The Nintendo Switch is a fantastic console with a wide library of great games. But it suffers from a key flaw: The Joy-Cons, which are the small controllers that come attached to the side of the system, aren't all that comfortable. While their small size makes them uniquely portable, their shape and lack of grip make extended gaming sessions a pain. That's why the best Nintendo Switch controllers are bigger and easier to grip.
After months of testing, my pick for the best Nintendo Switch controller is the 8BitDo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller. Its ergonomic design ensures consistent comfort and offers an array of customization options, along with a convenient charging dock. Another notable option is the retro-themed 8BitDo SN30 Pro, which has a compact shape and great D-pad. And if you're on a tight budget, there's also the PowerA Spectra Enhanced, an affordable wired gamepad with grippy joysticks and RGB lights.
This guide features my six favorite Nintendo Switch controllers from a variety of popular brands, compiled after extensive hands-on tests. Although there are plenty of options on the market, I'm confident that these are the top controllers for most Switch gamers.
Our top picks for Nintendo Switch controllers
Best overall: 8BitDo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller - See at Amazon
Best full-featured: Nintendo Switch Pro Controller - See at Amazon
Best budget: PowerA Spectra Enhanced Wired Controller - See at Amazon
Best for retro games: 8BitDo SN30 Pro Controller - See at Amazon
Best GameCube-style: PowerA GameCube Wired Controller - See at Amazon
Best for handheld mode: Hori Split Pad Compact - See at Amazon
Best overall
The 8BitDo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller is a stylish gamepad for the NIntendo Switch and PC with fully customizable controls and an included charging dock.
What we like
What we don't like
8BitDo is best known for its retro-style gamepads. But its flagship modern controller, the Ultimate Bluetooth, is one of the best controllers for the Nintendo Switch and beyond.
I knew the Ultimate Bluetooth was special from the moment I picked it up. Its textured handles feel better than any other Switch controller I've used, and its Hall Effect joysticks aren't far behind. I'm a big fan of the analog triggers, too — these don't work with Switch games, but they do work with PC games and feel smoother than simple digital triggers.
The Ultimate Bluetooth is big on convenience, too. A free PC, iPhone, and Android app lets you completely customize the button layout, joystick sensitivity, and rumble strength. And every controller comes bundled with a charging dock that gives you a handy way to store it when it's not in use.
No controller is perfect, and the Ultimate Bluetooth does have flaws. It doesn't support Amiibos, the paddle buttons are easy to press without thinking, and the white version of the controller picks up dirt. But when it comes to value, performance, and versatility, the 8BitDo Ultimate Bluetooth is easily one of the best Nintendo Switch controllers.
I should note that 8BitDo also offers a slightly less expensive version of this controller, called the Ultimate 2.4g Controller. That model can connect to the Switch, too, but doesn't have motion controls and has a slightly different face button layout. It's still a great controller — I think it's both the best PC gaming controller and the best iOS gaming controller — but if you're focused on the Switch, the Ultimate Bluetooth is better.
Best full-featured
The Pro Controller provides a classic alternative to the Switch's Joy-Con controllers, with about 40 hours of battery life and bigger buttons.
What we like
What we don't like
Alongside its unique controllers (the Joy-Cons, the Wii Remote), Nintendo always sells a "Pro" controller that offers all the same features in a standard gamepad package. And as expected, the official Nintendo Switch Pro Controller is one of the best ways to play Switch games.
The Pro Controller is a sleek black gamepad with lightly textured handles and big, tactile buttons. It's made with slightly translucent plastic, letting you see the internals — including the massive battery, which lasts for about 40 hours of playtime on a full charge. It's easy to pair with your Switch, and with other devices like your PC or smartphone via Bluetooth.
Unlike most third-party gamepads, the Pro Controller supports motion controls, Amiibo scanning, and HD Rumble. But unlike some controllers, there aren't built-in ways to customize the controls.
The Pro Controller's biggest downside, though, is its price. It costs $70, the same as the 8BitDo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller, but has fewer customization options and doesn't come with a charging dock.
If you want a controller that offers all the features of a Joy-Con in a more comfortable form, the Pro Controller is exactly what you're looking for.
Best budget
The PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller for Nintendo Switch is a full-sized gamepad that offers bigger buttons, better joysticks, and extra customizable buttons. The Spectra model also has color-changing LED lights.
What we like
What we don't like
The PowerA Spectra Enhanced Wired Controller offers pro-level performance in an affordable package, which is perfect for gamers on a budget.
The Spectra's biggest selling point is its customizable RGB light array, which lines the controller, each button, and the joysticks. You can choose between eight static colors or a "phase" mode that circles between them. This gives the controller a stylish aesthetic that'll fit into loads of gaming setups.
The buttons feel good, and the joysticks have a fantastic amount of grip. There are also programmable paddle buttons on the back, which — unlike other controllers — are in a spot that you won't accidentally hit.
Of course, you are giving up some features for the controller's low price. The Spectra doesn't have motion controls, Amiibo support, or any rumble feature. You'll also need to connect a micro-USB cable to use it, and the plastic feels decidedly cheap. But it's a great option if you're buying on a budget or don't need the extra features.
