These are my favorite Switch 2 accessories

The Nintendo Switch 2 can be enjoyed right out of the box, but it’s even better with the right accessories. Some of these add-ons are more crucial than others, especially if you’re deciding what to buy early on. For example, a case and a screen protector can keep your console safe from scuffs, scratches, and drops, so both are what I’d consider to be essential. If you’re not a fan of how the Joy-Con 2 feel to use, a cheap but good wireless controller wouldn’t hurt, either.

On the other hand, a microSD Express card lets you add even more digital games to your library, although the console’s somewhat generous 256GB of internal storage means you may not need one right away (unless you buy a lot of games that are 50-70GB each, such as Cyberpunk 2077 and Madden 26). Some other accessories don’t add enough to the gaming experience to justify the cost. Those Joy-Con 2 steering wheel accessories? You can pass on those.

The Switch 2 and its games are expensive enough, so we’ve assembled this guide with picks that are a great value. You don’t need to spend hundreds on accessories — many of us at The Verge certainly aren’t. No matter your budget, we’ve included numerous categories, beginning with a starter kit of recommendations we think everyone should consider.

Our list of the best Switch 2 controllers is always evolving. It started with just a few alternatives to Nintendo’s great, yet imperfect Switch 2 Pro controller that costs $90. Now it’s full of options covering a range of budgets. There’s one thing that ties all of the candidates together: they have better internal hardware than the Switch 2 Pro. At a bare minimum, you’ll get a gamepad that has Hall effect or TMR joysticks that won’t eventually develop stick drift. There are also options that offer features that let you play exactly how you want, with add-on rear paddles, triggers with customizable pull distances, swappable face buttons, and more.

Currently, the best wireless controller for most Switch 2 gamers is the EasySMX S10. It offers comfort, great-feeling rumble, it includes a floating eight-way direction pad, and has support for motion controls and amiibo. It’s the total package, but I have minor complaints. The home, GameChat, and screenshot buttons are placed awkwardly, and not everyone will dig the design or the gritty texture on the grips.

It’s technically not a controller, but I’m a broken record when it comes to recommending 8BitDo’s USB Adapter 2 for households already with more than one console. In the case that you have an Xbox or a PS5 and would rather not buy a bespoke Switch 2 controller, just buy this $20 adapter instead, and use it to connect a wireless controller you already own.

This adapter goes into the Switch 2’s dock (or directly into the console, if you have a USB-A to C adapter). Connecting your controller is as easy as putting it into pairing mode, then ensuring that the “Pro Controller Wired Communication” option is turned on within the console’s settings. Click and hold the adapter’s coin-shaped button to initiate pairing, then you should be good to go. The DualSense’s rumble and motion controls work seamlessly, for example, and you can remap buttons as you please within the console’s OS like you would an official Switch controller. GuliKit’s Hyperlink 2 wireless adapter works similarly, and is usually a couple dollars cheaper ($16.99 at the time of publishing). I’m still in the process of testing it, but it was easy to pair a DualSense to a Switch 2 and the connection was reliable, with motion control and rumble support.

The Killswitch is a great Switch 2 companion, whether you’re someone who primarily uses the console in handheld mode or while it’s docked. It’s a case that wraps around the Switch 2’s back, with detachable components that snugly grip onto each Joy-Con 2, adding some extra bulk that makes them more comfortable to hold. Above all else, it’s a great way to protect your console from scratches and slightly more significant damage. What’s also great is that it doesn’t limit its flexibility as a hybrid console.

Each Killswitch ships with a USB-C dock adapter that is inserted into the Switch 2 dock. Since the case-equipped console can no longer fit in Nintendo’s dock, this adapter lets you connect it to your TV without taking off the case. It’s tougher to correctly align the Switch 2’s USB-C jack with this adapter than it is to put it in the dock, but it gets easier with practice.

The Dbrand KillSwitch is worth the cost for people who can afford it. It’s more comfortable to use in handheld mode than other options, and it’s great to be able to detach the Joy-Cons when I want to. Jsaux’s ModCase is a great runner-up, though. The foundation of the accessory pack is the wrap-around case that the console fits into (you can’t remove the Joy-Con or use the kickstand once it’s on), which adds bulkier grips that make it more comfortable to hold. There’s a protrusion on the rear of the case, which is where its batch of “mods” can be attached.

The basic $29.99 kit includes a kickstand (which works better on tables than laps) and a watch-like strap for holding a power bank during charging. The $59.99 Ultimate kit that Jsaux sent for testing includes those, plus a few other extras. You get a faceplate for the console to protect its screen when not in use, as well as a phone mount with a magnet that lets you attach, say, your iPhone so you can view it while you play games. Lastly, it includes a USB-C dock extender with a silicone stand. It’s like a dock for your dock, which looks more cumbersome than Dbrand’s also-clumsy-looking solution. But, hey, it all works as intended.

The best, slimmest zip-up case you should buy is made by Tomtoc. Compared to the Belkin hard zip-up case that I got my hands on before the Switch 2’s launch, the Tomtoc FancyCase slim case feels more durable; anecdotally, it holds up much better to being squeezed by hand. It even has more vertical clearance above the Joy-Con 2 sticks, so it’ll never press them in on accident. Like most zip-up cases, it features a screen cover that doubles as cartridge storage. This one can hold 12 cartridges.

