The arcade stick has become synonymous with fighting game players, and for good reason. Something about tapping the big arcade buttons and performing special attack motions with the stick just feels better than doing the same on a gamepad, and there’s also a bit of nostalgia behind it. With a variety of stick and button options, it’s easy to find an arcade stick that’s a good fit for you.
Whether you’re making the switch from pad to stick, or looking for a replacement or upgrade for your old stick, there’s a slew of arcade sticks to choose from. As a result, finding the right one can be a touch intimidating. With that in mind, here are our picks for the best arcade sticks in 2024.
Updated on Jul 18, 2025, by Sai Vsr:In this update, we have the Qanba Dragon, a brilliant choice for those who like to fiddle around with their joysticks.
Qanba Dragon Joystick
The dragon warrior.
The Qanba Dragon Joystick is a premium, tournament-grade arcade stick compatible with PS4, PS3, and PC. Featuring Sanwa Denshi joystick and buttons, LED lighting, and a durable aluminum interior, it offers exceptional performance and style for serious gamers.
First off, let’s talk build quality. The Qanba Dragon has this robust metal construction that feels rock-solid, which means you get that added stability if you’re planning to get intense with your gaming. It’s also fitted with Sanwa Denshi joystick and buttons, which, by the way, are considered the gold standard in arcade stick circles. They offer precise, responsive controls that make every move feel just right. Add in the LED lighting and that slick aluminum dragon scale interior, and you’ve got something that looks as good as it plays.
While the original panel’s artwork is permanently attached, you can score custom artwork that requires a plexiglass replacement. Also, the Qanba Dragon is designed with easy access for modifications. The flip-up control panel makes it simple to reach the internal components, so you can swap out buttons, joysticks, and other parts without much hassle. All in all, a pretty decent addition to make to your setup.
HORI Fighting Stick Alpha for PlayStation 5
A Tournament Ready Stick With High-Quality Parts
Hori is one of the best-known brands for arcade sticks for good reason. Their flagship stick is tournament-ready out of the box, perfect for serious fighters.
Hori Fightsticks are ready for action as soon as you get them, and the Alpha is no exception, sporting responsive Hayabusa parts that will serve you well for casual play or in tournaments. The stick is also highly customizable. Whether you want to change the stick’s artwork or swap out the stick’s square gate for an octagonal one, the top of the Hori Fightstick Alpha easily pops off, so you can get to the hardware easily.
The stick has side buttons for menus or using console-specific functions like PlayStation’s share button. Don’t worry about hitting them during play though, as the stick also features a lock function that prevents you from opening the menu during a match. Whether you’re an online warrior or a tournament regular, this is one of the best sticks you may get if you play on PC, PlayStation or Xbox.
8Bitdo Arcade Stick
A Great Stick with a Classic Aesthetic
If you ever want to feel like an old-school gamer when playing your fighting games, the 8Bitdo Arcade Stick is a great choice at an affordable price. Plus it works on Switch!
Many popular arcade sticks do not work on Switch, but, fortunately, the 8Bitdo Arcade Stick does! This is a no-frills arcade stick, which is perfect for a first stick, or for someone who is not interested in paying more for the bells and whistles you get with higher-priced options. The buttons and lever imitate the popular Sanwa parts that are common in high-end sticks, and they work well. Experienced players will notice the difference, but for casual or newer players, the buttons are great.
For anyone who ends up wanting to upgrade, the buttons are easily removable and replaceable. The stick also works wireless or wired, so it’s great if you need to game on the go, or if you just don’t want another cable for your console.
hitBOX
What if There Was an Arcade Stick, but Without the Stick?
If you love the precision offered by arcade buttons, why not replace the stick with more of them? The Hit Box is the premiere leverless controller for those who want to ditch the stick.
