CRKD Neo S controller review — Retro meets modern

My love for the Nintendo Switch was reignited this year, largely due to CRKD. The Nitro Deck+ is a fantastic piece of gear (our review here), and their Atom controller is a cool tiny controller that works surprisingly well (another review here). Another part of their line is the Neo S, and it took longer for me to realize I needed one than it should have. With one in hand, I can say CRKD has another great product available, although with a few drawbacks.

Opening the box you’ll find the Neo S inside a cloth carrying bag, along with a USB-C charging cable. It’s around three feet long, so it’s good for charging but not for playing wired. I’ll always like having a carrying bag, as it adds a bit of protection when you drop the Neo S in your backpack or simply bring it with you to a friend’s house.

Picking up the Neo S, it’s larger than expected. Not in a bad way, mind you, but in that it’s both bigger and heftier than a NES rectangle. For something sporting that old school design, it’s got plenty of new school built into it. It’s roughly the same size as my cellphone – just a tad shorter than my Pixel 8 Pro.

After holding it while gaming, I’m not convinced of its comfort level. The Neo S’s rectangular design means there aren’t any handles adding to the natural grip of your hands. You can feel those missing when holding the Neo S, and while I’ve adjusted to its distinct shape over time, it’s still a noticeable difference. It’s fine overall, just not at the level I’m accustomed to from modern controllers.

While the build may take cues from a retro age, the actual controls are certainly made for today. Offset, Hall Effect thumbsticks team up with a D-pad and modern face buttons to make for this controller’s layout. On the top of the Neo S you’ll find bumpers and Hall Effect triggers, along with two programmable back buttons on the back. I feel like the grip might be improved if the right thumbstick and face buttons traded places, but that’s not to the detriment of the Neo S.

The specific features that make the Neo S so well made are the thumbsticks, the triggers, and the back buttons. First, the thumbsticks. I’ve already mentioned them being Hall Effect, which reduces the chance of stick drift to almost nothing. Beyond that, they feel a bit loose, which you have to adjust to. You also can utilize CRKD’s armory of different stick tops, with these screwing off easily for replacement.

Second, the triggers. These Hall Effect triggers are snappy, with a nice pull that’s in the top tier of third-party controllers. Third, the back buttons. While there are only two, they sit perfectly in your grip, allowing for easy access when you’re playing a game. They’re programmable as well, so whatever input you might feel better suited for that benefit, it’s available.

Something a bit surprising: the controller is loud. When pressing any buttons, I can hear it audibly, with the shell of the Neo S creating an echo. It doesn’t bother me, but if you’re playing a game around others, it may cause annoyance.

When using the Neo S to play games, I think it’s relatively clear what it will work best for. I’ve done my fair share of Super Mario Bros. Wonder on the Nintendo Switch and Disney Infinity 1.0 on PC, and it works perfectly for those. All of the inputs are responsive, and between all the fantastic features mentioned above, it’s a great way to play.

Even so, I do not recommend the Neo S for competitive play. It did not take long in my testing with Call of Duty to see it’s just not built for intense gaming. The lack of handles was really felt here, as the more extreme nature causes me to grip any controller more forcefully. The thumbsticks are also not as fine-tuned, so it would take some time for me to adjust for split second aiming. It’s not bad in a pinch, especially with the back buttons giving me extra benefits for these kinds of games, but the Neo S won’t be my main controller for Black Ops 6 any time soon.

I don’t mind the lack of PlayStation and Xbox capability for the Neo S, but I hope CRKD finds a way to break into those spaces with this controller soon. Picking up any controller is generally a matter of compatibility – does it work with my device – and working only with the Switch, PC, and mobile holds it back. It’s fantastic on the devices it does work with, so more versatility will make it an even better option.

Options are always good, and CRKD has a ton of those when it comes to the Neo S’s colors. While the one I’m reviewing is Orange Zest (with a name that sounds like I should lick it), there are a lot of cool designs available from CRKD, who have partnered with POPeART for some really killer customs. Add in the collectible aspect of scanning the RFID chip in your Neo S (which reveals the rarity of your controller in their app), and this is truly a one of a kind experience with controller collecting.

Also impressive: CRKD’s CTRL app. Being able to make adjustments to any controller is nice, and CRKD has a bevy of tools available. After connecting my Neo S to the app, I could do everything from adjusting thumbstick dead zones, to making my trigger pulls more responsive, to mapping buttons. It’s well worth your time to explore everything you can do, and it adds tremendous value to this controller.

Before we go, let’s talk battery life. Yet again, I don’t have much to say, because the Neo S will last for a good while. I never had to recharge it during my time using it, partly because I ran it wired on PC. As goes the rule, if I don’t notice it, the battery life is pretty darn good.

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