Turtle Beach PlayTrek Travel Case for the Nintendo Switch 2 review

With an official licence to use Nintendo art in its back pocket, Turtle Beach has been steadily growing its PlayTrek Travel Case lineup. Even as this review goes up, there are new models incoming, draped in lovely Nintendo character art, and all that'd be worthy as being the best Nintendo Switch 2 case as far as looks go.

Yet, it's the Mario Bricks PlayTrek Travel Case that was released in November 2025 that deserves that commendation in my eyes. Instead of just sticking on some Super Mario art and branding and calling it a day, Turtle Beach infused the case with a lenticular 3D-effect, which makes it stand out from the slew of alternatives I've tested since the Switch 2's launch. From one angle, it appears that the case features a plain brick pattern, but from another, art is revealed that showcases Mario doing what he does best, about to stomp on a pair of iconic Super Mario series Goombas.

It's a bit of a gimmick for sure, and it's sadly a bit prone to wear and tear if you don't store your case properly. However, it pushes an already great-looking accessory and transforms it into the best-designed case I've tested to date. The fact that it only costs $29.99 / £19.99 and is prone to discounts during even the smallest sales events just makes it even more worth your hard-earned gold coins.

Design

The 3D lenticular effect is something you may be familiar with if you were a 90s kid. There was an influx of 3D posters out in the wild back then, so seeing this make a comeback in a modern Switch 2 case brought on a rush of nostalgia. The effect on the case is pretty well implemented, too.

At first glance, you see the brick pattern, but hidden underneath is the art of Mario in a classic Yōichi Kotabe-style jumping into the air. There's a classic Mario star above his head, so it's likely Mario is about to go super saiyan and rain down some invincible pain on the two Goomba standing before him. It's a cute piece of official art, and it's made all the cuter that it's hidden under this lenticular gimmick.

In keeping with the classic cartoony Super Mario art style, Turtle Beach has made sure to include a green, red, and blue carrying handle, and pops of color throughout the rest of the case. Even the back, which brands like Hori tend to leave blank, like with their Gengar and Mimikyu case, sports a bright red splash of color and the 'Super Mario' logo in yellow in the center, to tie in with the rest of the Super Mario color palette.

Features

The Mario Bricks PlayTrek Travel Case isn't all style over substance. On the inside, it includes storage for both games and smaller accessories. There's even some dabs of color to be found, which some well-known accessory brands don't even bother with.

In between the upper and lower sections of the case, there lies a flap of fabric that features velcro pockets that can store up to 12 physical Switch and Switch 2 game cartridges. These little pockets are a deep blue to match Mario's overalls on the cover and the attachment at the end of the case's zipper. It's a tiny detail, but I'm always a fan when there's color on the interior of a case, too. The zip of the accessories pocket also matches, and it can store extras like a charging cable or a microSD Express Card if you have one spare.

After using my fair share of cases since the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2, I've been less fond of storing anything in pockets like it. When you zip up a case, you can sometimes feel the extra pressure that even a small pair of stored thumb grips can put on the handheld's display, so I chose to leave it empty for the most part. However, if you like to at least have a USB-C charging cable in tow, it's handy that it's there nonetheless.

The moulded bottom interior of the Turtle Beach accessory can also fit not just the Nintendo Switch 2, but also the older Switch and Switch OLED handhelds. I even put this to the test myself. Thanks to the two left and right ridges and the velcro strap, which keeps the handheld in place, my Switch OLED fit perfectly and never moved around.

Performance

I originally tested the 'Mario Bricks' Turtle Beach PlayTrek Travel Case shortly after it launched last year. However, I wanted to see how the lenticular effect held up after months of use, as I was worried that it might be more prone to wear and tear than your average case exterior.

Over the last few months, I've gone back to using the case in between alternatives like the Belkin Charging Case Pro, and just as I expected, the cover has received its fair share of scratches. I can be a bit clumsy with my tech and accessories, but even I didn't expect the cover to receive as many nicks and scratches as it has. Just like the 3D Super Mario art effect, it's not entirely noticeable unless you're looking at the case from a certain angle, but it does make me concerned about ever taking the case with me when gaming on the go.

I only took the case to and from my mom's and friends' houses, so it was never in immediate harm's way. However, there must have been something in my backpack that wanted to leave a lasting impression on the unique case. If you want to grab this for yourself, it's worth making sure any objects, like a makeup mirror or hairbrush, are stored elsewhere, just to be safe.

Other than its susceptibility to cosmetic damage, this is still a fantastic Switch 2 case. It's a little thick coming in at 11.81 inches x 6.10 inches x 2.28 inches, so it's less travel-friendly than the thin PowerA Slim Case. But its chunky form factor is nice and robust, and managed to keep my beloved Switch 2 nice and snug, along with a selection of my favorite games to play on the go.

Like I mentioned earlier, I kept the accessory pocket empty during my original testing last year and the last two weeks that I've returned to using the PlayTrek case. As I'm slowly becoming less a fan of these over time, I didn't want to put any extra undue pressure on the handheld's display, but as someone who has to test the best Nintendo Switch 2 microSD Express Cards, the fact that it can be zipped made it handy for storing an extra tiny SD card when I had to.

Should you buy the Mario Bricks Turtle Beach PlayTrek Travel Case?

At just $29.99 / £19.99, this is a fantastic option for Switch 2 players and Super Mario fans. It's not just the unique and nostalgia-fueled lenticular cover that stands out and makes an impression, but the minor adn very appreciated details of the bright and vivid colored carrying handle, zips, and storage.

It's been out for a while now, so you can also regularly find it as part of sales events at US and UK retailers. In the past, this has brought the already affordable case down to an even lower $24.99 in the US and £16.99 in the UK. Of course, if you aren't a Super Mario fan, it's not going to be a good choice, no matter how cheap it gets.

Turtle Beach did launch a Donkey Kong PlayTrek Case alongside this Mario Bricks design, which showcases the same unique lenticular effect. The 'reveal' isn't as dramatic, but it's a better option if you aren't hugely a fan of Mario and this case's cartoony color palette.

How I tested the Mario Bricks Turtle Beach PlayTrek Travel Case

The Mario Bricks PlayTrek Travel Case originally launched in November 2025, and at the time, I used the case as my one and only storage option for my Ninty handheld for multiple weeks. As I wanted to see how its lenticular effect held up over time, I recently went back to using the case for another few weeks. For more information on how we test accessories for the Nintendo Switch 2, check out our full GamesRadar+ Hardware policy.

For more Switch 2 accessories, check out our guides to the best Nintendo Switch headsets, the best Nintendo Switch 2 cameras, and the best Nintendo Switch 2 microSD Express Cards.