16. RAC-J500B
Budget, compact, and light, the RAC-J500B is a decent entry point into the world of hitboxes. The jump button is larger than the other buttons, which is standard for hitboxes. You can choose for the buttons to be black, blue, green, red, white, or yellow. Included is SOCD cleaning to make pressing left and right result in neutral, making the controller tournament-legal.
The case is made of durable plastic. Opening up the case is easy with any compatible tool. You may even be able to use your fingers in the process. The interior is quite neat and spacious, which should make mods such as swapping buttons easier. The suction cups at the bottom work well on a bare surface.
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15. Hit Box
This is where it all started. The Hit Box Arcade team took the fighting game community by storm with its revolutionary concept of having buttons for directions instead of a joystick. The idea was to convert potentially sluggish joystick movements into swift button presses. The concept was solid, and it was important to implement the concept well, which Hit Box Arcade undeniably achieved.
The slim Hit Box packs Sanwa buttons, a sturdy chassis, and other robust elements that make it shine above the competition. Hit Box Arcade discovered that the best combination of directional button sizes is to make the jump button 30 mm and the other directional buttons 24 mm. The travel distance is short, and there is a satisfying bounce per press.
The bottom of the Hit Box has an anti-slip pad, and the braided USB cable is conveniently detachable. The Hit Box is compatible with the PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and PC. Hit Box Arcade provides a sling bag and microfiber cloth with every order.
The visual design of the acrylic Hit Box is masterful and reminiscent of designs by electronics companies that have been in the industry for decades. The Hit Box itself has been tried and tested for a decade now, and it has stood the test of time, making it a staple in the all-buttons controller industry.
With the Hit Box, Street Fighter professional player Kawano was able to win Evo. While on the pricier end, it is a force to be reckoned with.
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14. Excellence
The Excellence controller is available in white, black, or black & white. Furthermore, it is available in a whopping 20 hitbox and mixbox layouts. The default layout has 11 buttons that are 24 mm and a button that is 30 mm. The start and select buttons can be found on the side.
The stock switches are the silent Cherry MX silver type, which is light, Sanwa-like, and makes no clicking sounds. In any case, the switches are swappable. Needless to say, this hitbox has SOCD cleaning.
There is a hinge to lift the top panel and access the organized interior where you will realize that the PCB is the Brook UFB to which you can attach the UFB-UP5 for PlayStation 5 support.
This is an acrylic controller with the same case as the critically acclaimed Mad Catz TE, and the bottom panel has acrylic over the metal. The top plexiglass was designed for artwork.
Order from AliExpress: PS4 / PC
13. Slimbox
SQ Arcade presents the Slimbox mini all-buttons controller that comes with a shaft, shaft puller, plastic spudger, and USB-C cable. The switches include a combination of Kailh on top and Gateron on the bottom. Specifically, Gateron low profile switches are used. The secondary buttons include R3, L3, turbo, select, home, and start. As this is an acrylic controller, it can accept custom art.
Regarding the PCB, you can choose between Brook or Pico. PC compatibility is achieved through XInput. SOCD cleaning works by equating left and right to neutral. Also, up and down equal up. You can find an input display on the upper left of the controller.
Order from AliExpress: R5 / R3 / B5
12. 2nd Stage Creations
11. Pocket Mini HitBox
This is a mini all-key controller made of aluminum and acrylic. It comes with two USB ports and a nifty LED display under the attack keys. There is a wide assortment of quality switches you can order in different colors when checking out. You can even install your own keycaps if you like.
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10. RTU
The RTU mini hitbox is slim, sturdy, and weighty. Its hot-swappable switches can be Cherry MX or Glorious Panda. The secondary buttons are stylishly laid out to the right of the OLED screen, which shows inputs and function settings in real time.
The PCB is the Raspberry Pi Pico with almost nonexistent input latency. Your RTU should come with a USB cable, anti-slip padding, Allen key, and keycap removing tool. You can also pick from different colors of GamerFinger buttons, customizing your RTU to your taste. The art is also customizable.
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9. MAG-SF6
SQ Arcade’s MAG-SF6 is a Raspberry Pi Pico hitbox with three extra buttons for more efficient Drive Impacts in Street Fighter 6. Of course, you can use the MAG-SF6 for other games as well. You are several screws away from accessing the neat interior of the MAG-SF6.
Order from AliExpress:
MAG-SF6 / MAG-SF6-2
8. SallyBox
The SallyBox doubles as a hitbox and WASD controller, making it a two-in-one innovation. This aluminum & acrylic Raspberry Pi Pico mini controller has hot-swappable silent Cherry MX Speed Silver switches, anti-slip pads, LED, and SOCD cleaning in addition to turbo mode. The cable is USB-C.
The LED screen shows the input & direction types, SOCD type, and turbo speed. The switches are light yet need a reasonable travel distance to trigger, meaning you should not worry about pressing them by accident. Glorious Panda switches should be compatible too. The SallyBox has customizable artwork.
Order from AliExpress:
Sinoarcade / SQ Arcade
7. Slab Mini
The Slab Mini All Button Controller is a sandwich acrylic case controller that has replaceable Cherry MX Clear switches and hot-swap sockets. The six function buttons have microswitches, and in the back, you can find reset & BOOTSEL buttons. You can submit to the seller a digital art file to receive your Slab Mini with custom art on the top and bottom.
The Slab Mini has countersunk top & bottom screws, and there are PLED pipes too. RGB LED is supported as well, and there is an OLED screen. The USB port is type C.
6. Flatbox
The Flatbox is a 3D-printable mini hitbox designed by jfedor that you can buy preassembled. Its small form factor is appealing in addition to being budget-friendly. The Flatbox is portable enough for travel while having parts that are easily available despite any current chip shortages. The six secondary buttons on the upper left seal the deal.
