After reviewing CRKD’s Neo S (the Hellboy Edition, no less) controller, it was only a matter of time before I checked out their pocket sized, collectible controller, the ATOM.

Who is it for? Is it too small? Is this controller a gimmick? Let’s find out!

First things first, there’s no getting around it; the ATOM really is tiny. I mean, just check it out in my hand in the below picture. Now, I have to confess that I have slightly small hands (no laughing at the back!), but even in my fingers, the ATOM looks ridiculously small. Cute though, right?

Of course, this does immediately beg the question: given its size, is it even usable by normal adult sized hands?

Well, if we take even my slightly small hands as ‘normal adult sized’, then actually, surprisingly, yes; it is at a size where it still feels fine to use as an actual controller. The dpad feels decent, the buttons can be pressed individually (and have a nice, clicky feel) and it seems nicely responsive in action too.

I was actually pretty shocked, given how small the ATOM is, that it works so well. So well done to CRKD for, er, cracking that one.

Setup is much the same as it is with the Neo S, or any other Bluetooth controller; you simply pair it as a device with whatever machine you’re using, be it a Switch, a tablet, your phone or a PC. Charging is via USB C on a port at the top of the controller itself, as you can see above.

Given that it has no analogue sticks, it’s obviously not suitable for a lot of modern games, but as a highly portable controller you can whip out and use to play retro games on your phone, it’s absolutely ideal, and far preferable to using touch screen controls. So if you have, for example, Antstream Arcade on your mobile device, the ATOM is a genuinely excellent choice of controller to use when you’re on the move. If you’re using emulators of dubious legality, the same applies; the ATOM is great for those.

It wouldn’t be my first choice of controller if I was at home with my NEO S available (just look at the size difference!), however; as a controller that’ll fit in just about any pocket, or on a keyring, or attached to a bag, almost weightlessly (seriously, it’s as light as a feather!), it’s a lovely solution.

Of course, being by CRKD, there’s the collectible aspect too, and of course this provides much of the appeal of the different colours on offer. I’ve got both the Atomic Purple (which CRKD were kind enough to send over) and the PAL Grey, the latter of which really pushes my nostalgia buttons, as an homage to the mighty SNES (at least, the PAL and Japanese edition of the console’s controller!).

Adding the controller to your collection remains thrilling, and there’s a real rush in seeing your specific controller number coming up, before it’s added alongside the rest of your CRKD products. It really is a masterstroke by CRKD, even if PAL Grey isn’t exactly the scarcest of ATOM colours; it earned me a Diamond rarity rating, in comparison to my Hellboy controller going all the way to CRKD rarity.

Though there’s no CTRL aspect of programming the controller to the nth degree, which you can do on the NEO S, that’s beside the point, really; the ATOM is a pocket sized device that can go with you anywhere, with no messing about setting it up, and it works really well for that purpose.

Verdict

Though perfect for child sized hands, it’s still surprisingly fine for adults to use too, even though it’s so tiny. Despite its diminutive size, it’s definitely preferable to use an ATOM when  gaming on a mobile device, either for modern games designed for touchscreen controls (hello to my two most tested games: Crossy Road and Hungry Shark World), or retro titles. The collectible aspect and wide range of colours make the ATOM a great addition to a gamer’s collection, and it’s packaged and designed beautifully, as is always the case with CRKD products. Another winner from CRKD, then, but don’t expect the ATOM to function as a replacement for full size controllers, or to use for 3D games that require analogue sticks.

Many thanks to CRKD for sending me a CRKD ATOM for review purposes. You can buy your ATOM from Amazon here, or from CRKD directly.