7 Best Nintendo Switch Accessories That Everyone Should Have

The Orzly Carry Case 

7 Best Nintendo Switch Accessories That Everyone Should Have

The Orzly Carry Case, or any other cases that are similar in style, are great options to protect your Nintendo Switch when you’re traveling or just on the go. Unlike the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One, your Switch obviously is portable. We can’t stress enough how important it is to keep it nice and cozy in a protective case instead of flying around in a suitcase or a backpack. Because your Switch breaks or gets damaged, it’s going to be hella frustrating and expensive to replace.

Cases like this Orzly model (of which there are a lot), all have similar features. It straps your Switch in nice and snug, it has space for a healthy amount of physical carts, a protective cushion to go over the screen when it’s closed up, and finally a net to hold things like space joy-cons, extra games or whatever you want to put in there.

Whether you go with the Orzly, something like it, or a different product entirely, having some kind of case for your Switch is essential.

Tempered Glass Screen Protector

7 Best Nintendo Switch Accessories That Everyone Should Have

Another accessory that we would argue really isn’t optional is a screen protector. If your Nintendo Switch cracks or gets scratched, that’s it. Your console is ruined basically forever, unless you have some kind of sorcery available to you to repair or replace it. Yes, the true cost of a Switch can get costly when you add up all the accessories, but don’t skimp on protection for the screen, seriously. Skimp anywhere else but there.

Also, if you’re worried about dock scratching the screen, which some players have reported in the past, the tempered screen should completely prevent that. You could get some kind of sleeve for your dock, or just get more bang for your buck and protect from dock scratching, and just about anything else that could scratch your screen at the same time.

There are a ton of options, here is one from Amazon that you can check out and see if it works for you. It comes with two so if you mess up the first one you have a back-up (guilty).  Do some digging for the best price, but at the end of the day, it’s all pretty much the same thing. Pick one, and slap it on your Switch and never take it off.

Nintendo Switch Pro Controller

7 Best Nintendo Switch Accessories That Everyone Should Have

The Pro Controller, depending on how picky you are about your controllers, may be something you want to seriously consider as well. It honestly comes down to personal preference. I’m 6’1” with pretty big hands, and while it’s not ideal, I’m able to grip and play with the Joy-Cons and the included controller they snap on to just fine. I’m also not very picky and my hands don’t get sore easily.

If you just got a Switch, don’t buy one right away. Play with the Joy-Cons first for a while. If you don’t like the way it feels, then the Switch Pro Controller is an excellent option to give you a more traditional controller experience that console fans have been used to over the last few generations. You can pick up a Switch Pro Controller at most major retailers such as GameStop or Amazon.

HORI Compact Playstand

7 Best Nintendo Switch Accessories That Everyone Should Have

If you like the idea of laying back comfortably on a couch with the Joy-Cons while the Switch is stood up on a table, than consider the HORI Compact Playstand (or other 3rd party alternatives if you prefer). The Nintendo Switch comes with a built-in kickstand, but it is quite flimsy and is designed to pop off, and will quite easily if you put enough pressure on it.

A Playstand like the one here will not only give you a more secure space to stand your Switch on, but it also pops out at you a lot more than the Switch can do on its own, better for if you’re lounging around. Keep in mind, this is not the greatest solution for really compact scenarios like in an airplane seat. In those cases the Switch’s built-in kickstand should suffice, but for other situations where you have more space, consider picking one up if you anticipate playing that way a lot.

Joy-Con Charging Dock

7 Best Nintendo Switch Accessories That Everyone Should Have

There’s nothing more demoralizing than hyping up a fun game night with your friends just to learn that you forgot to charge your controllers and now you have to wait around or just straight up cancel and do something else. Your Switch can only hold one set of Joy-Cons at once, so… unless you’re really good about remembering to swap other joy-cons on regular to keep everything charged, do yourself a favor and pick up a charging dock. Again, you can find them all over at most retailers, but here’s one we pulled up from Amazon in case you’re interested in seeing an example to get you started.

Joy-Con Grips

7 Best Nintendo Switch Accessories That Everyone Should Have

The Joy-Cons, when held sideways, are quite small and may be uncomfortable to some people, especially those with bigger hands. I’ll mention again, I’m 6’1”, fairly big hands, and I find them a little annoying to hold, but bearable. But I’m also cheap, so don’t necessarily take my advice. Ponying up for some grips for your joy-cons may be just what you need to make playing games retro style with the Joy-Cons sideways much more enjoyable.

Even if you’re OK with it, a lot of the time when you’re using the controllers that way, it’s probably because you’re playing something two-player with a friend, like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe; whoever you’re playing with might not find the Joy-Cons easy to use in that way. Consider keeping a pair of grips around, just in-case definitely couldn’t hurt.

A Spare AC Charger

7 Best Nintendo Switch Accessories That Everyone Should Have

Finally, although it seems simple enough, having a spare AC Charger for your switch is just always nice to have, and will save you headaches. I personally like having my dock, well, docked and unmoved, plugged into my TV forever until I’m forced to move stuff around. I don’t feel like unplugging the charger every time I want to take the Switch with me on some kind of trip or vacation. While not as essential as some of the accessories on this list, since you can always just not be lazy use the one the Switch came with, if you’re like me (again AKA lazy) pick up a spare charger and keep it in your travel bag. Plus, if you lose it or forget in a hotel room or something, you don’t have to stress about not being able to play your Switch at home.

There are plenty AC Chargers to chose from, it’s probably best to just grab an official one to be safe. Although most of the time third-party ones will work just fine, there are some potential for issues. Just pick up the official one for little bit more and peace of mind would be the route I would take. But feel free to find a bargain one if you have no fear. It’s your life, and your Switch. You do you.