What is your favorite Nintendo controller? Each Nintendo Pad numbered

Nintendo has always been one to push the boat out with its hardware design, and this is no more the case than with its controllers. Yes, the NES and SNES were pretty traditional by today’s standards (although they were remarkably innovative at the time) but in later years, the Big N’s controllers had us waving blocks above our heads, tapping key-shaped keys, attaching and detaching buttoned bolt-ons. , and also trying to understand how this is played with only two hands.

Our point is, there are a lot to choose from when it comes to finding the best Nintendo controller. There are many different options, in fact – and Many Different opinions – that trying to find the “best” can seem like a somewhat impossible task.

With this in mind, we at Nintendo Life Towers have gathered to vote on which controller is ours favorite. Listing every standard controller in the company’s history (including ‘Pro’ variants for more recent consoles with non-industry-standard default controllers, but excluding the weird, unique models we’ve discussed here before), we voted on each For our top five, our favorite gets five points, the second favorite gets four, and so on.

Below are the results of our team survey, and if you disagree with our picks, there’s a poll at the bottom of the page where you can have your say.

We’ll build up to our number one picks, but let’s start with the controllers who didn’t get any love (at least in terms of votes) from Team NL…

10. NES (101), Virtual Boy, Wii Classic Controller

At the bottom of the pack, these three received the brunt zero point From the Nintendo Life team and so find yourself finally united.

The NES 101 model was originally released in 1993 and was meant to emulate the look of the new SNES system. The two-tone gray and red colors aren’t as pleasing to look at, and while the dog bone shape will work on the rear, four-button Nintendo controller, it looks off when only the A and B options are available. . To be fair, we’re not sure anyone on the team has actually used one of these.

It’s no surprise that the Virtual Boy controller finds itself at the bottom of the pile, either. Will this console one day get a rosy renaissance in the form of “The Virtual Boy is Nintendo’s Most Underrated Console”? We doubt it. That Wario Land game was great, though!

As for the Wii Classic controller, it’s one that most people have forgotten about. Not to be confused with the classic Controller Pro (more on that later), this oval design was made for virtual console gaming, but with analog sticks that are so close together, our hands cringe at the thought of playing with it. Two hours.

9. Wii Classic Controller Pro

Moving up with just one point (hey, it’s an improvement, we guess) is the Wii Classic Controller Pro.

Released in 2009, this elongated upgrade was designed to be much closer in feel to the GameCube model than its SNES-like predecessor. It may not have matched the kind of innovation we’ve seen elsewhere for the Wii, but it was certainly a step in the right direction as far as comfort goes.

8. Wii U GamePad

Really innovative, really chunky.

The Wii U GamePad only got three points from us. While the touchscreen controller brings a boatload of fun to some games like Nintendo Land, the massive design and ultimate lack of software that puts it to good use means it’s always likely to appear at the lower end of this list.

Yes, it paved the way for one of Nintendo’s best-selling consoles of all time, but in terms of actual controller design, this wasn’t at the top of anyone’s list, though it’s comfortably remarkable.

7. NES

Image: Xion Grassle / Nintendo Life

Ah, the one that started it all. The NES controller is simple and sleek, and many of us have fond memories of mashing those buttons until our thumbs hurt.

It’s thanks to how strong the latter’s design is that this model finds itself at number seven on the list. While it may not be able to match modern pads in terms of comfort, there’s still something special about this little revolutionary rectangle. Has there ever been a better d-pad?

6. Wii U Pro Controller

Image: Damian McFerran / Nintendo Life

For all its faults, the Wii U has a great Pro Controller to make up for it.

In most cases, this was our preferred way of operating the console over a bulkier gamepad if the touchscreen wasn’t in play. The Xbox 360-esque design of the controller was a significantly more comfortable way to play, and the Switch Pro Controller will take cues from this pad.

5. Switch on the Joy-Con

Image: Xion Grassle / Nintendo Life

The standard Switch Joy-Con is a little small, very flimsy and prone to some very annoying drift, but we love them all the same.

well, Some We do. Certain team members are burned out after enduring years of abuse from drifting sticks, not to mention crippling hand cramps. Face intermittent connectivity issues if you sit more than six feet from your Switch and a select few members of the NL staff will wonder how they scored so high! However, everyone loves HD-Rumble Icecubes.

