The top Nintendo Switch controllers are available for a variety of tastes and price ranges. For Nintendo’s hybrid handheld, there are a surprisingly large number of great controllers, so we went ahead and created this guide to help you choose.
Many of the top Nintendo Switch titles, many of which play better than the built-in Joy-Con controllers, can be played to their fullest potential with the best Nintendo Switch controllers. Yes, the novel controllers that come with the Nintendo Switch are fantastic in the correct situations, but if you want to play on a TV while docked, you’ll discover that there are many better alternatives for controllers in our guide.
We have the controllers you need, whether you’re searching for a cheap one for younger players or something a little more expensive for extended, deep gaming sessions. Give our list of the finest Nintendo Switch accessories a look if you want to maximise your gameplay on the Nintendo Switch. following pads for various platforms? Additionally, we have guides for the top Xbox controllers and combat sticks for 2023.
Best Nintendo Switch controllers in 2023
1. 8BitDo Ultimate Controller
If you were to choose a Nintendo Switch controller right now, go with the 8BitDo Ultimate. It just checks practically all the boxes we’d anticipate for what would be one of the greatest controllers on the market, period, in terms of build quality, feel, battery life, and more. A “Pro” adjacent controller is definitely worth the money when you include in extra capabilities like remappable button profiles via the 8BitDo software (including two more buttons at the pad’s rear).
Even sweeter is the price tag. It costs the same as our next item on the list ($69.99/£59.99) and includes much more functionality. When you take into account the fact that the 8BitDo Ultimate also has its own charging dock, its value increases even more. Handy for when the pad’s 20 hours of battery life runs out and you need to charge quickly.
There are only a few drawbacks, including a little congested middle area where buttons like Start, Select, Home, and Share are located. This makes it possible to accidentally press numerous buttons. Additionally, there is no NFC connectivity, so if you enjoy collecting and scanning amiibo figurines and cards, you’ll have to rely on the Switch’s Joy-Con controllers. However, they are really minor quibbles that have no bearing on anything that this excellent controller gets right.
2. Nintendo Switch Pro Controller
It should come as no surprise that the official Nintendo Switch Pro Controller is one of the contenders for the system’s top pad. In spite of being narrowly beaten by the 8BitDo Ultimate in our rankings, Nintendo’s own controller is still a good option. especially if you like the sound of a battery life of more than 40 hours on a single charge. Yes, the Pro Controller’s battery life may very well be its finest feature.
The Nintendo Switch Pro Controller costs $69.99 / £59.99, which is the same as the cost of the item we rank first on our list. While the Pro Controller loses some of the features of its competitors (no charging station, rear buttons, or support for different button configurations), it more than makes up for it with features like complete NFC compatibility and – once again – that incredible battery life.
There isn’t much wrong with the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller if you want something a little more conventional (and a lot more durable) than the Joy-Con controllers that come with the Switch. Even if we do prefer the 8BitDo Ultimate’s buttons and triggers, the Pro is still a great option, especially if you play mostly docked.
3. Nintendo Switch Joy-Con controllers
When the Nintendo Switch was introduced back in 2017, the Joy-Con controllers were a brand-new, innovative idea. And some of its more innovative components, like the HD rumble (a kind of haptics akin to those found in the DualSense), are still fantastic today. Primarily, you practically get two controllers for the price of one assuming you can manage their diminutive size. The Joy-Con are ideal for local multiplayer games because of this alone.
But because of this and its novelty, Joy-Con are more expensive than the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller. The Joy-Con controllers are even more expensive than the top two items on our list at $79.99 / £69.99 each.
When you consider the Joy-Con controllers’ flimsy construction compared to the Pro Controller and their analogue sticks’ propensity for drifting, you might be better off looking at some of the other alternatives on our list. However, their adaptability is undeniably valuable, and games with local multiplayer, like Mario Party Superstars and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, benefit greatly from their use. As a result, the Joy-Con controllers are enjoyable and suitable for kids.
4. Hori Split Pad Compact
Does the Hori Split Pad Compact replace the Joy-Con in any way? Yes, in many respects. Hori’s interpretation of the pair is a little broader, so they fit larger hands more easily. Additionally, each controller has one back paddle button, and there is a turbo assignment for quick inputs.
It is also significantly less expensive, costing only $49 / £39.99. This is especially fantastic because Nintendo’s Joy-Con controllers, which frequently appear to be sold out across major shops, are less easily accessible than the Compact. As a result, using the Compact is a reasonably simple and affordable way to enjoy a nearly equivalent experience.
Although the Compact is a pleasure to use, it is missing certain essential Joy-Con functionality. You won’t receive Nintendo’s exclusive HD Rumble, nor will it support NFC or even have gyro aiming. As a result, we advise against playing docked games in docked mode on the Compact, especially when playing gyro-intensive titles like Splatoon 3 and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
5. PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller
It’s almost miraculous that the PowerA Enhanced wired controller even exists. You could be persuaded by one glance at the pricing that these are poor quality pads with nothing to offer. But happily, that’s not the situation at all.
The price of PowerA Enhanced wired controllers is just $27.99 / £24.99. PowerA’s pads make fantastic presents for younger gamers due to their affordable pricing and wide variety of entertaining Nintendo-themed designs.
Here, the quality of the buttons, triggers, and sticks is also unexpected. It’s obvious that the 8BitDo Ultimate’s satisfyingly clicky buttons and deeper triggers are superior, but even so, this is still an impressive attempt for such a cheap pad. The pad’s limitation to wired play, which prevents it from being utilised for portable play or with the Nintendo Switch Lite, is the only major negative for its price range.
6. 8BitDo Arcade Stick
With its excellent arcade stick, 8BitDo concludes our list of the best Nintendo Switch controllers. It’s a great option if you enjoy downloading and playing the plethora of fighting games available on the Nintendo eShop, from collections like the Capcom Fighting Collection to cult favourites from SNK like Garou: Mark of the Wolves. Although it is among the top Nintendo Switch controllers, it also appears on our list of the best combat sticks for 2023.
The 8BitDo Arcade Stick, which costs $90 / £82, is undoubtedly the most expensive item on our list, but it pairs beautifully with Nintendo’s system owing to its wonderful vintage finish and 8BitDo’s consistently dependable build quality. Therefore, it’s equally great for playing the plethora of classic games made available through Nintendo Switch Online in addition to fighting games.
High-quality buttons, button mapping, multi-profile compatibility, even wireless networking are all features of the 8BitDo arcade stick. Because the stick supports Bluetooth, you won’t be constrained by cords, and it functions flawlessly in docked and portable modes.
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