My son wearing the finished costume: a framed screen across his chest playing Mario Kart, between a giant blue Joy-Con and a giant red one

A Nintendo Switch costume that really plays

What: A wearable, working Nintendo Switch for my son, 2.4 times life size
Status: Finished, for Halloween 2026

My son wanted to be a Nintendo Switch for Halloween. The easy version is a picture on a piece of cardboard, glued to a shirt. I decided to build him a working one instead: a Switch 2.4 times the size of the real thing that he can wear, with a real screen and separate Joy-Cons.

The screen is a portable monitor standing in for the console. The Joy-Cons are oversized shells that strap to his arms. A real Switch in a backpack runs it all, so people can walk up and play.

How it works

The consoleA portable monitor plays the part of the Switch’s screen, held in a frame I modeled to match the shape of the real thing. A custom harness carries it, attached to the backpack’s straps.
The Joy-ConsTwo separate, scaled-up controller shells, each with a channel running through it so that it straps to one of his arms. Their giant buttons and sticks are for show.
In the backpackA real Switch drives the screen. It runs from a power-tool battery through an inverter, so the costume needs no outlet.
Two playersThe playing is done on real Joy-Cons. They hang from badge reels, so they pull out when someone wants a turn and retract afterward, and up to two people can play.

Ready to play

Here it is finished and out with his friends, who took turns pulling out the Joy-Cons and racing each other in Mario Kart.

A close view of the costume: a blue Joy-Con shell on one arm, a red one on the other, and the framed screen across his chest showing Bowser in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe — Up close: the Joy-Con shells ride on his arms, with the screen framed between them.

Seen from the side, a friend in a basketball jersey plays with a yellow Joy-Con on a cord while another friend holds a blue one, beside the tilted screen and the red Joy-Con shell — Friends pull the real Joy-Cons out on their reels to take a turn.

From behind two boys, each holding a Joy-Con, racing each other in split-screen Mario Kart on the screen my son wears, between the blue and red Joy-Con shells — Two players, split screen.

Modeled for 3D printing

I modeled every printed part myself in SketchUp and printed them on a Bambu Lab A1: the Joy-Con shells with their buttons and sticks, the frame and vented back shell that hold the monitor, and the clips, pads, and spacers that strap it all on.

Renders of the two Joy-Con shells, blue and red, with their sticks, shoulder buttons, and face buttons laid out between them — My models for the printed parts, shown as renders and grouped by where they go.

Renders of the two-piece frame that surrounds the monitor, above the two-piece back shell with its honeycomb vents — My models for the printed parts, shown as renders and grouped by where they go.

Costumes from earlier years

The Switch is the latest in a line of Halloween costumes I have made. Here are a few from earlier years.

A small child dressed as a little old lady, in a gray wig, round glasses, pearls, and a pink cardigan, pushing a child-size walker with tennis balls on its feet — A little old lady. I made the walker and the wig.

A smiling boy wearing a giant blue bowl of macaroni and cheese, with yellow foam noodles spilling out over his shirt, holding a real cup of it — A bowl of mac and cheese. I made the whole costume.

Hand-made costume props on a counter: a carved wooden shield with a red spiral, a short sword with a jeweled hilt, and a pair of leather gauntlets — Gear I made for The Legend of Zelda costumes: a shield, a sword, and gauntlets.

Three children in Legend of Zelda costumes in a parking lot: one as Sheik holding a harp, and two as Link in green caps and tunics with shields and a sword — The Legend of Zelda: Sheik and two Links, in the armor and gear I made.

More fun projects

Have a role in mind? Let’s talk it through.

I’m always open to a conversation. Remote anywhere in the US, or in the St. Louis area.

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