If you’ve played fighting games for a significant amount of time, you understand just how important it is to own a comfortable and capable controller. The 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 gamepad 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.
What Is a Fight Stick?
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.
It’s that arcade-style 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. Sometimes standard gamepads place buttons in awkward locations, buttons that would otherwise be easily accessible with a fight stick.
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What Makes a Good Fight Stick?
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 (ball top 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. You don’t want that to happen when you’re participating in a local, Capcom Cup, Combo Breaker, or Evo tourney.
If you’re in the stick game for the long haul, you should buy one that uses real arcade-quality parts that will handle the wear and tear that comes with long play sessions (look for sticks featuring Sanwa Denshi and Seimitsu parts). 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 or Focus Attack 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.
Are Fight Sticks Compatible With Consoles or PCs?
Yes! In fact, the most important thing you should do before buying a fight stick is to determine 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 needn’t 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. Valve has done a great job of making its Steam platform compatible with many controller types. If you find one that doesn’t, you can open Steam’s controller settings and tinker a bit. Many fight sticks are compatible with the Steam Deck and Steam Deck OLED, Valve’s Linux-powered handheld gaming PC. Naturally, some console-centric features, such as image sharing and touchpad functionality, won’t work on 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 is a terrific option.
What Are All-Button Fight Sticks?
A new style of fight stick, the “all-button” or “leverless” stick has made inroads in recent years thanks to the rise of the Hit Box (see below). It’s a fight stick without the stick, a button-focused controller that some people believe creates an unfair advantage in competitive settings. Thankfully, tournament organizers are continually taking a look at the various leverless builds to make certain that they offer fair play, and you’ll see them at events like CEO Gaming and Evo. If you’re not a tourney player, grab one without worry!
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Do Fight Sticks Work With Other Games?
Although fight sticks are 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.
How Much Does a Fight Stick Cost?
If you yearn to buy a stick, there are many manufacturers to explore. Hori is perhaps the best-known fight stick manufacturer, but it isn’t the only company worth your time and dollar. Mad Catz, Mayflash, Qanba, Razer, Victrix, and a handful of other companies have competing products on the market.
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, it’s a good starting point that doesn’t require much moolah. On the other hand, a high-end, $300 to $400 fight stick includes superior flourishes and design elements.
If all this sounds appealing, it might be time for you to invest in a fight stick. There are many models 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 Entry-Level Pick
The Hori Fighting Stick Mini 4 is a satisfactory entry-level stick that you can pick up for less than $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. A 9-foot USB cord lets you sit at a comfortable distance away from a gaming monitor or gaming TV.
Given the stick’s small 3.4-by-8.3-by-5.9-inch footprint, it’s useful 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 paws may find the Mini 4 a bit compact, but the controller’s demure size makes it perfect for people with small hands.
The lightweight, 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 with Street Fighter branding. In testing, it worked with a few PS5 games, including Guilty Gear Strive and Street Fighter 6.
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The Alternate Entry-Level Pick
Let’s get this out of the way: The Qanba Drone 2 is a relatively expensive entry-level fight stick. We prefer beginner models to cost less than $100, but the PS5/PS4/PC-compatible Qanba Drone 2 makes a compelling argument for its price. At $124.99, the Drone 2 costs more than the Hori Fighting Stick Mini 4, but it doesn’t make the typical sacrifices you find in lower-cost sticks.
As you’d expect, the matte black controller forgoes Sanwa parts. Instead, the Drone 2 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 2 also features anti-slip, textured strips on its bottom; a full PlayStation control panel; a Share button; a touchpad; a compartment for stashing the USB cord; and a headphone jack. In a nice touch, Qanba includes a lever-access hole that lets you easily replace the stick without unscrewing the unit’s top from the bottom. Sadly, it lacks a button-lock switch that prevents tournament disqualifications if you accidentally hit the Start button during a match.
Measuring 4.5 by 14 by 8.7 inches (HWD) and weighing 2.6 pounds, the Drone 2 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 2 is easier to mod than some competing budget options, but the stick lacks the easy-access panels found in premium models.
The Premium Pick
Officially licensed by Microsoft for use with the Xbox Series X, Xbox Series 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 is also available.
The Alternate Premium Pick
Resembling a hybrid of Qanba’s Drone 2 and Obsidian 2 fight sticks, the $224 Titan is a terrific mid-tier control with many attractive features. The Sony-licensed Titan is compatible with the PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 so it comes as no surprise that it features a touch panel for games that support swipe gestures. It also works well with PC games.
