It’s no secret that many gamers out there appreciate a good custom-designed console or gaming controller to help spruce up the look of a piece of hardware, which can otherwise look rather bland. Something about slapping a slick and/or colorful design, or installing some hypnotic LED lights inside your hardware, just makes the experience of playing the games more interesting. Suddenly, looking at your gaming devices becomes nearly as enjoyable and colorful as the games that are run by this hardware.
In the case of Nintendo, their gadgets hold a great deal of artistic potential for creative types to decorate and add some visual flair. This is because of their backlog of colorful games, characters, and fantasy worlds that invite the potential to help add some visual appeal. While Nintendo themselves have recognized this and spruced up their devices with their own designs (custom N64 Pikachu, anyone?), this piece will mostly focus on third party and user-made creations. After all, one need only look at images of some of the designs to realize that many end up being more interesting and creative than Nintendo’s own creations.
Though, since users can go hog-wild with their own imaginations without the filter of quality control or approval from the higher-ups at Nintendo, there is also the potential for plenty of bland, odd, and unappealing designs on this front. These can be equally amusing to examine, but for very different reasons.
So with that said, let’s delve into some custom controller designs that fall into both categories.
30 Lame: Your Jigglypuff Controller Is Watching You…
About the only positive aspect that could be said about this Jigglypuff controller for Gamecube is the fact that it’s…different. Though different and unique doesn’t necessarily mean good. Aside from coming in a pretty harsh shade of pink, the design just looks off, and quite creepy; almost zombie-like. The black thumb stick is also a questionable choice, as it makes this poor Pokémon puffball look like he’s sporting a black eye. The two, asymmetrical eyes on the right side are also quite bizarre and unsettling.
29 Dope: Retro Future 64
This is a bit of an odd theme for an N64 and controller considering there were no Tron games to be found on the console, but who cares? All that matters is this design is all kinds of sleek. It comes in a slick, glossy black finish, and lined with a glow-in-the-dark neon paint trim. It’s the perfect console for your late night N64 gaming sessions in a dark room. It just might be difficult to focus on your game as you struggle to avert your eyes from this hypnotic beauty.
28 Lame: The Legend f Zelda Blues
This one might be a little controversial, as it certainly has a unique style, cool painted emblems, and an appealing gold finish underneath the body. But between the harsh deep blue color, and the large Triforce and wing designs, it all just comes off a bit too busy and convoluted. Diehard Zelda fans may get a kick out of using this one while venturing across Hyrule in Ocarina of Time, but it may be a bit of an eyesore for the more casual N64 player.
27 Dope: It’s-A-Me, A Pretty Mario Controller!
It’s not easy to make an N64 controller look sophisticated and elegant, but that’s exactly what the backside of this custom-made Super Mario 64 controller conveys. That glossy wood finish just looks gorgeous, and looks like it belongs on your coffee table next to your remote. The front side is decidedly more cartoony and colorful, but this provides a charm in its own unique way. Fans of Mario’s first foray into the 3D world will certainly appreciate that familiar colorful logo, which goes nicely with the colored buttons.
26 Lame: Spongebob Cube Pants
At least it makes sense to have a custom controller that resembles Spongebob, as the Gamecube had a handful of games featuring him, including Creature From the Crusty Crab and Revenge of the Flying Dutchman. Though, that doesn’t mean this should have been done, as illustrated by this odd looking controller.
There’s just not much to like about this one unless you’re a diehard fan of the TV show.
From the buck teeth and giant eyes that stare daggers at you as you play, to the bright yellow ridden with holes that make the controller look more like a deformed block of cheese, most aspects of this just seem… Off.
25 Dope: The NES Controller Gets Some Castlevania Flair
Now this is true dedication here - a user from the Racketboy forums showed off their modded NES controller awhile back, which will make any Castlevania fan take notice.
The design looks rather simple, but the process was anything but.
This user had to essentially dismantle the front body of the controller, embed small LED lights underneath, and sandwich in some semi-transparent lights resembling sprites from Capcom’s action horror classic. While the poor NES controller looks quite worn from the process of being dissected and worked on, the end result is worth it, and looks simply awesome.
24 Lame: Some Easter-Themed Switch Joycons… Or Are Those Yoshi Eggs?
These might get the attention of some major Yoshi fans (if those even exist), but most would probably agree that these Switch Joycon shells aren’t very appealing. They manage to be both busy and bland in appearance, and their generic nature makes them resemble party balloons or Easter eggs as much as Yoshi eggs. Also, I couldn’t imagine playing a Switch whose body stood out this much on a plane or train ride, unless I somehow wanted to draw attention to myself.
23 Dope: Lego My Wiimote!
Our one and only instance of a Wii Remote sighting on this list comes in the most odd and unlikely forms; a Lego set. Yes, this is an actual, functioning controller - and not just for display - but you’re granted free reign to decorate the surface of the remote with colored blocks from an included kit.
The perfect compliment for your copy of Lego Batman or Harry Potter on the Wii.
And, not to be overlooked, that pumpkin spice orange is strangely appealing too. This has to be one of the few controllers in existence that’s nearly as fun to play around with as the games it controls.
22 Lame: SNES… The “S” Stands for Steampunk
Points for creativity and craftsmanship, though this is a classic case of the artist attempting to do a little too much here. The nuts and bolts jutting out of this steampunk-themed SNES controller just make for crude look (and probably a crude feel when holding it).
It could go well with the Steamworld Dig series, I suppose…
You can appreciate its finer details close-up, but from a distance, it just looks like an extremely old and worn SNES controller, that’s perhaps been dragged through the mud. Its gritty nature doesn’t quite mesh with Nintendo’s brand of colorful an cheery gaming experiences either.
