Third-Party Controllers Every Nintendo Switch Player Should Try

It’s Friday night and all your friends are coming over for a night of Super Smash Bros, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe AND . . . Mario Party Superstars.

The snacks are set out and the four of you are all ready to play . . . when you hit the Achilles’ heel of game night: not enough controllers!

And everybody knows that first-party controllers are super expensive these days! The Nintendo Switch Pro Controller costs $69.99 while a Joy-Con Set is a pricey $79.99.

OUCH!

Lucky for us, there are many lower cost (but high-quality) third-party controllers out there. Here are 3 great options, all licensed by Nintendo:

 

Afterglow Wired Deluxe Controller by PDP

The Afterglow Wired Deluxe Controller feels great in the hands and is as functional as it is stylish. Sporting a transparent shell and a variety of multicolor interior lights, The Afterglow offers excellent entertainment way beyond your television screen. It also has programmable back paddle buttons and a nifty 3.5mm audio port that sends game audio directly to your headphones. 

Sure, it lacks some of the features of the first-party Nintendo Switch Pro Controller — specifically motion controls, HD Rumble, and NFC — it’s more than enough for most popular multiplayer Nintendo Switch games.

Want to turn your game night into a light show? This is one solid controller option that only sets you back $24.99.

Enhanced Wireless Controller by PowerA

Ready to cut the cord? With a look and feel quite similar to the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, the Enhanced Wireless Controller has most of the same features — except for NFC and HD Rumble.

Yes, that means motion controls are included, a must-have for a game like Splatoon 3!

The best part of the Enhanced Wireless Controller is that it comes in a variety of designs based on popular video game series, both from Nintendo and other publishers. At $49.99, it’s a tad pricey for a third-party controller. But that’s still $20 cheaper than the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, allowing you to use the extra money on games or downloadable content!

 

HORIPAD Mini by Hori

Looking for something a bit smaller, more manageable? One of the smallest controllers available for the Nintendo Switch, the HORIPAD Mini is fully functional and has a simplistic gamepad for the more casual gamer.

A special feature is its turbo button, which sets any button to press itself repeatedly. This is incredibly useful for cheating in Mario Party Superstars’ minigames. Warning: your friends may forcibly eject you from game night if they catch you. They certainly won’t eject the HORIPAD Mini from game night though, regardless of its lack of NFC, HD Rumble, and motion controls.

 

The HORIPAD Mini comes in a range of designs and colors and will add some pizzazz to your game night. Plus, it only costs $29.99 — all the more reasons to own multiple!

There are a bunch of other third-party controller options available from PDP, PowerA, and Hori. No matter which you choose, you’ll certainly save a decent sum of money, compared to buying Nintendo’s first-party controllers.

If you want to play Super Smash Bros. Ultimate’s 8-Player mode you’re going to need plenty of controllers!

 

 

string(5317) "

It’s Friday night and all your friends are coming over for a night of Super Smash Bros, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe AND . . . Mario Party Superstars.

The snacks are set out and the four of you are all ready to play . . . when you hit the Achilles' heel of game night: not enough controllers!

And everybody knows that first-party controllers are super expensive these days! The Nintendo Switch Pro Controller costs $69.99 while a Joy-Con Set is a pricey $79.99.

OUCH!

Lucky for us, there are many lower cost (but high-quality) third-party controllers out there. Here are 3 great options, all licensed by Nintendo:

 

Afterglow Wired Deluxe Controller by PDP

The Afterglow Wired Deluxe Controller feels great in the hands and is as functional as it is stylish. Sporting a transparent shell and a variety of multicolor interior lights, The Afterglow offers excellent entertainment way beyond your television screen. It also has programmable back paddle buttons and a nifty 3.5mm audio port that sends game audio directly to your headphones. 

Sure, it lacks some of the features of the first-party Nintendo Switch Pro Controller — specifically motion controls, HD Rumble, and NFC — it’s more than enough for most popular multiplayer Nintendo Switch games.

Want to turn your game night into a light show? This is one solid controller option that only sets you back $24.99.

