8Bitdo has a history of releasing excellent controllers for the Nintendo Switch. Their latest, the Lite Bluetooth gamepad, is inspired by the Switch Lite. Like Nintendo’s latest update to its console/handheld hybrid, the Lite gamepad is small and sleek but doesn’t exclude any necessary gameplay functionality. If you like to travel with your Switch Lite (or normal Switch) but aren’t a fan of the system’s Joy-Cons, this diminutive controller will suit your needs. While the Lite gamepad isn’t great for all games, it’s a solidly-built and designed device that dedicated Switch users should consider purchasing.
The Lite gamepad is a little smaller and flatter than an old-school NES controller (or 8Bitdo’s own N30 gamepad). Like that classic device, this controller is rectangular in shape. Unlike the NES controller, its rounded sides make it easier to play for longer stretches of time. It features two d-pads instead of analog sticks. The four face and four d-pad buttons are roughly the size of those found on the Joy-Con controllers. It has four shoulder buttons. L and R wrap around the top edges of the controller while L2 and R2 are small square buttons that sit between the two. The controller also features the Switch’s Home, Share, Pause, and Select buttons. A small toggle in the center allows users to change between Switch and PC functionality.
Pairing the Lite gamepad to the Switch is a straightforward affair. After ensuring you have the latest firmware update installed on the controller (downloadable from 8Bitdo’s website), you can begin the process. This involves turning on the Switch with a separate controller, setting the Lite to pair mode, going into the Switch’s controller settings, and letting the process do its thing. Pairing takes less than ten seconds. After that, you’re ready to roll. You can also use the controller to play games on your PC or iOS and Android devices.
The controller doesn’t feature gyroscopic functionality or NFC support. The lack of gyroscopic functionality means some games will be harder to play. For example, the gyroscope feature makes certain puzzles in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild much easier. The loss of NFC isn’t much of a big deal since it only exists to claim in-game Amiibo awards. While the exclusion of these two features is a downer, we can look past it since they’re not massive deal breakers.
I tested out Sonic Mania, Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection, and Super Mario Odyssey on Switch. The d-pad works wonderfully for a game like Sonic Mania. It is easy to control Sonic and make him go where you want. There was no significant lag when using the d-pad or pressing the face buttons. The controller worked better than expected on Street Fighter. Though it can’t top the M30 gamepad or the Fusion fightpad for fighting games, it does a serviceable job. I managed to pull off moves like hadokens and sonic booms with minimal effort. I say “minimal” because playing fighters with the small controller takes some getting used to. But overall, the Lite is great for playing classic 2D games.
Unfortunately, the controller isn’t great for 3D titles. I had a difficult time controlling the camera in Super Mario Odyssey because doing so with a d-pad is cumbersome at best. It made me realize how much I take the ability to move the camera with the right analog stick for granted. I’m sure if you’re dedicated you can adapt to controlling the camera with the right d-pad. It still works. It’s just something I don’t think works very well.
Despite some of the negatives, the 8Bitdo Lite Bluetooth gamepad is a worthwhile buy. It has all the core functions required to play the vast majority of Nintendo Switch games. Furthermore, its small light design makes it an ideal third-party controller to travel with. While there are other 8Bitdo Switch-compatible controllers I’d recommend over this one (such as the N30 Pro 2 or SN30 Pro+), I would not discourage anyone from nabbing themselves the Lite gamepad.
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