If you're a Switch owner, there's a great range of wired and wireless controllers out there that can offer you a whole host of gameplay improvements.

With six-axis motion controls, rumble functions, mappable button functions, turbo modes, and even LED light displays; you can customize your look and your play style. Make a statement, and play smarter.

These are the best Nintendo Switch controllers.

Our Favorite Nintendo Switch Controllers in 2023

Taking into consideration quality, performance, and features, the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller takes the crown. If you have experience with PlayStation or Xbox controllers, you’ll be surprised by how comfortable the Pro feels in your hands.

It ultimately comes down to the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller’s button layout. The triggers and face buttons are notably larger, which feel far better to the fingers, especially if your hands feel cramped using Joy-Cons. Best of all: it has an actual D-pad as opposed to the separate directional buttons. The cherry on top is the textured grip that wraps around.

Excluding the ability to split the device in two, the Nintendo Switch Pro Control is one-for-one with Joy-Cons, as far as features go. You still get Amiibo support, motion controls, an NFC reader, and HD rumble. The semi-transparent style is also a nice touch!

The 8Bitdo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller with Charging Dock is an excellent third-party controller and charging dock combo. Compatible with the Switch and the Steam Deck, it offers a stable wireless connection and automatically powers off when docked, powering back on again as soon as it’s lifted out of the dock.

You can also create and store three custom player profiles and switch between them easily with the custom profile button at the center of the controller. It can be used with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, and a two-way mode switching button allows you to select between them. For Switch gamers, there are motion controls too, and a rumble vibration function.

This 8Bitdo controller also features two Pro back paddles, which you can reassign an existing button function to if you wish. Additionally, there’s a hall effect joystick that provides smooth movement and should eliminate drift. It will give you almost 22 hours of game time on a single charge and is comfortable to use. And for a quality third-party controller and charging dock in one, this is a great overall package.

If you’re after a handheld controller for your Switch, don’t want to spend a fortune, and don’t care about it being wireless, then the PDP Rematch Wired Controller is practically perfect in every way.

This controller is officially licensed by Nintendo and has a cool black and lime green mushroom design, and it glows in the dark. And if that’s not enough to convince you, you’ll find two programmable back paddle buttons here, which you can remap button functions to. You can also customize the look of the controller with interchangeable faceplates and thumbsticks.

Volume controls are easy to adjust using the D-pad, and there’s a port for a 3.5mm audio jack so that you can enjoy superior audio with your favorite wired headphones. This lightweight wired controller looks and feels great and is affordable enough to be used as a second or backup controller for your Switch.

A great looking collector's item for fans of The Legend of Zelda series, the Nintendo Joy-Con the Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD Edition is the perfect way to add some drip to your Switch console. These blue and white Joy-Cons are embossed with gold pattern effects and insignias from the game.

The right Joy-Con is styled after the Master Sword, while the left features a Hylian Shield motif. With adjustable wrist cords on both controllers, these are easy to use in either hand with little risk of being flung at TVs or other furnishings. Equally suited to regular handheld play, they will liven up the look of any Switch console, making it stand out and showing a little love for Link.

Stunning looks aside, it functions the same as any pair of Joy-Con controllers, with any differences being purely cosmetic. It has a hefty price tag too, which is likely to put off anyone not already a fan of the series. But for Zelda fans, this is a great showpiece controller that you’re going to want to use the next time you’re hanging out in Hyrule.

Nostalgia sells, and the GameCube Controller — Super Smash Bros Edition for Nintendo Switch is clearly banking on some of that nostalgia twisting the arms of potential buyers. For retro gamers, there’s an appeal to using a GameCube-style controller with your Switch; particularly with so many GameCube titles now available in the Nintendo Store.

One important point to note here is that you will need a GameCube-style adapter for your Switch before you are able to use this wired controller. Annoyingly, this is not included in the package and requires a separate purchase.

However, once acquired, retro heaven awaits! For fans of the GameCube and particularly Super Smash Bros on the GameCube, this delivers an essential slice of gameplay gold. Ergonomically styled to match the original design of the GameCube controller, this will delight gamers who like to hark back to those glory days.

The Guilikit KingKong 2 Pro Wireless Controller is a third-party controller that has some neat features to give your gameplay a boost. The KingKong 2 Pro supports motion sense, letting you tilt and or shake the controller for movement. It also has an autopilot function, that can record various button presses and then repeat them automatically; which is useful for farming items in-game, and so on.

