CRKD Atom controller review

For a controller as small as the Atom from CRKD, you'd be surprised at how much there is to say about it. It's far from your standard Bluetooth controller. Its lightweight and tiny form feels like a gift from a Christmas cracker rather than a piece of gaming hardware. But, it's a surprisingly nifty bit of kit that is easy to travel with, and even though it's much smaller than your standard controller, it can still deliver a fantastic experience on PC. 

Boasting Bluetooth wireless connectivity, you won't have to worry about any draping cables clogging up your space. The tiny shape of the controller also feels like a refreshing change of pace compared to many other PC gaming peripherals. 

Bluetooth controllers in particular pack quite a bulk to fit in all the necessary components, but the CRKD Atom shows that bigger doesn't always mean better. If your PC doesn't support Bluetooth connection, the Atom can also be connected via USB-C from a port in the top of the controller and still feels like less of a faff than other budget controllers available. 

The build quality doesn't feel cheap either, which I found surprising for a controller so affordable. The minuscule shape feels like I could crush it in my palm if I got particularly angry at whatever I was playing, but nothing about the materials used on the controller alludes to this feeling. The translucent shell of my Atomic Purple controller feels good and has a slightly gritty texture, and the buttons and D-Pad have a satisfying click behind them rather than feeling cheap and rattly. The Pal Grey variation also mirrors this quality despite not having the translucent shell, which I'm assuming can also be said for the rest of the solid colours. 

Aesthetically, there's a lot to love about the Atom regardless of which colorway you set your heart on. With eight different controller colors, there's also a huge emphasis on the collectability of the Atom. If you go the extra step and download the True Collection CRKD app, you can also scan in your controller to get access to more information about it, such as which number out of how many units made yours is. I usually don't love having to download an additional app to feel like I'm making the most out of hardware, but there's something so satisfying about scanning the NFC chip in the back of your controller and watching the numbers pop up. 

With that said, the Atom does take some getting used to. At first, buttons felt like they were squashed tightly together, and it felt impossible to use the shoulder buttons without hitting multiple at once. With time I got used to the layout of the controller and stopped hitting almost every button at once, but the small structure still won't suit everyone. The lack of joysticks also limits what you can play, but I found it to be a perfect companion for 2D platformers like Gimmick! 2 or even fighting games like Granblue Fantasy Versus.

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It also has a reasonable battery life considering its size, coming in at ten hours. If you've been on the hunt for a controller to take out and about with you then the Atom is a quirky companion, especially with the wrist strap that comes in the box and can easily be attached to a bag or something like a set of keys. Should you find yourself running out of juice, it's easy to charge with a USB-C cable which also comes in its packaging. When it comes to actually connecting the controller, it's as simple as holding down the central button and waiting for the white light to stop blinking and your controller will pop up on whatever you're pairing it to.

But, it's not bound to be for everyone. The size of the Atom and the lack of features that many higher-quality PC controllers offer may be off putting for anyone looking for something to benefit their gaming experience rather than be a fun addition to an existing hardware collection. For people with big hands in particular, I imagine the ATOM will be noticeably uncomfortable and take a lot of getting used to. But, for anyone looking for a great gift for a younger player, then the Atom is probably a perfect match. 

It does, though, feel like you're buying into the gimmick with the Atom. It's a hilariously small controller, but not in a bad way at all. When you realise for $20/£20 you're getting a comically small, yet fantastic controller, it's hard not to recommend it. Especially for anyone keen for a dose of retro hardware in the modern age.