How to Choose the Best Fight Stick, No Matter Your Budget

If you’ve played fighting games for a significant amount of time, you understand just how important it is to have a comfortable and capable controller. The video game genre demands swift, sharp inputs for launching fireballs, combo links, and super moves, so you need a controller that enables you to do just that. A standard video game controller can do the job, but for many members of the fighting game community (FGC), fight sticks—alternately known as arcade sticks—are the weapons of choice.

Decide If a Fight Stick Is Right for You

Fight sticks are special video game controllers tailor-made for, well, fighting games. They typically duplicate the feel and look of the classic, Street Fighter-inspired panel, which features the joystick and two-button-row layout commonly seen on arcade uprights. In fact, the fight stick market was essentially birthed when ridiculously popular fighting games like Street Fighter II and Mortal Kombat received home console ports.

“Fighting games started in arcade cabinets that used joystick and buttons for controls, and using an arcade stick replicates the arcade experience at home,” according to Kaz Ohira of Hori, a premier fight stick manufacturer. “Joystick and buttons allow for extremely accurate input, and these parts are what players look for in an arcade stick.”

It’s that arcade feel of gripping a lollipop- or baseball bat-style joystick in one hand, and manipulating buttons with the other, that draws people to adopting fight sticks. It’s not a nostalgic feeling, either. There’s an actual tactile reason why you see many fighting game players lugging fighting sticks to local and international tournaments.

Reyes Reyes III was one of them. The retired tournament fighter found it difficult to use a standard console controller while playing Vega/Claw in Super Street Fighter IV. Due to the gamepad’s combination of four face buttons, bumpers, and triggers, Reyes discovered that he had to hold the controller in an awkward, uncomfortable position in order to successfully reach all of the buttons.

“The controller mapping was getting excessive to the point where it was a detriment,” Reyes told me at a Chinatown Beatdown tournament in New York City’s Lower East Side. “I decided to buy a $50 casing for a stick.”

Reyes bought a PCB for the stick’s interior, and found someone to wire it for multi-system compatibility. “It feels like second nature, as I grew up in the arcades,” he said. “You don’t get a [console] controller in an arcade.”

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Select a Pugilism Platform

The most important thing you should do before buying a fight stick is determining the platforms on which you’ll use it. Some fight sticks are designed exclusively for PlayStation use; others are designed with Nintendo or Xbox in mind. Fortunately, PC players don’t have to dwell in such walled gardens. Due to the open nature of the Windows platform, you can use Nintendo, PlayStation, or Xbox fight sticks out of the box or with a bit of software tinkering. If you have a Steam Deck, your fight sticks should work with Valve’s handheld gaming PC, too.

I experienced this firsthand when I used the Qanba Obsidian arcade stick to play The King of Fighters XV and other fighting games without issue, despite the fact that the PC isn’t one of the listed compatible platforms. Naturally, some of the stick’s PlayStation 4-centric features, such as image sharing and touchpad functionality, didn’t work with the PC.

If you don’t mind losing platform-specific features, you can use nearly any controller with any console with the right adapter. The Brook Super Converter(Opens in a new window) is a terrific option for current and retro consoles.

Learn Fight Stick Design

A person unfamiliar with fight sticks might mistake these controllers as more or less the same, just with superficial differences. This couldn’t be further from the truth. There’s a lot of variety, including the number of buttons (six vs. eight vs. even more), button layout (straight alignment vs. Namco Noir vs. Taito Vewlix), joystick style (lollipop vs. baseball bat), and joystick gate (circle vs. diamond vs. octagonal vs. square).

Most fight sticks feature a Mode button that lets you use the lone joystick as a D-pad, left analog stick, or right analog stick. Likewise, button-lock switches are found on tournament-ready sticks. Those switches are important, as they prevent you from disqualifying yourself by accidentally hitting the Mode, Home, Start, or Options buttons.

If you’re in the stick game for the long haul, you’ll want to find one that uses real arcade-quality parts (Sanwa Denshi and Seimitsu are the two titans in the field) that will handle the wear and tear that comes with long play sessions. Thankfully, there’s quite some distance between now and the 1990s and early 2000s, when buying a stick meant dealing with suspect parts that couldn’t handle intense fighting game action.

