GameSir has been on a serious winning streak over the past year, largely thanks to their effective use of Hall effect sensors in their triggers and joysticks, which is still somewhat of a rarity among wireless controllers. With their G7 being best wired controllers available right now, GameSir has been moving into the wireless market recently, bringing the same budget pricing and exceptional durability users have come to expect.

Now, the Nova wireless pro controller has arrived to claim the title of the best wireless RGB controller, and it does so with immense style, even at first glance. Available in white and translucent teal (the latter of which is the model Game ZXC received), this attractive controller sells itself. Is it all just aesthetics, or has GameSir once again hit the nail on the head with their wireless Nova controller?

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What’s in the Box?

• Nova wireless controller
• Controller case
• USB-C cable

Button Layout & Ergonomics

There are absolutely no surprises when it comes to the button layout of the Nova. Every button, including the menu buttons, is intuitively placed in familiar spots, with even the extra buttons being easily accessible. GameSir’s designs almost always make it nearly impossible to accidentally hit a button, and the Nova is a continuation of that trend.

The controller's shape is just as familiar, though it is ever so slightly wider than other pro controllers. This wider design is used by other brands besides GameSir and improves overall comfort without drastically changing the shape by adding contoured sides. Along with the wide grip, some light texture is offered at the base of each handle and along the two remappable paddles on the back. Despite not being the most grippy texture ever, the stippled finish is shaped to perfectly fit against your hand, giving you much more control over the grip than you might think, while also mitigating heat during longer game sessions. Unlike some other GameSir controllers, there is no texture on the triggers or bumper, though the joysticks get deeply carved tops.

That’s likely not a deal-breaker for anyone, especially given the fact that the controller has a fairly lightweight design. The 1200mAh battery plays a huge role in this, though GameSir obviously cut corners elsewhere to achieve this light of a build. Most noticeable is how flimsy the controller feels, with the internals vibrating if you shake it with a bit of force or hit it against your hand, though that may just be the rumble packs and nearby springs.

All of this ergonomic design offers a very comfortable grip, but the number one thing that stood out during testing was the ability to swap the ABXY buttons to an Xbox-style layout. This is seriously a game changer, particularly for any PC or Xbox fans who also love to play Switch games.

Normally, you have to change the buttons for each title or remap the controller either using on-board controls or an app. With the Nova, you just have to hold down two buttons for two seconds. It's worth noting that you have to do this for each of the different connection modes. Once you swap the buttons, they stay swapped without having to create a profile or mess with an app.

With a wide grip, accessible buttons, and a familiar, customizable layout, the Nova is an extremely comfortable controller and a must-have for players who enjoy multiple gaming platforms. It’s not the most durable controller in the world, but for its price, the Nova offers a superior ergonomic design when matched up against the competition.

Design & Lighting

The vibrant, semi-transparent shell of the Nova wireless controller may immediately indicate a nod to retro accessories, but the ABXY buttons double down on it. These buttons are much more bulbous than modern controllers and are a bit wider, too. Even without the RGB turned on, the teal controller is really pretty and perfect for retro fans. That being said, the RGB lighting on the Nova is honestly stunning.

GameSir really knocked it out of the park with the Nova teal edition. Choosing teal instead of white is extremely important if you want a beautiful controller because the LEDs glow throughout the semi-transparent shell with amazing effects. The two rainbow effects, which offer a slow cycle and flashing displays, look perfect and are extremely bright, just as with all the other colors. A third display option, radar, is extra fun and lights up when the joysticks are moved. However, what sets the Nova’s RGB apart from other controllers’ lights is the fact that the controller itself can change color when certain static lighting is chosen.

The teal shell reacts better than anyone could imagine with this lighting. The blue light will make the controller look like the heart of the ocean, while green lighting gives the controller an absolutely verdant visage. Even purple or pink hues can drastically change the overall color of the controller. Just by changing the lighting, the whole controller can be basically any cool color, while the face can be made to glow brilliantly with the admittedly less effective red and yellow lights.

Changing the lights is again an easy feat, even though the app for the Nova doesn’t offer a way to remap the buttons or change the lighting. The M button works in conjunction with the joysticks to allow you to cycle quickly through colors and other settings, including the speed, saturation, and brightness. Likewise, remapping is as simple as it gets, with just a press of the back paddles and the M button being required to select an input to hotkey. Using the M button, you can even activate a dead zone on each joystick for more precision gaming. GameSir definitely wanted to make this budget controller as approachable as possible, and they succeeded even with the customizability aspects.

