The Nintendo 64 controller has three grips so players can hold different pairs of them to reach the controls a game uses. You do not hold all three at once: the manual describes three possible positions, while the analog stick, D-pad and buttons give games different control layouts on one pad. That flexibility made sense as console games moved toward analog input and 3D movement, though it also meant players had to learn which grip position a game expected.
Why does the N64 controller have three grips?
The short answer is that the shape accommodates more than one way to use the controller’s separate control clusters. Nintendo’s official N64 history describes the Control Stick as Nintendo’s first analog Control Stick and calls the controller’s shape a “unique three-pronged design.” The controller also retained a D-pad and familiar face buttons, alongside the stick and a Z button below the center.
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This was a response to a changing kind of game. D-pad-centered movement suited earlier games, while 3D games called for analog movement. The Digital Game Museum’s overview of the N64 controller says the controller was designed in part for Super Mario 64 and that the game and controller were developed in tandem. The grips let players shift their hands to suit the controls a game emphasized.
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There is an important limit to what the historical evidence establishes: Nintendo’s product history confirms the design features, but no located statement from the original controller designers explains why they chose exactly three grips. The explanation that the layout offered alternate access to different controls is supported by the manual’s three positions and a game developer’s account of how those positions were used; it should not be mistaken for a direct quotation of the designers’ intent.
#1 Best Overall
- It features ten buttons, one analog "Control Stick" and a 8-way directional pad, all laid out in an "M" shape.
- Compatible with 64. Perfect controller for Mario Kart, Perfect Dark, and many other classic 64 games.
- Rumble Pak & Memory Card Feature. Provides force feedback while playing video games. Enhances the gaming experience. Note: This controller doesn’t contain Memory Card and Rumble Pak in package, need to purchase separately.
- Color: Black, Grey, Blue, Red, Yellow, Transparent Orange, Transparent Blue, Transparent Green, Transparent Red; Cord Length: Approx. 6 ft.
- Third-party Product, not original 64 controller, but no difference in quality from the original controllers!
How are you supposed to hold an N64 controller?
The manual names three positions: Left Position, Right Position and Home Position. It says the right way to hold the controller can vary with the game and play style. The scanned manual hosted by New York City College of Technology includes illustrations for these positions; consult those diagrams for exact hand placement, since the accompanying text does not spell out every grip in detail.
In practical terms, hold two grips and choose a position that puts the controls you need within reach. In a Nintendo interview, Treasure president Masato Maegawa explained the distinction between the left and right positions: in the right position, the left thumb operates the analog stick while the right hand holds the right grip; in the left position, the right thumb operates the stick while the left hand holds the left grip. The interview is a developer’s recollection, not an account from the controller’s design team.
Rank #2
- Compatible with all N64 models
- 10 ft. Cable
- Ergonomic, Premium build
- Analog Joysticks
What changes between the positions?
The best position depends on the controls a game asks you to use. The manual cautions that button functions can vary by game, so there is no single layout that applies to every N64 title.
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|---|---|---|
| Right | The left thumb uses the analog stick while the right hand holds the right grip. | Maegawa said most games called for this position. |
| Left | The right thumb uses the analog stick while the left hand holds the left grip. | Treasure explored it for a different control design in Sin and Punishment. |
| Home | The manual names this as a third position, but the cited interview does not describe its hand placement. | The manual says the appropriate position varies by game and play style. |
Maegawa recalled that Nintendo had suggested left and right holding positions, but that most games used the right position. His team explored the less-used left position for Sin and Punishment. He also said the game’s special actions felt unexpectedly difficult to players encountering them for the first time. That example shows the trade-off: a flexible controller layout gave developers another option, but an unusual arrangement could take practice.
Rank #3
- 🎮[Compatible ]Compatible with the original N64 system console, wired controller for enjoying old school Online N64 video games, perfectly for Mario Kart 64, Zelda n64, Mario party, Perfect Dark, Super Mario 64, ocarina of time 64,Super Smash Bros and many other N64 games.(Not for Windows PC Games)
- 🎮[Ergonomic Design]Tight and accurate analog control, the controller features 10 function buttons (including Left and Right shoulder functions and Z-trigger). Based on ergonomic and designed to fit your hands nicely, easier to grip than other controllers. It is a great replacement for old original N64 controller you have.
