Can Arduino Be Used to Build a Simple Gaming Controller?

I've been experimenting with Arduino projects lately, and I started wondering how practical it is to build a simple gaming controller from scratch.

I know people have made things like arcade buttons, racing wheels, joysticks, and even custom keypads, but I'm curious about how well they work for everyday gaming. Is the input latency low enough? Are there any recommended Arduino boards for this, or is something like an ESP32 a better option?

I'm also interested in projects that combine hardware with games, such as reaction timers, mini LCD games, score displays, or controllers for PC games.

If you've built something similar, I'd love to hear about your experience or see photos of your project. Any beginner-friendly tutorials or ideas would also be appreciated!