8. Panzer Fight Stick 4
The Panzer Fight Stick 4 is a swappable-panel controller, similar to the Mad Catz TE. The PFS4 is moderately weighty yet still transportable. The base is aluminum, and the swappable panels are cold-rolled steel.
The PFS4 has a custom AUX PCB with a plug-and-play wire loom that connects it to various points on Brook PCBs. There are LEDs for player and turbo indicators that shine through light pipes.
The included wiring harness makes connecting a joystick and buttons easy. The front of the PFS4 has a D-sized cut that supports common Neutrik, Switchcraft, and ProCable connectors.
The chassis is available in a few colors, the panel is black for the most part, and you should be able to order plexiglass overlays & order paper art with them. The available hitbox layouts include standard and Shiokenstar.
Order from Jasen’s Customs:
DIY / Preassembled
7. Eternal Rival
Eternal Rival offers a variety of cases. Eternal Rival carries the official Brook wiring kit with a PCB, and upgradeable mounting holes & hardware are included. The passthrough choices are Neutrik and Adafruit.
You can order kits from Eternal Rival that have all the inner components. Buttons can be found in different colors on Eternal Rival’s website. They can be screw-on or snap-in.
When you order an Eternal Rival case, you receive the plastic panels and items needed for easy building. The case is made of cast acrylic, you can install rubber feet (hardware included), and you do not need glue to put the case together.
Optional addons include:
- Steel weights
- Neoprene pad for lap gameplay
- Bit Bang Gaming player LED
Eternal Rival also carries different colors of plexiglass, art is printed on semi-gloss paper, and there can also be a clear top to add your own artwork.
Order from Etsy
6. Excellence
The Excellence controller is available in many layouts, with the default layout having 11 buttons that are 24 mm and a button that is 30 mm, which is the industry standard. As for the start and select buttons, they are on the side.
The stock switches are the silent Cherry MX silver type that is light, Sanwa-like, and does not make clicking sounds. In any case, the switches are swappable. Needless to say, the Excellence controller 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.
This is an acrylic controller with the same case as the legendary Mad Catz TE, and the bottom panel has acrylic over the metallic component. The top plexiglass was designed for the inclusion of custom artwork.
Order from AliExpress
5. 2nd Stage Creations
4. Slab Mini
The Slab Mini All Button Controller is an acrylic case that has replaceable Cherry MX Clear switches in addition to hot-swap sockets. The six function buttons have microswitches, and in the back, you can find reset & BOOTSEL buttons. While ordering, you can submit a digital art file for the top and bottom to look the way you want.
The Slab Mini has countersunk top & bottom screws, and there are also PLED pipes. RGB LED is supported as well, and there is an OLED screen under the attack buttons. The port is USB-C.
3. Punk Workshop Hitbox
The acrylic Punk Workshop hitbox is light and easy to carry around. It comes with mechanical buttons as well as swappable SOCD cleaning. You can choose from the colors of black, white, red, clear red, clear blue, or custom. Again, this is an acrylic hitbox, so you can message Sinoarcade your own custom design. The hitbox can come with a Brook UFB.
Secondary buttons can be found on the top panel and also on the side. 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 feeling-wise. Furthermore, they have a soft bump above the actuation point. The controller’s internal wiring is organized.
Order from AliExpress: V3 / V2
2. FightBox B1
The FightBox B1 is an ultra-thin acrylic controller, but it is decently weighted. It is available in many colors and variations. The thickness is not more than two centimeters, but it is not a malleable controller. It has a layered structure that allows for the placement of custom artwork onto the panel, depending on the edition you choose.
All keycaps are sized 24 mm, and Cherry MX switches are featured. Thanks to hot swapping, you can replace them with your favorite mechanical key switches. Otherwise, the stock keycaps feel & sound good, and they are quite reminiscent of a keyboard. They can be taken out by using your fingers. The B1 has no significant input lag.
There is SOCD cleaning, and the cable is conveniently detachable. The B1 achieves its Xbox Series X compatibility through the Brook UFB PCB with the UFB-UP5 addon.
Order from AliExpress
1. FightBox F1
The FightBox F1, also known as the RAC-J800B, is a great deal. It has three Sanwa OBSF-24 directional buttons, one Sanwa OBSF-30 jump button, and eight Sanwa OBSF-30 attack buttons. The secondary buttons are almost impossible to press by mistake, which is a good safety measure during tournaments. SOCD cleaning is featured.
The F1 is made of quality metal, and the panel is comprised of acrylic. You can upload custom artwork when ordering the F1. We at The Arcade Stick have a custom artwork team.
The F1 contains a Brook UFB PCB. The wiring inside is very organized despite the F1 not having the most spacious interior. The F1 is not too heavy nor too light. There are rubber feet at the bottom to prevent the F1 from sliding around. If needed, you can install your own USB port instead of the stock one.
Order from AliExpress