THE BEST CONTROLLERS FOR FIGHTING GAMES
The best controllers for fighting games are anything you have access to. Contrary to popular belief, you do not need any particular kind of equipment in order to play fighting games. Just your controller of choice and console (Switch, Xbox, PS, PC) of choice. The notion that you need an arcade stick being necessary is incorrect. That comes from a previous era when arcades were the main way to get together and play fighting games. Nowadays people can play on literally anything that can plug into the console including wacky controllers such as racing wheels or wii nunchucks. In fact, one of the best players in the world, SonicFox, plays on a basic PS4 controller. An important thing to consider however, is hand pain. Fighting games can be tough on the hands if one doesn’t take proper rest.
One of the hardest decisions to make is which peripheral you want to dedicate to for fighting games. You have plenty of options, but they are all different enough from each other. This makes switching between peripheral types difficult due to muscle memory. The most commonly used types of controllers are:
- Arcade Sticks
- Hitbox(And all of its variants)
- Regular Controller/Pad
ARE ARCADE STICKS THE BEST CONTROLLER FOR FIGHTING GAMES?
The oldest and most classic controller for fighting games, arcade sticks used to be the primary option. Starting in arcades and now in our homes, they present a fun way to play. If you want to think about purchasing an arcade stick, there are plenty of companies that will deliver this product with you. A lot of people find the arcade stick to be more fun than the traditional controller, as well as being easier on the thumb for all of the quick inputs.
However, it is the heaviest of all the controllers mentioned, so if you’re planning on playing somewhere that isn’t your home, it will take some effort to move around. An arcade stick can also be quite pricey for some people, ranging from $70 – $200+ for an average stick. I recommend trying one out before you buy it if possible. They are definitely one of the best controllers for fighting games.
Below will be a couple of recommendations for a few price ranges:
The Qanba Drone is a small but reliable stick that will run you about $60. Easy to transport, but might move around in your lap due to its size and weight. Recommended for anyone that wants to try arcade sticks without the huge asking price.
The Mad Catz Authentic EGO fightstick is a study and reliable arcade stick, and the golden standard. One will cost about $150, much more expensive than the Qanba Drone, but will last a much longer time after extended periods of use.
The Qanba Obsidian is the higher end, but tournament ready arcadestick. One can find many competitors with this stick in tournaments, and for a good reason. If you want to shell out the $250 required to get one of these bad boys, you’ll realize it was well worth it. Quality and durability are the name of the game with this stick, as well as looking really sleek. Only recommended if you are sure about arcade sticks.
ARE CONTROLLERS/GAMEPADS THE BEST?
Nowadays one of the most common controller types, the gamepad will serve you well. They also come with your console, so that’s pretty easy. However, they are the cheapest and thus the most fragile of all choices. Many players have to replace their ps4 controllers atleast once a year, and sometimes more than that. If you’re willing to go through controllers more often than usual, this is also a valid option.
Everyone knows the typical controllers, the ps4 DS4, the various Xbox controllers, the ps5 controller, but there is another set of controllers called “gamepads.” These can also serve as a separate controller if you want to play on one but not ruin your current controllers. These are one of the best controllers for fighting games.
The HORI Fighting Commander has been and remains a staple of the fighting game community for good reason. A decently priced controller at $70, this gamepad features tactile buttons that feel good, as well as an extremely responsive dpad for all of your motion input needs. If you prefer playing fighting games on dpad, this is what you’re looking for.
The Razer Raiju Tournament Edition is your high end, state of the art gamepad for not only fighting games but gaming in general. The weight, quality and clickyness of this controller will serve you well for its steep asking price of $200.
ARE HITBOXES THE BEST CONTROLLERS?
The most recent addition to the fighting game controller family, the Hitbox might remind you of a keyboard. A lot of people ask, why not just play with a keyboard? There’s a simple answer to that: It doesn’t feel as fun to hit the buttons compared to a Hitbox. There’s also a variant of the Hitbox called the Mixbox, which is essentially the same thing but the keys are WASD keys just like a keyboard.
These controllers give you the most precise inputs because each button represents a direction, with also the steepest learning curve. If you’re seriously trying to improve in fighting games, I highly recommend these button only controllers. For some people however, it might hurt their wrist so be aware. They also come at the most costly rate of all, usually over $200.
The Snackbox Micro is a Hitbox style controller designed to be portable and light, which it is. It runs for about $200. Also being a member of the arcade stick family, just like arcade sticks, you can slap your own cool piece of art into it for some extra personality.
The original Hitbox, the keyboard like controller lets do precise inputs with no room for error. Pick this if you come from PC games, it will be a natural transition. Or, you can pick it up if you feel like your execution needs to go to the next level. A Hitbox costs around $250.
The mixbox is very similar to the hitbox, except with a WASD key format. As a PC gamer my entire life, this was the most natural transition for me ,even more so than the Hitbox. I prefer to have the up key rather than the “spacebar” that the Hitbox has. This is the most expensive option of all, running at $270. If anyone was curious, here is my own Mixbox:
All in all, pick whichever controller you’re able to afford and game on! The gamepads are easy to get a hold of, the arcade sticks and hitbox might be more fun for you to play with, although comes with a hefty price tag.
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