Turtle Beach Rematch Review: Cute Switch 2 Controller With TMR Sticks

The Rematch is light and slim, with offset thumbsticks like the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller. Turtle Beach positions it for Mario Kart fanatics, Animal Crossing residents and players who want a bit of whimsy in their hands. It comes in several Nintendo-inspired, RGB-lit designs and an all-black model. The controller includes built-in motion control, TMR thumbsticks that will never drift, a dedicated GameChat button, a rechargeable battery rated for 40 hours or 12 hours with RGB effects turned on, and a playable range of 30 feet. Buttons on the back of the grips can be mapped to actions or used as built-in fidget toys. Most models include RGB effects with four settings.

Engadget tested the Rosalina edition, often with a rainbow RGB effect flowing under the reviewer's fingertips. The review said the controller was responsive across Hello Kitty Island Adventure, Mario Kart World and Resident Evil Requiem. Its face buttons are stiff hard plastic and shaped like small round pills, while the triggers and bumpers are clicky. The letters A, B, Y and X are carved into the face buttons and can leave an impression on a thumb tip during long holds, such as in Mario Kart. The analog sticks are smooth and give a crisp click when they hit the edges of their containment circles. Because they use TMR technology, the review said they are ultra precise and will not drift, a feature the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller does not have. The player indicator sits on the bottom of the controller, where it can be seen with a quick glance down.

The review also identified several compromises. The Switch 2 Rematch does not have haptic feedback and cannot wake the Switch 2 console on its own. It weighs 0.79 pounds, and Engadget said it has a hollow sound that could read as cheap to some people, though the reviewer was happy it is not heavy. In size, it is comparable to the official Switch 2 Pro Controller, with a smooth face and textured plastic grips. The reviewer, who described having fairly small hands, found the Rematch a perfect fit and said it never caused cramps after multiple uninterrupted hours of play. A compact form factor is common among Switch 2 gamepads modeled after Nintendo's Pro Controller line, so it is not unique to the Rematch, but the review counted it as a bonus.

The controller's standout feature, according to Engadget, is its cute factor. Available designs include the KK Slider edition, which is lilac and baby blue and shows Animal Crossing's KK sitting under a night sky with his acoustic guitar, the stars and moon illuminated. The Timmy and Tommy edition features the twin raccoons peeking out from a seafoam green and tan background. The Rosalina edition uses her classic turquoise-and-yellow colorway and shows an illuminated wave of rainbow stars leading to the ice palace, along with the cosmic guardian herself. The Mario Kart World model has a black-and-yellow chassis with Mario in his classic kart on one grip and Peach riding a dirtbike on the other, plus bold RGB-lit tire tracks running down the center. The Koopa Troop edition shows Mario being chased by his enemies and has red, yellow and dark blue buttons. There is also a sleek solid-black model with red rings around the sticks for minimalists, goths and spies.

Engadget said the Rematch's cute factor is what makes it worth buying over any other Switch 2 controller. The officially licensed designs include characters such as Mario, Princess Peach, Rosalina and KK Slider, and the RGB lighting effects are part of the appeal. The review presented the gamepad as a comfortable, reactive and low-latency option whose main trade-offs are missing haptic feedback, no remote wake function and a hollow-feeling build.