Measuring 4.6 by 15.1 by 9.5 inches and weighing 5 pounds, the matte black Titan is a well-designed stick that won’t budge when you’re furiously executing moves. That steadiness comes courtesy of the weight and a rubber, anti-slip pad on the controller’s bottom. Under the hood you’ll find a Sanwa Denshi arcade-quality, balltop joystick and Sanwa Denshi buttons.
The other goodies built into the Titan include a 3.5mm headphone jack, a lever-access hole, a touchpad, a Share button, a button-lock switch, and a compartment for storing the lengthy, 9-foot cable.
The High-End Pick
Sometimes you just gotta floss. Priced at $399 (the cost of an all-digital PlayStation 5 console!), the Victrix Pro FS doesn’t come cheap. However, if you’re looking for a high-end fight stick experience that has arcade-quality parts and lets you stunt on rival tournament entrants, drop some coin 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 a detachable Sanwa Denshi ball-top joystick, an Allen wrench for tightening or loosening the stick, and Sanwa Denshi buttons. The controller also has removable die-cast metal wrap extensions that can be used to secure the braided 9.8-inch USB-C cable (or hooked to shoulder straps for easier travel), adjustable LED lighting, a headphone jack, an anti-slip base, a lock button, and an easy-access panel for modding purposes.
The Victrix Pro FS measures 5.7 by 19.0 by 13.3 inches and weighs 7.7 pounds, so you’ll want to get a carrying case if you’re headed to a tourney. You can pick the controller up for the PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, or PC in either purple or white.
The Alternate High-End Pick
Qanba has many excellent fight sticks on the market, but the $299 Obsidian 2 is the company’s top-of-the-line offering. The quality becomes apparent as soon as you touch the glossy, all-black controller.
First off, the Obsidian 2 is a hefty stick with lots of wrist rest area, measuring 4.6 by 19.1 by 10.2 inches and weighing 7.3 pounds. The girth and weight give it a premium feel; place the Obsidian 2 on a lap or tabletop and it ain’t budging, even during vigorous play. Part of that is due to its dimensions; part of that is due to the wide, rubber base on the stick’s bottom. That said, the Obsidian 2’s mass might steer you to use it as your “home” stick, while a smaller one acts as the “away” stick.
The officially Sony-licensed stick—compatible with PS5, PS4, and PC—has the expected arcade-quality Sanwa Deshi buttons and joystick, and a few other cool features too. It has a lever-access hole, a headphone jack, a touchpad, a PlayStation control strip, and a button-lock switch.
The real design highlight comes in the form of the two screw-off door panels on the stick’s sides. The left one houses a 9-foot USB cable, while the right one houses a bat top that you can use instead of the default ball top. Overall, the Qanba Obsidian 2 is one of the best sticks that you can get at its price.
The All-Button Pick
The leverless Victrix Pro FS 12 is built like a tank, a beautiful tank. It’s made from a single piece of aircraft-grade aluminum, features high-quality Sanwa Denshi buttons, measures 2.2 by 16.2 by 11 inches, and weighs 7.7 pounds. The Victrix Pro FS 12 is a significant, hefty controller that’s well worth its $399.99 price.
Despite its size, the Victrix Pro FS 12 is designed with ergonomics in mind. It has a gentle wrist slope, a built-in foam lap pad on the back that offers grip when you’re furiously fighting, and carrying handles and cable organizers for convenient transportation. Like to mod your sticks with fresh parts? Simply pop the top to swap out components via the quick-access back panel.
As a PlayStation-focused controller, the Victrix Pro FS 12 has the expected Option/Share buttons and a touch strip. The tournament-ready Victrix Pro FS 12 has a 9.8-inch breakaway cable that detaches from the stick when yanked, preventing your investment from crashing to the floor.
The Alternate All-Button Pick
The Hit Box brought the leverless controller concept to the masses, and remains one of the better all-button options. Compatible with the PS4 and PC, the $199 Hit Box replaces the joystick with great-felling, authentic Sanwa directional buttons that let you bust out complex special moves and combos with relative ease.
The 2.0-by-16.0-by-7.0-inch Hit Box comes in two other flavors: the Super Smash Bros.-friendly Smash Box (compatible with PC and GameCube) and Cross|Up (a hybrid controller with a fight stick and directional buttons).
Unfortunately, the Hit Box currently lacks PS5 compatibility. You’ll need a Brook Super Converter to make the all-button controller work with Sony’s latest home video game console.
The Wireless Pick
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.
The company released its first Xbox-compatible stick in 2023.
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