, device calibration, automatic 1:1 mapping, and swapping device bindings in profiles. Both Gremlin and vJoy require VC++ redistributables. Gremlin cannot hide physical device inputs from games; its FAQ suggests HidHide for that purpose. Profiles from before the Release 14 rewrite are incompatible, with no conversion tool currently available. For macros in games running with administrator privileges, Gremlin must run at the same or a higher privilege level.
Good
- Merges multiple physical devices into one virtual device
- Supports axis curves and dead zones
- Offers inherited modes and conditional actions
- Includes input viewing and device calibration tools
Watch out
- Requires vJoy and VC++ redistributables
- Cannot hide physical device inputs from games
- Pre-Release 14 profiles have no conversion tool
Who it suits
Joystick Gremlin suits Windows users configuring simple or advanced joystick setups, including people who need to merge devices or map controls to keyboard and mouse inputs. Its profiles, macros, and Python scripting also support more specialized configurations.
Verdict
Joystick Gremlin provides flexible input mapping and profile controls for Windows, with vJoy as a required dependency. Check the physical-input visibility limitation and profile compatibility before adopting it.
The facts
Each one read from Joystick Gremlin's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Axis configuration
- It supports axis response curves and dead zones.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Compatibility note
- When configuring multiple vJoy devices, they must differ in the number of axes, buttons, or hats, or Gremlin may fail to start.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Dependency
- The installation guide identifies vJoy as a major dependency and says Gremlin and vJoy require VC++ redistributables.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- The documentation describes the software as intended for simple and advanced joystick configuration and management.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Modes
- Profiles can use multiple modes with inheritance, so a child mode can use mappings from a parent when it has none of its own for an input.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Modes and actions
- It supports configurable modes with inheritance, customizable mode switching, and conditional action execution.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Notable limitation
- Joystick Gremlin cannot hide physical device inputs from games; the FAQ recommends HidHide as the most reliable way to hide them.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Profile compatibility
- The release notes say profiles from before the Release 14 rewrite are not compatible and that no conversion tool is currently available.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Joystick Gremlin configures joystick-like devices, including devices from different manufacturers and custom devices that appear as joysticks to Windows.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Python scripting
- It supports Python scripts for advanced and specialized configurations, with script variables configurable through the UI.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Recent release
- Release 16, dated 2026-09-26, adds a redesigned UI, session log viewing, a system tray option, and XInput device detection.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Scripting
- User scripts are written in Python and can define configurable variables and callbacks triggered by inputs.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Setup requirement
- Both Joystick Gremlin and vJoy require VC++ redistributables to be installed.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Tools
- The software includes an input viewer, device calibration, an automatic 1:1 mapping tool, and a tool for swapping device bindings in profiles.checked 2 Oct 2026
Where it runs
- Device merging
- It can merge multiple physical devices into a single virtual device.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Device support
- It works with joystick like devices from different manufacturers, including custom devices that appear as DirectInput devices to Windows.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Device visibility limitation
- Joystick Gremlin cannot hide physical device inputs, and the FAQ suggests HidHide as a way to hide them from a game.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Input mapping
- It can map joystick inputs to keyboard and mouse inputs.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Macro limitation
- For macros to work in a game running with administrator privileges, the FAQ says Joystick Gremlin must run at the same or a higher privilege level.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Macros
- Macros can play back sequences of events and repeat a fixed number of times, until the action is activated again, or while the physical input is pressed.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Mapping features
- It can merge multiple physical devices into one virtual device and map joystick inputs to keyboard or mouse inputs.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Virtual device dependency
- Joystick Gremlin uses vJoy virtual joysticks to forward physical inputs as virtual inputs.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Virtual devices
- It uses virtual joysticks provided by vJoy to map physical inputs to virtual inputs and apply transformations such as axis response curves.checked 3 Oct 2026
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