1. Mayflash F700 Elite
The Mayflash F700 Elite is wireless with a battery that can last up to 18 hours after only a few hours of charging, so you can enjoy a gaming marathon with it. You can also go for a wired connection.
The left side of the F700 Elite has a hinged door that reveals a storage compartment, and this compartment is where you can also find the USB-C cable. The interior is organized, and the wiring is neat, making modding easier for you.
The F700 Elite is similar in design to previous arcade sticks by Mayflash, but there are some improvements, such as a knob on the top panel to switch between consoles.
The main improvement of this arcade stick over the original F700 is the inclusion of Sanwa parts, meaning a Sanwa joystick & buttons that are responsive and durable. There is plenty of space between the joystick and buttons for your comfort when playing. Since the arcade stick is mod friendly, you can still install parts like Seimitsu ones if you like.
In addition to a microphone mute button, the F700 Elite has a headphone jack, and these features can help you stay in the zone during play. Also, through turbo mode, you can press a button just once, and that would result in multiple inputs, requiring little effort from you.
The decent weight of the F700 Elite means it should not slide around during an intense gaming session. The arcade stick is a bit bigger than the F500 as well as slightly heavier, enhancing stability for you.
One more thing: the F700 Elite’s art is customizable, and we at The Arcade Stick can provide you our artwork service to speed up the customization process. We have had plenty of experience designing art for Mayflash controllers before. After you receive your beautiful art, just take off the cover, slide your printed art under it, and put the cover back on!
Why to Buy
The F700 Elite has an unbeatable mixture of premium parts and spaciousness. Plus, it has a headphone jack, and it can be used wirelessly too.
Where to Buy
Buy now on Amazon
2. Mayflash F500 Elite
The Mayflash F500 Elite is a multiplatform arcade stick with excellent Sanwa parts, turbo support, and upgradeable firmware. An octagonal joystick gate is also included as an accessory for you.
Replacing the F500 Elite’s joystick gate is quite easy. There are screws at the bottom that are easy to see for interior access. There is also ample wrist space, providing you comfort during play. The metal case and rubber feet enhance the weight & stability of the arcade stick.
You can use wired headphones with the F500 Elite to stay in the zone during a set of matches. The acrylic panel on top is easily removable, so if you would like to customize the arcade stick’s art with an idea of yours, you can do that. Let’s print your art for you!
Why to Buy
The F500 Elite is excellent if you would like the same premium parts as the F700 Elite but a slightly smaller size.
Where to Buy
Buy now on Amazon
3. Mayflash F300 Elite
The Mayflash F300 Elite is multiplatform and with Sanwa parts, which are responsive & durable. The joystick feels sturdy, and there is less travel distance for an input to register, so there are no dead zones.
With the F300 Elite, you even get an additional octagonal joystick gate. Of course, the buttons are nothing short of crisp, and there is turbo support. With turbo, you can press a button one time, resulting in multiple inputs. Plus, the arcade stick has updateable firmware.
The F300 Elite is robust & weighty, and its stability is aided by rubber feet. The cable has a Velcro wrap to keep it tidy for you. If you are looking to spice up the arcade stick’s minimalistic look, you can print out an artwork sticker for it, making it showcase your favorite fighting game, for example.
Why to Buy
The F300 Elite is best for those who appreciate the premium parts of the F500 Elite and F700 Elite but would like a more portable arcade stick.
Where to Buy
Buy now on Amazon
4. Qanba Obsidian 2
The Qanba Obsidian 2 is a heavier sequel to the critically acclaimed Qanba Obsidian. This arcade stick has quality parts: a Sanwa joystick and buttons. You can also find a touchpad, microphone input, and cable storage space on the left.
The base pad of the Obsidian 2 is anti-slipping, but the star of the show is the joystick interchangeability. You see, Sanwa JLF joystick tops are swappable, and included with the arcade stick is a ball top & bat top, allowing you to choose what you like.
With thumb-screw access, the compartment on the Obsidian 2’s right can hold a couple of joystick tops as well as USB cables. This compartment is not flimsy, and the same can be said about the left side compartment as well.
There is dedicated joystick access from the bottom of the Obsidian 2, and the interior of the arcade stick is neat. Otherwise, if you would like to print custom art for your arcade stick, that is possible, making the arcade stick reflect your taste (such as by displaying your favorite characters).
Why to Buy
The Obsidian 2’s weight and width make it stable on both your desk & lap, and it uses high end Sanwa parts—including a ball top & bat top for the joystick.
Where to Buy
Buy now on Amazon or AliExpress
5. Qanba Drone 2
The Qanba Drone 2 has a Qanba joystick and buttons. There is also a touchpad and audio jack. The upgraded joystick produces significant clicky feedback.
The Drone 2’s interior is organized and makes modding easy, such as if you would like to change the joystick to Sanwa. There are rubber feet at the bottom, which is where you will also find an entry point to the joystick for quicker access.