Enhanced Wireless Controller by PowerA

Ready to cut the cord? With a look and feel quite similar to the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, the Enhanced Wireless Controller has most of the same features — except for NFC and HD Rumble.

Yes, that means motion controls are included, a must-have for a game like Splatoon 3!

The best part of the Enhanced Wireless Controller is that it comes in a variety of designs based on popular video game series, both from Nintendo and other publishers. At $49.99, it’s a tad pricey for a third-party controller. But that’s still $20 cheaper than the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, allowing you to use the extra money on games or downloadable content!

 

HORIPAD Mini by Hori

Looking for something a bit smaller, more manageable? One of the smallest controllers available for the Nintendo Switch, the HORIPAD Mini is fully functional and has a simplistic gamepad for the more casual gamer.

A special feature is its turbo button, which sets any button to press itself repeatedly. This is incredibly useful for cheating in Mario Party Superstars’ minigames. Warning: your friends may forcibly eject you from game night if they catch you. They certainly won’t eject the HORIPAD Mini from game night though, regardless of its lack of NFC, HD Rumble, and motion controls.

 

The HORIPAD Mini comes in a range of designs and colors and will add some pizzazz to your game night. Plus, it only costs $29.99 — all the more reasons to own multiple!

There are a bunch of other third-party controller options available from PDP, PowerA, and Hori. No matter which you choose, you’ll certainly save a decent sum of money, compared to buying Nintendo’s first-party controllers.

If you want to play Super Smash Bros. Ultimate’s 8-Player mode you’re going to need plenty of controllers!

 

 

"

France vs Argentina World Cup Final Betting Preview: Can Lionel Messi Capture That Elusive World Cup Title?

2022 World Cup Best Bets, Team Props, and Futures2022 World Cup Best Bets, Team Props, and Futures

Picking up where they left off in 2018, the French National Team led by 23-year-old Kylian Mbappe have found their way back into the finals as they look to be the first back-to-back World Cup Champions since Brazil’s dominant runs in 1958 and 1962. Standing between that incredible feat for the defending champions is Argentina,

2022 World Cup Group Stages Best Bets & Props: Tuesday, November 22

2022 World Cup Best Bets, Team Props, and Futures2022 World Cup Best Bets, Team Props, and Futures

Are you psyched about the 2022 World Cup and endless soccer each day for the next few weeks? We certainly are. If you are planning on watching the games and keeping track of all the action in Qatar, here are some picks for the four group stage matches scheduled for tomorrow: Tuesday, November 22. Are

NBA Finals Game 4: Preview & Best Bets

Boston Celtics, NBA Finals Game 3

Getty Images

In Game 3, both teams shot almost equally well from the field and from downtown. However, Boston took more shots from the field and dominated off the glass to take Game 3 116-100. Boston’s defensive energy was on full display Wednesday night as they outrebounded and drew countless fouls from the Warriors. Boston’s defense was

2022 NBA Finals: Boston Celtics at Golden State Warriors Game 1 Betting Lines, Odds & Predictions

Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics

Getty Images

Klay Thompson (57) and Stephen Curry (60) have combined for 117 three-pointers this postseason. They are playing at the level they did between 2015-2018. They face the roaring Boston Celtics who stunned the Milwaukee Bucks and then the Miami Heat in their last two series. Like Klay and Steph, it is Jaylen Brown and Jayson

Edmonton Oilers at Colorado Avalanche: Game 1 Lines, Odds & Best Bets

Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche

Getty Images

The New York Rangers continued their Stanley Cup bid by defeating the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 7 last night, 6-2. They will host the two-time reigning champions in the Tampa Bay Lightning for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Wednesday night. Tonight, the Western Conference Finals begin with the Edmonton Oilers traveling to

NBA Eastern Conference Finals: Game 6 Odds, Lines, Predictions & Best Bets

Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics

Getty Images

Miami conceded Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals to the Boston Celtics at home. Tonight, they will look to close the series out back in the TD Garden. Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum have continued to play phenomenal basketball throughout this series. Miami’s injury struggles have affected Tyler Herro specifically for this series, and