It takes no effort to take a good walloping in modern fighting games. To give one, though? That takes skill, talent, patience, and, if you really want to show off, the right fight stick. To master PS5 fighting games like Mortal Kombat 1, Tekken 8, or Street Fighter 6, you may want to consider bringing the classic arcade experience to your home console.
These best PS5 fight sticks give players a competitive edge over their controller-using counterparts, with a joystick and buttons made for the abuse that comes with a thrilling bout in the arena.
5. Qanba Obsidian 2
Like a piece of obsidian fashioned into a fight stick, the Qanba Obsidian 2 is a sleek model that you’ll almost feel guilty playing. Of course, you’ll absolutely want to get your hands all over this high-end stick, which features 30mm OBSF buttons and a swappable Sanwa joystick top. Of course, the piano finish does mean you’ll be doing a lot of cleaning, but it may be worth it to make the most out of this slim, comfort-driven fight stick. The button layout is ideal for even the most tense tournaments, ensuring you can pull off devastating combos without a hitch.
Customization may not be the easiest to access and a built-in cable chamber with an attached USB-A cable minimizes the stick’s versatility, but the form and function of the Obsidian 2 make up for any pitfalls. While a joy to use in tournaments, Qanba made training modes much easier with a top panel of buttons, including a touch pad, turbo toggle, and L3/R3 buttons. If you want to take your fight to PC, there’s also a switch to toggle between PS4, PS5, and PC compatibility.
Unfortunately, the Obsidian 2 isn’t the easiest to mod or customize, requiring a screwdriver to pop open the access panel.
4. Mayflash Arcade Stick F500 Elite
If you like options, then the Mayflash Arcade Stick F500 Elite should be a standout on this list. Don’t let the rather basic design fool you, there’s a lot happening all over this premium fight stick. Sanwa parts ensure durable and responsive components, giving you an edge over the competition in tournaments. Multiple secondary controls, including a touchpad and PS5-compatible home and share buttons, give you more control over your experience with the F500.
One of the stick’s surprising features is the two turbo modes. They may not be tournament-legal, but turbo mode is a fun option when you’re casually dishing out beatings in your favorite fighting games. Though Mayflash may have left off L3/R3 buttons, you won’t feel like you’re missing anything, especially when you start popping open the bottom panel and customizing your fight stick to your liking.
3. Victrix Pro FS-12
Durable and made for comfort and customization, the Victrix Pro FS-12 is a tournament favorite. It may look awkward at first, but its design and abundance of empty surface area all lend to a winning experience. Victrix focused heavily on comfort, designing its Pro FS-12 with a slope that contours around the wrist and an ergonomic layout of 24mm and 30mm Sanwa Dneshi buttons.
Built for Sony consoles, the Pro FS-12 includes a touchpad that makes navigating the PS5 interface easier. It also helps utilize features when testing your mettle in training mode in specific games. A quick-release back panel gives you access to customizable components. Modify the fight stick to your specifications and dominate the circuit.
The Victrix Pro is available in two very striking colors, and you can bet whether you choose the clean stark white or vibrant neon purple, you’re going to stand out at any tournament.
2. Nacon Daija Fight Stick
The boxy design of the Nacon Daija Fight Stick is a clean-looking design that hides quite a few fantastic features. First and foremost, the chassis is adorned with a Sanwa joystick with two swappable heads and premium, high-quality buttons. Go to town on them and marvel at how much they can take.
Nacon went above and beyond with Daija, with customizable button mapping via PC or Mac software, and a textured palm rest to give you the stability needed to take down the opposition fast. Some added features like a button lock to prevent pressing unwanted buttons, integrated audio via a 3.5mm jack, and side panel button placement help elevate the experience.
You can also customize the look of the front plate with the included faceplates and pop open the easy-access panel to make easy modifications.
1. HORI PS5 Fighting Stick Alpha
The Sony-licensed HORI PS5 fighting stick has everything you could want from a fighting stick. It’s easily customizable, with a pop-open chassis making it easy to customize the stick to your preferred style and perform regular maintenance. And with how often you’ll be using HORI’s Fighting Stick Alpha, you’ll appreciate that easy access.
The stick utilizes a high-quality, long-lasting Hayabusa joystick and high-speed buttons to maximize responsiveness during each match. No two fighting games are the same, so you’ll want to make use of the four swappable profiles to maximize your game. There’s even a functional trackpad and controls for your microphone and audio. The Fighting Stick Alpha practically has it all, making it a game-changer for tournament players.
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