I remember using a Gravis Gamepad. I wonder if you could find a USB version that would work? I don’t think they have game ports on computers any more. lol
I found some USB Joysticks, but ‘98 support -even ‘98SE, for USB was not great.
Right now I am attempting to figure out some kind of VM to install ‘98SE under Linux to see if that will allow using a modern joystick and bypass the ‘doze driver requirements.