Best Nintendo Switch accessories in 2024

The best Nintendo Switch accessories will help take your experience with the hybrid handheld to the next level, and with the sheer amount of products currently on the market you're bound to find something to suit your preference, budget, and gaming space. That's why we're highlighting options well-suited to both portable and TV-based play to suit players of all kinds.

One of the most exciting elements of the best Nintendo Switch accessories is how many manufacturers have cornered the market. That's owing to the fact that the Nintendo Switch is now over seven years old, with the Nintendo Switch Lite and Nintendo Switch OLED also being available for a fair amount of time as well. And with rumors ramping up of the Switch's successor, it's likely that the following products will remain affordable, for the most part.

If you're on the hunt for something more specific, not to worry; we've got you covered there as we're also rounding up the best headphones for Nintendo Switch as well as the best SD cards for Nintendo Switch, too. If you're still torn on which model is right for you, we've also compared Nintendo Switch vs Nintendo Switch OLED, too, in the battle for the top performer.

The Quick List

Best Nintendo Switch accessories in 2024

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The best overall Nintendo Switch accessory

Nitro Deck

(Image credit: Future)
The best overall Nintendo Switch accessory

Reasons to buy

+
Sturdy, comfortable grips
+
High-quality analog sticks
+
Fantastic value for money

Reasons to avoid

-
A little bulky for some
-
D-pad could be better

CRKD's Nitro Deck is one of the most impressive Nintendo Switch accessories ever made. A comfortable, form-fitting handheld dock that's perfect for portable play, it offers industry-leading Hall effect analog sticks, exceptionally tactile buttons and triggers, and a set of four programmable back buttons useful for secondary inputs.

The Nitro Deck has been available to buy since September 18, 2023, via CRKD’s official store page. It’s purchasable in the US and UK, with the individual unit coming in white, black, or gray colorways for $59.99 / £59.99. A limited edition Nitro Deck is also available for $89.99 / £89.99, and you can choose from three distinct color variants: Retro Mint, Classic Grey (emulating the look of the original Game Boy), or a Retro Purple that riffs on the Nintendo Gamecube’s aesthetic.

The best part about the Nitro Deck? It offers a higher degree of responsiveness thanks to a dedicated USB-C port for your Switch tablet. And while its size may err on the bulkier side for some, it still offers an impressively lightweight portable experience, weighing in at just 1.3lbs / 600g with the Switch attached.

The best Nintendo Switch controller

8BitDo Ultimate

(Image credit: Future)
The best Nintendo Switch controller

Reasons to buy

+
Great aesthetics and ergonomics 
+
Comes with its own charging dock 
+
Competitively priced 

Reasons to avoid

-
No NFC support 

For as much as we love Nintendo's official offering, the recent 8BitDo Ultimate for Nintendo Switch may just pull ahead in terms of performance and features. That's because this gamepad features its own dedicated charging dock and juices up through USB-C, meaning you're ready to go much faster than with some alternatives. 

Everything from the sticks to the face buttons and the D-pad are a noticeable upgrade over the official alternative in our experience. The price of the 8BitDo Ultimate for Nintendo Switch is another strong point. All told, it retails at $69.99 / £59.99, so you're not breaking the bank here either.

The battery life is also excellent. You can expect around 35 hours on a single charge which is more-than-respectable for several sit down play sessions throughout the week. In our testing, we were particularly impressed by the build quality and the high level of comfort afforded by the ergonomics. It feels good in the hands at first impression, and just as second-nature after many dozens of hours afterwards, too.

The best Nintendo Switch storage option

SanDisk MicroSD card for Nintendo Switch

(Image credit: SanDisk)

3. SanDisk microSDXC card for Nintendo Switch

The best Nintendo Switch storage option

Reasons to buy

+
Available in a wide amount of capacities 
+
Officially licensed by Nintendo 
+
Competitively priced per gigabyte 

Reasons to avoid

-
Not the absolute fastest 

SanDisk has made what we consider to be the best MicroSD cards for Nintendo Switch currently available. You can pick up some of the most affordable and officially licensed microSDXC cards ranging from 64GB all the way up to 512GB, so you're able to greatly expand the amount of Nintendo Switch games you can download from the eShop. 

The biggest advantage of the SanDisk microSDXC cards for Nintendo Switch is they are affordable. The 64GB model, the cheapest available, starts at only $20 / £20 but is frequently discounted down closer to the $10 / £10 mark. Savings are common, so you're able to more than double your available space for an incredibly aggressive rate. These aren't quite the fastest on the market, up to 100 MB/s, but that's plenty fast enough for solid performance. 

