Hori’s The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom-themed Split Pad Pro is on sale for $49 at Amazon. Normally $60, this special-edition handheld-only controller has superior ergonomics compared to standard Joy-Con controllers. It’s just one of several Zelda-themed controllers you can get for nice discounts at Amazon ahead of the release of The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom later this month.
For a conventional controller for docked play, check out PowerA’s Zelda Sworn Protector wireless controller for $27 (was $45). This Bluetooth controller has graphics of the Master Sword, Hylian Shield, and Hylian Crest. It released last year alongside Tears of the Kingdom and has never been discounted to this low of a price. The same controller is available in a more colorful theme featuring Link and Zelda for $36 (was $60). PowerA’s Enhanced controllers have two programmable back buttons.
The Hori Split Pad Pro is GameSpot’s current pick for best Switch controller for handheld-focused players, and for good reason: it gives you a full-sized, ergonomic controller experience in handheld mode. The buttons, the sticks, triggers, and D-pad are all much larger on the Split Pad Pro than they are on the stock Joy-Cons. So considering how cramped the standard Joy-Cons are, especially if you’ve got big hands, the ergonomics of the Split Pad Pro are a big relief.
On top of that you’ve got two remappable buttons on the back, and a turbo function. It lacks rumble, motion controls, and NFC support for Amiibo, though, and you can only use it in handheld mode.
The Legend of Zelda – New and Upcoming Releases
With The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom arriving September 26, here’s your chance to play the next Zelda game with a very fitting controller. A new Zelda-themed Nintendo Switch Lite console will release alongside Echoes of Wisdom, too. So if you plan on getting that, you won’t have any use for the Split Pad Pro–unless you have a regular Switch or Switch OLED, too.
For more Zelda products, check out our roundup of 50-plus Zelda accessories and collectibles. Nintendo is re-releasing multiple The Legend of Zelda Amiibo figures alongside Echoes of Wisdom, too. September is a big month for the franchise beyond Echoes of Wisdom, too. The Great Deku Tree Lego set–the first Zelda building kit from Lego–launched September 1, and Twilight Princess’s complete manga releases as a box set on September 17.
