Top Mixboxes 2023 – The Arcade Stick

9. Ultra-Thin Mini Mixbox

Presented to you by ZUIDID and the Classic Gaming Accessories Store, this mini controller has SOCD cleaning and LED. There are six auxiliary buttons, and you can switch between D-pad, left analog stick, and right analog stick. Custom art is supported as well.

This mixbox’s printed circuit board (PCB) is the Pico Fighting Board that is powered by the Raspberry Pi Pico. Nintendo Switch and PC connectivity seems flawless when testing this controller.

Available to order from AliExpress

8. Clear – Lite

The Clear is a layered acrylic all-keys controller with hot-swappable MX switches and an impressive average response time of 1 millisecond. There are Akko and Ajazz switches available for you to pick from. As for the keycaps, they can be DSA or SLS flat. There are two additional keys on the right side that serve as up buttons.

The Clear has a USB-C port with a Brook PCB that has wide compatibility and can be extended even further with your own Brook UFB-UP5, gaining you compatibility with the likes of the PlayStation 5. The cherry on top is the customizable RGB LED, which can look nice on top of custom art that you insert into this acrylic beauty.

Available to order from Etsy

7. KeebFighter-02

The KeebFighter-02 is a thin & light mini controller made of acrylic and PLA+ with slanted keys available in many colors. The switches are hot-swappable Kailh Choc. There are six tiny auxiliary buttons that should be hard to press by accident. Also, the KeebFighter’s art is customizable. Otherwise, you can choose from many colors.

Available to order from Etsy

6. RAC-J500K

Light, compact, and budget, the RAC-J500K is a decent entry point into the world of mixboxes. It has the traditional mixbox style of slanted keys on the left and buttons on the right. You can order the buttons in black, blue, green, red, white, or yellow. There is SOCD cleaning to make pressing left and right result in neutral, making the controller tournament-legal.

The case consists of durable plastic. Opening up the case is easy using any compatible tool. You may even be able to use your fingers during the process. The interior is neat and spacious, which should make mods such as swapping buttons easier. The suction cups at the bottom work well when on a bare surface.

Available to order from AliExpress

5. Pocket Mini MixBox

This is a mini all-keys controller comprised of aluminum and acrylic. It has two USB ports and a useful LED display under the attack keys. There is a wide selection of multicolored switches you can order. You can even install your own keycaps if you want.

Available to order from AliExpress

4. vsFIGHTER

The vsFIGHTER is an all-keys controller that aims to be smaller, slimmer, and more customizable than average. It has 16 programmable keys/buttons, 12 of which are Cherry MX compatible and four of which are menu/auxiliary tactile buttons: left stick, right stick, select, and start. There is a USB-C port.

The keys have a satisfying plastic quality to them, the Kailh hot-swappable microswitches are linear, and everything is nice & responsive. There is a foam pad covering the entire bottom to secure the controller during play.

The top plate is clear acrylic, which supports sandwiched artwork, and the base is also acrylic. To crack the vsFIGHTER open, all you would need to do is unscrew several screws.

Quantum mechanical keyboard (QMK) support is also available, and the open source firmware runs the low latency DaemonBite that you can update.

Available to order from Etsy

3. FightBox F3

The FightBox F3 has all buttons with an extra button. The buttons are Sanwa, and because the six secondary function buttons are stiff, it is not likely you will press them by mistake. Needless to say, there is SOCD cleaning.

The metal of the F3’s case feels good, and the acrylic panel is not the malleable type. Furthermore, the rubber feet at the bottom make the F3 more stable. The wires inside are organized despite the F3 being slim, and the weight is moderate.

Available to order from AliExpress & Amazon:
FightBox F3 / FightBox F6

2. Fightboard

This variation of the Fightboard, the Fightboard MX, has Cherry MX switches. There is an arrow/WASD cluster at a 15° angle, and to the right are square buttons. The switches’ actuation point is impressive, and they can be swapped with any other alternative without soldering.

The weight and size of the Fightboard make it possible to hold it like an NES controller while navigating menus, which is convenient. It is lightweight and fits bigger pockets.

When not pressed, RGB LEDs indicate each button’s function, and you can change the colors as you like, excluding the D-pad. The LED turns off after a minute of not doing anything. There is also a display that shows inputs, input history, and some configuration options.

Available to order from Etsy: MX / LP

UGRL

Before revealing our top pick, you may be interested in this mixbox solution that is similar to the ODIN drop-in. The UGRL 5-pin Mixbox WASD keys can come with black, white, or transparent LED. The keys are compatible with a 5-pin Sanwa cable, and no soldering is needed, so you can just plug your joystick cable into the WASD keys’ pin. The keys have Kailh Low Profile Choc (hot swap) switches. Arcade sticks from mainstream brands should all be compatible. Using the lock thread with a nut, installation becomes easy.

Available to order from AliExpress

T-Spin+

You may also be interested in the T-Spin+, a WASD pad that is available in nine colors and three Kailh MX switch types: speed clicky, speed tactile, and speed linear.

Made of plastic and PLA (polylactic acid), this nifty innovation is compatible with any 5-pin arcade stick and fits lever hole sizes between 20 and 35. More specifically, this is what you get:

• Set of four arrow keys
• Set of four Kailh MX switches
• T-Spin harness
• T-Spin PCB that is T-shaped and soldered with hot-swappable sockets
• 3D printed nut
• 3D printed housing

Available to order from Etsy

ODIN

The best of the best is the ODIN V2 Drop-In. It lets you easily switch out a joystick for a WASD pad. Its low profile is ergonomic, it has hot low-profile switches, it features colored LED, and its 5-pin wiring harness swaps directly onto most fightsticks out there.

The ODIN comes with Kailh low-profile switches, but if you would like other switches, Omni Arcade may offer you clicky, tactile, or linear switches in different colors.

Omni Arcade allows you to pick your ODIN’s color as well as its LED color. Even the colors of the keycaps can be chosen, and for the best results, you can let Omni Arcade know which fightstick you plan on installing your ODIN onto.

Over time, Omni Arcade has improved its formula by injection-molding its white and black keycaps in a way that makes them even better than in the pictures.

Available to order from Etsy

1. PXN-X8

The PXN-X8 is simply a bargain. With quality hardware, it is available in two artwork styles. Its buttons feel good. As for the green axis mechanical keypad, it can outlast a whopping 50+ million presses, feeling snappy and responsive. Still, you can replace them if you want.

There is a headphone jack. The USB cable comes with Velcro, and included in the box are extra micro USB and USB-C cables. You are six screws away from opening the X8, revealing the organized interior. There are small weights within to make the controller heavier and more stable.

Available to order from Amazon and AliExpress