The best official Nintendo Switch accessory

Nintendo Switch Pro Controller review

(Image credit: Future)
The best official Nintendo Switch accessory

Reasons to buy

+
Excellent D-Pad
+
Amazing battery life
+
NFC and USB-C are forward-thinking

Reasons to avoid

-
Expensive
-
Triggers could be deeper

We think it's fair to say that the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller is going to be a substantial upgrade over the stock Joy-Cons and grip that the console comes with. That's because it not only features a far more conventional ergonomic design but also comes with a mighty 40-hour battery, too. That means you won't have to stress too badly about juicing up before jumping into some of the premiere games available on the console. 

It's the button placement, triggers, and bumpers that we particularly like about the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller as it shares more DNA with the likes of the Xbox Wireless Controller than prior Nintendo efforts. That means if you're coming other from one of the two other major platforms you'll be right at home.

There's little that's potentially exciting about this model but it positions itself as a quality gamepad above all else. If you have been in the market for a controller that's suited to bigger hands then you'll be in good hands here (pun intended).

Best Nintendo Switch upscaler

mClassic

(Image credit: Future)

5. Marseille mClassic

Best Nintendo Switch upscaler

Reasons to buy

+
Provides 1440p upscaling
+
Adds anti-aliasing to Switch games
+
Improves depth of field effect

Reasons to avoid

-
No use case for handheld players
-
Extra cables can make your setup messy

Even the very best Nintendo Switch games have pretty poor image quality when blown up on bigger TV screens. This is something that Marseille's mClassic aims to remedy. And it does so with exceptional results.

The device hooks up to your Switch and display via HDMI and a USB cable. When enabled via the on-device switch, the mClassic improves image quality by upscaling to 1440p on displays that support it. This creates a sharper image overall. What's more, the mClassic provides anti-aliasing, which cleans up image quality even more by smoothing out those jagged edges on character models and background objects. Improvements to depth-of-field are also applied, creating softer horizons that mesh nicely with the sharper foreground.

While a fairly pricey bit of kit (and the extra cables needed can be fairly inelegant), the mClassic is absolutely worth the cost if you're sick of otherwise gorgeous Switch games looking rather muddy on a bigger TV screen.

The best Nintendo Switch dock

Brook Power Bay for Nintendo Switch

(Image credit: Future)
The best Nintendo Switch dock

Reasons to buy

+
Built-in GameCube ports
+
Two-device Bluetooth audio support
+
Affordable and safe

Reasons to avoid

-
No included power supply
-
The power connector feels wobbly

The Brook Power Bay can easily be considered one of the best Nintendo Switch accessories, especially if you find yourself playing a lot of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Outside of its GameCube aesthetics, the biggest strength of this third-party dock is the support for up to two Bluetooth audio devices, meaning you can hook up a headset as well as a soundbar and keep things ticking over smoothly. 

Arguably it's the two built-in GameCube controller ports that are going to be attractive to those who still have their old-school remotes handy. Regardless, for the price you're paying here, around $55 / £52 depending on colorway, there's more than enough value here to satisfy, especially when considering that an official Nintendo Switch dock replacement runs just shy of three times as much.

Admittedly, you aren't getting the same premium feel or size for the unit with the Brook Power Pay, but the plastic construction didn't bother us in our testing. We found the console sat flush with no issues to speak of. If you're someone who is after another place to dock your Switch without having to disconnect any existing wires, this is a top-performing option. 

The best Switch accessory for online play

HORI Switch LAN Adapter

(Image credit: HORI)

7. Hori Switch LAN Adapter

The best Switch accessory for online play

Reasons to buy

+
Officially licensed by Nintendo
+
Competitively priced 
+
Widely available now 

Reasons to avoid

-
Ethernet leads are sold separately 
-
The OLED model dock has this built-in

The best Switch accessory for fitness

Have you ever been playing an online game only to experience stuttering and lag? Maybe you've been called a Wi-Fi warrior once or twice in your life, too. Well, you can achieve true uninterrupted internet speeds with the Hori Switch LAN adapter which would mean no more relying on a potentially spotty wireless connection. 

Keep in mind that you will need to purchase a router-compatible cable separately, but this expense shouldn't run too deep. Speaking of, the Hori Switch LAN adapter doesn't break the bank to make the jump to rock-solid competitive gameplay either. It currently retails at $29.99 / £26.99, which could make all the difference at a rate that's hard to argue against. 

