1. Haute42 C16
The Haute42 C16 ticks the checkboxes below:
- It has 16 buttons.
- It has a sloped wrist rest.
- It has an informative screen.
- It has a lot of function buttons.
If the C16’s switches aren’t your favorite, they’re hot swappable, so you can install other switches. That said, this slim controller is wide enough to place on your lap.
Needless to say, the C16 has a small screen, and it’s awesome to see it in the center instead of to the side. On the screen, you can see information like:
- SOCD cleaning mode
- Directional mode
- Input mode
- Button presses
In essence, the C16 runs on the acclaimed GP2040-CE firmware known for its:
- Open source design
- Decent compatibility
- Web configuration
- Online updates
- Almost zero latency
More than that, RGB LED can make your C16 light up beautifully. Even the artwork is customizable. For that, we at The Arcade Stick have an art service for you.
Why to Buy
The C16 has a right index button, and it has two thumb buttons that are horizontally aligned—keeping your thumbs positioned in a symmetrical way.
Where to Buy
Buy now on AliExpress or Amazon
2. Haute42 C-AT
Given the C16’s success, Haute42 launched the C-AT, which is its first attempt at a controller with 18 buttons. In fact, the main buttons allow you to adjust their travel distance:
- The long level is 0.3 mm.
- The medium level is 0.6 mm.
- The short level is 1.0 mm.
The six extra buttons—beyond the standard 12 buttons—give the C-AT more than one layout, such as a split layout that gives your hands more breathing room.
The C-AT’s buttons have a dry texture to them, and they use the snappy Wind Engine switches that trigger quickly—whereas the tactile, clicky, and hot swappable switches have a fully POM housing & stem in a way that reduces friction, resulting in smooth keystrokes.
It’s awesome that the C-AT’s grip pad covers the bottom panel almost fully. It’s to be appreciated how the cable is braided too. What’s also rad is how the USB-C port in the back center is the lockable kind. There’s also another USB-C port on the left side.
You can actually buy a C-AT in black or white, and you can also paste a wrist rest sticker with art. Examples:
- Fireball-tossing character
- Geometric shapes
- Something else
Don’t like such artworks? Like how the C-AT’s wrist rest is magnetically detachable, you can also magnetically lift up the top panel by pressing one button.
That way, you can place art that represents you, which we can print. Finally, the C-AT’s buttons can benefit from LED that lights them up in a visually cool way.
Why to Buy
With the C-AT, Haute42 improved things like giving you the freedom to adjust the button travel distance. Furthermore, the 18 buttons give you more than one layout, which can give you a competitive advantage, and customizing the art is easy due to the magnetic top panel.
Where to Buy
Buy now on AliExpress: Standard / Metal
Buy now on Amazon: White / Black
3. Haute42 M Ultra Gen2
Following the M16 Ultra’s impressive sales, the award winning Haute42 made a sequel called the M Ultra Gen2. This controller’s main improvement over its bestselling predecessor is including a left pinky button, whereas the two buttons surrounding the jump button are lined up horizontally.
That being said, the M Ultra Gen2 features the swift Shadow Hunting low profile switches, yet if you prefer other switches, you can just swap out the stock switches.
Having said that, the M Ultra Gen2 is an aluminum alloy controller that’s hefty enough to be stable without being too heavy. It has a slope for your wrists too, and the bottom has a grip pad for each of your legs. About the controller’s slimness and size: they make it possibly fit into a laptop sleeve.
Onward, the M Ultra Gen2 runs on the great GP2040-CE firmware. More than that, there’s a screen to show:
- Input mode
- SOCD mode
- Directional mode
- Button press animation
Looks-wise, your M Ultra Gen2 can have a black or blue color—and with tasteful accents. Lastly, you have RGB LED that brings the controller to life, and if you’d like to add art to the controller, we’d be glad to print that art.
Why to Buy
The M Ultra Gen2’s aluminum alloy is not too common, and it has a left pinky button—with its extra thumb buttons aligned in a horizontally straight way.
Where to Buy
Buy now on AliExpress or Amazon
4. Haute42 X-Move
The X-Move is a sequel to Haute42’s controller that was released a while ago and got nominated for an Evo award as a result. This bestselling brand did win an Evo award eventually.
