Say hello to your new favourite Switch controller

The GameSir Super Nova has some big shoes to fill. Not only is it competing with a bunch of other makers when it comes to choosing the best controller for your Nintendo Switch gaming (or indeed for any number of the best games consoles), but after recent successes like the G7 and the T4 Kaleid, this latest flagship controller from the Hong Kong-based company has to live up to the lofty expectations of its own brand now.

And hoo boy, does it deliver.

I've had the GameSir Super Nova for the last month and a bit, playing a wide range of different games, belonging to several genres, all with their own demands from a gaming controller, and it has smashed every task I've thrown at it.

Design and build

GameSir knows its audience, and it knows it well. The GameSir Super Nova is testament to that, just like the previous controllers we've tested from this gaming peripheral. Right out of the box, you can feel the pure heft of the thing, as the controller weighs a reassuring 263 grams. It's a fair bit heavier than the G7, and the reason is that unlike the former, the Super Nova is a wireless unit, so packs a 1,000mAh battery on board.

The colourway I got was a 'Nightfall Blue', with a rather fetching and eye-catching 'Whipped Pink' alternative available. For a little extra (£/$8-10ish), however, you can get any number of different faceplates to swap that one out to suit your specific aesthetic needs.

The shape is slightly different to the Xbox-focused G7 too, as this has a larger, flatter faceplate that's more in line with Switch controllers, and the button layout is different too, to accommodate all the platforms the Super Nova is aimed at (PC, Switch, iOS and Android).

In line with its multi-purpose design, the faceplate (as already mentioned) is swappable, and you can also swap and move the ABXY buttons around for your desired layout. The whole thing is accented by an RGB light strip that wraps around the main faceplate, and that can be customised using the associated GameSir Connect Software or mobile app.

The grips and the programmable back buttons are finely textured, while the trigger buttons are smooth. I did prefer the textured triggers of the G7, but these are still superior due to one special feature...

Features and performance

...and that special feature is a teeny little switch next to the RT/LT triggers. With it, you can swap between a short or long trigger travel, short for instant response and long for greater level of control. I used the short travel for games where I needed fast reflexes from the triggers (a few FPS and RPG ones got a go here), and for sports games, especially racing games, I switched to longer travel for better modulated throttle and brake response when rallying and racing, and I can indeed confirm that this is not just a gimmick, but actually works.

Combine that with the little M button on the front, and you've got yourself an additional hair-trigger mode too. Very nifty.

As it's a Switch-compatible controller, it wouldn't truly serve its intended purpose if it didn't have a good gyro for motion control. And I'm thrilled to announce that it does, and that the six-axis gyro here works well for steering and swinging and flinging on-screen objects.

The Super Nova is a wireless controller, but there's a cable included, in case the teeny-tiny little lag that sometimes occurs with wireless controllers bothers you.

And of course you'll find excellent Hall Effect sticks on here, as you would expect from any self-respecting GameSir product. No drift, and after several thousand presses of the Hall Effect triggers,

The only complaint I have is that I tended to accidentally press the programmable back buttons, which could confuse things in games I had set them for active controls. This, however, could just as well be my own damn fault for being clumsy, but it does highlight that you do need to acquaint yourself very well with their position and sensitivity if you are going to rely on them on the regular.

Price

The GameSir Super Nova is priced at $/£49.99, which for what you get here is an absolute bargain. Cheaper than most official controllers from console makers, it beats pretty much all of them on quality, so it should be an automatic top consideration if you're looking for a combination of value and quality.

Buy it if...

• You are a discerning gamer
• You want flawless Hall Effect controls
• You need a single controller for multiple platforms

Don't buy it if...

• You are extremely clumsy AND need the back buttons to serve vital tasks