🕹️ Which 8BitDo Controller Should You Buy?

The whole 8BitDo line, sorted by what you're plugging it into.

Justlikegames earns a commission on purchases made through links on this page. It costs you nothing and it does not decide what is recommended.

8BitDo makes retro-styled controllers for nearly every device, and the model names do very little to explain the differences. This sorts them by use case instead.

The short version: pick by the platform you use most, then by whether you want a D-pad-first classic shape or a modern one with analogue sticks.

What to Buy

  1. Best for Switch: Wireless pad with Switch support

    Pairs natively, wakes the console, and gives you a proper D-pad for the NES, SNES and N64 libraries on Switch Online — the single biggest upgrade to those apps.

  2. Best for PC and emulators: USB or 2.4G retro pad

    Low latency over the dongle, works with every emulator front-end, and the classic shape suits 2D games far better than a modern asymmetric pad.

  3. Best for phones and cloud gaming: Clip-style mobile controller

    Holds the phone in the middle so you are not balancing anything, with real sticks for cloud-streamed console games.

  4. Best for original hardware: Wireless receiver plus classic pad

    A receiver in the console's original port lets a wireless pad drive real NES, SNES or Genesis hardware. The tidiest fix for perished old cables.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do 8BitDo controllers work on Switch?

The Bluetooth models pair with Switch directly and support wake-from-sleep on most recent revisions.

Are they good for fighting games?

The classic-shape pads have excellent D-pads, which most people prefer for 2D fighters over a modern analogue-first pad. A dedicated arcade stick is still a step above.

Bluetooth or 2.4G dongle?

Use the dongle on PC for lower latency; use Bluetooth for Switch and phones where a spare USB port is not available.

Can they be used on original consoles?

Yes, with a matching wireless receiver plugged into the console's controller port.

Related Reading