Then, when you become knowledgeable in regards to fight stick design, visit Arcade Shock(Opens in a new window) or Focus Attack(Opens in a new window) to take your stick to the next level by modding it with new buttons, gates, and other parts. Stick manufacturers don’t discourage this tinkering, either; in fact, some high-end sticks possess easy-access interiors that let you mod to your heart’s content.

Determine Non-Fighting-Game Uses

Though fight sticks are literally made with fighting games in mind, they are perfectly viable controllers for other arcade-style video games, such as Ikaruga or Metal Slug 3. Basically, any game that doesn’t require dual analog sticks is rife for fight stick enjoyment.

“There is some utility to playing stick with games that aren’t fighting games,” said Reyes. “Playing Puzzle Fighter on a stick doesn’t change the gameplay at any point, but it feels more whole than using a pad.”

Peruse Budget, Premium, and High-End Options

If you have a yearning to buy to a fight stick, there are many manufacturers to explore. The aforementioned Hori is perhaps the best known fight stick manufacturer, but it isn’t the only company putting out sticks. Mad Catz, Mayflash, Qanba, Razer, Victrix, and a handful of other companies also produce fight sticks.

Honestly, fight stick prices are all over the place. On the budget side, you can pick up a solid model for just $50. If you have zero fight stick experience, I recommend exploring the budget space first, as you can pick one up without spending too much moolah, and it won’t be too great a loss if you don’t dig the controller.

“[A budget] stick may not have all of the bells and whistles compared to our premium arcade stick lineup, but we have made sure that quality isn’t compromised with the lower cost,” Ohira told us. “We recommend this stick for the novice players who want to learn to play on stick, as well as more experienced players that are looking for a portable stick to take on the road.”

A budget stick gives you just the basics, but premium and high-end models open the door to new features. For example, Qanba’s top-of-the-line Dragon has an aluminum interior and LED accent lighting. You’ll read more about that beast below.

Time to Buy a Fight Stick

If all this sounds appealing, it might be time for you to invest in a fight stick. There are many options to consider before opening your wallet, so I’ve culled a few standout sticks in various categories. Take a read and then select your weapon.

The Budget Pick

Qanba Drone

$79.99

at Amazon

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There are cheaper arcade sticks on the market, but few entry-level models match the PS4/PS3/PC-compatible Qanba Drone’s overall quality. At $79.99, the Drone exists in the higher end of the sub-$100 budget arcade stick category, but it doesn’t make the typical sacrifices that you find in lower-price sticks.

As you’d expect at this price, Qanba forgoes Sanwa parts. Instead, the Drone uses Qanba’s homegrown joystick and buttons. If you’re used to Sanwa parts, you’ll definitely feel a tactile difference when wiggling the joystick or tapping buttons. That’s not a bad thing; just different. The Drone also features anti-slip, textured strips on its bottom, LED indicators, a compartment for stashing the USB cord, and a button-lock switch.

Measuring 4.5 by 12.8 by 9.0 inches (HWD) and weighing 2.6 pounds, the Drone is larger than the competing Hori Fighting Stick Mini 4, so folks with larger paws will find it more comfortable. Due to its size, the Drone is easier to mod than some competing budget options, but the stick lacks the easy-access panels found in premium models.

The Alternate Budget Pick

Hori Fighting Stick Mini 4

$46.99

at Amazon

See It

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The Hori Fighting Stick Mini 4 is another good entry-level choice at under $50. Though small in price and stature, the Mini 4 has the features you expect from a PlayStation-compatible controller, such as Home, Options, and Share buttons. Unfortunately, it lacks a button-lock switch.

The $49.99 stick also lacks the world-renowned Sanwa Denshi joystick and buttons that you find on higher-end controllers, as Hori uses its own hardware here. Still, the Mini 4 feels good in the hand.

Given the stick’s small 3.4-by-8.3-by-5.9-inch footprint, it’s good for the times when you don’t want to lug a full-size stick to a tournament or a friend’s place. People with large hands may find the Mini 4 a bit small, but the controller’s demure size makes it perfect for people with small hands.

The 2.2-pound Mini 4 works with the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3 out of the box, but a firmware download adds PC compatibility. A similar version is available for the Nintendo Switch.

The Premium Pick

Hori Fighting Stick Alpha

$199.99

at Amazon

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Officially licensed by Microsoft for use with the Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PC, the $199 Hori Fighting Stick is a tournament-ready arcade stick with many user-friendly features. On the Xbox side, you’ll find the familiar Profile and Share buttons. On the Hori side, you’ll find the company’s own Hayabusa lever and matte-finish buttons that are designed for faster response times and cleaner inputs (the company claims that the stick cuts input loads by up to 15 percent).

