Although the amount of stuff you actually get with the Nintendo Switch can be quite overwhelming to begin with, but you’ll quickly realise you might just need a little bit more kit.
In the box with the Switch, you get the following accessories:
- Joy-Con Grip
- Two controller straps
- The Switch dock
- USB-C charger
- HDMI cable
But, if you’re going to be using your new console a lot, these are the six Nintendo Switch accessories we’d really recommend splashing out on:
1. A sturdy case
With that 6.2-inch display, the Nintendo Switch is bound to be an absolute scratch magnet. That’s why we find it a little strange that it doesn’t come with some kind of screen protector in the box.
However, there are plenty of case options available depending on what kind of protection you’re looking for. And they’re actually reasonably priced.
Check out our round-up of tried and tested best Nintendo Switch cases for all our recommendations.
2. Something to store your games in
The Nintendo Switch might be a console focusing on portability, but the game cases are far from portable. They’ve got a lot of wasted real-estate inside for a game cartridge that’s smaller than a 3DS one.
You also don’t get given any other way to store them when you’re on the go unless you’re keen on carrying a load of game boxes around or shoving the cartridges in your pocket.
That’s why we immediately went out and bought a Switch game case. The only one currently available is the officially licensed one from Hori. It only costs $9.99/£8.99 and is available from launch day, so get buying.
Of course, you could also buy a bigger case that comes with built-in storage for a small selection of games, as we’ve outlined above.
3. The charging grip
One of the most annoying things about using the Nintendo Switch at home is the fact you can only charge the Joy-Con controllers while they’re attached to the screen. If you’re using the console on the big TV and your controllers run out of battery, you’ll have to switch to tablet mode if you want to continue.
The only way to combat this issue is to buy the additional Nintendo Switch Joy-Con Charging Grip, which is priced at $29.99/£24.99 on the official Nintendo Store.
However, it’s not a flawless solution as you’ll still need to have the grip plugged into the mains in order to charge and play. It doesn’t act like a battery that you can charge separately.
4. A second set of Joy-Con controllers
You could always get a second pair of Joy-Con controllers to alleviate the controller charging issue. Plus, the second set of pads means more fun for the whole family or a play session between pals.
However, they do cost $79.99/£69.99 so you might want to think twice about buying a set on a whim. Of course, if you have any interest in playing fighting game Arms the way it’s intended, with a friend, you will need a second set or a friend with their own Switch.
5. The Pro Controller – unless you’re an Arms fan
The alternative to buying a second set of controllers is buying the more traditional Nintendo Switch Pro Controller. It’s more akin to an Xbox One or PS4 pad, so might be the controller of choice for the extended living room sessions.
It behaves much more like a traditional controller when it comes to charging, and some might prefer it over the Joy-Con alternatives for games like Super Mario Odyssey or Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. However, it does cost $69.99/£59.99, which is quite expensive but still cheaper than the Joy-Con set.
We have to say that we find the Joy-Con Grip option a great way to play, though, as they’re so versatile.
There’s also the fact that if you want to play Arms when it arrives sometime in the Spring co-operatively, you will need that second set of Joy-Cons. You can’t play it properly with a Pro pad.
6. Or a retro pad
If your wallet is crying at the thought of forking out £70/$80 for a set of Switch Joy-Cons or you don’t quite fancy the Pro pad, you’ll be pleased to hear that there’s an alternative. There’s a whole line of retro controllers that are now compatible with the Nintendo Switch. The Switch now supports 8bitdo’s full line of pads, including its absolutely brilliant wireless NES and SNES controller replicas.
Not only is this great news generally, it should really get you in the mood for when Nintendo eventually launches its Virtual Console retro game service on the Switch.
These dinky little pads also work with PC, Mac, iOS, Steam and the NES Mini, if you buy the wireless dongles.
8bitdo does the following replica retro controllers:
- NE30 Pro
- FC30 Pro
- NES30
- FC30
- SNES30
- SFC30
- ZERO
- N64
They’re mostly available from both Amazon UK and Amazon US.
7. A portable charger and USB-C cable
The battery life on the Switch console itself isn’t quite as terrible as we’d originally hoped, it still isn’t going to outlast your iPad. In our review, we averaged between three and four hours from the Switch whilst playing Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
That might sound all well and good, but it’s certainly not the ideal battery life for a portable console. It’ll definitely be a concern for anyone wanting to wander around Hyrule on their longer journeys.
However, there is some good news. If you’re willing to fork out a little dosh for a portable battery pack and another USB-C cable, that is. You can indeed charge your Nintendo Switch with such a power combo, which is great news for those wanting to Switch and travel.
Annoyingly, the USB-C charging cable included in the Switch’s box is attached to the wall plug, meaning you’re going to have to buy another one if you want to utilise a portable battery pack.
The Charging Dock and the Pro Controller do both come with a block-less USB-C cable, so you could kill two birds with one stone there.
