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The Nintendo Switch is pretty popular, but its included Joy-Cons aren’t for everyone. Some players feel the detachable controllers are a bit small for their hands. Many players miss having a regular D-pad. Whatever your reasons for wanting to upgrade your Switch controller situation, know that there are alternatives — it’s just a matter of picking the one that fits your needs. We tested out a bunch of Switch controllers to see which are worth your money.

For casual gaming: Joy-Cons

Honestly, there’s a lot to like about the included Joy-Cons. They come right in the box and can be separated from the system so two people can play. The system also includes a special gamepad grip so you can hold them in your hand like any standard controller. So if you are in fact, happy with your Joy-Cons, there’s no need to switch them out. Just tweak them a little depending on your needs. Find them a tad too small? FastSnail’s matte rubber shells can make them a little easier for large hands to hold, and Hori’s Analog Caps can make the thumb sticks grippier. 

Buy FastSnail grips at Amazon – $14Buy Hori analog caps at Amazon – $9

There’s really no good way to replace the Joy-Cons entirely with a third-party copy. Some Joy-Con-like controllers won’t connect wirelessly, while others lack key features like vibration or an NFC reader. But there are some tradeoffs that are worth it. For example, if you like to play a lot of 2D platformers in handheld mode, Hori’s D-pad controller will restore the beloved cross-shaped directional button to your gameplay. If you’re looking for something that’s also more comfortable in your hand, the company’s $50 Split Pad Pro is also worth a look. It has a D-pad on the left side and a more ergonomic grip than your standard set of Joy-Cons. But it also makes the entire assembled Switch a lot chunkier.

If you like to play your Switch with groups (or you’ve experienced the dreaded “drift” issue), chances are you’ve picked up one or two extra pairs of Joy-Cons. Which means you’re going to need a place to charge the spares. PowerA makes an excellent $25 charging station that can be plugged into your Switch dock (or any device with a USB port) and handles four Joy-Con-like controllers at once — that includes third-party gamepads as well as Nintendo’s own Switch-compatible NES controllers (see below).

Buy Hori D-pad controller at Amazon – $60Buy Split Pad Pro at Amazon – $88Buy PowerA charging dock at Amazon – $25

For action-packed games: Pro-level controllers

Sometimes you just want a standard controller to play your favorite action titles — and standard in 2020 means something like you’d get packed in with an Xbox, with grips for the heels of your hands, shoulder buttons and triggers, two thumb sticks, a set of four buttons on the right and a D-pad on the left. Nintendo knows that, which is why it created the Pro Controller. This first-party gamepad pairs easily with the Switch and features a D-pad on the left, while still maintaining features like the infrared sensor and vibration that might go missing on third-party alternatives. The only downside is the $70 price, but avid players of games like Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild will appreciate the refined controls and increased comfort.

While you can plug your Pro Controller directly into your Switch dock to charge, it’s not the most elegant solution. PowerA also makes an attractive $25 dock that accommodates both Joy-Cons and the Pro Controller, which should keep your gaming area nice and tidy.

Buy Pro Controller at Amazon – $70Buy PowerA dock at Amazon – $25

When the price of the Pro Controller is a bit rich for your blood or out of stock, PowerA makes its own version with the same arrangement of buttons. The Enhanced Wireless Controller skips the rechargeable battery in favor of AAs, which has its downsides, but at least when it runs low on juice you can just pop in a new pair of batteries and get right back to gaming. Unfortunately, there’s no USB-C port to connect with so you’ll have to pair the device wirelessly — which can be finicky and may take a few tries before your Switch recognizes the controller. It also lacks vibration, so you won’t get tactile feedback in games where it’s helpful. And the plus and minus buttons are placed a bit closer to the center, so those with smaller hands will have to reach a bit further to press them.

If you’d prefer not to have to recharge — or buy batteries for — your gamepad, PowerA also makes a wired version of the same controller that connects via USB. It’s got the same look and feel, but you won’t have to struggle as much with getting your console to recognize it, and there’s no potential for wireless lag, making it ideal for fast-paced shooters and fighting games. The included cord is 10 feet long so it should reach most couches just fine.

While most third-party controllers tend to mimic the Xbox style of gamepad, anyone more familiar with the PlayStation’s distinctive DualShock design will probably prefer the $50 Pro 2 from 8BitDo. The retro-styled controller has the same general layout as the classic SNES gamepad, but adds twin thumb sticks, palm grips, back buttons, control remapping and even sensitivity adjustments. It’s truly the Swiss Army knife of Switch controllers.