Built with customization in mind, the Alpha’s top can be easily popped to replace parts or make repairs. On top of that, you can swap out the stick’s attractive artwork for something that’s more your speed. If you download the Hori Device Manager app, you can adjust the Alpha’s button configuration and create up to four different profiles—an excellent option if you play multiple games.

The 4.7-by-16.1-by-11.8-inch, 5.95-pound stick also features dedicated headphone and mic controls; a breakaway, 9.8-inch cable that tucks away into the body for easy transportation; anti-slip pads on the bottom; and a key-lock switch that prevents you from being disqualified from a tournament by tapping the Menu, View, or Share buttons mid-match.

A PlayStation 5/PlayStation 4-compatible version(Opens in a new window) debuts August 8, 2022.

The Alternate Premium Pick

Qanba Pearl

$199.99

at Walmart

See It

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The Obsidian was such a success for Qanba that the company used it as the base for another arcade stick: The nearly all-white, $199 Qanba Pearl. The Sony-licensed Pearl is compatible with the PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 3 video game consoles (plus PC), so it comes as no surprise that it features a touch panel for games that support swipe gestures.

Measuring 5.0 by 18 by 10 inches and weighing 6.6 pounds, The Qanba Pearl is hefty controller that won’t budge when you’re furiously executing moves. That steadiness comes courtesy of aluminum-alloy side panels and anti-slip pads. Under the hood you’ll find a Sanwa Denshi arcade-quality, ball-top joystick and Sanwa Denshi buttons.

The other goodies built into the Pearl include a 3.5mm headphone jack, turbo functionality, LEDs, and a Noir button layout that’s more spacious and ergonomic than the Obsidian’s Viewlix layout (Mr. Sujano has a useful video that explains the differences(Opens in a new window)). The stick comes with an 8.8-foot cable that stays tucked into the body via a flimsy hatch on the back.

The High-End Pick

Victrix Pro FS

$799.99

at Amazon

Check Stock

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Sometimes you’ve just got to floss. Priced at a whopping $349 (the cost of a 1TB PlayStation 4 console!), the Victrix Pro FS doesn’t come cheap. However, if you’re looking for a premium fight stick experience that has arcade-quality parts and lets you stunt on rival tournament entrants, drop some shekels on this bad boy.

What makes the Pro FS such a bling-worthy fight stick? It features a sleek, single-piece, aircraft-grade aluminum body that just begs to be touched, as well as two, swappable Sanwa Denshi ball-top joysticks, an Allen wrench for adjusting those joysticks, and Sanwa Denshi buttons. The controller also has removable die cast metal wrap extensions that can be used to secure the braided, 3-meter USB-C cable (or hooked to shoulder straps for easier travel), adjustable LED lighting, a headphone jack, an anti-slip base, and an easy-access panel for modding purposes.

In addition, the Pro FS has an incredibly useful training mode button that lets you reset your character position in Blazblue Cross Tag Battle, Dragon Ball FighterZ, Guilty Gear Xrd, Injustice 2, King of Fighters 14, Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite, Mortal Kombat XL, Soulcalibur 6, Street Fighter V, Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection, and Tekken 7.

Measuring 2.2 by 16.2 by 11.0 inches and weighing 7.8 pounds, the controller is quite large, but not as hefty as another premium model we’ll discuss. The Pro FS is available for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, and both versions are compatible with PCs.

The Alternate High-End Pick

Qanba Dragon

$302.95

at Amazon

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Qanba has many excellent fight sticks on the market, but the $299 Dragon is the company’s top-of-the-line offering. The quality becomes apparent as soon as you place your mitts on the controller.

First off, the Dragon is a hefty stick, measuring 5.0 by 20.0 by 12.5 inches and weighing 11.6 pounds. The girth and weight give it a premium feel; place the Dragon on a lap or tabletop, and it ain’t budging, even during vigorous play. That said, the Dragon’s mass might steer you to use it your “home” stick, while a smaller one acts as the “away” stick.

