As game consoles have improved, fighting games have become popular again. Since the Xbox One and PS4 came out, old favorite games like Tekken 7 and Street Fighter 5 have returned—new games like Super Smash Bros.
Ultimate and Dragon Ball FighterZ have also become popular. Even long-time favorites are coming out with exciting new versions, like Guilty Gear Strive.
With more fighting games, more competitions, and more people are streaming these games online. If you watch pro players and streamers, you’ll see that they often use different controllers than the ones you might have at home. So, you might wonder: which controllers are best for fighting games? We have a great list of the best controllers for both beginners and pros!
10. Mayflash Arcade Stick F500 V2
The Mayflash F500 V2 is a good fight stick for new players. It works with PCs and game consoles. You can easily change and customize many parts of this controller, like the buttons and the acrylic panel.
It also has special features, like a switch to change how the joystick works and a Turbo button. Once you start customizing it, you might want to do more or buy more parts. Overall, it is a great controller for beginners, intermediate players, and even professionals.
9. GameCube Controller
Nintendo and Smash Bros players still use the GameCube controller for good reasons. First, they are used to it because the game was made with that controller in mind. It’s also easier to learn and play Smash Bros with the right tools.
Another reason to use a GameCube controller is that it helps you control the characters better. The restrictor gate makes it easier to understand your movements and inputs. If you care about input lag, you should get a real GameCube controller.
8. SmashBox
The SmashBox is a special controller made for playing Smash Bros. It doesn’t have a joystick, which might look strange at first. But don’t worry, the buttons are set up just like a GameCube controller, similar to another controller called the HitBox.
Some experienced Smash Bros. players might say the SmashBox isn’t good for playing the game. However, it works well for many players.
The SmashBox makes the game easier to play for a lot of people. These types of controllers help those who find regular controllers hard to use. This way, more people can enjoy playing fighting games without struggling with a standard controller.
7. Qanbra Drone
The Qanbra Drone works with PCs, the PS3, and the PS4. It’s popular because it’s cheap and good for beginners who want to learn how to use a fight stick. The stick feels a bit loose, but it’s still good enough to play fighting games well.
Use the Qanbra Drone if you want to try using a fight stick for the first time. If you already know how to use fight sticks, you might want to get a better one.
6. Razer Panthera
The Razer Panthera is a top-quality gaming controller for serious gamers. You can use it with a PC, PS3, and PS4. Many professional gamers like it because it has a lot of space, special Sanwa Denshi buttons, and is easy to customize. Razer also provides regular updates for it.
The only issue with the Panthera is that changing its design is difficult and can damage the controller if not done carefully. If you need a controller for the Xbox One, Razer makes the Atrox, which is similar to the Panthera but costs more.
5. Qanba Dragon
The Qanba Dragon fight stick costs more than most other fight sticks, but many people like how it looks. You can use it with Sony consoles and PCs. Another good thing is that it’s very strong and weighs ten pounds. Because it’s so heavy and durable, it won’t break even after many hours of use.
Just like other good fight sticks, you can customize it however you like. You probably don’t need a fight stick like this, but it’s one you’ll remember and think about from time to time.
4. Mixbox
Mixbox has a special design that makes it different from other game controllers. It takes the style of arcade game boards and makes them better. Unlike the Hit Box, Mixbox uses Cherry MX key switches, which many desktop gamers already know.
These switches are like the keys on a mechanical keyboard and are used to move characters. The rest of the controller is like a normal game controller.
Mixbox is great for gamers who started playing fighting games on a keyboard, like in Mortal Kombat. The button layout is also better because it uses the same setup that became popular in arcades.
3. Hit Box
You can also use it for other games, like side-scrollers and old retro games. Even though the HitBox is expensive, it’s easy to use and you can customize it a lot, making it worth the price.
2. Victrix Pro FS 12 (Stickless)
If you want the best stickless controller that money can buy, the Victrix Pro FS 12 is the top choice. It has high-quality parts and you don’t have to worry about problems with it. However, it is also the most expensive controller available.
The high price will make anyone think twice, so you need to want or need this controller. Remember, it is made for tournament-level players, so it’s only practical for those who compete at that level. It’s a great tool, but not necessary for everyone.
1. Victrix Pro FS 12
It has buttons that you can program, a quick 5ms input time, and works with PC, Xbox, and PS4. This makes the Victrix good for different kinds of fighting games. It also has a lid you can remove to change parts or store the joystick when you’re not using it.
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