So you just go your Nintendo Switch. Maybe you got it as a gift or purchased it yourself. Either way, the shopping doesn’t end there. Now you are thinking about the “must-have” games you want to buy and you are also figuring out which accessories you want to buy as well.

Regardless of what Nintendo Switch console or bundle you own you will have what you need to get started right of the box. That being said, there are still going to be some “must-have” accessories that most gamers will want to have, but which ones are best for you?

We have put together our list of top accessories for Nintendo Switch consoles that should help you navigate these waters if you are a new Switch owner, or if you want to buy the perfect gift for someone with a Nintendo Switch.

Table of Contents

#1 & #2 Nintendo Switch Controller(s)

Getting an additional controller(s) is very high on most people’s list of most wanted accessories for a couple of reasons.

First of all, like most controllers, the Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons (the name of the controllers that come with the switch) are wireless and have batteries inside them. When the Joy-Con batteries are dead you need to place them on a charger instead of simply replacing the batteries and continuing playing your game. So having extra controllers means that the fun doesn’t have to end when the batteries die.

The second reason you want to consider getting additional controllers is that unlike some other gaming systems the Switch has several popular multiplayer games, which is one reason why the console is such a popular choice for families. Most switch owners will end up owning at least a few of these multiplayer games. So having enough controllers to allow 4 people to play at the same time becomes an important thing.

Before we go any further… Yes, we know that we have controllers as both the #1 and #2 items on our list. That is because there are really 2 different options to look at when getting additional controllers for your Switch.

Joy-Cons

Our recommendation is to get another pair of Nintendo brand Joy-Cons. We say this because each individual joy-con can be used as a separate controller when playing multiplayer games. So by purchasing another set of Joy-Cons, you will now have the ability for 4 people to play multiplayer games.

There are a variety of colors to choose from when buying new joy-cons. You can see the different options here.

Pro Controllers

If you find that you don’t intend on buying or playing any of the multiplayer games for the Nintendo Switch you still might be interested in getting additional controller(s). However, instead of purchasing another set of joy-cons you might want to look at getting a Nintendo Switch Pro Controller instead.
When not playing the Switch in handheld mode some people feel that the joy-cons are a little too small and not as comfortable to use and hold as a larger controller would be. If this describes you the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller is just the thing you are looking for.

The Nintendo Switch Pro Controller is more than something that feels comfortable in your hands as it is highly regarded by gamers. In addition to the motion controls, this high-quality controller also includes HD rumble, a built-in amiibo reader, and a long battery life.

The downside for the Pro Controllers is the cost. Depending on which Pro Controller you get (they can come in different colors/styles) you can pay almost as much and sometimes even more than you would for a set of joy-cons. That being said, there is a price for quality and comfort.

Just as with the joy-cons getting Nintendo Switch Pro Controller doesn’t mean that it has to look boring. There are usually different colors and designs available. You can see the current designs here.

#3 Nintendo Switch Online Membership

Some people will say that the Nintendo Switch Online Membership isn’t really an accessory because it is a subscription service. On the other hand, the argument could be made that the Nintendo Switch Online Membership is the most important accessory for your Switch. Either way, you really want to think about getting the Nintendo Switch Online Membership.

For those who are not familiar with it the Nintendo Switch Online Membership it is a subscription service that allows you to play multiplayer games online, gives you access to play classic NES games, saves your game data to the cloud, and gets you access to special offers.

This service launched on September 18th, 2018. Prior to that date online gaming with the Switch was free. So the main reason the vast majority of people buy a Nintendo Switch Online Membership is for the online gaming. It should also be noted that you can only play some games online and if you want to take advantage of multiplayer games (including playing with friends online) a Nintendo Switch Online Membership will be required.

Below is a video that gives a nice overview of the Nintendo Switch Online Membership.

Nintendo Switch Online Memberships are sold for both individuals and families.

The individual memberships can be purchased on Amazon in 2 different time durations with the longer duration offering the best value:

If you have multiple people in the same house who use the Switch, family memberships are really the way to go as they offer the best value they can accommodate up to 8 Nintendo Account holders. Family memberships are only available in 12-month durations, which at the time we are writing this cost $34.99. Family memberships are available for purchase at places like Amazon. You can also get a family membership by purchasing a $35 Nintendo eShop Gift Card, which you can redeem in the Nintendo eShop for a Nintendo Switch Online Family Membership. You can buy one of these gift cards here.

#4 Screen Protector

When you look at the Switch without the joy-cons attached on the sides you might mistake it for a tablet.

Just like a lot of people like to add a screen protector to their tablets or smartphones it is probably a good idea to put a screen protector on your switch too. This is especially true when you remember that the screen isn’t something separate from the console. It is actually part of the console itself.

There are several different screen protectors available for the Switch that are custom made to easily fit on your console. Some of these screen protectors are more heavy duty than others. It is up to you to determine what level of protection you are looking for in a screen protector, but we strongly suggest putting some sort of screen protector on your console.

