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Best Nintendo Switch GameCube controller adapters

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Super Smash Bros. fever has kept the GameCube controller alive far longer than the GameCube itself. Many players fell in love with how Super Smash Bros. Melee played with a GameCube controller. Nintendo kept the native GameCube controller support for the Wii (at least at first) before moving on from the controller with the Wii U. Or so we thought.

When Super Smash Bros. Brawl launched, Nintendo released an adapter to support up to four GameCube controllers on Wii U. The Nintendo Switch received the same treatment when Super Smash Bros. Ultimate launched in late 2018. The official Nintendo adapter is, sadly, hard to find for a reasonable price, but there are numerous options that get the job done. We’ve rounded up the best Nintendo Switch GameCube controller adapters below.

The cool thing about connecting GameCube controllers to your Switch is that you can use them with virtually any game. While the main draw is reliving the Melee feeling in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, GameCube controllers can act much like the more expensive Pro Controllers, giving you a more traditional controller option for both AAA games and indies on Switch.

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Pdobq adapter

Best Nintendo Switch GameCube Controller Adapters
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Closely resembling the official Nintendo adapter, the Pdobq adapter is a great option. It’s slightly smaller than Nintendo’s adapter, but it has identical functionality. The Pdobq adapter supports four wired GameCube controllers. If you own a second adapter, you can enjoy up to eight-player local multiplayer with compatible games. You don’t need to download a driver to use it on Switch, and it’s also compatible with Wii U, PC, and Mac. Switching between console and PC mode is as simple as pressing a button. Pdobq’s adapter supports rumble and turbo features for applicable GameCube controllers.

Mayflash adapter

Best Nintendo Switch GameCube Controller Adapters
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Mayflash’s adapter was first introduced in 2015 for Wii U and remains one of the most popular third-party GameCube adapters today. It has a more box-like design that may be more appealing to some. The Mayflash adapter has four GameCube controller inputs and works with Switch, Wii U, PC, and Mac. The plug-and-play design means that you don’t need a driver to play games on any platform (a driver is required for vibration on PC, though). Like the Pdobq adapter, you can plug two adapters into your Switch for eight-player local multiplayer. The Mayflash has the same features as the Pdobq adapter, so the decision here is largely a matter of aesthetics.

8Bitdo Gbros. adapter

Best Nintendo Switch GameCube Controller Adapters
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Retro accessory manufacturer 8BitDo offers a decidedly different option for your GameCube controller adapter needs. With the look of an oversized dongle and bearing the original shade of GameCube indigo, the Gbros. adapter is the ideal choice for those who tend to play a lot of solo games. The adapter syncs to your Switch wirelessly, so all you have to do is plug your controller into the adapter. This frees up the space between you and your TV from a mess of cords. The downside is that each adapter only supports one controller, so you’ll need to buy multiple if you’re having a LAN party.

Gbros. uses two AA batteries that give you about 30 hours of gameplay before needing to insert new ones. One of the most desirable features of the Gbros. adapter is its screenshot button. It might not matter if you don’t take screenshots during gameplay, but it’s a nice feature to have when you consider that using a GameCube controller or other adapters won’t allow you to capture screenshots. 

You can use The Gbros. adapter’s home button to take you back to your Switch’s main menu – yet another feature that a GameCube controller or different adapter doesn’t offer. 8Bitdo’s adapter also works with SNES, NES, and Wii Classic controllers.

Official Nintendo adapter

Best Nintendo Switch GameCube Controller Adapters
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Nintendo’s backing makes the official Nintendo adapter a secure and dependable choice, even if it lacks the extra features of the Gbros. adapter. It also works as an adapter on the Wii U, so it’s worth getting if you have both platforms.

Nintendo released their classic GameCube adapter to coincide with the release of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate in 2018. Due to its popularity, finding the adapter in stock is a challenge. If you find it, buy it – you never know when you’ll get another chance.

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Steven Petite
Steven Petite
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Steven is a writer from Northeast Ohio currently based in Louisiana. He writes about video games and books, and consumes…
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