Best Nintendo Switch 2 Controllers

I'm guessing this is a sponsored article, but the third-party controllers mentioned here are not the best you can get at that price point, when manufacturers like Mobapad are making better ones.

Nintendo set the bar so low (again!) that the best controller is, in my eyes, whatever doesn't drift.

I must have about 30 Joy-Con and far too many of them drift (and at least one barely registers button inputs).

And no, I am not rough with my controllers in any way for this to be a me problem, and unfortunately this also limits the Joy-Con that I can rotate between, so I frequently find myself using only the more recent ones.

My Pro Controllers all work perfectly though. I just hope that Switch 1 controllers will continue to be supported on Switch 2 by default unless a game specifically requires a function from the new generation controllers.

The 8bitdo Ultimate 2C Switch version is only $30 and it has 2 remappable trigger buttons and turbo. Also really intense rumble which makes interplanetary travel in No Man's Sky a little extra immersive. It really should cost more.

What about that GameSir Cyclone 2 you guys reviewed? That looked like a great deal

The pro controller 2 is nice, but I did return mine after realizing that my Mayflash Magic-NS adapter from way back then still works fine with both the Switch 2 and a DualSense Edge (with TMR sticks). Couldn't really comfortably reach the GR and GL buttons on the Pro 2 anyways and the ergonomics seem better than before, but still not really competitive with the Edge.

On the other hand: you can turn on the Switch 2 with the Pro 2 and the sticks are really way smmooootthhh Good controller then, but not essential with better options available.

Why no mention of the Switch 1 Pro controller? 🤔

You might want to update your affiliate link of the 8bitdo controller. It points to the XBOX/PC version, as Nintendo controllers have the A and B buttons reversed, compared to other platforms.

Switch 2 pro number one and then my gamecube nso controller. Oh..... and not forgetting the snes nso controller.

@cvrator I have two new Ultimate 2Cs for family and friends. What a deal! $50 for two controllers with Hall effect sticks, as you said amazing rumble, and great battery life. They work great in Mario Kart World. Nintendolife you really should check em out.

The A button on my M30 pad is sticking. Gutted. I have not had much luck with controllers through the Switch's life , except with 8bitdo pads. I felt confident they would serve me well for years to come and said as much on here the other week. Seems I spoke too soon.

At home still using my Pink and Blue Switch joycons.
On the move use the normal S2 joycons.
But......I HAVE GOT MY GAMECUBE CONTROLLER FROM UK NINTENDO STORE!!!
But haven't tried it out yet

@cvrator I picked up and 8bitdo Ultimate 2C Bluetooth as an extra pro-style controller and have been happy with it (although ai still generally use my original Switch Pro controller).

I was surprised to see NL recommending a different model here that doesn’t seem to officially advertise switch/switch 2 compatibility (but also their product naming is a bit confusing in general so maybe I am mistaken). I’m also curious if the model they pointed at requires a dongle. I have an 8bitdo USB dongle for connecting and Xbox one controller to the Switch and have not been impressed with the wireless range.

One note about the Switch 2 Firmware update on the Ultimate 2C Bluetooth: you need to use the “ultimate v2” software and not the other firmware update that they have. I also could only get it to work on Windows and not on macOS. You may need to enable beta updates too.

The question is: will Switch 2 recognize analogue input from third party controllers?

I'm conflicted...

I'm really holding out for the hopefully to-be-updated ability for the switch 1 controller to be able to wake the console from sleep. It's a big deal for me... my switch 2 isn't convenient to get to every time I want to play it....

But if N decides to keep it proprietary to the pro 2 controller..... which is likely... I'll probably cave. I hate to say it, but it is what it is. I've had the same original pro controller since ~2017 and it's still going strong... so I'm confident that the $85 investment of the pro controller 2 will be worth it... but still... how much am I gonna spend on this thing?

I can't stand joycons, so I don't have too much of a choice

@OorWullie
Look up a tear down they are really easy to take apart, clean and apply machine oil. Alternatively you could apply a bit of the oil into the sides of the button using a needle applicator and work it in, that should probably be enough to fix ir and you can clean up any excess with rubbing alcohol.

Looking forward to a third party one that has all the features (apart from Amiibo) of the Pro Controller 2.
Meaning:

• Mic
• Headphone jack
• Motion control
• Rear buttons

Many have the last 2 but not yet the first 2.

A nice to have would be a button to wake the Switch 2. My third party Xbox controller wakes the Series X.

I’ll eventually be in the market for a pro controller 2 to better play timing-sensitive 3D games like Splatoon, due to the better sticks and polling rate. However I’m disappointed to hear its dpad still registers false inputs, like the pro controller 1.

I was crestfallen playing Tetris 99 and seeing for the first time how innacurate the dpad was. I would actually rather use the separate joycon buttons than a dpad that bad again.

I need third party joycons for playing in handheld mode ASAP. Hori needs to hurry up with a Split Pad Pro 2.

What about Gulikit controllers?
Nintendo's own pro controller aside, those are the best controllers out there IMO

Lack of HD Rumble support on 3rd party controllers is still a real shame, and also inability to turn on the Switch 2 remotely (though maybe that'll come later, since at least SOME 3rd party Switch 1 controllers can wake it)

@BoFiS Mobapad's controllers have HD rumble.

The Switch 2 Pro Controller is my new favorite Nintendo controller of all-time and is right there with the Dual Sense as a 1 and 1a. both are fantastic controllers. Also really like my SNES NSO pad and will probably add the GC controller pretty soon as well. The latter wasn't my favorite controller of that gen but I did still enjoy using it.

@SalvorHardin Thanks for the tips. I'll do that.