The Best Fight Sticks in 2024
Fans of fighting games, especially those who spend a lot of their time in playing competitively, probably prefer the size and versatility of a fight stick to the cramped control layout on a controller. Fight or arcade sticks can also be interesting to gamers who just entered the fighting genre and are looking to improve their experience, and their winning percentage. If you’re looking for the best fight stick, we’ve got you covered. Below you’ll find a selection of the best arcade sticks on the market that cover all price brackets as well as every popular gaming platform.
We have premium but also budget choices. We also cover every major console with at least one model. When it comes to the PC, every fighting stick featured on this list, and any fighting stick, in general, is PC compatible. If you don’t find your next arcade stick on this list, scroll below it and read our fight stick buying guide, it should help you in finding just what you’re looking for. And if you like this list check out our coverage of gaming keypads.
HORI PlayStation 5 Fighting Stick Alpha
Tournament Grade Fightstick
- Compatibility: PS5, PS4, PC
- Hayabusa joystick and buttons
- Key locking function
If you enjoy playing fighting games on PlayStation 4/5 or a PC you will find that it is hard to beat the Hori Alpha which was designed as a tournament-grade device for real enthusiasts. The Alpha uses Hayabusa buttons and a joystick, making your inputs responsive and easy to chain your combos.
You can open the plastic shell up for maintenance and the top panel artwork is replaceable which is a nice touch for those who have a look they are gunning for. There is a key lock button and a headset jack with onboard audio controls (PS4/PS5).
To make full use of the fighting stick you can use the PC app to get access to a fully programmable interface. This device is also modded easily since you can open the case and swap actuators, buttons, etc.
- You can easily open the device for cleaning or modding
- Being able to change the artwork adds a bit of personality to the device
- Responsive inputs
- Decent build quality
- The cable is not removable and needs to be stored inside the case
Victrix Pro FS
All Out Arcade Fight Stick
- Compatibility: PS5, PS4, PC
- Sanwa Denshi buttons
- Sanwa JLF joystick
The Victrix Pro FS is a fantastic arcade fight stick that is officially compatible with both PS5/PS4 and PC devices and allows you to compete at a high level with all the bells and whistles you would need. With the Pro FS you get 30mm Sanwa Denshi buttons and a patented Link 2 Detachable Joystick on a Sanwa JLF base.
You also benefit from a 6.28° wrist slope, ergonomic button layout, and built-in foam lap pad on the back for maximum comfort. You can open the back panel quickly for easy mods and updates in case you have specific preferences and you can also go into tournament mode and lock out the control bar buttons so you do not accidentally use them.
For maximum usability, you have carrying handles and a quick switch button for swapping between devices.
- Premium build with comfort and usability in mind
- Easy modding and updating the inside of the device
- Fully compatible with multiple platforms
- Premium device with a premium price tag – 400$
Mad Catz EGO
Tournament-Grade Fighting Stick
- Multi-button functionality
- Turbo function
- Additional buttons
- PC and console compatibility
To play your best you need a competitive fighting stick like the Mad Catz EGO which is ideal for fighting games and has decent components that will allow you to achieve the accuracy you need.
This fighting stick is compatible with most gaming platforms (PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC) making it a good choice for gamers across all possible devices. The versatility of the device continues with abilities to configure your joystick, your action buttons, and even the device itself.
The Mad Catz EGO is mod-friendly and allows you to swap top decal panels or internal components to fit the fighting stick better to your needs. Talking about your needs you also have the flexibility to add rapid-fire to an action button in order to prevent fatigue building up in a competitive environment.
All in all this device emulates a decent arcade feel and can help you duke it out even in competitive style tournaments.
