The first time I saw the Mini Arcade Pro at Gamescom, I had two very different reactions: At first, I was enamored by the bright and cheery exterior and the unabashed old-school aesthetic. Then, I couldn't help but wonder if I'd ever use it past the honeymoon period.
As luck would have it, I've now spent the last couple of weeks with the device courtesy of iMP Gaming, and I believe I have answers. The Mini Arcade Pro isn't a controller or accessory for hardened gamers, but it just might be a (nearly) perfect device for parties and those who miss the spectacle of gaming at an arcade.
The Mini Arcade Pro impresses the moment you take it out of the box. This is a thoughtfully designed and well-built accessory that understands how to both look great but also work as a controller.
At Gamescom, I was somewhat dubious about the presentation of how easily the Mini could be assembled, but even without glancing at the instructions it took only a few minutes to get everything up and running. There are no screws or gluing involved. Everything snaps in and out of place easily and the Switch itself nestles perfectly in a cradle held tight by magnets.
At the bottom is a USB-C input for the Switch and another one for power. You can use the controller as is, but I found that without the power cable the already less-than-stellar battery life of the Switch 2 didn't last long in this state.
The back of the Mini Arcade Pro houses a wealth of Switch and Switch 2 game cards, which is perfect for both portability and when the device is set up as a party element. My one big gripe about the device is that changing the game cartridge proved nearly impossible for someone with big hands and I ended up removing the Switch from the casing every time I needed to change games.
Granted, if you're an entirely digital-first gamer this won't be an issue.
The Mini Arcade Pro can accommodate both the Switch 2 and the Switch OLED with casings provided for both consoles. I only had the Switch 2 to test, but I can't imagine the experience is that much different except for a smaller screen.
The plastic casing has ample heating solutions for the console, and during my two hour gaming sessions I didn't notice any issues with the console heating up.
The joystick has a fantastic hall effect and it clicks the way arcade machines used to. Just fiddling with it is a nostalgic joy, and it's wonderful to report that even in fast paced games like Ninja Gaiden there is no lag to speak of.
Buttons are nice and tactile with just enough looseness to make smashing them satisfactory in games like Street Fighter. This is, first and foremost, a arcade device and that means it is as its best when playing fighting and side-scrolling titles.
Don't get me wrong, you can play anything with the Mini Arcade Pro, but I found that some games had button inputs that just weren't present on the current control scheme. Since there isn't a second joystick, first person games are right out the window, too.
Limitations aside, the Mini Arcade Pro is an easy recommendation for any Switch fan, and it should make for a delightful Christmas gift to any geeks looking to replicate a little bit of the arcade magic. Younger audiences in particular will love the sturdy and vibrant aesthetic. It makes the console feel bigger somehow.
It won't replace your Pro controller and it isn't a solution for everything, but it isn't meant to be one. Instead, it's a joyful reminder that controllers used to be fun. Accessories had a vision; an opinion of what gaming could look like. That's precisely what the Mini Arcade Pro achieves.
It reminds us of a collective past and allows us to pass that love to the next generation.