As for the size of the Drone 2, it is small enough to be considered a mini arcade stick without sacrificing space for your wrists. The arcade stick’s cable goes into its spacious right side. Overall, the arcade stick is quite light, making it optimal for you to carry. Plus, its matte black color is attractive, and you can even print art for the arcade stick.
Why to Buy
If you’d rather have a Qanba arcade stick with actual Qanba parts, the compact Drone 2 is your go-to arcade stick. Still, you can install a Sanwa joystick, and the audio jack can help you stay in the zone while gaming.
Where to Buy
Buy now on Amazon or AliExpress
6. Qanba Titan
The Qanba Titan has a Sanwa joystick and buttons, so you can expect quality performance. Also, there is a touchpad, microphone jack, and cable compartment.
The increased distance between the joystick and buttons of the Titan provides more room for your hands to move around. The arcade stick’s weight is enhanced by steel plates inside, and there is a rubber base at the bottom. As for the top panel, it is not malleable.
If you open up the Titan, you will then see the neatly color-coded interior, but if you simply need joystick access, there is a compartment at the bottom, so you do not need to unscrew the entire panel. You can even use that compartment’s lid to unscrew the joystick!
Why to Buy
The Titan brings you the best of both worlds: it’s a smaller arcade stick, but there is a lot of breathing space between its joystick and buttons.
Where to Buy
Buy now on Amazon or AliExpress
7. 8BitDo Arcade Stick
The joystick of the 8BitDo Arcade Stick feels good, and the buttons have quick disconnects for modding, making your life easier. The plastic top panel is not malleable, and the arcade stick’s weight is boosted by a thick metal plate inside.
As the 8BitDo Arcade Stick can work wirelessly, the battery can last up to 40 hours, and you only need four hours to charge it. No latency issues were detected when testing the arcade stick on a few platforms, resulting in a responsive gaming experience for you.
Why to Buy
The 8BitDo Arcade Stick’s main selling point is its optional wireless connection. If wireless matters to you, you should consider buying this arcade stick.
Where to Buy
Buy now on Amazon: Switch / Xbox
8. Hori Fighting Stick α
The Hayabusa joystick and buttons of the Hori Fighting Stick α are quite responsive. There are long rubber pads on both sides of the arcade stick, keeping it steady on your desk.
That said, the Hori Fighting Stick α is noticeably lighter than average, making traveling with it convenient. Nonetheless, it feels well built and durable because of the top metallic plate.
Opening up the Hori Fighting Stick α using the back latch is a seamless experience. The artwork is customizable, so you can make the arcade stick a mirror image of yourself with, say, our print.
Why to Buy
The quality Hori Fighting Stick α’s back latch makes it one of the easiest arcade sticks to customize the art of.
Where to Buy
Buy now on Amazon
9. Nacon Daija
The Nacon Daija was one of the community favorites in the previous console generation, and it’s back—this time with PlayStation 5 compatibility plus official licensing. The arcade stick was originally developed in collaboration with the French professional player, Kayane.
A Sanwa joystick and buttons make a comeback—as well as an additional bat-top joystick. The ball top & bat top can easily be removed and replaced, thanks to the screw-on system. Also, the Daija has a textured palm rest.
The Daija is fairly weighty, boosting stability. Opening the arcade stick’s lid is easy: there are two buttons on the sides that can be pressed to pop open the lid and find tools inside, such as a screwdriver.
There’s also additional storage space inside. Included with the Daija are a detachable USB cable and audio jack, the latter of which can help you focus during a match.
The Daija comes in white or black. Also available are three faceplate options, meaning the art is customizable. If you’ve got some digital Daija art already, we can print it for you. Finally, LED is the finishing touch, making the arcade stick stand out.
Why to Buy
It feels good to own an arcade stick like the Daija that was developed in collaboration with a pro like Kayane. It has Sony licensing, Sanwa parts, an additional bat top, a two-button opening, storage space, an audio jack, white or black editions, customizable art, and more.
Where to Buy
Buy now on Amazon
10. Victrix Pro FS
The Victrix Pro FS was one of the most popular arcade sticks of the last generation, and it made a comeback with modern compatibility—as well as a white edition. Fortunately, purple is still available too.
The buttons of the Pro FS are Sanwa, and there’s a tournament mode to avoid pressing the function buttons during play. The wrist space is sloped for your convenience, and there’s an anti-slip foam pad at the bottom. Also, there’s an audio jack to keep you dialed in.
The Pro FS is impressively made of aircraft-grade aluminum. Its carrying handles & cable organizers allow for maximum convenience, and the quick-access back panel allows for the swapping of components easily.
Needless to say, modding this arcade stick is possible if needed. With the Pro FS, you also receive a braided USB-C cable, Allen wrench, and storage bag. Let us know if you’d like a vinyl art print for this arcade stick!
Why to Buy
The aircraft-grade aluminum of the Pro FS is one of a kind, and its other awesome features include Sanwa buttons, a wrist slope, an audio jack, carrying handles, a quick-access back panel, a braided cable, and a storage bag.
Where to Buy
Buy now on Amazon