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 int🐎imidating. With that in mind,⛄ here are our picks for the best arcade sticks in 2024.

Updated on May 23, 2024, by Sai Vsr: In this update, we have the Qanba Dragon, a brilliant choice for those who like to fiddle around with their joysticks.

Our Picks Of The Best Arcade Sticks

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 Fightsticks are ready for action as soon as you get them, and the Alpha is no exception, sporting resp𝕴onsive 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 can get if you play on PC, PlayStation or Xbox.

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.

The Hit Box takes the excellent Sanwa buttonღs fighting game players love, and goes one step further than most sticks and replaces the entire stick with buttons. If ꦡyou’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 ౠthe 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 wa🅘y to go.

When you’re buying your first stick, it’s not essential tꦰo 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 th📖e 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.

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 fꦓor 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. S♑till, 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.

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 experienc🍃e.

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 succ❀ess 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 tourname🦂nts on both pad and on arcade sticks, so what is better for each player may come down to individu🍸al comfort level.