Introduction
Do you love your Nintendo Switch? Ready to fall in love with it all over again? We'll show you the top 5 best accessories for your Nintendo Switch to drastically improve your gaming experience (or at least marginally). Let's get started.
1. Satisfye Grip
Price: $28.99
If you've ever played your Switch in handheld mode, you know how uncomfortable it can be to use over time. Depending on how long your play session is, you may even experience fatigue or hand cramping. Approved by Nintendo fanatics on YouTube such as BeatEmUps, Kevin Kenson, and Spawn Wave as well as Switch lovers everywhere, the Satisfye grip will surely leave you satisfied.
Why?
Its simple design allows your Switch to
snuggly and securely slide into place with the help of silicon guides which minimize plastic to plastic contact. This product essentially adds grips on either side of the Switch to make it feel closer to holding a PS4 DualShock Controller or Nintendo Pro Controller when playing in handheld mode. The plastic that your Switch rests on also allows for your Switch to stand upright if needed.
Your palms rest comfortably on the handles while your fingers wrap around the rubber grips on the back. The right handle is angled slightly differently compared to the left but this is by design. Satisfye claims that this particular angle allows players to easily switch between the buttons and the right analog stick which are used most often.
This grip allows you to easily move your Switch around with one hand without worrying about dropping it; something you can't confidently say about the Switch on its own. You'll also receive Satisfye branded analog stick covers with your purchase.
From testimonials both on and offline in addition to my own personal experience, the Satisfye Grip is one of those products you can't live without once you've tried it.
2. Nintendo's Pro Controller
Price: $69.99
The Nintendo Switch is arguably the most versatile gaming system ever created. You can play in table-top mode, handheld mode, or docked mode thanks to its included Joy-cons. However, sometimes you just want to play with a good old-fashioned controller while your Joy-cons charge.
Why?
Having a controller dedicated to playing games in docked mode can improve your overall experience because of the design's familiarity, not to mention the more reliable analog sticks. Using another controller can also potentially avoid putting more wear on your Joy-con's analog sticks, which may reduce stick drift. For this reason, the Pro Controller is a staple and an obvious choice for most Nintendo Switch fans.
3. Orzly Carrying Case
Price: $24.99
If you just bought your Switch and don't have a case yet or just haven't gotten around to it, you should really consider one. Most people already have a case but this is for good reason.
Why?
Not only does it make carrying around your Switch and accessories more convenient, but it also provides some peace of mind when traveling with a tiny and fragile $200 to $350 device. Think of all the things you put in your pockets, purse, or bag. Now think about those items pressing against your Switch's screen, pulling your analog sticks, or applying pressure to the Joy-con guide rails.
We recommend the Orzly carrying case for the following reasons:
Ample storage for extra Joy-Cons, battery banks, cables, and more
Stores up to 8 game cartridges
Holds your Switch in place
Hardshell design
Various colors
Low cost
While using a case might seem silly or a waste of time, it's really an inexpensive but effective way to protect the longevity of your Switch and provide you with some peace of mind whenever you leave the house.
4. Bluetooth Adapter (2 examples)
You might ask yourself why we've included a Bluetooth adapter in this list when Nintendo has added built-in Bluetooth support. If you didn't know that then... SURPRISE! But with that out of the way, the built-in Bluetooth support has been less than perfect.
Why?
According to the Verge, sometimes it can have connectivity problems or simply fail to work at all. At times, it can lead to noticeable latency as well. With that said, a Bluetooth adapter may be a more reliable option for you.
8bitdo Wireless USB Adapter
Price: $19.99
While the Pro Controller is great, some players may opt-in to use a controller that's even more familiar to them.
For example, if you're coming from PlayStation,
you may want to use a DualShock controller. After all, you've spent countless hours developing your muscle memory for a game like Monster Hunter World. Why not use the same controller when moving to the Nintendo Switch to play the new Monster Hunter Rise game?
For these players, it may be beneficial to use the 8bitdo Wireless USB Adapter which comes with a Mario block aesthetic. This adapter emulates a Pro Controller so your Switch may recognize it as such.
All you need to do is plug it into your dock and set "Pro Controller Wired Communication" to ON in your "Controller and Sensors" settings. After that, just press the button on the adapter and put your controller of choice into Bluetooth pairing mode. That's it.
Once you complete these steps, you should be able to use your controller normally to control and play your Switch.
NOTE: We recommend remapping the button layout of the controller to match your preferences using the "Change Button Mapping" settings. You can always save this layout, too, just in case you want to switch between Joy-Cons and your third-party controller.
Genki Audio Bluetooth Adapter
Price: $29.99
For those who like to play on the go, the ability to use wireless headphones would be great. Luckily, there are some great options out there such as the Genki Audio Bluetooth Adapter. This handy little accessory lets you connect virtually any wireless headset, headphones, or earphones to your Switch.
This is great if you want to avoid:
Snagging your wired headphones when you travel
Blasting your game audio in public
Small talk in lines, elevators, or public transportation
Some key features of this particular adapter include:
USB Type-C pass-through charging
A dual connection so you and your player 2 can use your own wireless audio devices to play on the same Switch (think about a quick game of Mario Kart before your movie starts)
Built-in boom mic
Low latency
This adapter also comes in low-profile form factors and other colors to match your Switch or Switch Lite. Be sure to check the included features for other versions as some may differ.
5. Marseille mClassic
Price: $99.99
The Nintendo Switch is known for many positive reasons but good graphics aren't one of them. This isn't to say that Nintendo Switch games are bad in any way, it's just the reality of this 4-year-old console.
While lots of first-party Switch games look amazing like Zelda: Breath of the Wild, most third-party games leave a lot to be desired. And visual artifacts and distortion are even more noticeable if you play on a big screen, especially at 4K. But there's an accessory to make rough-looking graphics more bearable to look at.
Why?
The mClassic is an HDMI adapter that applies upscaling, CxAA anti-aliasing, depth of field, image sharpening, and post-processing, dubbed "contextual processing", to your Switch and retro games. It should smooth out the staircase-like jagged edges which appear often in some Switch games. It can also improve the appearance of textures and colors.
The mClassic plugs into the included HDMI extension cable which then plugs into the HDMI port of your Nintendo Switch dock. Then you need to plug in the included micro-USB cable into the adapter and the dock to power it. Lastly, plug in your own HDMI cable from the adapter to your TV or monitor.
This adapter has three settings which can be selected through the tiny switch on the side of the Adapter. These (unofficially named) settings are:
Passthrough mode (no post-processing/upscaling)
Standard mode (normal post-processing/upscaling)
Retro mode (post-processing/upscaling optimized for 480p pixelated graphics)
For those who really want to squeeze out every ounce of graphical performance they can from their favorite Switch and retro games in docked mode, the mClassic may be a good solution.
Conclusion
Whether you've been playing your Switch for four days or four years, we hope that any of the before-mentioned accessories drastically (or marginally) improve your gaming experience. There's something for handheld and docked players to enjoy. If you have any other ideas or suggestions to add to our list or future lists, feel free to add them below in the comments or via Twitter and Instagram at @DigitalNightly at any time.
You can find the product pages of all the items we've mentioned through our affiliate links down below:
Satisfye Grip:
Nintendo's Pro Controller:
Orzly Carrying Case:
8bitdo Wireless USB Adapter:
Genki Audio Bluetooth Adapter:
Marseille mClassic:
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