You can browse through the different screen protector options for the Nintendo Switch here.

#5 Charger for Nintendo Switch Controllers

One of the facts of life about wireless controllers for game consoles is that they will need to be charged. When the joy-cons (the controllers that come with the Switch) need to be charged you need to connect them to the sides of the Switch to charge them.

A Joy-Con Charging Station is a great alternative to charge your joy-con controllers. This is especially true if you have more than one set of joy-cons. A charger will give you a place to both charge and keep track of your joy-cons. This is especially true when if you have an extra set of joy-cons. That way the fun doesn’t need to end just because you need to charge your controllers.

The other great thing about getting a charging station for your controllers is that they are one of the most affordable accessories for your Switch with many models priced between $15 and $20.

There are two types of charging stations out there for Nintendo Switch controllers. The first type will charge just joy-cons usually charging up to 4 at a time. The second type will charge both joy-cons and pro controllers usually charging up to two joy-cons and one pro controller at a time.

You can browse chargers for the Nintendo Switch joy-cons here.

#6 Stand

One of the criticisms some people have for the Switch is the seemingly flimsy kickstand that comes out from its’ back when you want to stand it up so you can use it in tabletop mode. Some people worry that this kickstand will break too easily and others wish that they could adjust the angle the Switch sits at while in tabletop mode.

If you share these worries or frustrations you might want to consider getting a stand for your Switch.

Not only will a stand feel more sturdy when using the switch in tabletop mode, but some of them will allow you to adjust the viewing angle. Plus, many models will allow you to charge your Switch while it is in the stand.

You can browse through stands for the Nintendo Switch here.

#7 Car Mount

One of the great things about the Nintendo Switch is its’ portability. This allows you to easily bring your Switch with you on trips and to places you wouldn’t consider bringing other video game consoles – including the car. If you do plan on bringing your Switch with you on long car trips a car mount is an awesome accessory to have. Car mounts typically come in two different styles or ways of mounting.

This type of car mount attaches directly to the back of the headrest. By stretching the fabric tight and using the velcro you can be sure that your Switch will be securely attached.

The other type of car mount attaches to the posts that support the headrest. One of the good points for this type of car mount is that you can usually make adjustments to the placement and viewing angle of the Switch.

You can browse through car mounts for the Nintendo Switch here.

#8 Cases & Game Storage

Most people buy their game console, set it up, and leave it be – never taking it with them from place to place to place. However, if you plan on taking your Nintendo Switch with you on a frequent basis you probably want to invest in a case to carry it in. Not only will a case help protect your Switch when you are not using it, but it will help you keep everything organized so you don’t lose things.

As far as game storage and organization goes you probably won’t worry about that until you get several games and even then you might have a shelf picked out where you can store your games. However, if you do want a special place to store your games or game cases there are different options out there. There are some stand-alone units that are designed to specifically store your games. There are also some vertical stands for your console that have some video game storage built-in.

However, before you run out and buy something to store your video games in you should think about how you are going to buy the games. Specifically, do you plan on buying the actual physical copy of each game or do you plan on buying digital copies? There isn’t a right or wrong way to go on this issue. It is a matter of personal preference. So you might like to read our article on Physical Video Game Copies vs. Digital Copies – Which is Better?

There are a lot of great cases and game storage options on Amazon that you can view here.

#9 Skins

Skins are a great way to personalize your Nintendo Switch while protecting it at the same time.

These things typically aren’t on most people’s list of must-have accessories. So don’t spend your money on these items unless you have taken care of the items higher up on this list.

However, if you want to personalize and/or protect your Nintendo Switch there are some really cool options out there and most of them are pretty affordable. You can get custom colors, as well as logos of your favorite sports teams or themes from your favorite game.

You can browse through a multitude of fun options here.

#10 MicroSD Card

The Nintendo Switch comes with 32GB of internal storage. Since a portion of that internal storage is reserved for use by the system you might run out of storage space faster than you think. Even if you plan on getting physical copies of your games most of the time it can take as few as two game downloads to take up the available space on your switch. So even if it isn’t right away most people will want to expand their storage at some point.

Luckily Nintendo provided a microSD card slot behind the kickstand on the back of the Switch. The Switch can accommodate microSDHC or microSDXC cards up to 2TB.

A 64GB, 128GB, or even a 256GB microSDXC card offers more than enough storage space for most people. However, if you like to play a lot of games and want to make sure that your memory cared won’t run out of space you might consider getting something like 512GB Nintendo labeled SanDisk card or the SanDisk Ultra Class 10 UHS-I 1TB microSDXC memory card.

Conclusion

Even though you will get what you need to get started when you purchase a Nintendo Switch console you will still probably want to make a few additional purchases. Hopefully, our list helped you figure out which of the top accessories are the best ones for you.

Last update on 2024-04-18 at 22:02 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Top 10 Accessories for Your Nintendo Switch