Review: SWORL Arcade Controller For Switch 1 & 2

Junkfood Arcades has already established itself with the Snack Box Micro, an exceptionally compact leverless arcade controller that merges aesthetics and functionality. It’s genuinely one of the top selections available for combat enthusiasts.

So what’s the next step? Well, Junkfood has engineered one of the most distinctive and ambitious wired controllers I’ve encountered with the SWORL, which aspires to elevate the leverless arcade experience far beyond just fighting games.

What distinctly differentiates it is the feature of two ‘thumb domes’ which effectively function like two enlarged analogue sticks. Thus, with a combination of these, a WASD-style D-pad, and 10 face buttons, you can utilize the SWORL for everything ranging from Super Smash Bros. Ultimate to Cyberpunk 2077. And the most enjoyable aspect? It genuinely performs exceptionally well, although with one principal caveat.

Visually, the SWORL significantly deviates from your standard rectangular arcade controller. While there are some subtle curves along the edges, this device boasts numerous sharp, industrial angles that contribute to its unique retro aesthetic.

The plastic exterior is entirely black, though like the Hautepad C16, you can replace the art inlay by detaching the magnetic acrylic cover on top. No extra artwork is provided here, so you would need to find your own, and I highly encourage doing so because the default design simply isn’t appealing – the SWORL logo in the center is stylish, but the remainder is rather unremarkable. Also, colored keycaps can be purchased directly from Junkfood if you wish to infuse a bit more character into the switches.

Naturally, powering the unit on unveils an array of RGB lighting surrounding the WASD switches and face buttons, and the SWORL truly comes alive at this moment. The spectrum of colors and patterns they generate is captivating. Upon pressing the buttons, the corresponding light shifts to green before dimming to red – it’s a rather impressive effect, though I wish there was more illumination around the thumb domes.

Of course, this is merely the default configuration. By linking the SWORL to the Junkfood Arcades web configurator (which is quite user-friendly), you can fully customize the lighting to your preferences. A variety of patterns is available, allowing you to either stick with one or turn them off entirely.

In another area, a row of function buttons is located on the top of the unit, which also illuminate when pressed. The labeling can be somewhat perplexing initially, but from left to right, you have Home, Select, Start, Capture, Edit, and Profile.

On the rear, the entire surface is covered with a soft, non-slip fabric featuring the logo engraved at the center. It’s delightful material, ensuring absolute stability on smooth surfaces. If you wish to play on your lap, you certainly can – weighing in at just over 900g, the controller possesses a fair heft, making it feel solid in your hands, yet quite comfortable when resting on your lap.

You receive a very high-quality carry case with the controller. Reportedly valued at around $20, this is just as practical as any carry case you may acquire for the Switch 2 itself, consisting of a durable exterior, a soft ‘blanket’ inside to cover the device itself, and a mesh pocket to hold the braided USB cable.

Connecting the controller to the Switch or Switch 2 is, for the most part, effortless. The included cable is USB-A to USB-C, thus working immediately in docked mode. For handheld mode, either an adapter or a separate USB-C to USB-C cable will be necessary, and considering the position of the USB-C port on the bottom edge of the original Switch, docked mode might be the only feasible option here – unless you want to lay the console flat or utilize a separate stand that accommodates the cable.

Otherwise, it’s simply a matter of checking the instructions and holding down a specific button when connecting the controller to enable the appropriate console emulation. Once this initial setup is complete, you won’t need to repeat it.

Looking at the arrangement of the controller’s buttons, you’ll find the WASD switches to the left, the action switches on the right, and the thumb domes beneath. Correspondingly, these serve as your D-pad, face/shoulder buttons, and analogue sticks. The default configuration of the action switches aligns with more conventional fight pads, albeit with two additional switches mapped to ‘L3’ and ‘R3’.

Additionally, when paired with the WASD switches, the SWORL is immediately suitable as a controller for titles like Street Fighter 6, Melty Blood, or virtually any fighting game on the Switch 1 and/or 2. If you’re accustomed to this setup, you’ll feel right at ease, and it feels just as good as rivals like the Mixbox or Hautepad X.

The buttons don’t provide the same ‘clicky’ feedback as the 8Bitdo Arcade Controller, but the MX switches offer good travel before hitting a firm stop. There’s very little wobble, and the input lag is minimized thanks to the wired configuration.

For those wishing for a wireless option, this is allegedly in the works. Junkfood claims that the controller is “prepared” for wireless compatibility, with an official dongle currently being developed. I will be watching this closely – as long as the input lag remains low, this will greatly enhance its appeal.

However, the SWORL is even more ambitious than that, and with the thumb domes (which, indeed, are Hall Effect), you can theoretically employ the controller with nearly any game – as long as there’s no dependence on gyro controls, of course. Regarding the shape and feel, they’re unexpectedly comfortable. The manner your hands position means the sides of your thumbs will handle most of the tasks, and while that may sound somewhat dubious on paper, it operates remarkably well.

Revisiting the configuration tool, if you feel like perhaps your thumbs are slipping slightly from maneuvering the domes, you can enhance the sensitivity to reduce the movement needed. Thus, this combined with the grippy, rubberized texture of the domes should guarantee that your thumbs remain secured.

So in practice, your thumbs manage all the movement-related tasks, while your left fingers control the D-pad and your right handle all the face buttons.

Does it perform well for every game? Well, no – at least not initially. According to Junkfood’s advice, titles that heavily rely on shoulder button inputs, like Dark Souls, won’t feel particularly comfortable with the default configuration, as you’ll continuously be shifting between different rows of buttons to alternate between light and heavy attacks. Again, this is where the configuration tool is beneficial, and you can effectively remap the button layout to any arrangement you prefer, swapping between profiles based on the game you’re playing.

Do you truly want to be fiddling around with remapping?

buttons whenever you wish to experiment with a different game? Perhaps not, it hinges on your level of patience. If you’re eager to simply connect and play, there’s just a limited selection of games that genuinely feel suitable with the SWORL’s standard configuration.

From my perspective, titles like Metroid Prime Remastered, Pokemon Scarlet, and Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar all operate splendidly right from the start, as none of them necessarily depend on breakneck reflexes. If you’re looking to immerse yourself in something like Bayonetta 3, however, you absolutely can, but think about reconfiguring the layout.

Once you do perfect the ideal layout, then good gracious, is it comfortable. Essentially, your hands are somewhat fixed in a neutral state, so you’re not grasping anything or bending your fingers in an awkward manner. The one enhancement I might suggest is that the thumb domes should truly be tilted inward slightly, so your thumbs aren’t positioned too high when maneuvering them.

Concerning cost, you’re looking at $175 for the SWORL Basic, which provides compatibility for PC and Switch/2. For those who wish to utilize it across multiple platforms, the Sworl Multiconsole at $225 could be your best option. This model includes a built-in Brook chip to ensure instant compatibility with both the PS5 and Xbox Series X.

Conclusion

The SWORL is an impressive little gadget. Although something comparable can be achieved with the Hautepad X’s modular system, the design here is remarkably distinctive and ambitious, elevating the humble arcade controller beyond just the fighting genre to accommodate a much broader array of games.

My primary concern is that the standard layout simply isn’t suitable for certain types of games, making it often essential to utilize the configurator tool to adjust the inputs accordingly. Naturally, this isn’t ideal if you’re just looking for something you can connect and play immediately, but for those with the perseverance to do so, you’ll discover the SWORL to be an exceptionally comfortable controller.

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Thanks to Junkfood Arcades for providing the sample used in this review.