10 Switch 2 Accessories You Actually Need Before Holiday Morning (Parent-Approved)
Last updated: November 9, 2026
You bought the console. Now every store page pushes "sold separately" extras, and you can't tell what a kid really needs versus what's just an upsell. This guide sorts 10 accessories by urgency. Tier 1 should be in the house before Holiday morning. Tier 2 protects the console from small, busy hands. Tier 3 is nice to have. Every item says whether it works with the Switch 2, the original Switch, or both. Prices are approximate and were checked on the date above.
Thinking of getting Silver Pines? Check out our humble review of the game first!
Quick Answer: The 3 Switch 2 Accessories to Buy First
A microSD Express card (256GB): extra storage, so games never have to be deleted.
A hard case: keeps the console safe at home and on trips.
A screen protector: an affordable shield against scratches.
Tier 1: Essential Day-One Switch 2 Accessories
1. microSD Express card (256GB)
Works with: Switch 2 only.
Verdict: Not essential on opening morning, but the upgrade most families end up buying.
Why parents like it: A microSD Express card is a fingernail-sized memory card, and "Express" means it's the fast type the Switch 2 needs. The console has 256GB built in, and big games eat that quickly: Kirby and the Forgotten Land alone needs about 25GB. A 256GB card doubles your space.
Watch out for: Only Express cards work. The regular microSD card from an old Switch will not run Switch 2 games.
Price: about £45 to £60 for 256GB
2. Protective case: STEALTH Premium Travel Case
Works with: Switch 2 only
Verdict: A sturdy hard case that fits the bigger Switch 2.
Why parents like it: It has a hard shell outside, a molded lining inside, and a pouch for up to 12 game cartridges (the small cards physical games come on). A GamesRadar reviewer found the console slotted in snugly, with room for spare Joy-Cons (the detachable controllers) and a cable. Watch out for: It's bulky. This is a bag case, not a couch case.
Price: about £20 to £25.
3. Screen protector: STEALTH SW-SP3
Works with: Switch 2, Switch OLED and Switch Lite
Verdict: Cheap insurance against scratched screens.
Why parents like it: It's tempered glass, the same hard glass used on phone protectors. It guards against everyday scratches while keeping the picture clear and the touchscreen responsive, which matters in a house where the console ends up face-down on the floor.
Watch out for: Multi-console packs usually hold one protector per model, so you may get just one for the Switch 2. Take your time fitting it.
Price: about £10 to £13
4. Backup charger or USB-C cable
Works with: Switch 2. An old Switch charger will also charge it, but can't power the Switch 2 dock. Verdict: Boring, until the only cable is in another room.
Why parents like it: A spare lives in the bag, the car or Grandma's house, so a long trip never ends with a dead console. Charging happens over USB-C, the same oval plug on most modern phones.
Watch out for: Skip no-name cables. Pick a reputable brand.
Price: about £8 to £15
Tier 2: Kid-Proofing and Durability
5. Grippy drop-proof cover: STEALTH Clip Console Case
Works with: Switch 2 only
Verdict: A grippy shell that helps small hands hold a big console and softens drops.
Why parents like it: It's a flexible TPU/PP shell (tough, rubbery plastics) with a textured lining and handles for extra grip. The maker says it works with the built-in stand and the dock, so it can stay on all the time.
Watch out for: It protects the body, not the screen.
Price: about £20
6. Kid-friendly headphones: STEALTH C6 Strike
Works with: Switch 2, original Switch and other consoles (plug-in headphone jack)
Verdict: A simple plug-in headset, with no pairing needed.
Why parents like it: There's no app or setup. Plug it in and it works, and late-night playing stops waking the house.
Watch out for: Check the box for a built-in volume limiter. Without one, keep the volume at or below about 60% and take listening breaks.
Price: about £20
7. Nintendo Switch Parental Controls (free)
Works with: Switch 1 and Switch 2
Verdict: The most important setup of all, and it costs nothing.
Why parents like it: This free phone app lets you set daily play-time limits and block games above an age rating. Ratings are the labels on the box: ESRB in the US and Canada, PEGI in Europe. They tell you what age a game suits.
Watch out for: Keep your payment card off the console, or you may get surprise eShop (Nintendo's game store) purchases.
Price: free
Link: Check out our Parent Hub for useful tips on how to protect your kids and ensure a fun and safe gaming experience
Tier 3: Helpful Extras and Second Controllers
8. Second controller: Joy-Con 2 pair or Switch 2 Pro Controller
Works with: Switch 2 (the new controllers do not work on the original Switch)
Verdict: Only needed for three or more players, or for a kid who finds Joy-Con tiny.
Why parents like it: The console already comes with two Joy-Con 2, enough for two siblings to play together. A Pro Controller is the full-size gamepad shape, which is more comfortable for long sessions. An original Switch Pro Controller also works wirelessly.
Watch out for: Old Joy-Con straps and grips don't fit the new Joy-Con 2.
Price: about £70 to £85 depending on your gaming preference
9. Charging dock: STEALTH Quad Charging Dock
Works with: Switch 2 Joy-Con 2 only
Verdict: A tidy home for several controllers.
Why parents like it: It magnetically holds up to four Joy-Con 2, with lights showing charge status. Controllers get a "parking spot" and are always ready.
Watch out for: It needs its own USB power. One buyer reports the included USB-C cable won't plug into the Switch 2 dock's USB-A side ports.
Price: about £16 to £20
10. Carry bag
Works with: Switch 2
Verdict: You may already own it. The Premium Travel Case in item 2 does this job.
Why parents like it: One hard case covers the school bag, the car and Grandma's visit. Buying a second bag is only worth it if you want something lighter.
Watch out for: Buy a bag made for the Switch 2. Its body is bigger than the original Switch. Price: see item 2
Price: About £16 to £20
What Switch 2 Accessories NOT to Buy
Overpriced bundles with filler. Cheap bulk accessory kits are padded with items you won't use, plus tiny loose parts that disappear under sofas.
Anything made only for the original Switch. Old docks, regular microSD cards, Joy-Con grips and straps don't work with the Switch 2.
Gimmick add-ons. Skip external cooling fans, third-party mouse trays and thumbstick grips (the little rubber caps).
Decorative theme docks. Novelty docks, such as Piranha Plant ones, risk damaging the console. Use the official dock for TV play.
Ultimate Switch 2 Accessories Holiday Checklist
microSD Express card, 256GB
Hard case
Screen protector, fitted before gifting
Spare USB-C cable
Grippy cover
Headphones with volume limiter
Parental Controls app set up, no saved card
Second controller if three or more will play
Charging dock for spare controllers
Console charged the night before
In Conclusion
Do I need a microSD card right away? Probably not on opening morning. The 256GB built-in storage handles the first few games. Buy a card before the downloads pile up, especially if games are digital.
Will Switch 1 accessories work? Some. Original Joy-Con and the Pro Controller pair wirelessly. The old dock, regular microSD cards, Joy-Con grips and straps, and most cases and screen protectors don't fit.
How much should I budget? Tier 1 is about £85 to £115 with the card, or £40 to £55 without it. Tiers 1 and 2 together come to about £115 to £160.
Related reading: Best Gifts for Kid Gamers | Switch 2 Parental Controls Setup | Switch vs Switch 2 for Kids