Hall effect sensing joysticks act to prevent any drifting or dead zone issues, using magnetic sensors to provide greater accuracy as well as durability. The controller also has an FPS mode which can be used to allow you to adjust the sensitivity of the joysticks for tighter gunplay.

An NFC sensing function is built-in, and there’s also a one-key wake-up for your Switch console once it has been paired with the King Kong 2 Pro. Additionally, an interchange function allows for a recalibration of the A-B X-Y button functions to suit your gaming preference. Overall, this is an impressive package, with plenty of pros to recommend it for wireless gameplay.

A wireless controller that’s as vibrant and colorful as the game series that it’s inspired by, the PowerA Enhanced Wireless Controller Mario Pop lets you wear your Mario-loving heart on your sleeve every time you turn on your Switch.

There are two mappable back buttons here that can be used to reassign trigger functions to allow for more intuitive gameplay, and motion control is also happily supported here. You’ll enjoy a whopping 30 hours of gameplay on a full charge, and a 10-foot USB-C charging cable is also included, in case you’ve not been diligent enough with charging your Mario Pop.

Boasting one of the most colorful designs we’ve seen on a Switch controller, this Mario Pop wireless controller satisfyingly conveys everything that Nintendo is about: endless fun. You’d be hard-pressed not to have a huge grin on your face with this controller in your hands, and it makes a very trusty companion for endless hours of Switch-based gaming.

The HORI Nintendo Switch Pad Pro is the perfect controller for Switch gamers who lean towards the handheld style of gameplay. Acting like a supersized Joy-Con, this slide-on controller set offers a full-size handheld experience, making your gameplay feel much more immersive.

Featuring a larger and more comfortable grip, as well as larger buttons, triggers, analog sticks, and D-pad, this feels good to hold. It has assignable rear trigger buttons which offer a small amount of customization, and there’s a Turbo function, too, where you can program rapid button presses in various increments per second.

It doesn’t support motion control, and there’s no HD rumble either. However, if you want to enjoy a more grown-up handheld experience while gaming on your Switch, this is a great way to do it. The larger controls here become second nature after a short time. So much so that you may never want to go back to your original Joy-Cons.

If you’ve ever lamented the lack of LED lights in your wireless Switch controller, then this is the one for you. The ECHTPower Switch Remote Gamepad offers nine different LED light effects with three different light modes. There are four levels of brightness and a memory function that you can use to program different light cycles.

Six-axis motion control is also supported, and there are four additional and programmable back buttons, too, for custom button mapping. Dual vibration motors provide five different levels of vibration feedback, and there’s also a three-speed Turbo Mode for triggering rapid button presses.

One key wake-up makes this controller convenient to use with the Switch, and an auto power-off function helps to conserve battery when unpaired. And speaking of the battery, a full charge provides around 10 hours of gameplay. An affordable multi-platform wireless controller that works well for the Switch, the ECHTPower controller is worth a closer look.

If you need a Pro-level controller, it tends to come at a premium price. Those extra buttons and anti-drift joysticks that the pros pine after don’t come cheap, but the GameSir T4 Kaleid Controller makes it work at an affordable price.

Thanks to its hall effect joysticks, the GameSir T4 Kaleid Controller ensures you never experience stick drift ever again. Similar technology is baked into the triggers as well, offering the same level of precision and durability.

At the back of the GameSir T4 Kaleid Controller are two perfectly placed remappable buttons. But its secret weapon is its multi-functional “M” button. This allows you to alter the brightness and effects of the RGB, swap the A and B buttons, and switch the triggers from hair to linear triggers (and back) at a moment’s notice.

Choosing the Right Nintendo Switch Controller For You

Finding the perfect Nintendo Switch controller for you doesn't require a council. You'll have a hard time finding controllers that don't feel good to use, so it really just comes down to features, budget, and aesthetics.

However, if you only own a handful of games that would benefit from a full-sized controller — like fighting games and first-person shooters — then the PDP REMATCH Wired Controller is a good option. It offers extra remappable buttons, more control and accuracy over your actions, and a built-in audio jack for voice communication.

Alternatively, if you prefer to use a controller you already own, the 8Bit Wireless USB Adapter 2 might be of interest. It allows for Bluetooth controllers outside of Nintendo's ecosystem to be used with the Nintendo Switch, like PS4, Xbox Series X/S, and even as far back as the PS3 DualShock controllers.

Whether you have the original Nintendo Switch or the OLED model, the official Nintendo Switch Pro Controller is the best, no-nonsense option. Outside of splitting in half, the Pro Controller is everything the Joy-Cons are, but in a much bigger package. If you have big hands, the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller will feel exponentially better.