Best Switch controller 2023: find the best Nintendo gamepad for you
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Best Switch controller 2023: find the best Nintendo gamepad for you
We’ve rounded up the best Switch controllers for all types of gamers on every budget
The best Switch controller comes in all shapes and sizes and can elevate your gaming experience whether you’re playing at home or on the move. Like the hybrid console they’re made for, controllers for Switch tend to be an odd bunch that can vary dramatically in price, features and appearance.
Selecting the best Switch controller to fit your needs is an essential part of enhancing your gaming experience. If you often find yourself playing in handheld mode, you should pick up a controller that improves the console’s on-the-go features like making it more comfortable to hold. Or, if you love to sprawl across your couch while playing in docked mode, make sure to buy the controller that makes playing the best Switch games that much better.
Whether you’re looking for a fully customizable gamepad, a more affordable option, or want the lowdown on Nintendo’s first-party controllers, we’ve rounded up the best options for you. And once you’re done selecting a controller, take a look at all the best Switch accessories you should add to your set-up next. How you play games extends beyond what’s simply in your hand and what image appears on your TV.
We’ve tested every item on this list to make sure they’re all up to snuff. But don’t expect it to stay the same forever. As Nintendo and other third-party manufacturers continue to release updated hardware, some controllers will drop off this list to be replaced with newer, snazzier alternatives.
Don’t worry if you’re still deciding between a Nintendo Switch vs OLED, as all the controllers on this list are compatible with both handheld models. But if you’re weighing up the Nintendo Switch vs Lite, remember you probably won’t ever need an external controller for the handheld-only device.
Quick links: Best Switch controller 🎮
Want to know what the best Switch controllers are at a glance?
Nintendo Switch Pro Controller - best official Switch controller
8BitDo Ultimate Controller - best third-party Switch controller
Hori Split Pad Pro - best Switch controller for handheld mode
PowerA Nintendo Switch Wired Controller - best wired Switch controller
8BitDo Pro 2 - best customizable Switch controller
Nintendo Switch Joy-Con controllers - best essential Switch controller
Nintendo Switch Pro Controller
Best official Switch controller
➕ Reliable and sturdy
➕ Comfy in the hand
➖ No snazzy features
The go-to Switch controller for anyone tired of using a Joy-Con, the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller is the console’s official, first-party gamepad. It’s a fairly standard gamepad, with none of the bells and whistles of other ‘pro’ controllers like Sony’s DualSense Edge - one of the best PS5 controllers – but it is exceedingly comfortable and reliable.
Your wrists and hands will certainly thank you for picking it up. Long gaming sessions are a lot easier on your muscles when you don’t need to wrap your fingers around the petite Joy-Con controllers. Plus, with rumble support, motion sensors, and Amiibo scanning, you’re losing none of the Joy-Con functionality.
It’s almost essential if you spend a lot of time sitting in front of the TV playing your Switch in docked mode. Splatoon, Fortnite and other games that call for precise thumbstick movement are much smoother to play, and those sticks are fortunately less prone to drifting.
A solid, all-rounder that doesn’t offer anything particularly exciting, but gets all the important things right.
8BitDo Ultimate Controller
Best third-party Switch controller
➕ Fantastic value for money
➕ Pro gamepad features
➖ On the small side
The 8BitDo Ultimate is the rarest of things: a third-party Nintendo Switch controller that practically surpasses Nintendo’s official gamepad. An alternative to the Nintendo Switch Pro, the Ultimate offers heaps more customization options, added functionality, and some unexpected additions – all for the same price. It feels more like one of the best Xbox controllers in terms of its design, honestly.
Unlike Nintendo’s controller, the Ultimate has the features of a ‘pro’ pad. Every button can be remapped using an accompanying phone and PC app, two paddles sit on its rear, and it’s compatible with the Nintendo Switch, PC, as well as Android and iOS, making it a useful go-to controller for your whole gaming setup.
It’s lighter than Nintendo’s Pro controller, although its buttons feel tactile and its construction is sturdy, but the stubby grips might be uncomfortable for those with particularly large hands. As a bonus, it even comes with a charging dock that can juice up the 20-hour battery in a little under three hours.
