Our list of the best fight sticks below caters to all types of players, regardless of console or budget. Some of them are also compatible with the PS5 and Xbox Series X, so you won’t have to switch sticks when you upgrade to a newer console. We looked at what the market has to offer in this category, so if you want to add some retro flavour to your gaming setup. These fight sticks will have you ready to rumble in no time. With a number of arcade classics now available on various platforms, you can get even more use out of these fight sticks when you dip into your classic game library. Our list of the best fight sticks is not in any particular order, but it includes both budget and high-end options.
Here is the list of Best Fight Sticks
Mad Catz Ego
Easily one of the best Fight Sticks available on the market, The Mad Catz Ego is a ready-to-fight fight stick. What exactly do we mean by that? It’s a fight stick that bridges the absurd platform compatibility gap, stands out with high-quality components, and is ready for gamers to tinker with at their leisure. it’s also reasonably priced for a fight stick in a market dominated by $200 and $300 options. The Mad Catz Ego is compatible with both PCs and the Nintendo Switch. For the Xbox or PlayStation, simply plug in the appropriate controller from that platform into the Ego. If you connect a DualShock 4 controller to this fight stick, it will even work with the PS5. It’s a huge help to find something that works across all platforms. The Mad Catz Ego includes a Sanwa Denshi ball-top joystick and action buttons.
Victrix Pro FS
Sometimes all you need to do is floss. The Victrix Pro FS is not cheap. However, if you want a premium fight stick experience with arcade-quality parts and the ability to stunt on rival tournament entrants, this bad boy is worth the money. What makes the Pro FS such an eye-catching fight stick? It has a sleek, single-piece aircraft-grade aluminum body that begs to be touched. Two interchangeable Sanwa Denshi ball-top joysticks, an Allen wrench for adjusting those joysticks, and Sanwa Denshi buttons. The controller also includes removable die cast metal wrap extensions for securing the braided, 3-meter USB-C cable, adjustable LED lighting, a headphone jack, an anti-slip base, and an easy-access panel for modding.
Mayflash F300 Arcade Fight Stick
It’s also well-liked for its ease of modification. There’s just one catch: To use the stick on a PlayStation or Xbox, you’ll need to plug in the console’s controller. Currently, this is one of the best Fight Sticks that you can buy right now.
PowerA Fusion Wireless Arcade Stick
Because most fight-stick enthusiasts prefer to play while connected, quality wireless sticks are less popular and thus more difficult to find. PowerA, on the other hand, made a big splash in the market with its Fusion Wireless Arcade Stick, which is traditional in size and has a storage compartment for a USB-C cable. This stick is one of the few that can run on two AA batteries for 30 hours of play, which is useful for travel and tournaments where being able to quickly swap out batteries mid-battle can mean the difference between staying alive and being disqualified. The PowerA features 30mm Japanese-style domed buttons and a removable faceplate for further customization (a template is included for those who want to make their own plate). For more movement options, the stick, like many other high-end products, can be used for D-Pad, left stick, or right stick inputs. As a Nintendo fight stick, the bright red colours with black trim look fantastic.
8Bitdo Arcade Stick
8BitDo is known for its controllers that combine classic style with modern conveniences, and its arcade fight stick is a prime example of this design philosophy. This peripheral has wireless Bluetooth support, a dynamic button layout, and a long battery life, in addition to its delightful retro aesthetics. The main attraction here is its ultra-moldable design, which allows the fight stick to be customized both physically and digitally via 8BitDo’s software. So, if you want one of the best Fight Sticks, we highly recommend this product.
Qanba Drone Joystick
Fighting games are much easier to play with fight sticks, but you may not want to pay the price of a new game console just to gain an advantage in a few games. For $80, you can get in on the button-mashing, quarter-circle action of fighting games with the Qanba Drone. That’s only a little more than the cost of a game and roughly in line with the cost of other game controllers. The Qanba Drone has some flexibility, as it supports X-Input and Direct Input for use with Sony consoles and PCs, though its button layout is designed for PlayStation games. Qanba has its own arcade buttons and joystick, but you can modify the platform later if you want to use the ever-popular Sanwa parts. The Qanba Drone is also ready to accompany you to tournaments.
Hori Fighting Stick Alpha
Hori Fighting Stick is a tournament-ready arcade stick with a plethora of user-friendly features. The familiar Profile and Share buttons can be found on the Xbox side. On the Hori side, you’ll find the Hayabusa lever and matte-finish buttons, which are intended for faster response times and cleaner inputs (the company claims that the stick cuts input loads by up to 15 percent). The Alpha’s top can be easily removed to replace parts or make repairs because it was designed with customization in mind. Furthermore, you can change the stick’s attractive artwork for something more to your liking. If you download the Hori Device Manager app, you can configure the Alpha’s buttons and create up to four different profiles—a great option if you play multiple games. Thus, this product is one of the best Fight Sticks available right now.
Mayflash Universal F500
The Mayflash F500 is compatible with so many systems—and could be updated for even more in the future via firmware—that it’s a worthwhile purchase for some gamers. It is, however, one of the most difficult sticks to travel with. To be playable on such a diverse range of platforms, the F500 employs a tether system, in which a standard controller is connected to the fight stick to translate inputs. It’s an odd feature, and the setup is difficult to deal with in a tournament setting, but it’s a solid, affordable option for home use at a desk or table. The majority of this unit’s features are strange but intriguing, such as a wired wrist strap that transmits vibration feedback to the user. Mayflash is another well-known name in the gaming industry, best known for its GameCube adapters, which allow you to use a GameCube controller on a PC or Switch. It’s also worth noting that for most games, this stick works fine with a single cable on a PC. Still, it is one of the best Fight Sticks that you can consider.
Final Words
Choosing the best Fight Sticks Controller is all about getting the best lever and buttons for your money. When it comes to the stick of a fight stick, you really only have two options: Japanese or Korean-made parts. Sanwa will be the most common name you hear when looking for a controller in this market. It’s a Japanese company that makes arcade buttons and sticks, the latter of which has a square gate and moderate resistance.
