One controller in the box means one player. Before you invite anyone to the couch, work out how many extra controllers you need and which ones actually work on your console.
Use the planner to see who is covered by the box on an Xbox, PS5 or Switch 2, what is left to buy, and the rough cost. Then learn the one compatibility rule that stops most wrong purchases.
You unbox a new console and it comes with one controller. Then a friend, a sibling or your kid says "can I play too?" and you find out the box was built for one player. A second controller is the cheapest way to turn a console from a solo machine into something you share. This guide shows how many you actually need, and what to check so you don't buy one that won't work.
Pick your console, then tap how many people will play on one screen. The planner shows who is covered by what's in the box and what's left to buy.
Consoles are built around the living room. Many of the games people buy a console for are made for sharing: sports games, racing games, fighting games, party games and a lot of co-op adventures. If the game says "local multiplayer", every person needs something to hold. Online play is different: each person plays on their own console, so each person brings their own controller.
The box gives you very little to share. The Xbox and PS5 each come with one controller. The Switch 2 comes with a pair of Joy-Con 2, which can be one controller held in two hands or two small controllers held sideways by two people.
Controllers are not interchangeable across consoles, and this is where most wrong purchases happen.
Xbox. The Xbox Wireless Controller works on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, on Windows 10 and 11, and on Android and iOS over Bluetooth. It runs on AA batteries, and Microsoft quotes up to 40 hours from a set, with the note that headsets and other accessories shorten it.
PS5. The DualSense controller is the PS5's own, and it also connects to PC, Mac, iPhone and Android. The older PS4 DualShock 4 does not work for PS5 games, so an old controller from a PS4 will not help in a PS5 co-op game.
Switch 2. The Switch 2 Pro Controller is made only for the Switch 2. Nintendo says up to eight wireless controllers can connect in most circumstances, and the left and right Joy-Con 2 each count as one. The limit can drop depending on the controller type and features in use, and with a Bluetooth audio device connected only two wireless controllers can stay connected.
For a second controller the plain official one is almost always the right start. It is built for your console, it is easy to find, and it needs no setup. If the game is for sharing in short bursts, you can get away with the cheapest option on each platform. If one person will play for hours, spend more on comfort: a controller with extra buttons you can map, a headphone jack on the controller, or rechargeable batteries.
The Switch 2 is the odd one out. Because the Joy-Con 2 split in two, a second player can join right away in many games. For long sessions, or for games that need a proper stick and d-pad, a Pro Controller is more comfortable than a Joy-Con 2 held sideways.
At every budget, check these first:
Entry level (around €50–65). It must be made for your console, and for a PS5 it must be licensed for PS5 games. Wireless is worth having so nobody trips over a cable. Check the battery type: AA batteries are fine if you keep spares, but rechargeable saves hassle.
Mid range (around €65–80). Look for good battery life, a comfortable shape for your hands, and a colour you can tell apart from the first controller so players don't grab the wrong one.
Higher end (around €75–90 and up). Extra mappable buttons, a headphone jack, and a build for long sessions. Only pay for these if one person will use the controller daily.
The simplest second controller for an Xbox, and it also works with Windows PCs and phones, so it keeps being useful if you play elsewhere.
photos, specs, all 5 shops →The official PS5 controller, so it works in every PS5 couch co-op game, unlike an old PS4 controller.
photos, specs, all 3 shops →A comfortable full-size option for longer sessions, instead of holding a Joy-Con 2 sideways.
photos, specs, all 6 shops →
