Mechanism’s first Switch 2 case is as awesome as I hoped it would be

Most companies have slowed down releasing new Switch 2 cases, but one of my favorite accessory makers recently debuted its first, after a few delays. The $49 Basecase from Mechanism is a snap-on shell for the console that taps into the company’s modular lineup of mounts. You could already mount the Switch 2 in numerous ways with its $19 Basegrip (to your wall, to its Gaming Pillow, to a monitor arm, etc.). The difference is that this new product protects your console, makes its Joy-Con more comfortable to use, and has some interesting modularity.

The console shell allows for the full range of the Switch 2’s kickstand, and access to all of the ports, buttons, and fan vents. Notably, it fits more snugly than others I’ve tried because it clamps on near the console’s bottom USB-C port. This is a good thing. You can unlock its rear plate and replace it with a custom 3D-printed version for more fun and/or more utility. Mechanism sent over a couple of printed examples that hint at the possibilities — one that has Lego pegs on it for sticking on some minifigures, and another that has crannies for game cartridges.

The grips that slide onto the back of the Joy-Con protectors are modular, too. The set includes two sizes that add varying degrees of bulk, both of which make them more comfortable to use. Remove any of the grips, and there’s a spot for a game cartridge. It’s a fun way to bring extra physical games. Mechanism included some extra grip types that aren’t for sale to show what’s possible with a 3D printer. I really liked the pair that has a little shelf on each side to let your middle or ring fingers rest.

You can’t use the Switch 2 in its dock with the Basecase. So, Mechanism includes a dock adapter that takes a different approach — not necessarily better or worse — than Dbrand did with its Killswitch. Instead of cradling the Switch 2, it’s simply a female-to-male USB-C cable that you have to maneuver onto the dock’s video-out port. Installing it isn’t quite as easy as its marketing indicates, but I eventually got it working. Those who use a third-party USB-C dock from Jsaux or Genki won’t need to use this component.

The Basecase seems designed to address multiple points of failure in earlier Switch 2 cases released by Dbrand, Genki, and others that unfortunately let some quality control issues slip in an effort to launch cases first when the Swtich 2 first debuted.

For instance, the Basecase’s Joy-Con grips have a little rubber lip that fits around the top of the controller’s inner colored section. Dbrand revised its comfy Killswitch grip to add this after some users noted their consoles tumbling to the ground when they grabbed it by the controller without supporting the Switch 2’s weight. The Basecase does a good job of preventing this issue.

Also important: the swappable Joy-Con grips attach easily, requiring almost no effort to line up the latch pins to snap on. I could never quite get the feel for the ones included with Genki’s Attack Vector case (we’ll see how Genki’s upcoming Grips fare). Also, while most thin, plastic cases from competitors exhibit ill-fitting sections or flex, the Basecase feels tougher.

If you’re bought into Mechanism’s ecosystem of mounts and have a Switch 2, there’s a good chance that you’ve been waiting for this release (and, perhaps, you already own this case). For gamers who haven’t yet tried out the company’s system of mounts, this is a really good place to start. You can grab all of the 3D printer files at Makerworld or Printables.

Photography by Cameron Faulkner/The Verge