CRKD Atom Controller Is a Novelty for Short Gaming Sessions

CRKD is known for controllers. Some are practical! Others feel like they’re more about appearances. The Atom, which is described as a keychain controller and is incredibly small, seems like a toy or item you display. It just so happens to work too! With a $19.99 price tag about the same as a budget controller, the CRKD Atom may seem like a novelty that you get more for appearances and only use in rare circumstances, but it can be shockingly practical in some ways too.

So, we’ll get the awkward part of it out of the way. If you are a standards-sized, adult human, let’s say between five and six feet tall, the CRKD Atom controller might range between uncomfortable and way, way too small to properly use for extended periods of time. It is well built! The buttons are all where you’d expect, so muscle memory can kick in. There’s as much space as such a tiny peripheral can allow. The trigger buttons are in a decent position. However, the size means it isn’t comfortable for long gaming sessions. The longest I could play before I hit my absolute limit was about an hour. It isn’t right for all types of games. Don’t try playing a fighter with it. (I could manage some of Skullgirls, but it wasn’t as much fun.) At a glance and with my initial impression, it felt more like I had a neat toy that coincidentally could work. It might be an option, but only if I really needed it.

What I will say works in the CRKD Atom controller’s favor is its size and battery life. The device is incredibly small, so you could put it on a keychain, pop it in a purse or bag, leave it as a decoration on a shelf, or have it anywhere. Forget it exists. Use it when you need it. It’s incredibly handy like that. So even though I’m thinking it is a neat thing to attach a keychain to or display in front of a stuffed animal to make it seem like the toy is using it, it could come up as a viable option if other controllers aren’t nearby or charged. 

Speaking of which, I was also surprised to see that yes, the battery really does seem to last around 10 hours or so. I charged it up with the power cable, which is a standard USB-C one. It worked for days, even though I was using it fairly frequently with a Switch, tablet, and Mac to put it through its paces. I didn’t need to charge it once. It’s very encouraging! It strikes me as an item you really could include in a case with a Switch or other device and, provided you know nothing will touch the buttons to turn it on and potentially drain the battery a bit, know it will be good to go. 

Also, I have to wonder if it might be a handy controller to have on hand if you know you’ll occasionally be playing either with a child or person with small hands. The CRKD Atom controller is absolutely one of the smallest ones I’ve ever seen. It is only about three inches long, after all, and just over an inch tall. But it wasn’t the most uncomfortable thing I ever used. Especially if I was playing a game that wasn’t terribly taxing and did so for about 30 minutes. If someone has smaller hands, it might very well be comfortable for longer sessions and a fine extra option.

I know the CRKD Atom controller looks like the sort of small novelty you might never actually use. That it would be more of a cosmetic decoration you keep around. However, it isn’t the most outlandish peripheral out there. It’s well made for what it is and, while small, still functions quite well. The fact that the battery life and nature of it means you could place it in a bag or game case, forget about it, then still be able to use it later when you need it most due to its lifespan and durability work in its favor as well.

The CRKD Atom Controller is available in Pal Grey, CRKD Grey, Glacier Blue, Atomic Purple, Yuzu Yellow, Sky Blue, Leaf Green, and Hot Pink now. It is compatible with the Nintendo Switch, PCs, smart TVs, and mobile devices.