On a conceptual level, these bad boys are geniuses. Without the Joy-Con, the Switch’s USP, you know, switching, is simply not possible. They may not be the most reliable bits of kit out there, but the ability to clip them in, take them out, play with the motion controls, And Get a more traditional controller experience with the grip holder might be the most innovative thing the Big N has ever done with a pad.

You increase the personalization potential with an ever-growing range of colors and designs, and it’s easy to overlook the shortcomings of smaller controllers.

4. N64

Image: Xion Grassle / Nintendo Life

Now we’re really entering the big leagues. The three-pronged N64 controller received 14 points from our votes, with one of us even naming it his all-time favorite (pause for gasps, tears, swoons, etc.).

This is probably the closest Nintendo really gets to a love-it-or-hate-it design. Does it feel like it’s designed for players who are able to miraculously produce a third arm out of thin air? Yes, it does, and this doesn’t help create an eye-pleasing silhouette.

That being said, this is probably one of the most (if not the most) iconic controller silhouettes stand out, and while it feels impossible to play with two hands, you can get your head around it pretty quickly once you work out that you don’t really need to use the analog stick and D-. Pad at the same time (who knew).

There is beauty to be found in this humorously odd design, and it really is only The right way to play N64 games. If you want to experience Super Mario 64, Ocarina of Time, and GoldenEye as nature intended, you’ll need one of these beauties.

3. Wii Remote

Image: Damian McFerran / Nintendo Life

The genius of the Wii Remote is its simplicity. The reason why comparatively few of us have ever played a PlayStation with an elderly relative is because before you can even get into the basics of the game, you have to start with an extensive list of where each button is hidden.

With the Wii, you can stick that simple white brick in Nan’s hand and before you know it she’s smashing against the mat from Wii Sports, as if devoid of the spirit of Rafa Nadal.

On top of this bare-bones design is a motion control system that still seems like such an out-of-the-box idea that we need to regularly remind ourselves that yes, it happened, and yes, everyone owned it. The design also honors its ancestors; Turn it sideways and you have a makeshift NES pad for all your Virtual Console needs.

It’s easy to look back at the Wii today and turn your nose up at its poor processing power and often shoe-in motion controls, but many of us agree that this controller design represents Nintendo at its best.

2. SNES

Image: Damian McFerran / Nintendo Life

Scoring an impressive 20 points from our votes, the classic SNES controller comes in second.

It’s refreshing to see that while fancy control schemes and innovative designs are one thing, you still have to respect the basics. The SNES will always sit very high on our ‘Best Console Eva’ list and it wouldn’t be possible without its stellar controller with its innovative shoulder buttons.

Bright colors (but not too bright, and not bright at all in North America – although we are European is Concave buttons envy, granted) make this one beautiful to look at, and the iconic shape is a hallmark of retro gaming.

1. Gamecube / Switch Pro Controller

Yes, our favorite Nintendo controller has finally come to a tie — oh, the drama — scores 27 points with both the GameCube design (which we grouped with the Wavebird model) and the Switch Pro controller.

Even today, it’s hard to criticize the comfort of the GameCube pad’s design. Dual analog sticks, different sized buttons (preferring ‘A’ and ‘B’ for some quality melee gameplay), a two-pronged grip for those of us without Three hands – it’s a beauty. The kidney-shaped ‘X’ and ‘Y’ are an acquired taste, admittedly, but we clearly like them. You throw in Wavebird’s game-changing wireless game and you were always going to win.

And the same can be said for the Switch Pro Controller. It’s a design that’s been in the works for years, and with the Switch, we think Nintendo finally cracked it. For all the benefits of Joy-Cons, their size can make long gaming sessions a bit of a pain; Fortunately, Pro Controller fixes that. Top it all off with an ever-growing number of fun tie-in designs, and it makes sense that this should sit among the best of them all.

Well, there you have it, our favorite Nintendo controllers as picked by Nintendo Life. We’ve done our talking, so why not do the same? You can fill out the poll below to tell us what your favorite controller of all time is and see how it stacks up against everyone else.