I’ll be the first to admit, the iMP Gaming Mini Arcade Pro arcade-style controller dock was something I was expecting to be a cool novelty, nothing more. I’m happy to report that, while that is still the case, the iMP Gaming Mini Arcade Pro For Nintendo Switch is a surprisingly competent piece of kit that goes beyond a simple gimmick.
Announced earlier this year, the Mini Arcade Pro is a fight or arcade-style stick designed for use with both the Nintendo Switch OLED and the Nintendo Switch 2 exclusively in tabletop mode. iMP has gone the extra mile in creating a product that feels like a quality arcade stick for use on the Switch family of consoles. Starting with its clicky and tactile-feeling stick, which feels like it uses micro-switches for its circular gate, although not exactly Sanwa-grade, actuating the diminutive arcade stick on the Mini Arcade Pro feels solid and responsive.
The eight available face buttons, which include all the face buttons and triggers, equally feel responsive and clicky. Indie and arcade-style releases on the eShop are particularly great to play using the Mini Arcade Pro dock. In other words, games that don’t require two analogue sticks or both the d-pad and a stick all feel fantastic on the Mini Arcade Pro dock.
Additionally, the Mini Arcade Pro also features plus, minus, and chat buttons, which make it fully compatible with Nintendo Switch 2 systems. Players can also toggle the function of the stick on the Mini Arcade Pro to be either the left, right, or d-pad, respectively, which can come in handy for games that only play nice with, say, the directional pad. Unfortunately, the Mini Arcade Pro does not include every single button, with both the L3 and R3 functions and capture button seemingly absent.
Although not a deal breaker, the lack of L3 and R3 can be an issue, especially in game compilations, such as the Capcom Arcade Stadium series, which requires pressing R3 to simulate inserting a coin in many of its emulated arcade ROMs. Even still, having a Joy-Con 2 or another controller on standby isn’t the end of the world, but it’s still worth mentioning.
Unboxing the Mini Arcade Pro for the first time, users will receive the unit in a few pieces, but fret not, as putting the dock together is a simple process that doesn’t require external tools or too much effort. The Mini Arcade Pro ships with two plates designed for both the Nintendo Switch 2 and the OLED legacy console, which your console of choice can easily slide into before being inserted into the controller docking unit itself.
The back of the Mini Arcade Pro also features 12 slots where you can house your physical Switch 1 and 2 cartridges. Although reasonably secure, the cartridge holder on the back of the dock isn’t as snug as something like a dedicated carrying case or holder, but it should suffice if you’re planning on not moving the Mini Arcade Pro around too often.
One final note about the overall design and aesthetics of the Mini Arcade Pro dock that I must mention before moving on to some impressions and testing of the controller dock is the garish use of AI-generated art on the side panel of the unit, something that not only makes the device look cheap, but could have easily been avoided by simply opting for a simple two-tone colour scheme.
“…the iMP Gaming Mini Arcade Pro For Nintendo Switch 1/2 is a surprisingly competent piece of kit that goes beyond a simple gimmick.”
Actually sitting down and playing some games while the Switch 2 (and the OLED), when connected to the Mini Arcade Pro, was quite fun, with games like Street Fighter 6 feeling as responsive as ever, while selling the illusion of a minute arcade cabinet rather nicely. Perhaps not the ideal way to play, but even fighting games that utilize full 3D movement, such as Pokkén Tournament DX, felt fresh and exciting again, at least from someone who plays casually.
Of course, the real winner when it comes to using the Mini Arcade Pro is the deluge of retro arcade titles released by the likes of Capcom and Hamster, not to mention the extensive catalogue of classic Nintendo games made available on the NSO platform. In other words, the Mini Arcade Pro is a match made in heaven when it comes to retro arcade releases and indie games that only require a single stick.
Finally, if you’re someone like me, who still has a Switch OLED kicking around, the Mini Arcade Pro can be a perfect solution to dedicate Nintendo’s last generation hardware to. Made better when you take into consideration that most arcade and indie games run perfectly fine on the older hardware, while looking better thanks to the use of the OLED panel of the Nintendo Switch 1.
“…the Mini Arcade Pro is a match made in heaven when it comes to retro arcade releases and indie games that only require a single stick.”
On that note, prospective buyers should know, if it wasn’t obvious already, that the Mini Arcade Pro is made specifically to work with the Switch OLED and Switch 2 consoles. However, technically speaking, there is nothing stopping you from seating other models into the USB-C lead of the dock, if you forgo the use of the included bracket, but this is something I do not recommend.
The Mini Arcade Pro dock is a surprisingly robust bartop arcade experience for Nintendo Switch owners, making it a solid choice for game rooms and mancaves looking to add that little extra bit of flair. With it being made specifically for the Nintendo Switch OLED and Switch 2 console, players are not limited to only a handful of built-in titles, which is usually the norm for similar bartop-style mini cabinets, making it a compelling purchase for those looking for that hit of retro-inspired goodness.