21 Dope: Next Level Wii U Pro Controller
While the Nintendo Switch improved from the Wii U as a whole in a variety of areas, I’m perhaps one of the few that holds to the opinion that Wii U’s pro controller reigns over the Switch version. The thing just feels more comfortable, the D-pad is superior, and the trigger buttons just feel more tactile and well-crafted. Seeing this transparent controller from third party manufacturer PDP, in all its enticing glowing blue glory just makes me appreciate the controller that much more.
20 Lame: A Pokkén Controller As Average As The Game
Believe it or not, this is an officially licensed product from Nintendo, and the reason it’s one of our very few first party offerings on this list is because how surprisingly unremarkable it looks. This controller was bundled with the original Pokkén Tournament for the Wii U.
Nintendo initially made a major push with the marketing of the game, which is all the more odd that the controller bundled with it looks so unappealing. It sports a bland silhouetted Pikachu, harsh off-yellow color, and the ZL and ZR buttons strangely placed next to the start and select buttons.
19 Dope: Psychedelic SNES Controller
What can I say? I just have a thing for transparent controller shells. The elaborate mechanisms that make up the innards of hardware never ceases to amaze me, even inside a rather simple controller like that of the SNES. The cool part is that company Retrolink offers a handful of colors to choose from, whose hues are further illuminated by an LED light inside its body. This is yet another controller to enjoy when gaming in the dark. Those neon green and blue varieties look particularly enticing, and invoke shades of The Matrix.
18 Lame: Ambiguously Bland Pokémon Joycons
This custom creation isn’t really the fault of the artist, as they are simply working with what they were given from Nintendo, which in this case, isn’t much. The Switch Joycons, along with the dock itself, sport an officially released Pikachu/Eevee theme, though taking the dock out of the equation, we’re left with merely bland yellow and cream colored Joycons. In a desperate attempt to make them more visually interesting, this user imprinted Pikachu and Eevee tails on the bottom, though these are tiny details that add little to the design.
17 Dope: The Gold Standard of Custom N64 Controllers
What better way to play one of the N64’s best titles, Goldeneye, than with one of the best custom N64’s we’ve seen, based off the breakout FPS hit? I’m of the belief that there is simply no cooler color scheme than gold and black, and although I’m no fan of the Oakland Raiders, I’ve become a major advocate of this gorgeous paint job.
I wonder if the paint was shaken or stirred?
The glossy finish further compliments these colors, and are the cherry on top this gaming hardware sundae. This is a custom N64 that’s nearly as slick and elegant as the Aston Martins that James Bond drives, and as smooth as his top-shelf Martinis.
16 Lame: A Falcon Punch On Your Gamecube Controller?
Custom paint jobs can be executed quite beautifully as we’ve seen in prior entries, but they can also be botched. In the case of this custom-painted Gamecube controller, we’re left with what looks like watercolors brushed over a plain white body, with a pink color scheme that matches Kirby moreso than the F-Zero star Captain Falcon. While the illustration itself isn’t too bad, the image looks cheap and rushed, and the awkwardly placed fist directly over the joystick is questionable. I suppose the gimmick here is that you get to control your Gamecube games with an ongoing Falcon punch?
15 Dope: A Colorful Homage To An RPG Classic
Only major fans of this classic 16 bit RPG from Squaresoft, such as myself, will truly appreciate this one. Though even to the casual onlooker, this controller presents a vibrant and colorful display that makes for one of the most gripping SNES controllers we’ve seen. The artwork matches not only the boxart of the game Secret of Mana quite impressively, but also conveys that majestic feel the game entrances you with when playing. Now, all we need is a Super Mario RPG controller to round things out.
14 Lame: Kirby Cubed
The first thing that pops into my head when I see this Kirby design is “meh”. It’s understandable to a degree, as Kirby himself is a rather blandly designed, monochromatic fellow. There is just little that stands out here, and the shade of pink borders on too dim. And while he’s charmingly adorable, as this custom Gamecube controller is, it doesn’t necessarily make for an interesting design. A Meta Knight controller on the other hand? Now we’re talking!
13 Dope: A Breathtakingly Pretty Breath Of The Wild Controller
This controller from PowerA is the epitome of sleek. Its black and chrome-gold color scheme is easy on the eyes, and the detail of its artwork is impressive and gorgeous. The artwork of Link readying his bow is pretty enough to be framed on your wall. It’s just too bad it’ll mostly be covered when holding the controller.
The design rides the line nicely between simplicity and complexity.
12 Lame: This Controller Is A Little Bananas…
In yet another case of an unappealing Gamecube controller, here we have what’s supposedly a custom Donkey Kong model, but without the “DK” text slapped on the front of it, you’d never know it. There are no images of the lovable ape himself, his companion Diddy, or even his trademark tie or bananas; just a smattering of stars which make for an over-the-top and distracting design. While the yellow featured on the bottom of the controller at least makes sense, the deep red is a questionable choice.
11 Dope: An N64 Controller Gone (Even More) Retro
Zoki64 is known for a vast array of gorgeous and colorful controller designs, and while there are a few duds in the mix, this NES-themed N64 controller is far from a dud. Everything looks so slick and clean that you’d swear it came from Nintendo themselves.
NES designs can make any device look cooler…
The detail is minimal, but includes just enough to give this controller that NES flavor, without overdoing it. The N64 controller design isn’t exactly a pretty one, but this is one of the few custom works I’ve seen that makes this monstrosity actually look appealing, and that’s not easy to achieve.