The Hit Box takes the excellent Sanwa buttons fighting game players love, and goes one step further than most sticks and replaces the entire stick with buttons. If you’re used to doing your special attack inputs on a traditional arcade stick this takes some getting used to, but it offers unrivaled responsiveness and precision once you get the hang of playing on just buttons.
The Hit Box is also extremely durable and easily customizable, though you likely won’t want to make changes since the parts included are high quality. The only downside of the Hit Box is that it’s not compatible with current gen consoles out of the box, so if you want to use it on a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X, you’ll need to use an adapter, which is easy to install, but is an additional purchase. If you want the best precision you can get on your arcade stick, the Hit Box is the way to go.
Mayflash F500
A Great Place to Start Your Arcade Stick Journey
With serviceable parts at an affordable price point, the Mayflash F500 is a great stick for anyone looking for their first one.
When you’re buying your first stick, it’s not essential to have the most expensive buttons and levers. The Mayflash F500 provides good enough hardware for enthusiasts, or those learning to play on an arcade stick that aren’t willing to pay a premium for high-end parts like Sanwa and Seimitsu buttons.
The stock buttons and lever on the Mayflash F500 are responsive and durable, and for players who eventually want to upgrade to the types of hardware more common in tournament play, it’s easy to replace the buttons and lever with any of the popular choices. For that reason, the Mayflash F500 is perfect for a player just getting into arcade sticks who wants a stick that can grow with them and won’t need to be totally replaced as they improve.
Hori Fighting Stick Mini
Good Things Come in Small Packages
Arcade sticks can be bulky to travel with, but a miniature stick can be the solution! The Hori Fighting Stick solves this with an 8” x 6” form factor that’s perfect to travel with.
Good arcade sticks can be hard to find for the gamer who loves to travel. Arcade sticks are often bulky and heavy and difficult to get from place to place. The Hori Fighting Stick Mini is less than a foot long and will fit into your backpack. It’s also available at a very affordable price point for players who want to experiment with an arcade stick but aren’t ready to take the plunge on a more expensive controller.
Unfortunately, the hardware on this stick is difficult to replace if you want to upgrade, as the small size of the case makes it difficult to install new parts. Many popular parts, particularly levers, are too big for the form factor. Still, for the price point, it’s difficult to find the mix of quality and convenience that the Hori Fighting Stick Mini provides. If you don’t want to carry around a bulky controller, this stick is a great option.
Qanba Q7 Obsidian 2
A Treat for any Fighting Gamer
The Qanba Obsidian 2 combines high quality Sanwa parts, durable materials, and a durable case to create a luxurious, responsive controller.
If you’re looking for a flashy, high-end stick, the Obsidian 2 is about as good as it gets. It comes with highly praised Sanwa buttons installed, resulting in a smooth and responsive gameplay experience.
The Qanba Obsidian 2 is customizable if you ever need to replace a button or want to swap to different parts, and the spacious interior makes this easy to do even if you are swapping in a large part. It’s also a very bulky stick weighing in at seven pounds, which may be a pro or con depending on your taste.
The stick is missing some features that less expensive sticks offer, such as wireless compatibility, but if you want high quality parts and a durable, reliable stick, the Qanba Obsidian 2 is a strong choice.
FAQ
How Much do High-Quality Buttons Matter?
High-quality buttons in arcade sticks are more reliable, more durable, and more responsive. In a genre where success or failure can often hinge on pressing a button on just the right frame, highly precise and responsive buttons are important for more serious players.
Is a Ball Top or Bat Top Stick Better?
Whether you use a ball top or a bat top for your arcade stick is largely down to personal preference! Most Japanese arcade sticks come with ball tops, but if you want a bat top most sticks make it easy to swap one in. The main difference is the grip you have to use with each type of stick topper, so try both and see which feels good to you!
Are Arcade Sticks better than typical controllers for fighting games?
There’s a lot of debate over what the best controller is for fighting games. Players have success in tournaments on both pad and on arcade sticks, so what is better for each player may come down to individual comfort level.