With that said, the X-Move has three modules:
- Directional module
- Attack module
- Bottom module
You can shift the X-Move’s attack and bottom modules to the left or right. You can also rotate the directional module up to 30° to find your most comfortable angle. This module can feature keys or buttons, and the buttons use Kailh Shadow Hunting custom switches that are low profile & hot swappable.
Needless to say, the X-Move has a screen that can show your turbo, input, and directional modes—as well as a live animation of your button presses etc.
Made of aluminum alloy, the X-Move is about the size of A4, and it’s slim. Its palm resting space is slightly sloped, and it has a non-slip bottom pad for each leg. More than that, there are two USB-C ports:
- Lockable USB-C port in the back center
- Another USB-C port on the left side
Now, if the X-Move looks too plain to you, just turn on its multicolored backlight and button LED. You can add some custom art to the controller too, and if you’ve got some digital art already, we can print it for you.
Why to Buy
The X-Move lets you rotate its directional module as well as shift its attack and bottom modules sideways. Additionally, the modular design allows the controller to accept other innovative modules that Haute42 might release.
Where to Buy
5. Punk Workshop R14
Punk Workshop has been around for years, making itself a household name in the fightstick industry. That said, your R14 should arrive with the following freebies:
- Six spare TTC microswitches
- Two adhesive anti-slip pads
- Two textured USB-C cables
- Plastic removal tool
- Flathead screwdriver
- Punk Workshop sleeve
Moving on, the R14 uses PWS Blaze Spark buttons with 45 cN of actuation force and 0.5 mm of total travel. In other words, these clicky—yet delicate—buttons are fast.
Part of the R14’s name has to do with its 14 buttons, so there are two extra buttons surrounding the jump button. The controller is actually endorsed by Japanese pro players Gachikun and Shuto. The Gachikun edition also has 14 buttons, whereas the Shuto edition has 15 buttons.
More than that, the R14 has a 3.2° ergonomic slope. Luckily, the controller brings back Punk Workshop’s magnetic opening design if you want to pop it open.
In closing, the R14 looks as pleasantly minimalistic as other Punk Workshop controllers, but it can also come with preset artworks representing Gachikun and Shuto.
Why to Buy
The R14 is endorsed by pros and available in different layouts & artworks. It also has an ergonomic slope, magnetic opening design, and tons of freebies.
Where to Buy
Buy now on AliExpress
6. 8BitDo Arcade Controller
After the 8BitDo Arcade Stick’s success, 8BitDo released the 8BitDo Arcade Controller. This controller is slimmer, so it’s likelier to fit into a tablet sleeve you already have.
Compared to most 16 button controllers, the 8BitDo Arcade Controller does something different: the extra buttons are bean-shaped and ergonomically slanted. This shape gives you more surface area to press the buttons without the need for full precision.
The 8BitDo Arcade Controller’s extra buttons are remappable if needed. Don’t need these extra buttons? You can just replace them with the included lock caps. By the way, the controller supports the 8BitDo Ultimate Software V2 for:
- Macros
- Updates
- More features
That aside, the 8BitDo Arcade Controller’s buttons use Kailh Wizard low profile switches that are hot swappable, so if you don’t like tactile, light, and smooth switches: you can easily take out the switches.
The 8BitDo Arcade Controller’s top is comprised of tempered glass, whereas the bottom has a silicone anti-slip mat to prevent the controller from sliding. Also, the magnetic foldable feet allow you to pick from two angles.
Another way the 8BitDo Arcade Controller makes life easier is by connecting via:
- Bluetooth
- 2.4G
- Wired
The battery only takes three hours to charge and can last up to 20 hours, but let’s wrap up with some aesthetics talk: the 8BitDo Arcade Controller can light up through several RGB LED modes.
Why to Buy
You’re recommended the 8BitDo Arcade Controller if you like the idea of using a wireless controller with some bean-shaped buttons that give you more surface area when pressing.
