If you've played fighting games for a significant amount of time, you understand just how important it is to own a comfortable and capable controller. The genre demands swift, sharp inputs for launching fireballs, combo links, and super moves, so you need a controller that enables you to do just that. A standard gamepad can do the job, but for many members of the fighting game community (FGC), fight sticks—alternately known as arcade sticks—are the weapons of choice.
What Is a Fight Stick?
Fight sticks are special video game controllers tailor-made for, well, fighting games. They typically duplicate the feel and look of the classic, Street Fighter-inspired panel, which features the joystick and two-button-row layout commonly seen on arcade uprights. In fact, the fight stick market was essentially birthed when ridiculously popular fighting games like Street Fighter II and Mortal Kombat received home console ports.
It's that arcade-style feel of gripping a lollipop- or baseball bat-style joystick in one hand and manipulating buttons with the other that draws people to adopting fight sticks. It's not a nostalgic feeling, either. Sometimes standard gamepads place buttons in awkward locations, buttons that would otherwise be easily accessible with a fight stick.
KOF, Street Fighter, and Super Smash Bros.: We Name the Best Fighting GamesWhat Makes a Good Fight Stick?
A person unfamiliar with fight sticks might mistake these controllers as more or less the same, just with superficial differences. This couldn't be further from the truth. There's a lot of variety, including the number of buttons (six vs. eight vs. even more), button layout (straight alignment vs. Namco Noir vs. Taito Vewlix), joystick style (ball top vs. baseball bat), and joystick gate (circle vs. diamond vs. octagonal vs. square).
Most fight sticks feature a Mode button that lets you use the lone joystick as a D-pad, left analog stick, or right analog stick. Likewise, button-lock switches are found on tournament-ready sticks. Those switches are important, as they prevent you from disqualifying yourself by accidentally hitting the Mode, Home, Start, or Options buttons. You don't want that to happen when you're participating in a local, Capcom Cup, Combo Breaker, or Evo tourney.
If you're in the stick game for the long haul, you should buy one that uses real arcade-quality parts that will handle the wear and tear that comes with long play sessions (look for sticks featuring Sanwa Denshi and Seimitsu parts). Thankfully, there's quite some distance between now and the 1990s and early 2000s, when buying a stick meant dealing with suspect parts that couldn't handle intense fighting game action.
Then, when you become knowledgeable in regards to fight stick design, visit Arcade Shock or Focus Attack to take your stick to the next level by modding it with new buttons, gates, and other parts. Stick manufacturers don't discourage this tinkering, either; in fact, some high-end sticks possess easy-access interiors that let you mod to your heart's content.
Are Fight Sticks Compatible With Consoles or PCs?
Yes! In fact, the most important thing you should do before buying a fight stick is to determine the platforms on which you'll use it. Some fight sticks are designed exclusively for PlayStation use; others are designed with Nintendo or Xbox in mind.
Fortunately, PC players needn't dwell in such walled gardens. Due to the open nature of the Windows platform, you can use Nintendo, PlayStation, or Xbox fight sticks out of the box or with a bit of software tinkering. Valve has done a great job of making its Steam platform compatible with many controller types. If you find one that doesn't, you can open Steam's controller settings and tinker a bit. Many fight sticks are also compatible with the Steam Deck, Valve's Linux-powered handheld gaming PC. Naturally, some console-centric features, such as image sharing and touchpad functionality, won't work on PC.
If you don't mind losing platform-specific features, you can use nearly any controller with any console with the right adapter. The Brook Super Converter is a terrific option.
What Are All-Button Fight Sticks?
A new style of fight stick, the "all-button" or "leverless" stick has made inroads in recent years thanks to the rise of the Hit Box (see below). It's a fight stick without the stick, a button-focused controller that some people believe creates an unfair advantage in competitive settings. Thankfully, tournament organizers are continually taking a look at the various leverless builds to make certain that they offer fair play, and you'll see them at events like CEO Gaming and Evo. If you're not a tourney player, grab one without worry!
Do Fight Sticks Work With Other Games?
Although fight sticks are literally made with fighting games in mind, they are perfectly viable controllers for other arcade-style video games, such as Ikaruga or Metal Slug 3. Basically, any game that doesn't require dual analog sticks is rife for fight stick enjoyment.
How Much Does a Fight Stick Cost?
If you have a yearning to buy a stick, there are many manufacturers to explore. Hori is perhaps the best-known fight stick manufacturer, but it isn't the only company worth your time and dollar. Mad Catz, Mayflash, Qanba, Razer, Victrix, and a handful of other companies have competing products on the market.
Fight stick prices are all over the place. On the budget side, you can pick up a solid model for just $50. If you have zero fight stick experience, it's a good starting point that doesn't require much moolah. On the other hand, a high-end, $300 to $400 fight stick includes superior flourishes and design elements.
If all this sounds appealing, it might be time for you to invest in a fight stick. There are many models to consider before opening your wallet, so I've culled a few standout sticks in various categories. Take a read and then select your weapon.
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