I’m confident that it’ll absorb more potential damage over time than other cases I’ve tried. Plus, it just looks cooler, with low-profile designs for gamers who don’t want to draw attention to their console. That said, its “Froz Edition” has ice cream-inspired looks that are a lot more expressive.

When I’m relaxing after putting our kid to sleep, I want everything to be easy. Like, I don’t even want to hold a Switch 2 while I play, if at all possible. The console’s kickstand is nice, but Mechanism’s Gaming Pillow is better, since its articulating arm can suspend the console at eye level while its plush bottom rests on my lap. You can detach the Switch 2’s Joy-Con and hold them where it’s most comfortable, or better yet, just connect a wireless controller that offers better ergonomics. The Gaming Pillow works with many other devices, too, whether it’s a PlayStation Portal, an Xbox ROG Ally, or even a Kindle with the right adapter.

Jsaux is among the first companies to launch a compact, all-in-one wall charger that doubles as a dock for the Switch 2 and other handhelds. The OmniCentro dock — which comes with a USB-C port, a USB-A port, and an HDMI cable — retails for $39.99 at time of writing, which isn’t a bad price given its specs. Its USB-C port tops out at 65W, which is more than enough for a Switch 2 and most other gaming handhelds. The adapter supports 4K resolution at 60 frames per second with HDR, or 1440p and 1080p at up to 120 frames per second. You can also use it as a compact hub for your tablet or laptop, as its USB-A port comes in handy for wireless dongles or for charging small accessories.

If you use Nintendo’s GameChat feature, you might want a webcam to show your face to friends. The best webcam that you can get for your Switch 2 should be the cheapest one you can find that’s guaranteed to work with it. Almost all of Logitech’s webcams support the Switch 2, and Elgato has updated its Facecam MK.2 to support it, as well. Elgato’s model is pricier than we recommend most people spend, but it’s a solid option if you also have a PC to use it with. It’s worth knowing that the Switch 2 displays low-fidelity video feeds during gameplay, so unless you plan to use the webcam with your PC as well, it’s not worth spending a lot for a model that promises great video quality.

The Switch 2 is more powerful than the original Switch. However, it doesn’t require all that much more power to charge, even while you’re playing games. While new phones and tablets are breaking new ground with fast charging speeds, getting a power bank that can deliver at least 20W is totally sufficient to get the fastest-possible charging speeds with the Switch 2 in handheld mode.

By using a display-equipped USB-C cable with a wattage reading, I was able to see that the Switch 2 usually pulls a maximum of about 15-17W of power (sometimes less) from a USB-C battery during gameplay. When the system was asleep, the rate went down to between 8-13W, fluctuating at different points during the charging process. From a totally dead state, the console took almost 90 minutes to reach 69 percent with a 20W battery plugged into it. You’ll likely drain your USB-C battery more quickly if you’re playing as you charge.

Thankfully, your options for compatible batteries are plentiful. You’ll likely be paying for more power than you’ll need with the Switch 2, but more power (and especially more ports) are never a bad thing to have too much of.

The Switch 2 supports microSD Express cards of up to 2TB, even though models with that amount of storage aren’t yet available for purchase. Most brands make cards in 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB configurations, and some offer 1TB cards as well. I’d suggest grabbing the cheapest microSD Express card you can find, as so far they all offer similarly fast read/write speeds. Right now, Samsung’s P9 is one of the most affordable models you can get, with the 256GB version going down to $34.99 sometimes.

If you travel often or just really want heightened immersion, AR glasses are a good purchase to consider. Instead of using a TV or a monitor, they put the screen right up to your eyeballs, and modern models offer head-tracking to let the screen follow your movements, as well as sensors that let you lock the screen in place virtually. There’s more than one good set of AR glasses out there, too. Viture’s $499 Luma Pro and its Pro mobile gaming dock, which is necessary for connecting a Switch 2 and HDMI-based consoles, are a solid pair that offer both great contrast and brightness. Better yet, they offer physical myopia adjustment dials, giving you another way besides prescription lenses to achieve the clarity you’re looking for.

Xreal’s $449 1S are also worth considering. They require the Xreal Neo mobile dock to connect a Switch 2, but the Neo is actually smaller and slicker than Viture’s competing dock (the Luma Pro also work great on the Neo). Performance, resolution, features, and comfort are nearly identical between the two Xreal and Viture models; however, with Xreal, you’ll have to settle for software-based interpupillary distance adjustments instead of a hardware-based solution. In other words, you might need prescription lenses with the 1S if you require glasses to see clearly for any reason.

There are two extra items that I think most people should consider buying for their Switch 2. The first is a screen protector. As I mentioned at the top of the post, the console’s screen is its most fragile component, so spend the $10 or so necessary to get a multipack of tempered glass protectors so you don’t have to think about it again. Many brands make them, but I’ve had great experiences with stuff from amFilm.

The other accessory is a USB-C-to-Ethernet adapter. It’s possible that you may get a ton of usage out of this, especially if you play online multiplayer games and you want to nip latency in the bud. Or, if you’re like me, you’ll just plug it in when it comes time to download a game. The Switch 2’s Wi-Fi is awfully slow when it comes to downloading large files, even when you have fast internet. Plugging this accessory into either of its USB-C ports greatly increases download speeds.

Update, January 12th: Updated to reflect current pricing and availability and several products, including Jsaux’s OmniCentro dock, Mechanism’s Gaming Pillow, and two pairs of video glasses.

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