8BitDo 64 Bluetooth Controller Review
Summary: The 8BitDo 64 Bluetooth Controller is a far superior controller to the original N64 one that delivers modern ergonomics and accuracy while still delivering a touch of retro aesthetics.
4.5
Modern retro!
For anyone who grew up with the Nintendo 64 (besides being an “older” gamer like me), this console is definitely part of the golden age of gaming with its 3D platformers, co‑op gaming mayhem and some of the most iconic games ever made such as Super Mario 64, The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time, Perfect Dark and unmistakingly GoldenEye 007. Then you have the strange 3‑pronged controller that looks like something that should have been on Neptune’s trident and while it was groundbreaking, it was awkwardly strange.
Cue in the 8BitDo 64 Bluetooth Controller that while it pays homage to this controller of the Golden Age of Gaming that should belong in a museum, this company has channelled its inner N64 to deliver a modern (with a touch of retro) Bluetooth controller that is the perfect way to play N64 games on the Nintendo Switch 2.
Gone is the awkwardness because as soon as you unbox this controller from 8BitDo, it feels great in your hands. Of course, this controller is not just for the Switch (1 & 2) but also Windows and Android! Unfortunately, I did not have access to the Analogue 3D console which this controller works on. What is the Analogue 3D? It’s a re‑imagining of the N64 that supports 4K and is compatible with every N64 game ever made.
8BitDo also provides a few variants that include the classic grey version with its red, green, blue and yellow buttons that tap directly into the original N64 controller of the 90s. Of course, if you want something a little less gaudy, there is also a black variant plus a white (reviewed) version. Also harkening back to this era are the buttons which are satisfyingly clicky, responsive and feel far superior to the original controller.
Unboxing
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Another highlight is the Hall Effect analogue stick that offers precise and drift‑proof gaming, however the face‑button placement may take some time to master due to the N64 template which this controller was built on. Shoulder buttons work well as does the sensitive d‑pad that works a treat for your favourite button smashers, but one highlight is the analogue stick which is exceptional. Using this controller for a few weeks now, I found it very comfortable thanks to its ergonomics and again, fast responsiveness for both retro and modern games.
Although you don’t need the classic Rumble Pak, 8BitDo has added built‑in rumble which is far superior to the original controller. You can also remap buttons and there is a Turbo mode to “level” up your gaming with a speed boost. To charge the controller, you simply connect the included USB‑C cable and presto, the virtual health of the 8BitDo 64 Bluetooth Controller starts to charge up.
However, there is a bugbear with the 8BitDo 64 Bluetooth Controller and that has nothing to do with the controller itself but rather with the Nintendo Switch 2. Third‑party controllers pair to the console via its pairing process, however the annoying aspect is that you sometimes need to re‑pair the next time you game. Thankfully this is not the case with the original Nintendo Switch, Android or Windows machines, even the Steam Deck. Even with the sporadic pairing issue on the Switch 2, the 8BitDo 64 Bluetooth Controller is the only way to play those retro games on this console.
Thanks to the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription, I was also able to play some of the aforementioned classic titles on the Switch 2 with the 8BitDo 64 Bluetooth Controller and best of all, wirelessly, unlike the original controller. The controller performed perfectly well and turbo mode is indeed a different and amusing experience with Super Mario 64.
Final Thoughts?
The 8BitDo 64 Bluetooth Controller is a far superior controller to the original N64 one that delivers modern ergonomics and accuracy while still delivering a touch of retro aesthetics. If you’re missing the N64 console but not the controller, then the 8BitDo 64 Bluetooth Controller is the only way to re‑experience these games again, but it also works well on other platforms.
Recommended!
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