Just be sure you buy the right model. It also comes in a version that only supports PC and phones.
Hori Split Pad Pro
Best handheld Switch controller
➕ Makes handheld mode super comfortable
➕ Responsive buttons and inputs
➖ Extra weight to carry around
The Hori Split Pad Pro is the portable Switch player’s dream. Replacing the standard Joy-Con controllers, it detaches in half and slots onto either side of the console’s screen. But unlike the standard Joy-Con controllers, it features contoured ergonomic grips that make it feel like a fully-fledged gamepad.
Comfort is the number one priority here. Each half of the Split Pad Pro is large enough for you to wrap your hands around without needing to contort your fingers as you would with some other controllers (I’m looking at you Joy-Con). Add to that full-size thumbsticks, sensitive inputs and remappable rear paddles, and it offers most Switch players everything they need.
As an added bonus, stick drift is less of a problem than it is for Nintendo’s first-party controllers. It’s a bulky bit of kit that’ll take up a bit of room in your backpack, but they’re not heavy. Your future self will thank you for taking care of your hands.
PowerA Nintendo Switch wired controller
Best wired Switch controller
➕ Affordable price
➕ Cheap, plasticky feel
➖ Not wireless
Looking for a cheap secondary co-op controller to use when your buddy comes over? Look no further than the PowerA Nintendo Switch Wired controller. It’s a perfectly serviceable controller that costs a pittance next to some of the more salubrious options out there, and is the best option if you’re shopping on a budget.
Don’t expect the world. It feels pretty cheap to the touch and can’t be used wirelessly, but comes with a very generous 10-foot detachable cable. While the standard black color scheme is the cheapest option, it’s also available in several other Nintendo-themed designs.
Don’t worry that this isn’t a first-party product. PowerA has established itself as a respected third-party manufacturer, and this is an officially licensed gamepad that even bears the Nintendo logo as a stamp of approval. Pick this up if you’re after an affordable second controller or just a reliable spare.
8Bit Do Pro 2
Best customizable Switch controller
➕ Heaps of customization options
➕ Plug and play
➖ Retro design isn’t to everyone’s taste
Don’t let its retro facade fool you, the Pro 2 is as top-level as Switch controllers as they come. With two rear paddles, remappable inputs, button map profiles that can be jumped between on the fly, and heaps of customization options (including the ability to tweak everything from thumbstick sensitivity to vibration strength), it’s a very powerful controller.
Even if that level of personalization doesn’t appeal, the Pro 2 is still a solid option at an affordable price point. It sits well in the hand, is totally wireless, and packs a meaty battery that will last for days at a time. It’s also compatible with Windows and Android devices, so will save you the shelling out on a fancy PC controller at the same time.
The Pro 2 has been designed to visually imitate the SNES controller, but even the response of its inputs ape that retro gamepad’s feel and the minimal push distance of its buttons. It's a great choice to pair with the many classic games bundled in the Nintendo Online subscription, but it works just as well with modern, blockbuster releases.
Nintendo Switch Joy-Con controller
The best essential Switch controller
➕ Handheld and docked compatibility
➕ Very convenient
➖ Unsolved stick drift issue
The Joy-Con controllers are the Nintendo Switch’s default option that comes bundled with every console. Their success stems from their malleability. They can slot into either side of the console’s screen in handheld mode, can be combined with a comfort grip when playing in docked mode, or split between players if you’re jumping into a co-op game – saving you from having to buy another controller just to play with a buddy.
For such a dinky device, it’s surprisingly robust. Its thumbsticks are sensitive despite their diminutive size, it features rumble support and motion control. It also comes in loads of different colors and styles, in case you want to add some pizzazz to your set-up.
But be wary of the notorious Joy-Con drift. The controllers are known to inevitably falter during their lifespan, leaving their analog sticks to sporadically register movement even if nothing’s touching them. It’s a major issue that plagued the Switch since launch. Nintendo is yet to address the hardware flaw, although that will hopefully change now consumer watchdog groups are calling out the problem.
Last updated: August 10, 2023