Where to Buy
Buy now on Amazon
7. Mayflash F700 FLAT Elite
The Mayflash F700 FLAT Elite is a 15 button controller that can run up to 20 hours per full charge. You can go for these connection methodologies too:
- Bluetooth
- 2.4 GHz
- Wired
The F700 FLAT Elite’s left side has a hinged door that reveals a wireless receiver, which is where you can also locate the cable. You can easily switch between consoles using the top panel’s knob. On the front panel, there’s a headphone jack so you can stay focused during play.
The artwork of the F700 FLAT Elite is customizable if you follow these steps:
- Remove the controller’s cover.
- Slide your art print under.
- Put on the cover again.
The Arcade Stick can print your art design if you wish. Other than that, the F700 FLAT Elite’s core feature is actually its Sanwa buttons with optimal travel, so you don’t need to apply too much pressure when pressing them.
Compared to its predecessor, the F700 FLAT Elite is wider and comfier on the legs. Its decent weight means it shouldn’t slip, especially because of the anti-slip pad at the bottom.
Why to Buy
If you’ve been using fightsticks since 2009: you’ll probably like how the F700 FLAT Elite uses arcade buttons.
Where to Buy
Buy now on Amazon
8. Hit Box Ultra
Hit Box Arcade pioneered using buttons for directional inputs instead of a joystick. That said, a way in which the Hit Box Ultra is better than the classic Hit Box is that it arrives more readily with C.O.M.B.O. extensions.
C.O.M.B.O. Extensions are the extra keys attached to the buttons to cater for modern fighting games. What’s also cool about C.O.M.B.O. Extensions is that you can rotate them.
Don’t need C.O.M.B.O. Extensions? No problem, they’re optional. Otherwise, the dozen default buttons use Cherry MX Speed Silver switches that are smooth and fast.
More interesting aspects include the controller’s structure that’s comprised of steel with thick acrylic on top, and inside, the wiring is simple yet effective. Accessing the Ultra’s internals is easy because the bottom panel is magnetic.
Put simply, the Ultra looks elegant and slim. You can make it look even more stylish with custom artwork, which we can print for you.
Let’s conclude with what you should be getting for free with your Ultra order:
- Optimizers for silencing/adjusting travel
- C.O.M.B.O. Extension protectors
- Extra C.O.M.B.O. Extensions
- Microfiber cloth
- Sling bag
Why to Buy
When you own a Hit Box Ultra, you own a controller from the pioneer of the leverless category, and the rotatable C.O.M.B.O. Extensions are very convenient.
Where to Buy
Buy now on Amazon
9. Varmilo HA10
Now that the Varmilo Kassai has been released for some time, it’s logical that Varmilo eventually came up with the HA10—a leverless version of it.
Before diving further, these are what come with the HA10:
- Three to four blank buttons
- Three spare buttons
- Two button removers
- Two gloves
- Strap
In essence, the HA10 has 18 primary buttons, but if 18 buttons are too many for your needs, you can replace an undesired button with a blank button. Button mapping is easier with the Varmilo Web Driver companion software.
The HA10’s buttons are the quieter type, and they use hot swappable Cherry MX Silver switches that have a customizable actuation point.
Although weighty, the moderately sized HA10 is metallic, and traveling with it is made easier with the shoulder strap. The black cable color matches the buttons nicely—regardless of which color you order the controller in—and the planetary button art is optional.
Why to Buy
The HA10 has 18 primary buttons, but you can replace some of these with blank buttons. Otherwise, you may like the right palm button. You can also customize the switches’ actuation point. You may find the gloves and shoulder strap to be convenient too.
Where to Buy
Buy now on AliExpress or Amazon
10. QRD Maestro S3
The QRD Maestro S3 is a slim controller with quieter buttons that feel good to touch. It has several programmable latency modes, and there’s even an EZ mode for cleaner execution & easier combos.
The S3 is a lightweight controller that can be described as between medium and small in size. Also, connection can be wired or wireless, lasting up to a maximum of eight hours with the LED on after three hours of charging.
That said, the S3 comes with a handheld device holder, simulating an arcade cabinet of sorts. The icing on the cake is the colorful RGB LED with programmable patterns and several colors.
Why to Buy
The S3 can work wirelessly (with the LED on) and comes with a handheld device holder.
Where to Buy
Buy now on AliExpress or Amazon