Ring Fit Avdenture

(Image credit: Nintendo)
The best Switch accessory for fitness

Reasons to buy

+
Turns exercise into an RPG
+
Two-part activity tracking
+
It's a real game

Reasons to avoid

-
The novelty could wear off 
-
Expensive at MSRP 

You can think of Ring Fit Adventure as a spiritual successor to the Wii's Fit Board, the classic gamer's fitness accessory. But this time, you get a role-playing game with fitness moves seamlessly weaved in rather than gamified exercise classes.

The extra hardware is why Ring Fit Adventure is relatively expensive. One half of the Joy-Con slots into a resistance ring you hold with both hands. The other half ties around your thigh in a holster. This combo can tell how much you move, your particular moves, and how high above your head you raise the ring. Your motions then tie into your character's on-screen actions.

We found in our experience that the game offered more of a workout and substantial challenge than the likes of the tried-and-true Wii Fit from yesteryear. Taken individually, the peripheral and the gameplay itself may not be exceptional, but it's when both elements come together that the title comes into its own. Ultimately, though, you're only going to get what you put into a game like this meaning its overall appeal could waiver as the weeks and months go on.

Regardless, Ring Fit Adventure is a great way to get back into exercise indoors if the idea of YouTube classes does not appeal. Just keep in mind that it's not a great fit for the Switch Lite, though, as you'll ideally want to play with the console docked to your TV.

The best Switch accessory for families

Mario Kart Home Circuit

(Image credit: Nintendo)

9. Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit

The best Switch accessory for families

Reasons to buy

+
Ingenious use of augmented reality
+
It’s bags of fun
+
Make your own tracks

Reasons to avoid

-
Does not get on well with thick carpets
-
A multiplayer setup gets expensive

We’ve not been as keen on an augmented reality game as Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit since Pokémon Go launched. This is a Mario Kart game you play in your home with a remote control car. The kart has a little camera, which live streams its view to your Nintendo Switch console.

Place the checkpoint arches around the room, then drive the car to create your track. The more space you have, the more elaborate a track you can make. You’ll see other rivals on the Switch screen when you race, much like in a regular Mario Kart game. It’s a lot of fun, and the little kart connects to the console over Wi-Fi for a fast and reliable connection.

Mario Kart Live’s bad bits all come down to practicalities. It works best on hard flooring or lino, as the car does not get on well with rugs or thick-pile carpet. The little thing doesn’t have the traction or ground clearance to cope. Still, if it suits your home Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit is a great addition to your Switch arsenal and would brighten up any Christmas or birthday.

Best Nintendo Switch Accessories - FAQs

What accessories do I need for Nintendo Switch?

To get the most out of your Nintendo Switch, we highly recommend the Nitro Deck for portable players. We rate it as the best Nintendo Switch accessory around. For extra storage, also consider purchasing a SanDisk microSDXC card. And if you're in the market for a better controller then the Joy-Cons, the 8BitDo Ultimate and Nintendo Switch Pro Controller are choice picks here.

Do I need an SD Card for my Nintendo Switch?

Although having a microSD card for your Nintendo Switch isn't essential, it's beneficial to any gamer who may have an excessive game library. The standard Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch Lite only offer 32GB of free storage out of the box, and while the Nintendo Switch OLED doubles this to 64GB, once you start downloading games, this rapidly fills up. A microSD Card will help bulk out your storage to something more reasonable.

Does the Nintendo Switch come with any accessories?

When you purchase a Nintendo Switch, the only accessories you'll receive within the box are a standard Joy-Con Grip and accompanying rails. Any other accessories will need to be purchased separately, but given the scale of products available currently, you can find something to suit your needs perfectly, such as a carry case or any controllers to suit your gameplay better than the standard Joy-Con.  


For more Nintendo Switch recommendations, check out our guides to the best Nintendo Switch carry cases, as well as the best Nintendo Switch games available to buy this year.

Rhys Wood
Hardware Editor

Rhys is TRG's Hardware Editor, and has been part of the TechRadar team for more than two years. Particularly passionate about high-quality third-party controllers and headsets, as well as the latest and greatest in fight sticks and VR, Rhys strives to provide easy-to-read, informative coverage on gaming hardware of all kinds. As for the games themselves, Rhys is especially keen on fighting and racing games, as well as soulslikes and RPGs.

With contributions from