Best for retro games
The 8BitDo SN30 Pro is a unique gamepad that’s shaped just like a Super Nintendo Entertainment System controller, but has all the buttons and joysticks you’d expect on a modern gamepad. It’s a great choice for retro and 2D games on a Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac, or Android device.
What we like
What we don't like
One of the Nintendo Switch Online service's main selling points is its collection of classic NES, SNES, Game Boy, Genesis, and Nintendo 64 games. And although these games support any controller, the best way to play them is with a retro gamepad like the 8BitDo SN30 Pro.
The SN30 Pro is 8BitDo's best retro-style controller. It's shaped just like an old SNES controller but includes all the features of a modern gamepad, like twin joysticks, rumble vibration, and proper shoulder/trigger buttons. It's even got motion controls, meaning it'll work for motion aiming games like Splatoon.
But the real star of the SN30 Pro show is the D-pad. The SN30 Pro has one of the best D-pads I've ever used on a Switch controller. It's perfect for 2D games, like the kind you'll play with a Nintendo Switch Online subscription or on PC with an emulator. And it'll work just as well with modern games that let you move in the cardinal directions.
It's also available in different colors and designs, each of which references a classic Nintendo product. Our favorites are the G Classic, which uses the same colors as the original Game Boy, and the Crystal Purple, which looks like the translucent purple Nintendo 64.
The SN30 Pro's biggest flaw is that since it can connect to so many different devices — the Switch, PC and Mac, iPhone and iPad, Android, Steam Deck, and Raspberry Pi — it can be confusing to switch between platforms. Each connection requires a unique button combination, which you'll find in the manual.
Best for GameCube titles
The PowerA GameCube Wired Controller combines the best parts of the original GameCube controller with all the buttons you’d expect to find on a typical Switch controller. It doesn’t have motion controls, rumble, or Amiibo support, though.
What we like
What we don't like
Nintendo has a reputation for making great controllers. Case in point: The GameCube controller is still in production almost two decades after the Nintendo GameCube left store shelves. And of all the GameCube-style Switch controllers sold right now, the PowerA GameCube Wired Controller comes out on top.
It's the small details that push this PowerA controller to the front of the pack. Its plastic has the same light texturing as the original GameCube controller. And each joystick is gated, meaning that they're surrounded by notches, making it easier to hold the stick in a specific direction.
The shoulder buttons are the biggest difference between the original controller and this PowerA model. This model replaces the original Z button with a modern R bumper, adds an L bumper button, and changes the analog triggers to digital. The digital-to-analog switch won't matter for Switch games but might hurt if you emulate GameCube games on your PC.
Like the PowerA Spectra, this controller doesn't have motion controls, rumble response, or Amiibo support. And you need to connect it to your Switch or computer with a micro-USB cable to use it.
If you're interested in a GameCube-style controller, chances are that you're buying it to play Super Smash Bros. This PowerA model works amazingly with Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and the gated joysticks really help with precise directional inputs. The controller is also technically legal in competitive Super Smash Bros. Melee, but without analog triggers, it's not the best option.
PowerA also offers a wireless version of this controller with motion controls, but we don't recommend it. It's double the price and runs on disposable AA batteries — that's a non-starter. Wireless controllers also have more input lag than wired options, which isn't great for fighting games.
Best for handheld mode: Hori Split Pad Compact
Hori’s Split Pad Compact is a pair of slim Joy-Con replacements that give your Nintendo Switch extra buttons, a proper D-pad, better joysticks, and a Turbo feature.
What we like
What we don't like
Hori makes a variety of useful Nintendo Switch accessories. One of the best is the Split Pad Compact, a pair of full-sized Joy-Con alternatives. Like Joy-Cons, they hook onto the sides of the Switch. They don't have an internal battery, so they're designed to be used exclusively when your Switch is in handheld mode.
The Split Pad Compact fixes the majority of the Joy-Cons' problems — it's got bigger buttons, a more comfortable shape, and more precise joysticks — to make it easier to play games for long stretches of time. They're twice as wide as standard Joy-Cons and have a rounded grip on the back.
The Split Pad Compact adds a few new features, too. There are two extra paddle buttons on the back that can copy the function of any other button. There's also a Turbo mode, which lets you rapidly press a button by holding it down instead of tapping. It's not hard to find uses for both of these features.
The biggest downside to the Split Pad Compact is that the bigger size kills some of the Switch's portability. The system won't fit into many of the best Nintendo Switch cases with the Split Pad controllers attached, and the controllers can be difficult to store. The controllers also don't have motion controls, rumble, or Amiibo support.
Despite these flaws, the Split Pad Compact is still a definite ergonomic improvement over the standard Joy-Cons, making it one of the best Nintendo Switch controllers in handheld mode. I also prefer the Split Pad Compact to the other version Hori sells, the Split Pad Pro, which is needlessly bulky.
How we test Nintendo Switch controllers
Nintendo Switch controller FAQs
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