Games with partial controller support. I mean, I can hold the guide menu button and then use the right stick to move the mouse, but it sucks balls in comparison to just a quick swipe of the track pad. It makes the game feel fluid instead of wonky. For more complex games they act as controller augments. You can configure anything you want. When I use my PS controller, it just feels like it's missing a necessary feature without the touch pads. I think most people think of the track pads as a replacement for L3 and R3 and they were in the past. Now though, we have gyro and flickstick. To me, gyro and flickstick over track pads.

Anything which does not have controller support. Civ, for example. Lots of other similar strategy titles. They function as a great mouse replacement. I've even used them for first person shooters, where a trackpad in trackball mode can be more accurate for aiming versus a controller.

The right one, that is. The left is more often used for custom menus.

But the fact remains: you are restricted to games with controller support without the touchpads.

I've used them for custom radial menus and for moving the mouse cursor on games with no proper controller support, but I never use it on games with controller support; I would also like to know what other people use them for.

Same here, it's strange because within my social circles no one talks about them. I only ever use them for the custom menus but that's pretty much about it. Generally people seem to like using it on shooters but I've tried it and still prefer to play shooters with a mouse on my PC. Only ever play more controller friendly games on my Deck so it's not a big deal to me either.

Yeah I'm the same. People have said they're better for subtle movements like aiming but I find I tend to either move too little with them or spin out of control. Fat thumbs I guess.

Desktop dungeon type games where you need to mouse over stuff.

Mouse heavy games, e.g. Sterallis, you simply move the cursor with the touchpad and click with RT or LT and it works wonderfully

I use them to get around shitty launchers too.