- 🎮[Rumble Pak & Memory Card ]: Compatible with most of game memory cards. you can use a memory card and transfer the game memory card save data. Upgraded 3D analog control stick commands your action with precision, perfectly compatible with N64 System console.
- 🎮[N64 Wired connection]The cord is approx. 1.7 meters (6ft), including a push-on N64 connector and easy to use. Use a N64 Controller Extension Cord Cables, you can play across the room. The joystick is removeable and replaceable.
- 🎮Third party controller, not original N64 controller(non-USB edition). The best gift for your families or friends, that will bring back those childhood memories when you are playing these classic N64 games.
Why does the middle grip look unusual?
The middle grip is part of a controller built around controls that are not all used in the same way at once. The three grips do not mean three hands or a requirement to wrap both hands around every prong. Instead, the three-position design gives players alternative ways to hold the pad, depending on which controls a particular game emphasizes. The Digital Game Museum notes that the shape could be novel and confusing compared with earlier controller designs.
So the N64 controller’s design works as a set of options rather than as one universal hand position. That choice helped accommodate analog and conventional directional controls on the same controller, while making control expectations less immediately obvious than on a simpler pad.
Rank #4
- ⚡【Compatibility】2 Pack wired controller fully compatible with N64 system console, perfect for Mario Kart 64, The Legend of Zelda,Perfect Dark, Super Mario 64,ocarina of time 64,Super smash, Ocarina of Time and many other classic N64 retro games.
- ⚡CLASSIC DESIGN: Tight and accurate analog control, the controller features 10 function buttons (including Left and Right shoulder functions and Z-trigger). This is a great replacement for any old original N64 controller you have.
- ⚡Rumble Pak & Memory Card Feature: Compatible with most of game memory cards. you can use a memory card and transfer to an SD card. Not support Transfer Pak function.
- ⚡COMFORTABLE GRIP: Ergonomic handle design fits naturally in your hands during extended gaming sessions. The cord is approx 6ft. Use a N64 Controller Extension Cord Cables,you can play across the room.
- ⚡Third party controller, not original N64 controller.The best alternative wired controller for N64 games, that will bring back those childhood memories when you are playing classic games.
Did the N64 invent analog control?
No. Nintendo’s history makes the narrower claim that the N64 controller introduced Nintendo’s first analog Control Stick. It does not establish that Nintendo or the N64 invented analog control in general. Nintendo describes the stick as providing “complete 360-degree control,” but that is product-history language, not a measured ergonomic or performance study.
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Not necessarily. A 2026 Tom’s Guide review of the 8BitDo 64 describes that controller as removing the middle prong. It is an example of a modern pad borrowing from N64 controls without reproducing the original grip architecture, not a guarantee of compatibility with any particular console or game. Check the maker’s current platform-compatibility information before buying a replacement.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- The controller for N64 have 10 function buttons (Included Left and Right shoulder buttons and Z-trigger), an analog stick/thumb joystick. Shaped like "M", with improved ergonomic technology design,designed to please your hand with a comfortable feeling when holding it.
- Want to play classic games with your kids, but you don't want to destroy the expensive original N64 controller, our controller can perfectly replace the N64 controller. It can also be used as a multiplayer game controller, you need a spare controller to play games with friends.
- The controller's line length is 5.8 feet, which can save you from having to be so close to the screen, better protect your eyes, and is suitable for people of all ages, enjoy the classic games easier.
- Rumble Pak & Memory Card Feature. Provides force feedback while playing video games. Enhances the gaming experience. Note: This controller doesn’t contain Memory Card and Rumble Pak in package, need to purchase separately.
- Third-party Product. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. Please believe that we will put the customer experience first. We will provide you with the best solution.
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