The GameCube Controller - The Unsung Hero of the Switch?

GameCube controllers have been compatible with the Nintendo Switch for quite awhile. The compatibility came as a surprise to us, and gave people another option when it came how we play Switch games. Unfortunately there are still some issues.

GameCube controllers might be comfortable and relatively cheap, but they're lacking in buttons and motion controls. They'll work for a family game of Monopoly, but barely. When playing the Japanese demo for Monopoly I didn't find any case where ZL was required, and the same goes for clicking in the sticks.

The fatal flaw with using a GameCube controller is that is doesn't have a button to correspond with ZL, which many games use. Human Fall Flat uses very few buttons, but uses ZL to control the left arm. A simple fix to make L and ZL control the left arm in exactly the same way would make Human Fall Flat an excellent game with a GameCube controller.

Minecraft, and possibly even Skyrim have GameCube support as well, thanks to bindable buttons. There's just enough buttons on a GameCube controller that Minecraft doesn't lose any major functionality, though it's a close fit. I haven't tested Skyrim yet, but there may be issues with how few buttons there are.

Mega Man 11 is also playable with a GameCube controller, but you'll need to change the controls from the main menu since the options screen comes up with Select once you're in a stage, which the GameCube controller lacks. It's feasible to play the game without changing the buttons, but jumping with B and shooting with Y is not comfortable with a GameCube controller.

But HORI, PDP, and PowerA are all hoping to change the way you view the GameCube controller on the Switch. All aforementioned companies are releasing $25 version of the GameCube controller that plugs into the USB ports on the Switch dock. All of them have a 10 foot cable, but they all come with a catch. None have motion controls, meaning they still aren't ideal for Splatoon 2. However, they do have all the same buttons as the Joy-Con controllers and the Pro Controller.

PowerA is also releasing a wireless version for $50 that includes motion controls. This version is the most complete, but for casual party games like Uno, Monopoly, or Overcooked it shouldn't matter too much. It's also noteworthy that none of these controllers will work with Super Mario Party, which only works with a single Joy-Con per person. That alone might make you question buying these controllers.

In the future, every Switch game I review will also review its controller compatibility, with a detailed description of what parts might have issues. I firmly believe that developers should support as many controller options as possible since GameCube controllers are rather popular and readily available.

That being said, I also think HORI, PDP, and PowerA should be commended for making popular controller design available for people who want to play modern games, and making them incredibly cheap, even if a few features are being left out. I am personally interested in these controllers, though there isn't a clear winner for me yet. The controllers from officially licensed as well.

If you want to buy/preorder any of the mentioned products, I've included a few links below

HORI: Amazon | Official Website
PDP: Amazon | Official Website
PowerA: Amazon (Wireless) (Wired Unavailable on Amazon) | Best Buy (Wired) - (Wireless) | Official Website

If you want to use Nintendo's official GameCube controller on the Nintendo Switch, you'll need an adapter. Nintendo sells newly produced GameCube controllers, but any GameCube controller will work. Owners of the Wii U adapter do NOT need to buy one for the Switch. The GameCube to Wii U adapter works perfectly fine on the Switch.

Adapter: Best Buy
Controller: Amazon | Best Buy