Nintendo Switch Joy-Con

Nintendo Switch Joy-Con controllers feel different depending on how you use them, snapped onto the tablet they feel like a handheld console, slid onto the grip they feel like a traditional gamepad. Held sideways as individual mini controllers they feel like toys, and each mode changes the physical relationship between your hands and the game. HD rumble gives tactile feedback that's more nuanced than a standard vibration motor. Best games use it to simulate the feeling of rolling a ball, clicking a lock, or pouring water into a glass through vibrations alone. I've mixed feelings about the Joy-Con because the joystick drift issue is real and well-documented, where the analog stick registers input when you are not touching it. Nintendo's slow response to a hardware flaw that affects millions of controllers is frustrating when the rest of the design is so considered. Neon colors are a bold choice that signals this is a toy meant for play rather than a serious gaming peripheral. I like that the color options let you mix and match red with blue, green with pink, creating combinations that feel personal. That click when you slide a Joy-Con onto the tablet is one of the most satisfying mechanical interactions in consumer electronics, a firm snap that tells you the connection is secure. I think Nintendo designed that sound intentionally. Versatility of 3 play modes in 1 controller pair is the real design achievement.