Buy Enhanced Wireless controller at Amazon – $60Buy PowerA wired controller at Amazon – $23Buy 8bitdo Pro 2 at Amazon – $50

For old school gaming: Niche and retro controllers

Twenty years later and the preferred controller layout for Super Smash Bros. players is still the one made for the GameCube, which is why today it’s still possible to buy new gamepads straight from Nintendo. The Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Edition GameCube Controller is identical in layout and design to the original gamepads, though now it connects via USB so it can be used with the Switch. The only downside to the reissue is that it doesn’t come in a bold shade of purple anymore.

However, if you’re still sporting a classic GameCube controller with its proprietary connector, you can also pick up an adapter that will let your Switch accommodate up to four old-school gamepads. Nintendo sells one on its store, but the Y Team controller adapter is also a good alternative that costs less and can be bought at Amazon.

But you might not want to be tethered to your console — especially if you have fond memories of kicking back on your couch with a Wavebird in hand to play GameCube games like Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Killer 7. PowerA’s Nintendo GameCube-Style wireless controller is the closest you can get to recreating that feeling short of plugging a few RF dongles into a GameCube adapter.

Buy Smash Bros. controller at Amazon – $73Buy Y Team adapter at Amazon – $14Buy PowerA Game Cube-style controller at Amazon – $55

What if your retro tastes go even further back, say to the NES and SNES era? If you’re subscribed to Nintendo Online, you have access to over 100 classic titles, so you might want a more “authentic” controller to use with them. Nintendo Online subscribers can buy retro-style wireless gamepads directly from the company, though the $60 set of two small, rectangular NES controllers will remind you why we’ve moved on from that design. The dog-bone shape of the $30 SNES model is more hand friendly and can still be used with the NES games, so it’s a better use of your funds should you decide you want to recreate your childhood gaming experiences.

If you don’t need an exact copy of your beloved childhood gamepads it’s worth looking at 8BitDo instead: It makes a variety of classic-styled controllers that add just enough modern features to make them useful for a wider variety of games. Its models are almost all wireless, and there are some design changes to make the controllers more comfortable and easier to use. We’ve already recommended the DualShock-like Pro 2, but the $45 SN30 Pro also offers features like dual thumb sticks and vibration in the dog-bone controller style.

If you’re looking for something more portable, however, the $25 8BitDo Lite is smaller and swaps out the thumb sticks for two D-pads, keeping the four button arrangement on each side. It’s great for 2D games and it even matches the color scheme of the Switch Lite. 

Before you try any of the controllers listed in this guide, remember to update your Switch to the latest firmware — the 8BitDo controllers will run on any version, but the PowerA gamepads need your system to run at least version 6.0.0.

Buy NES controller pack at Nintendo – $60Buy SNES controller at Nintendo – $30Buy SN30 Pro at Amazon – $45Buy 8bitdo Lite at Amazon – $25

The Pokémon Company (TPC) held its latest Pokémon Presents event on Wednesday, in which it revealed more details about its upcoming games. Pokémon Legends: Arceus got much of the focus. It’s a brand-new open-world adventure set in the Hisui region (later known as Sinnoh), and it takes place long before the events of Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl.

Since this is a different spin on the Pokémon formula, developer Game Freak has revamped the battle system, taking a similar approach to Final Fantasy X. Battles are still turn-based, but rather than Pokémon each taking a turn, their respective stats and other facets such as items dictate the order of actions and how many each creature gets to take.

Pokémon might take multiple turns in a row, so you might take the opportunity to dish out multiple attacks on the spin or take time to heal up in between. Each of your Pokémon’s four moves has two styles: agile style and strong style. The former speeds up your action speed and might bump up your next turn in the queue, but the move will be weaker than unusual. You can unleash a more powerful attack if you opt for strong style, though you might need to wait longer to act again. It’s clear you’ll need to rethink your battle strategies to be successful here.

Not only can you sneak up on wild Pokémon through tall grass to hurl a wooden Poké Ball at them, you can use smoke bombs to conceal yourself. Wild Pokémon also might attack before you deploy a Pokémon of your own. Battles will start right away rather than moving to a battle-specific screen.