The GameSir Nova is one of the most beautiful wireless controllers ever released, with the contemporary tech such as customizable RGB lighting and buttons only making it even more of a showstopper.

Performance

Every accessory has its caveats, especially if they’re budget-friendly. In the case of the Nova wireless controller, GameSir has sacrificed its ability to perform competitively, though this only means the controller just isn’t ideal for fast-paced action during online matches.

As mentioned previously, the light weight of the controller makes it feel a bit flimsy, which can obviously affect highly competitive gaming. At the same time, the retro-style design of the controller includes membrane-based ABXY buttons. Although this greatly enhances the retro feeling, it also leads to a very weird “mushy” input that most controller users won’t be familiar with. The D-pad is also a bit mushy, but far less so, presumably because the market has spoken, and most gamers much prefer tactical D-pads. Regardless of the feel, the buttons are all responsive, whether you’re playing on Switch, mobile, or PC.

Unfortunately, if you want to play on PC with this controller, you either need to already own a GameSir wireless controller that came with a wireless dongle, or you must choose the white or black model (called the Nova Lite) to distinguish them from the dongle-free version. That being said, the Bluetooth connectivity is great, and perfectly suitable for PC play as well when you consider that the controller isn’t built for extremely low latency anyway.

Although some reviews claim the controller doesn’t actually work with mobile, there were no issues with the Nova when it was tested on a handful of Android games, such as Vampire Survivors and Rocket League Sideswipe. In fact, the connection range was very impressive, with the controller staying connected even a few rooms away.

The Nova’s connection to the Switch is as natural as can be, with it being able to connect to the Switch right out of the box, without having to navigate any menus at all. There were few instances of lag when playing The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and other Switch games, with the back buttons being the only perpetrators. Even in that case, it’s very possible user error was the cause, as the Nova didn’t lag more than a few times.

It’s not something to bring along to a tournament, but for everyday gaming, the Nova is capable, responsive, and offers reliable connectivity across devices.

Overall Impression

There’s nothing quite like the GameSir Nova wireless controller. It is one of the most beautiful controllers ever made, yet it’s shockingly affordable and performs well enough to tackle any game that’s not highly competitive.

It would have been nice to see a 3.5mm port on it, but most wireless controller fans also have a wireless headset, so this is more than acceptable as a cost-saving cutback. Additionally, being able to purchase the wireless dongle separately would make the controller even better, though that is something that GameSir can, and likely will, remedy soon.

The controller case offers a somewhat extreme level of protection, probably because the rest of the controller is far from heavy-duty as far as exterior durability. Internally, it is an entirely different story. Hall effect joysticks and triggers are considered so prestigious precisely because of their immunity to stick drift and expected lifespan of five million cycles.

At the end of the day, there is basically no reason for Switch players not to buy this controller if they have a spare $35, regardless of whether they already have a controller. At this low price, the Nova even makes for a fantastic gift for any Switch gamer. It’s hard to imagine what type of non-competitive player might regret buying this controller, as GameSir has seemingly done everything right with their Nova RGB controller.

Nova Wireless Controller

$32 $35 Save $3

The GameSir Nova wireless Switch controller is compatible with Switch consoles, Windows 10/11, Android, iOS, and Steam Deck. The RGB LED light on the switch controller joystick offers six different colors, and five modes. With Hall effect joysticks and triggers, the controller is designed to last through millions of cycles. Plus, the 6-axis gyro sensor allows for motion controls to be used, while the two macro back buttons allow you to execute complex combo motions with ease. The Nova wireless Switch pro controller has a built-in 1200mAh battery and includes a USB Type-C charging cable can be used for fast charging even while still gaming.

Number of Colors

3

Wireless?

Yes

Compatible Systems

Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, Mobile

Brand

GameSir

Color Options

Teal, White, Black

Battery

1200mAh

Connectivity

USB, Bluetooth

Headset Support

No

Programmable Buttons

Yes

Extra Buttons

2

Weight

14.1 ounces

Expand

$32 at Amazon$40 at Walmart

Similar Products

The GameSir Nova may be the prettiest controller on the market while offering decent performance, but that doesn’t mean it’s perfect for everyone. These competitors can be great alternatives, depending on what you’re looking for.

FAQ

Q: What's the difference between the GameSir Nova and the Nova Lite?

The Nova does not come with a wireless USB dongle for use with PCs, while the Nova Lite does come with this.

Q: How do you connect a GameSir controller to the Switch?

By pressing the home button and the X button at the same time will automatically prompt the controller to connect.