Regarding compatibility and SOCD options, the Flatbox runs on the open source GP2040-CE firmware. Depending on your vendor of choice, the PCB may come assembled with Kailh switches that are socketed for easy swapping and cleaning without soldering. The port is USB-C.
Order from AliExpress & Etsy: Flatbox / Neobox
5. Victrix Pro FS-12
The Victrix Pro FS was one of the most popular arcade sticks of the last generation, and it makes a comeback as what is perhaps the first official hitbox that is natively compatible with the PlayStation 5. It is also available in purple.
The buttons are all 24 mm Sanwa, except for the bottom jump button, which is 30 mm Sanwa. There is a tournament mode to avoid pressing secondary buttons during play.
The wrist resting space is sloped for your convenience, and there is an anti-slip foam pad at the bottom. Also, there is a 3.5 mm audio input/output jack. The controller itself is made of aircraft-grade aluminum.
The carrying handles and cable organizers allow for maximal convenience, and the quick-access back panel allows for the swapping of components with ease. In addition, mods can be made.
What you also get with the controller:
- Detachable braided USB-C to A cable
- Allen wrench
- Storage bag
Order from Amazon: White / Purple
4. Punk Workshop Hitbox
This acrylic hitbox is light and easy to carry. It comes with mechanical buttons and swappable SOCD cleaning. You can choose from the colors of black, white, red, clear red, clear blue, or something custom. Again, this is an acrylic hitbox, so you can message Sinoarcade your custom design.
As for the PCB options, they include:
- Zero delay arcade USB encoder with SOCD
- Brook UFB
- Brook UFB with UFB-UP5
There are two buttons on the side for start & select, and there are also buttons for SOCD, LS/DP/RS, home, back, start, L3, and R3. You can swap out the pink silent Kailh BOX switches to customize the feel, tension, and actuation, but Kailh BOX switches are relatively light and close to Sanwa parts when it comes to the feel. Furthermore, they have a soft bump above the actuation point. The controller’s internal wiring is neat.
Order from AliExpress:
Mini V3 & V2
Mini V3
Mini V2
Ultra Thin A
Ultra Thin B
Street Fighter 6
3. FightBox B1
The FightBox B1 is an ultra-thin but decently weighted acrylic controller available in many colors and variations. The thickness is less than two centimeters, but it is not malleable. Its layered structure allows for the placement of custom artwork onto the panel depending on the edition.
All buttons measure 24 mm, and Cherry MX switches are featured. Thanks to hot-swapping tech, you can replace them with your favorite mechanical key switches. Otherwise, the stock buttons both feel & sound good, and they are quite reminiscent of a keyboard. They can be taken out with just your fingers. The B1 has no noticeable input delay.
There is SOCD cleaning as well. The PlayStation edition of the B1 achieves its compatibility through the Brook Fighting Board PS3/PS4 PCB. The cable is conveniently detachable.
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2. FightBox F1
The FightBox F1 has many variations. It has three Sanwa OBSF-24 directional buttons, one Sanwa OBSF-30 jump button, and the attack buttons are Sanwa too. The secondary buttons cannot be pressed by accident, which is a good safety measure during tournaments. Of course, SOCD cleaning is featured as well.
The best PCB option seems to be the Brook UFB. As for the PlayStation edition, it has four buttons on the back for R3, L3, share, and the touchpad. There are two buttons on the side as home and options buttons as well.
The case is made of metal that feels good, and the panel is sturdy acrylic that is not malleable. Custom art fans can upload their own image file when ordering the F1. Additionally, there are rubber feet at the bottom for stability purposes.
The wiring in the interior is very organized despite the F1 being thin. Its weight is also moderate. If needed, you can detach and replace the USB port.
Order from AliExpress:
F1 White / F1 Custom / F1 PS5 / F8 Black
Razer Kitsune
The Razer Kitsune is a slim hitbox based on the Razer Blade laptop. Justin Wong is one of the professional players who provided feedback during development. The switches are red Razer low-profile linear optical ones that have a shorter actuation height and speedy response time. There is ample wrist space, and there is an anti-slip pad.
The Kitsune is powered by Razer Chroma RGB, and the light shines through the controller’s sides. As the Kitsune is licensed by Sony, it is expected to work on future PlayStation consoles too, making it a worthwhile investment. Additionally, SOCD cleaning makes it tournament-legal. The USB cable can be detached, and port can be locked.
The Kitsune has an aluminum top panel. This lightweight and mid-sized controller also comes in Cammy and Chun-Li editions.
Order from Amazon:
Black / Cammy / Chun-Li
1. RAC-J800B
The RAC-J800B is your best bargain. It is is an improvement over the J500 series and has many variations. It has three Sanwa OBSF-24 buttons and one Sanwa OBSF-30 button on the left, which is the industry standard. The attack buttons are Sanwa as well. Because the secondary function buttons are firmer, it is unlikely that you will press them by mistake during gameplay. Needless to say, SOCD cleaning is featured.
The PlayStation edition has four buttons on the back for R3, L3, share, and the touchpad, and it has two buttons on the side as home and options buttons as well. The case is metal that feels good, and the panel is sturdy acrylic that is not malleable. Moreover, there are rubber feet at the bottom to make the controller more stable.
The wires inside are quite organized, which is impressive because the RAC-J800B is quite thin. Also, the weight is decent. Even the USB port is detachable if you would like to replace it, which is a thoughtful feature.
You can upload your own custom art as you order your RAC-J800B. We at The Arcade Stick have a custom art service.
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