21 Best Nintendo Switch Accessories Every Gamer Needs

This is the first thing you should pick up after getting a Nintendo Switch. Don’t wait until your Joy-Cons fail to buy a Pro Controller. It’s the best way to adventure on a big screen in Tears of the Kingdom, but you can also use it while playing in handheld mode. It’s lightweight and perfect for airline travel.

You can be a rebel and rock your Switch with its screen unprotected or you can wise up. A screen protector is all you need to keep that OLED screen crack-free and clean. Look for one made from tempered glass, like this $20 option from Dbrand that’s durable and easy to apply.

This is another item that Switch owners really shouldn’t play without. The system’s onboard storage space is abysmal. If you want to be able to download full games, you’ll need an SD card. This one is a good deal, and I find it offers the perfect amount of space. Those 128 gigs will fill up faster than you think. And yes, the Mario toadstool played a part in our choice of microSD card.

If you play games from Nintendo’s library of retro titles with a Nintendo Switch Online subscription, it’s worth picking up the SN30 Pro from 8Bitdo. Even if you’re just into old-school genres like platformers or beat-’em-ups, this controller adds to the retro feel. It’s got the button layout of the ’90s with the ergonomics of the 2020s. Like everyone’s favorite Hero of Time, this controller is the best of both worlds.

Joy-Con drift is the number-one hardware issue on the Nintendo Switch and eventually impacts most users. Both pairs of Joy-Con sticks on my Switch have developed the dreaded drift, making my Switch virtually unplayable as a handheld console.

Hori’s Split Pad Pro is a worthwhile solution. And if you find the Joy-Con too small for your hands, these meaty claws put the Switch’s controls on par with the Steam Deck and the ROG Ally.

Another solution to Joy-Con drift is the Nitro Deck. With a built-in kickstand that knocks the current Switch models’ stands out of the water (even the improved one on the OLED), this Switch grip is more suited to staying in than the more mobile Hori pad.

The Nitro Deck even comes furnished with swappable thumbstick toppers. Don’t miss out on the limited-edition Retro GameCube Purple.

A Nintendo Switch travel case is a simple necessity, but you’d be surprised how many bad ones I’ve torn through. I don’t have to worry any longer, though, since the Tomtoc Travel Case is the last one I’ll ever need for my Switch.

It’s stylish and compact, despite having room for 24 game cartridges, an AC adapter, and a Pro Controller. Who said fashion and function can’t join in perfect harmony?

If you’re down for a nostalgic night of Super Smash Bros. with the homies, you need this adapter that lets you plug actual GameCube controllers into your Switch. You can buy Nintendo-approved GameCube-style controllers for twice what one of these costs. But why do that when we know you have a bunch of them still haunting your storage closet? It also works on PC and Wii U.

I used to have a plastic wheel that I’d put my Joy-Con into every time I went to play Mario Kart. It was a cool mental trick, but the buttons felt like shit and I don’t even like motion controls. Thankfully, I found these ergonomic grips for when you need to turn your Joy-Cons on their side for multiplayer fun.

If you travel by plane or train often, or you just don’t want to strain your neck and hands leaning over your Switch in handheld mode, you gotta get a stand. This compact Hori option is my favorite. It gets the job done and allows for easy charging at the same time.

This is the type of case that you put on once and never take off. As the name says, the Mumba Dockable Case allows you to dock the Switch to charge it or play in TV mode without having to remove the accessory. It protects your console and makes it feel more comfortable in larger, adult-man-sized hands like mine.

A great pair of headphones is more of a life investment, not just a Switch one. For taking the Switch on the go, I love the JBL Tune 760NC. These aren’t the top of the Tune line, but they’re the most compact and great for Nintendo’s portable console. The sound quality is solid, and you can toggle active noise canceling on and off at your leisure.

Having a pair of comfortable, low-latency earbuds is essential for the gamer on the go. These are among the best. The Hammerhead Pros are latency resistant thanks to the USB dongle. (You can use Bluetooth as well.)

If you’re a Switch player dedicated to fighting games, this is the special controller for you. The 8Bitdo Arcade Stick will help you clean up in Street Fighter and Tekken matches. This fight stick features an eight-way joystick as well as eight face buttons. That covers pretty much anything you’d need for a fighter, 2D or 3D. And if hardware modding is your thing, 8Bitdo fully supports your right to take this thing apart and tinker.

PowerA makes some decent Switch accessories, but this is the only one I can’t live without. This wireless charging station will help you eliminate that mess of wires lurking behind your TV while allowing you to recharge your Joy-Cons and Pro Controller at the same time.

Instead of spending $40 or more on a Switch controller, you can pay half that for this adapter that will let you use any wireless controller you have lying around. Connect Xbox and PlayStation controllers to your device of choice. Plus, 8Bitdo put some actual work into the look of it. For 20 bucks, what more can you ask for?

We’re countering all of Nintendo’s worst design decisions with these, all the way down to the horrid Joy-Con thumbsticks. For less than the price of lunch, pick up a set of joystick thumb grips from Skull & Co. They will make any controller’s sticks grippier and keep them safe from dust and liquid damage. You can order them in convex or concave styles and in whatever color your heart desires.

In 2024, the Switch’s 720p native output is a bit dated. If, like me, you are patiently waiting for Switch 2 so you can play Zelda in true HD, here’s a secret: You don’t have to wait.

Pick up this mClassic dongle to upscale to 1080p. It smoothes those pixels and softens those edges for a cleaner final image. It works on classic consoles like the GameCube and the original PlayStation, too.

Are you a fan of shoot-’em-ups? You know, shmups, or STGs in Japan? If somehow the answer was yes and not “What the hell are you talking about?” the Flip Grip is the ultimate Switch accessory for you. This grip lets you take full advantage of the vertical mode incorporated into games like Ikaruga and the iOS hit Downwell. Many retro collections also support it, and it’s great for taking a stab at old-school Donkey Kong.

If you’re serious about it, online gaming over Wi-Fi can be suboptimal. In order to get the strongest Internet connection possible on your Switch, you need an Ethernet adapter. This one from Ugreen is plenty affordable and gets the job done.