Authentic Nostalgia
Nintendo has the perfect product on hand for anybody who wants a blast from the past. The NES Wireless controllers offer a classic design to play classic NES titles.
For
- Classic NES design
- Natively rechargeable on Switch
- Two in the box
Against
- Pricey
- Need a subscription to buy
- Not usable for all Switch games
Most Useful
8Bitdo probably has the best SNES-style wireless controller on the market and offers a great alternative to the Switch Pro controller. Unlike the NES Wireless controllers, it not only works with all Switch games, but is also usable on other platforms.
For
- Full compatibility with Switch titles, including vibration and motion.
- Usable on Android, Windows, and other platforms.
- Pays homage to Super Nintendo controller's design.
Against
- Not the most ergonomic controller ever.
- Almost double the price of alternatives.
These products are aimed at very different people. The NES Wireless Controller offers a near-faithful recreation of the original tool to play classic NES games on the Switch. But if you're looking for a retro alternative that can handle your heaviest gaming loads, 8Bitdo's SN30 Pro Controller is it.
Different strokes for different folks
We still don't know everything Nintendo's NES controllers are capable of, but considering the lack of extra buttons on them, it's clear the controllers were designed with the idea that they would only be used to play the classic games released for the Nintendo Switch. In contrast, 8Bitdo offers a much more versatile product. It pairs with the Nintendo Switch as a Pro controller, meaning it's capable of being used to play all Nintendo Switch games with full motion and rumble controls.
That the 8Bitdo SN30 Pro controller was designed to work with other platforms is a big bonus. It means 8Bitdo will continue to update its firmware to not only improve its functionality with existing platforms but maybe even add newer ones in the future.
NES Wireless Controllers will be perfect for the classics
You need a subscription just to buy them and they probably won't be useful for anything other than playing NES games on your Switch. But if you just want the ultimate marriage of nostalgia and modernity, the NES Wireless Controllers by Nintendo are perfect. What it lacks in ubiquity it makes up for in compatibility, with the controllers able to snap onto the side of the Switch for some charging time of their own.
Only if you love NES classics.
Nintendo's official NES wireless controllers look great and do exactly what Nintendo intended. The only problem is it doesn't do enough.
8Bitdo's SN30 Pro can serve all your other needs
While 8Bitdo's offering might not be completely faithful to the product it was inspired by, it does offer a much more complete set of features. You're getting full Switch controls including joysticks, Z buttons, and all the normal face buttons.
It acts as a Pro controller when connected, meaning you'll have full capabilities in games which utilize the Switch's unique motion controls. And when you're done on the Switch, you can even hook it up to your PC or your Android phone to play games with it on other devices.
It has everything you need.
While you only get one controller in its package, the retro-style 8Bitdo SN30 Pro Controller can be used to play any Switch game you want, and then some.
