How to Choose the Best Fight Stick, No Matter Your Budget (2024)

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TheHori Fighting Stick Mini 4is 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.

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, theDrone2 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.

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.

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.

Sometimes you just gotta floss. Priced at $399 (the cost of an all-digital PlayStation 5 console!), theVictrix Pro FSdoesn't come cheap. However, if you're looking for a high-end fight stick experience that has arcade-quality partsandlets 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.

Qanba has many excellent fight sticks on the market, but the $299Obsidian 2is 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 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 Hit Boxbrought 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 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).