I’ve got a 3D printer, a Switch OLED, and a lot of filament. My son has the Switch 2, as well. I’m always on the lookout for great free 3D prints, typically on Makerworld (I’m a Bambulab P1S and A1 mini user), that can make my life easier and more fun. I’m also a big fan of printing functional things that keep me from having to buy them in stores.
I found a veritable treasure trove of cool, functional 3D prints on Makerworld, each designed to improve my own Switch setup (and that of my son’s). Here are six of the best, each printed out on my own printer and tested for usability and the fun factor.
My 3D printer is actually a useful DIY tool — 4 things I’ve fixed with it
Sure, I’ll still print an articulated fidget lizard, but it’s for more than just silly projects.
Zelda Bokoblin chest with Switch game holder
Cute and useful
One of the first models I found was this adorable Switch game holder made to look like a Bokoblin chest from 2017’s The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. You can print in two colors or one, so I opted for the dual-color model. I didn’t have any purple filament (to simulate the glowing chest eyes in the game), but I did use bone filament for the outside, and white for the eyes, which I think looks pretty classy. I printed the inner cartridge holder in white to match. It can hold up to 15 game cartridges, too, which is just fine; most of our games are digital these days. It’s still pretty nice to have a decorative case for the ones that aren’t.
Conjoy 2: Switch 2 Joy-Con Controller Grip
Makes it a little easier to hold
There are plenty of games that ask you to hold the JoyCon controllers horizontally, and they’re all fun except for one thing. The controllers themselves are tiny. This controller grip lets even people with larger hands hold the darn thing, and it includes two larger buttons on top to press those itty-bitty left and right shoulder buttons, too. I printed this one in a red color to match the general Switch color scheme, and once it was ready, I was able to just pop in the Switch 2 JoyCon controller and play. I’m going to print a second one (probably in blue) so each controller from the console has one.
Ergonomic grip for Nintendo Switch 2
The console grips need a little love, too
I printed this cool grip for my kid’s Switch 2, because let’s be honest: even the newer console isn’t super ergonomic to hold while playing games on the device itself. The thinness of the chassis, great for packing for travel, makes it a little awkward to manage in my larger mitts. He ends up with cramping hands after a few rounds of Fortnite, so I had him try it out with this red 3D printed grip. Using this, the whole console felt much better in his hands, and he didn’t get that weird hand cramping feeling from using it. If you’re not loving holding your Switch while playing in handheld mode, this grip (plus the many out there for Switch 2) might be the fix.
Joy-Con Steering Wheel
Couldn’t pass this one up
When my kids were young, we had a bunch of foam steering wheels for Mario Kart, which just made the whole gaming experience that much more fun. Since I don’t have any of these accessories anymore, I squealed in delight when I saw this 3D print model on Makerworld. It’s a quick print at about 3 and a half hours, and my white version (to match my OLED console) came out fantastic. It’s even got a little hole in the back to easily pop the Joy-Con back out when you’re done. Now it’s time to print, like, three more so the whole household can play.
Switch 2 flat dock
Smaller space, no problem
One of the trickier parts of docking the Switch 2 in our TV cabinet is the lack of overhead space. If we try to put the dock under the TV in the spot where the PS5 sits, then we have to take it in and out of the space manually to be able to dock the Switch 2, as it’s a vertical situation. This flat dock, on the other hand, leans the whole thing down at an angle, allowing an easy in and out when docking your Switch 2. You can print one of two angles, too: one at 25˚ and one at 15˚ to match your own storage space. I printed the flat dock at 25˚and it fits great in the place we keep the Switch 2. I printed mine in green just for fun, even though white would have matched the PS5 and black would have matched the Switch 2. I’m wacky like that, I guess.
Retro TV Switch case
Nostalgic and clever
Printed on 3 plates (plus a fourth for the stand to lean it back a bit), this TV case is a wonder of design. It’s got an inner area to drop your original Switch or Switch OLED into, a front plate that looks like it came out of your granddad’s basement, and a back casing that gives the whole thing a little handle.
There’s a ton of space inside, too, for various cartridges and such, and if you have a cornering USB-C plug, you can keep it powered through the little hole in the back (which looks like an old TV that’s plugged in. The original model photos have everything in 70s and 80s brown and bronze, but I didn’t have those colors in my stash. I chose blue/green silk for the front (which can attach via magnets, if you have them), white for the innards, and a solid blue backing for fun.
I also printed the lean back stand in the same color silk PLA as the front to match a little. The print is pretty good, though the button on the top left that’s supposed to hit the power on button is a little loose — I need to put a shim under the Switch to have it ride a little higher in the case. I love this thing, and playing games or watching Netflix on my computer desk via the Switch is pretty fabulous, as well.
Find the fun
Now, I’m not saying that these prints (and many more like it) are a necessity, but having all six of these are definitely fun. The grips make playing with the console and the tiny Joy-Con controllers a lot easier for me, while the steering wheel, Bokoblin chest, and retro TV prints are sheer joy to have and use. I’m super glad I started printing these things for my own Switch and son’s Switch 2; now all I have to do is find more!
- Brand
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Nintendo
- Weight
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1.18 lbs
- Storage
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256GB
- Display
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1920×1080
- Output resolution
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3840×2160
- Ports
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2x USB-C, 3.5mm
The Nintendo Switch 2 upgrades the original Switch without changing what still worked fine. Whether you prefer to play on the go or while connected to the TV, the Switch 2 is a great option. A huge back catalog of Switch 1 games, plus new first- and third-party games coming all the time, mean you’ll always have something to play.