The officially Sony-licensed stick—compatible with PC, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation 4—has the expected arcade-quality Sanwa Deshi buttons and joystick, and a few other goodies, too. It boasts an anti-slip bottom that aids in its superb lap/tabletop grip, one-touch interior access for people who want to swap in new parts, and an aluminum interior that resembles dragon scales. The stick also has a braided 8.5-inch USB cable, a headphone jack, a touch pad that lets you reset your character’s position in a game’s training mode, cord hooks to quickly wrap your cable after a fight session, and LED lighting that gives the entire package pizzazz.

The Dragon lacks a button-lock key, but its expected buttons (Turbo, LED, Share, etc.) live in a single boxed-off area at the stick’s top and away from wild fingers; you need not worry about accidentally pausing a game during a tournament. Overall, the Qanba Dragon is one of the best sticks that you can get at its price.

The Hard-Core Pick

Hit Box

$199.99

at Hit Box

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The Hit Box may not technically be a fight stick—take a gander at the image above, the controller literally lacks a joystick!—but it’s included here as the peripheral is designed with the most hard-core fighting game enthusiasts in mind.

Compatible with PCs and the Playstation 4, the $199 Hit Box ditches a joystick and replaces it with authentic Sanwa directional buttons. If that sounds unusual, it is; the controller is essentially a fighting game-centric keyboard. Yet, the 2.0-by-16.0-by-7.0-inch Hit Box really, really works.

Now, I’m not the greatest fighting game player, but after a few minutes of using the Hit Box to play Tekken 7, I found the control scheme to be extraordinarily beneficial. Tapping buttons upped my execution efficiency, as there were no joystick movements to flub. Naturally, the 4.5-pound controller requires an adjustment period if you’ve been playing on fight sticks, but the time is well worth the investment. And in case you’re curious, yes, the Hit Box is a tournament-legal controller.

The controller comes in two other flavors: Smash Box, compatible with PC and GameCube, and Cross|Up, a hybrid PC/PS4 controller with a fight stick and directional buttons.

The Alternate Hard-Core Pick

Mixbox

$269.99

at Mixboxarcade

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The lovechild of a fight stick and a mechanical keyboard, the $269 Mixbox may be the ultimate best-of-both-worlds solution. Featuring Cherry MX WASD keys and arcade-quality Sanwa Denshi buttons, the Mixbox offers the precise controls that fighting game fans desire. The Mixbox measures 2.4 by 14.9 by 9.0 inches, and weighs 5.5 pounds.

Compatible with PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, and PC, the stick-less box comes in three other versions: Universal (adds PlayStation 5 and Xbox compatibility), Reverse (flips the button layout), and Reverse Universal (combines elements of both). The customizations don’t stop there, though. You can outfit the metal-framed Mixbox with one of three Cherry MX switches (Cherry Red, Red + Silver, Red + Black) or tilt the WASD for an even more ergonomic layout.

As a PlayStation-focused controller, the Mixbox has the expected Option/Share buttons, and a touch strip. The tournament-ready Mixbox has a small door built into its back side that houses the 9-foot, breakaway cable.

The Wireless Pick

8Bitdo Arcade Stick

4.0

$89.99

at Amazon

See It

(Opens in a new window)

The 8Bitdo Arcade Stick, the follow-up to the N30 Arcade Stick, tops its predecessor in almost every way. The $89.99 arcade stick has a heavier, more substantial build, and comes with a 2.4GHz USB wireless adapter and Bluetooth connectivity for wireless play with the PC or Nintendo Switch. That’s not something you see in many fight sticks.

The Arcade Stick measures 4.4 by 11.9 by 8 inches and weighs 4.6 pounds. That shaves off nearly an inch from the N30’s depth, but adds approximately 1.5 pounds. However, that’s a benefit; a good arcade stick should feel secure wherever you place it, whether on your lap or a table. You’ll find four, anti-slip rubber feet on the stick’s bottom that prevents sliding. Unfortunately, the stick lacks cable storage.

8Bitdo’s stick lacks genuine arcade parts, but the ball-top stick is satisfyingly clicky, and the buttons are sturdy, silent, and feature a shallow throw for quick reactions. In an enthusiast-friendly move, 8Bitdo makes it easy to pop the stick’s top, so you can swap in your preferred parts. On the topic of customization, the 8Bitdo Ultimate Software lets you remap buttons or create macros (reminder: controllers with macros are often banned from tournaments).

According to 8Bitdo, you’ll enjoy 40 hours of battery life when playing over the 2.4GHz connection (30 hours with the Bluetooth connection). The battery takes approximately four hours to fully charge.

8Bitdo Arcade Stick Review

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