Steam is getting better about support. I used an older Dual Shock as a 'generic' type controller using an emulator that I am not sure of the name of any longer...SCP Toolkit. It was buggy from time to time but worked mostly well.
If you haven't already gotten a controller the Xbox controllers (and especially older ones) work great with W10/11 and will pair with the built in Bluetooth or a dongle. The newer versions require a specialty dongle or to be connected by USB. Either type works fine with Steam and other launchers.