- Decent build
- Ability to customize your buttons and inputs
- Ability to customize the device itself
- Authentic arcade feel
- Pricey
- Disingenuous marketing – this is not actually a special tournament edition arcade stick just a rebranded model circulating on the market already
- You have to use a controller to plug it into a console
- Expensive for what it actually is
Qanba Drone Fight Stick
The Best Budget Fight Stick
- Compatibility: PS3, PS4, PC
- Button Layout: Standard Layout
- Connectivity: Wired
- Extra Buttons: Seven Buttons And Two Switches
The Qanba Drone Fight Stick is a compact and affordable fight stick that’s great in case you’re only getting into fighting games or just want a portable stick you can carry around. The base is pretty small and narrow but there’s enough place for hand resting. The base plate also has a sloped edge that works as a comfortable wrist rest. The design is attractive, with lots of angles and without flashy LEDs.
The stick itself features the regular button layout combined with seven extra buttons and two switches. While the stick is compatible with the PS4 and PC (as well as with PS3) it doesn’t include the touchpad, which is understandable given its price. The buttons and joystick are made by Qanba and while the buttons feel responsive and are pretty solid to use, the joystick is loose and feels cheap. You can mod the stick and install new buttons quite easily. In the case of the joystick, it’s possible but isn’t as simple as replacing the buttons.
The Qanba Drone Fight Stick is a great arcade stick for newbies. It performs rather well for the price and has excellent portability. It’s quite affordable and, aside from the loose joystick, it gives a lot for the money. You can mod the buttons and the joystick and get even better performance but the size of the base plate can be too small for some gamers.
- Solid Build Quality
- Portable
- Simple To Mod
- Buttons Are Pretty Good
- Comfortable To Use
- Joystick Feels Cheap
- Can Be Too Small For Some Users
- Doesn’t Include The Touchpad
Mayflash F300 Arcade Fight Stick
Excellent Budget Arcade Stick If You’re Ready To Mod It
- Compatibility: PS3, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Nintendo Switch, PC, Android, Neo Geo Mini
- Button Layout: Standard Layout
- Connectivity: Wired
- Extra Buttons: Four Buttons And Three Switches
The Mayflash F300 Arcade Fight Stick is an affordable fight stick compatible with a wide range of gaming platforms. You can hook it up to a PS3, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PC, as well as to a Nintendo Switch or an Android device and it should work fine. It will require some setting up no matter the platform and if you’re using it on the PS4 you need a PS4 controller to finish the setup.
When it comes to build quality, it’s decent for the price. The plate’s a bit narrow and the buttons and the joystick feel cramped but they’re easy to use and won’t make you press buttons on accident. As for the extra buttons, you can find four buttons on the upper left side of the base plate. You also have a total of three switches but no touchpad, which is expected at this price point.
The quality of the buttons is decent and they can be used for competitive gaming. The joystick, on the other hand, feels cheap and is way below the quality of the buttons. The stick can be swapped, though. Just swap it for a decent Sanwa joystick and you will have a superb budget fight stick that can work with virtually every gaming platform around. On the flipside it doesn’t have the best build quality, is pretty small, and its buttons and joystick aren’t the best.
- Solid Build Quality
- Compatible With Every Major Gaming Platform
- Easy To Mod
- Very Affordable
- Joystick Feels Cheap
- Base Plate Is Quite Narrow
HORI Switch Fighting Stick Mini
The Best Fight Switch For Nintendo Switch
- Compatibility: Nintendo Switch, PC
- Button Layout: Standard Layout
- Connectivity: Wired
- Extra Buttons: Five Buttons
The HORI Switch Fighting Stick Mini is a perfect choice for Switch owners who need a portable fight stick. It’s quite small and compact, which isn’t the perfect setup if you have large hands. Also, while it’s great for games that don’t have a ton of complex combos and moves, advanced fighting games might play better when paired with a large stick. But as a compact stick that’s great for gaming on the go, this stick rocks.
It’s easy to get used to the smaller size and, while it cannot be modded, the included buttons and joystick are well made, are responsive, and the joystick is precise, firm, and a joy to use despite its short length. The HORI Switch Fighting Stick Mini is also compatible with PCs so it might be an excellent choice for gamers who do lots of their gaming on a laptop. As for the extra buttons, you get five buttons in total. There are no switches since the stick automatically recognizes the device it’s connected to.
