Like every gaming system, Nintendo is no newbie to making a few misses among its many, many hits. Aside from the system organization, mechanics, or game availability, a controller can really make or break a game. A good game controller should not need to be talked about. If it works as it should and doesn’t give you early-onset arthritis, it’s doing its job.
Nintendo consoles have their fair share of good controllers, but a few bad ones have made their mark on the company’s history. Let’s dive in.
Oh—and just a note, going through every Nintendo controller would take hours, so we’re only going to be covering the basic, main console controller options.
Switch Pro
One of the newest additions to the Nintendo family, it’s no surprise that the Switch Pro controller is getting its flowers for being one of the best controllers the company has ever put out. It’s more secure than the standard Joy-Con options and has the full, comfortable, and smooth feeling of your standard Xbox or PlayStation controller.
SNES
The Super NES took notes from the NES’s design and just made it a little better, making improvements to the buttons and D-Pad. It also had a rounded grip, which was much more comfortable than its rectangular predecessor.
Wii U Pro Controller
Yes, yes, the Wii U was widely disliked for a plethora of reasons, but its controller wasn’t one of them. Keeping with the classic white Wii colors, the Wii U Pro was just a better-organized Wii remote, and was a lighter option than hauling the entire console around.
GameCube
One of the more…unique designs that Nintendo has put out, the GameCube looked a little bit like a fidget toy for small children. Its grape color, topped with different-shaped, brightly-colored buttons, definitely screamed “fun,” but it was still overall a solid controller.
Wii U GamePad
Speaking of hauling an entire console around, the hefty Switch precursor had some weird button placements that required some funky finger acrobatics. That said, it was still a decent controller for all intents and purposes. Unfortunately, it was still for the Wii U.
Joy-Cons
This may be a controversial take, but the standard Switch controllers do not do this system justice. When used together, they’re not terrible, but tell that to a group of people trying to play Mario Kart 8 with what's essentially a portable battery. And let's not even bring up the notorious JoyCon drift…
Wii Remote
She’s the console that turned Nintendo into a household name, and we will never forget that. In retrospect, a motion-controlled controller was an absolutely insane choice. That said, it’s still better for multiplayer gaming than the Joy-Cons.
NES
Not particularly bad, but not particularly good either. The NES controller did its job, was a good size, and will always be loved by lifelong gamers. The only downside was its overtly rectangular shape, which was not the most comfortable to hold.
Nintendo 64
This controller is the least kid-friendly of the bunch. With widely spaced buttons, central Joy-Con placement, and general size, how could any 10-year-old effectively play the ocarina on this thing?
The Virtual Boy
If you don’t remember the Virtual Boy, that’s okay. We barely did either. The console in its entirety was messy and unrefined, and the controller wasn’t much better. If you’re a collector, we wouldn’t even recommend trying to find one of these guys.
