The Nintendo Switch is one of the bestselling consoles of all time, and with the additions of the Switch Lite and the Switch OLED , that shouldn't change anytime soon. Nintendo paid a lot of attention to playing on the go when designing the Switch, and, thankfully, there are numerous ways to enjoy your system in the living room, too.

The Joy-Con grip is fine — we'll get to just how well it can work later on — but a proper controller makes the Switch feel much more like a home console. It doesn't matter if you prefer fast first-person shooters or slow narrative-driven experiences, our list of the best Nintendo Switch controllers has a gamepad for you. We'll also include a list of frequently asked controller-related questions at the bottom of this article.

These are the best Nintendo Switch controllers.

Nintendo Switch Joy-Con Pair

• Official Nintendo gear
• Works with a lot of accessories
• Classic Switch design

• Joy-Con drift issue

Yes, these are the basic controllers that come with the Nintendo Switch, but having a few spares is handy, especially with the number of local co-op games available on the Switch.

The versatility of the Joy-Cons is incredibly useful, both with the system in its handheld configuration and docked in an entertainment center. Each comes equipped with face buttons, two bumpers, triggers, and directional buttons, as well as additional bumper buttons located on the side for when you’re only using one of them at a time.

When attached to the Switch, the Joy-Cons are nearly perfect, offering much better control over your game than you’d get with an older Nintendo system or even the PlayStation Vita. You can even hand one to another player to play some Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (or other multiplayer game) on the go. These Joy-Cons work with the newer Switch OLED model, as well.

The Joy-Con controllers can also be attached to the Joy-Con grip to turn them into a sort of standard gamepad, albeit a small one. If you don’t opt for another controller, it does the job admirably, and we were able to make it through dozens of hours of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild without using anything else. The Joy-Con Charging Grip is a good choice for those who don't want to worry about reattaching the Joy-Con to the console after each session to juice them up.

It is worth mentioning that the infamous "Joy-Con drift" issue still persists to this day, resulting in movement from the analog stick without actually touching it. This issue has plagued users from the beginning, and while it isn't as common today, can still happen, especially with older Joy-Con. We'll cover that in more detail in the FAQ section below.

This controller, being an official Nintendo product, is also widely supportive of other Nintendo Switch accessories.

Nintendo Switch Pro Controller

• Great for docked gaming
• Better for more complex games
• Long battery life

• A tad expensive

For players who spend the majority of their time with the Nintendo Switch in its dock, the small Joy-Con grip might feel too small. In that event, you’ll want to invest in the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller.

It’s expensive, usually retailing for around $70, but the rechargeable Pro Controller comes with large face buttons, bumpers, triggers, and analog sticks. It also has a more traditional directional pad that feels similar to those available on the Wii U’s controllers. Its shape is similar to the Xbox Series X's controller, and its internal battery lasts far longer than the PlayStation 5’s DualSense.

The Pro Controller isn't just for playing the Switch at home, either. Some larger carrying cases for the Switch, such as the Game Traveler Deluxe, include a compartment that can either hold a Joy-Con grip or a Pro Controller. With the system’s kickstand or a separate stand, you can be playing your favorite games on the go using the same controller you use at home.

This is the best controller to use for a more "core" experience that mirrors modern consoles. Use this controller if you're playing precise shooters like Apex Legends or Splatoon 3.