The build quality is great. The device is sturdy but not very heavy which might reduce its stability. Also, the small size means it’s not very comfortable when held in a lap. The cable, on the other hand, has a length of 2.5 meters, which should be enough for most users. Overall, the HORI Switch Fighting Stick Mini is a great portable arcade stick for the Nintendo Switch that sells at an affordable price. The downside is that it’s quite small and that it cannot be modded.
- Solid Build Quality
- Excellent Portability
- Buttons And Joystick Are Responsive And Well Made
- Affordable
- Non-Moddable
- Can Be Small For Users With Large Hands
How To Choose A Fight Stick
A fight stick is a vastly superior choice for fighting games than any controller out there. Playing fighting games on an arcade stick is like playing flight sim games on an excellent joystick, it’s a completely different experience. If you want to buy a fight stick, these are the things to focus on when in the market for one:
Compatibility With Different Gaming Systems
The great thing about fighting sticks is that virtually every model is compatible with a PC, which is great since even a budget arcade sticks are better for fighting games than even the best controllers for PC. But if you own a console or multiple gaming systems, you have to do a bit of research before buying your next fight stick.
Make sure that the model you’re after is compatible with whatever console you own. Aside from PC, the majority of models are also compatible with the PS4. Xbox One and Nintendo Switch owners, on the other hand, have to be extra careful because a good number of fight sticks aren’t compatible with these two consoles.
Also, some models can be used with Android smartphones. If you by chance play fighting games on your phone, or use stuff like the Xbox Game Pass or Steam Link, you can massively improve your experience by getting an arcade stick that can work with smartphones. So, before you decide on a particular model, make sure it can be used on gaming systems you own.
Picking The Right Size
This is another important thing to consider. Fight sticks greatly wary when it comes to their plate size and different people prefer different dimensions. Some of us like compact models that can be carried around but other people might like massive plates where they can rest their hands on, or they simply like for the joystick and buttons to be as far away one from the other as possible.
Now, if you already used a fight stick and like its size great, you know what to look for. But if you want one but didn’t have the chance to try one in person, check out different models in person if possible and discover your preferred size.
To Mod Or Not To Mod
Now, this might not be very important to the majority of users but many gamers like if their fight stick supports modding. If you’re an average user who doesn’t care about opening the thing and swapping the joystick and buttons, just get a well-reviewed model or one you already tried and liked.
But if you want modding well, it’s better to get a moddable stick with a perfect size and other features even if buttons and joystick aren’t to your liking than to be stuck with a quality stick that doesn’t have the right size or misses on some features important for you.
So, if you want to mod your stick firstly, get one that ergonomically suits you. Even if it doesn’t have great controls you can swap those. Next, be sure it can be fitted with your favorite buttons and joystick. Some “moddable” sticks only support certain brands, which can be a huge issue if not being careful. Next, if you like playing different games with different gates, make sure the stick you like supports both octagonal and square gates. There are also circle gates, but those are a nightmare to use for fighting games. If you do use a circle gate, make sure your next stick can be fitted with one.
Finally, different sticks are easier or harder to mod. Some can be opened without a hustle while others require tools such as screwdrivers. Also, replacing the buttons and joystick is a breeze on some models, while others might have a design that, while supporting modding, isn’t mod-friendly.
Extra Features
Finally, let’s talk about extra features. First of all, if you like holding the arcade stick in your lap while gaming, it would be great if you could try out the stick you’re interested in in-person to make sure it’s not too heavy or too big.
Next, there’s the portability. Even large sticks can be made portable by equipping them with carrying handles. You also have certain models where you can simply pluck the joystick away and carry it inside the body of the stick.
One extremely important feature that gets overlooked is the cable length. So, before you even start looking for your next fighting stick, come up with a minimum cable length you need. The longer the cable the better, especially if you spend lots of time playing games at your friends or other places outside your home.
Those who play their fighting games with headphones probably need a fighting stick with a headphone jack. Be careful when buying one because some models don’t feature a headphone jack.
Fans of swappable artworks should be picky when in the market for a new arcade stick since lots of models don’t support swapping artworks. Make sure to find one that does.