Building on the success of the Nitro Deck’s release last year, CRKD is back with its next Nintendo Switch accessory, the Nitro Deck+. Sometimes, a “Plus” version of an accessory means it is available in new colorways or a slightly different size. That isn’t the case here. With the Nitro Deck+, Crkd has made noteworthy upgrades to the handheld deck, many directly responding to community feedback.
It’s A Controller
In its simplest form, the Nitro Deck+ replaces your Nintendo Switch Joycons and is compatible with both the original and OLED versions. Whereas Joycons and other 3rd party cons attach to the side of the Switch, the Nitro Deck+ is a cradle, or deck if you will, into which the Switch slides. The deck itself consists of a back plate with ergonomic controllers on each side and a bottom bezel. Sliding between the controllers, the Switch locks into the deck, similar to how it attaches to a Joycon, with a connection to the controllers made through the Switch’s USB-C port. Since this creates a physical connection to the controllers, you don’t need to worry about toting around extra batteries or losing connection to the controllers while you are playing.
The Nitro Deck+ is a beefy device. The backplate and bottom bevel add some weight and thickness to the usually slim Switch. The deck isn’t meant to act as body armor, but it does add some extra protection to all but the screen of your Switch. Speaking of protection, the ND+ comes with a cloth carry bag to protect the entire device from scratches. Although a hard case is always a nice addon, the ND+ costs $20 less than the original ND and hard case combo ($69.99 vs $89.99), so I consider the downgrade a reasonable trade-off.
Visually, the Nitro Deck+ looks and feels just like the original Nitro Deck with one major caveat – the right side stick is located above the buttons, basically flipped from their traditional locations. The controllers are much larger than a JoyCon, and their curved ergonomic shape makes holding the deck very easy and comfortable. I personally like both sticks above the buttons because they match the layout of my controllers for other devices, but I could see it as a negative for Switch owners who have been using the regular layout for years. Regardless of positioning, the extra size and wider spacing work well for my large hands, resulting in far fewer mis-clicks.
CRKD has packed some other upgrades to the Nitro Deck+ as well. There are four trigger buttons on the back side of the deck. Each trigger is mapped to one of the A/B/X/Y buttons by default and can be reassigned to your liking, including mapping to stick, D-pad, or multi-press inputs. The default assignments work great and allow you to keep your thumb planted on the right stick at all times, while the option to remap the buttons gives you the flexibility to customize the deck to your personal needs.
A side button – CRKD calls them Sidekick Buttons – is also located next to each joystick. These small buttons are pre-assigned to mimic the A and B buttons but can also be remapped to another input as well. The placement of these buttons is very unfamiliar, but after a few hours, I could use them effortlessly.
CRKD has also carried over many of the features you can find in the original Nitro Deck and their standalone wireless controller, the NEO S (check out our review). This includes the use of hall effect switches in the joysticks, eliminating the issue of stick drift as the device ages. The Nitro Deck+ also uses the same replaceable thumbsticks, no deadzone mode, adjustable rumble feature, turbo mode, and adjustable trigger sensitivity. All of these features are improvements over the Switch’s original JoyCons and many other 3rd party controllers.
It’s A Switch Dock
Another major upgrade from the original Nitro Deck is the ability to use the Nitro Deck+ as a Switch Dock. On the back of the deck are two USB-C ports, one for input and one for output. To use the ND+ as a dock, you simply plug a power source into the input. Then, using a USB-C to HDMI adapter – the Nitro Deck+ can be purchased with the adapter if you don’t already have one – you connect the output to your TV, and voila, you’re in docked mode.
This is an excellent option for when you are on the go and don’t want to carry around your regular dock or just don’t want to hassle with swapping your Switch between the ND+ and regular dock at home. You will need to supply your own power source – the power block from your original Switch Dock works just fine – and some extra controllers to play couch co-op with the ND+ in dock mode, but you can still use the ND+ as a controller while it is connected to your TV. Oh, and for you PC gamers, the ND+ can also be used as a wired controller when the Switch isn’t in the unit.
It’s A Controller. It’s A Switch Dock. It’s Nitro Deck+
CRKD says the Nitro Deck+ is a “Professional Handheld Deck” for the Switch. I don’t really know what that is supposed to mean, but I do know that they have created a premium controller that also has a side hustle as a docking station. The build is excellent and takes the smallish Switch and gives it the feel of a Steam Deck. The oversized controllers feel great, and I prefer the symmetrical position of the joysticks. It took a little bit to get used to the sidekick and back buttons, but I truly enjoy not having to move my thumb off the joysticks as much as I do on a regular JoyCon.
Overall, I couldn’t really ask for much more in a controller. In fact, the ND+ can be used in wired mode as a standalone controller for the Switch and PC, something I didn’t expect from the deck. Best of all, the ND+ shows that CRKD is willing to go back to the drawing board to address issues brought forth by the community. And at $69.99 ($79.99 with an HDMI adapter), CRKD didn’t create a “Plus” version just to charge double the price.
