Best Nintendo Switch 2 Controllers (2025), Tested and Reviewed
One of the best things about the Nintendo Switch 2 is its versatility. The new console continues to balance on-the-go handheld gaming with big-screen TV play, remains backward compatible with most Switch games, and adds more retro games to its digital library with the arrival of classic GameCube games.
From the upgraded Joy-Con 2 grips that introduce point-and-click mouse controls alongside the familiar motion tracking features, to the dedicated Switch 2 Pro Controller for players who want a more traditional joypad to hand, there’s already no shortage of controller options for Switch 2—but what’s the best?
That depends on what you need—are you a couch gamer who wants the best pad for the big screen? Want to play retro titles in the most authentic way possible? Or do you just fancy making the most of the Switch 2’s multiplayer features?
Best Switch 2 Controller Overall
Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
Nintendo Joy-Con 2 is the best Switch 2 controller overall. Sure, you get a pair of these miniature marvels with the Switch 2 itself, but given that the new console remains as heavily focused on multiplayer as the original, you may want some extras.
The Joy-Con 2 controllers appear to be essentially the same as those on the first Switch, but they offer some notable upgrades. They’re larger—an approximate 14 percent increase in size—making them more comfortable for larger hands, and their buttons are slightly bigger to match.
Best Upgrade
Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller is the best upgrade for Switch 2. Like the Joy-Con 2s, there’s a sense of continuity from the original Switch to the new generation’s Pro Controller. At a glance, it’s essentially the same—a more conventional controller in the mold of those used on Xbox or PlayStation, perfect for Switch 2 games that don’t require the unique features of the Joy-Cons.
However, this is crammed with clever adjustments and design tweaks that make it feel substantially different from its predecessor. Chiefly, it feels smaller in the hand thanks to slimmed-down grips that sit at a slightly tighter angle.
Best Third-Party Controller Overall
SNAKEBYTE GamePad Pro S2 is the best third-party controller overall. Perhaps the closest to Nintendo’s own Pro Controller in form, but arguably exceeding it in function, Snakebyte’s GamePad Pro S2 packs in ultra-precise Hall effect sticks, turbo features, mappable back buttons, and LED effects for a colorful touch.
It connects wirelessly via a dongle, meaning a USB port gets eaten up, but this allows the controller to remotely wake the console, which few third-party pads seem to be able to do.
The Turbo function offers adjustable speeds—particularly useful in shooters, creating an auto-fire function—and can be assigned to any face or shoulder button. The intensity of the pad’s haptics can also be tailored to preference.
However, the layout has some quirks—the central Snakebyte logo ‘Home’ button is positioned more like an Xbox pad, while screen capture and C-button are vertically aligned below it—and the flared D-pad won’t be for everyone.
But overall, it’s reassuringly familiar in the hand, weighing a mere 224 grams. There’s a nice springy resistance to the L2/R2 triggers, but physical locks massively reduce the travel distance for a quicker, more mechanical feel.
Similar toggles can lock the M1/M2 under-grip buttons, which otherwise function as the mappable GL/G2 inputs on the Pro Controller 2.
Read More
Read our Best Switch 2 Accessories guide for more.
Updated December 2025: We’ve added controllers from PowerA and Snakebyte.
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