The Pokémon Company

Elsewhere, the trailer featured another look at the game’s gorgeous visuals and other gameplay. It has expansive vistas that feel a bit reminiscent of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. You’ll be able to ride certain Pokémon on land, as well as in the water or sky.

The aim of the game is to create the region’s first-ever Pokédex, and you’ll need to carry out research tasks to learn more about each Pokémon. There are base camps dotted around Hisui, where you can craft items and restore the health of your Pokémon. Pokémon Legends: Arceus arrives on Nintendo Switch on January 28th.

The Pokémon Company

Meanwhile,Pokémon Unite is scheduled to hit iOS and Android on September 22nd. The free-to-play MOBA landed on Switch in July. If at least 2.5 million players pre-register, they’ll all be able to use Pikachu in battle. TPC also noted that Pokémon Café Mix is being reworked as Pokémon Café Remix with updated gameplay and more Pokémon. The new version will arrive this fall.

Are Mac computers immune to viruses? Some might have you believe that, and to a certain extent we wouldn’t blame you if you thought so too.

This is because there are a much larger number of Windows computers out there, especially those that are used in businesses and the finance industry, which means that it makes more sense for hackers to create viruses that target Windows computers rather than Macs.

This doesn’t mean that viruses for Mac don’t exist. In fact, some of the viruses for Mac we’ve come across over the years can actually be more devastating compared to their Windows counterparts.

That being said, practicing good and safe online habits can save yourself from being infected, but in the event you think your Mac might have been infected, what do you do? How do you check?

How To Tell If Your Mac Is Infected

On the surface, your computer might look like it’s running just fine, but it could have been infected without your knowledge. There are some signs that you can look out for, which include:

• Browser extensions that have been installed without your knowledge
• The homepage of your browser has been changed to something else
• You are getting way more popups and ads than you ever did previously
• You are seeing more frequent security alerts from macOS
• Some of your files are no longer accessible

In some cases, some of these incidents aren’t that big of a deal. Adware is annoying but it won’t ruin your computer, but when you are no longer able to access certain files, it could be a sign of a ransomware attack which is more serious.

How To Scan Your Mac For Viruses

When it comes to scanning your Mac for viruses, there are several different applications that you can use. Some of the popular options for virus scanning for Macs include Avast, CleanMyMac X and Clario, just to name a few. You can take a look at either app to see if the features are what you’re looking for.

Apart from that, Apple does have antivirus software built into macOS. This was introduced in 2009 as XProtect which scans apps and files against a database of known threats. It can block downloads and notify users if it detects something is amiss. There is also the Malware Removal Tool that can help remove viruses that somehow slip past XProtect.

While the built-in tools might be enough for some, having an extra set of eyes and a second or third opinion might not be a bad idea, especially if you have sensitive files on your computer that you’d rather not have stolen by malware or have your keystrokes logged.

How To Protect Your Mac Against Viruses

There are some general rules that you can follow to keep yourself safe online and from accidentally infecting yourself. This includes:

• Not opening or downloading attachments from suspicious emails
• Do not download files from untrusted websites
• If your browser is warning you against loading a website, you should probably listen

Apple has also shared some advice on how to protect your Mac from malware, which includes making sure your apps are downloaded and installed from trusted sources. Apple has also built in features into macOS that you can enable that will essentially block your software downloads and installs from non-trusted sources.

1. On your Mac, click the Apple logo and select System Preferences
2. Select Security & Privacy
3. Click General
4. If the lock icon at the bottom left is locked, click on it to unlock
5. Now you can choose the sources from which you will allow software to be installed. You can choose App Store and App Store and identified developers. According to Apple:
   • App Store: Allows apps only from the Mac App Store. This is the most secure setting. All the developers of apps in the Mac App Store are identified by Apple, and each app is reviewed before it’s accepted. macOS checks the app before it opens the first time to be certain it hasn’t been modified since the developer shipped it. If there’s ever a problem with an app, Apple removes it from the Mac App Store.
   • App Store and identified developers: Allows apps from the Mac App Store and apps from identified developers. Identified developers are registered with Apple and can optionally upload their apps to Apple for a security check. If problems occur with an app, Apple can revoke its authorization. macOS checks the app before it opens the first time to be certain it hasn’t been modified since the developer shipped it.

How To Check Your Mac For Viruses

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Voters overall don’t seem fazed by the cost.