8 Best Hori Fighting Sticks

For many, arcade fighting sticks or games are lost art restricted in malls. But the truth is far from it. The arcade gaming community is progressing and growing more and more day by day. The community is well aware of that and knows how important it is to have the best Hori fighting stick that works well.

Fighting sticks are integral in deciding how your gaming experience will shape up. There are plenty of fight sticks available from quite a few renowned manufacturers. Razer, Qanba, MadCatz, and Hori.

Hori fight sticks are among the very pristine of them all. They can perform exceptionally well for a long time, and most of them also have a good design.

Hori fight sticks have found their way into professional tournaments and matches. It is a testament that even professionals rely on the sticks that Hori puts out. This article is going to be about that. We’re looking at the 8 best Hori fight sticks you can find.

Top 8 Best Hori Fighting Stick of 2023

 

1. Hori Fighting Edge

The new and updated Hori Fighting Edge offers significant upgrades over the previous version. An updated stick version often means adding a couple of new pieces of artwork and making slight changes.

That is not the case with the Fighting Edge. This upgraded model makes improvements in the right direction and earns number 1 on this list.

The Hori Fighting Edge is a stylish-looking fight stick that is tournament-grade and is used by professionals. We have personally used this arcade fight stick because a team member who used it shared his experience with us, which was perfect.

With the updated version, Hori has completely redesigned the look of the Fighting Edge fight stick. This Hori fights stick looks terrific with a black plastic frame, aluminum panels, and a minimalistic look. The edges are clean, and there is a lot of space on the top to have your hands rest easily while you play.

The touch screen has been moved to the front side, and additional buttons may need. Tournament mode, PS Home, Share, etc., can be found there. And as another change that lets this Hori fight stick stand out, the Fighting Edge has the Noir layout instead of the Taito Vewlix one, which you see just about everywhere.

This Hori fights stick’s Hayabusa buttons and switches are great and perform well. There is not much difference between when you’re using these buttons or when using a fight stick with Sanwa switches. That is because noticing the difference is bare bones. Hori buttons and joystick do an excellent job replicating the Sanwa switches’ feel.

The Hori buttons are still as responsive as you’d want them to be. The Hori Fighting Edge can be compatible with a PC and a PS4. It would have been a perfect pick if it had been compatible with PS3 as well.

There is very little wrong with the Hori Fighting Edge fight stick. Its large frame size and bulky design may not be what most people are used to. But it can hold its own and withstand even the roughest of uses.

Check Price on Amazon

 

2. Hori Real Arcade Pro N Hayabusa

Hori’s Real Arcade Pro is a fight stick known by just about everyone in the fighting game community. There are different variants of the Real Arcade Pro, the first being quite outdated in today’s standard.

Like how Hori redesigned the Fighting Edge fight stick, they did so with the Real Arcade Pro. The second on this list is Hori’s Real Arcade Pro N Hayabusa fight stick.

The Hori Real Arcade Pro N is an excellent fight stick many professionals use. It comes in a black and gold color scheme and follows the Noir layout of buttons. On this fight stick, you can find the 8 buttons, joystick, and additional PS buttons. The buttons have a matte surface which feels good when being used.

You get the Hayabusa buttons that Hori usually uses with the updated version. The control panel has been moved to the top side, where you can find additional buttons. A handy feature is getting a headphone jack with the Hori Real Arcade Pro N Hayabusa fight stick.

The Hayabusa push buttons feel great to the touch. These buttons are incredibly responsive and do an excellent job of mimicking the Sanwa buttons’ feel. The Noir layout and the matte finishing of the buttons are both big bonuses in the ergonomics department.

It makes modding easier and provides you with quality Hayabusa parts that you can’t be disappointed with. It is compatible with PS4, PS3, and PC, making it viable for almost everyone.

Check Price on Amazon

 

3. Hori Real Arcade Pro 4 Kai

The next fight stick by Hori that I think is worth mentioning is the “Hori Real Arcade Pro 4 Kai”. Tournament mode, Turbo fire, tremendous and highly responsive buttons, and switches. The Real Arcade Pro 4 Kai comes with everything you need. And Hori again brings out the interactive touchpad you can use with the PS4.

The Real Arcade Pro 4 Kai by Hori has a similar artwork compared to the previous RAP N Hayabusa fight stick. This time, the artwork has grey and silver accents, unlike the gold one. The 8 buttons are arranged in the standard Taito Vewlix layout that we’ve seen almost everywhere. The size of the Real Arcade Pro 4 Kai is quite decent.

As great as the artwork on the RAP 4 Kai is, it is a little disappointing that you can’t swap it out on your own. The Real Arcade Pro N Hayabusa had screws you could use to change the artwork but not this one.

Besides that, you can find all the usual tournament-grade functions and buttons on the RAP 4 Kai, which can come in handy. Turbo mode, Tournament mode, etc., are all present and can be turned on with a button.

The Hayabusa buttons on the Hori Real Arcade Pro 4 Kai are the same quality as the previous RAP 4 fight stick. The buttons make audible sounds that give the tactile and responsive feedback you want from a fight stick. Hori’s fight sticks do an excellent job of mimicking the feel of Sanwa buttons and giving you the best performance possible.

This fight stick is compatible with PS4, PS3, and PC. However, a different variant works with Xbox One and Xbox 360. Regardless of your choice, you can still get an adapter and work with the other console.

Check Price on Amazon

 

4. Hori Real Arcade Pro V Nintendo Switch

In its library, Nintendo Switch may not have as many arcade fighting games as PC, PlayStation, and Xbox. However, as fighting games are becoming more and more popular, Switch’s library is expanding. And so, we have the Real Arcade Pro V, Hori’s fight stick for Nintendo Switch.

This Hori arcade stick is similar to the previous version of the Real Arcade Pro fight sticks. It follows the same Taito Vewlix layout of the 8 buttons and Hayabusa switches.

There isn’t a very noticeable design difference in the RAP V Switch compared to the previous RAP models. However, this stick is missing the headphone jack with almost all Real Arcade Pro fight stick versions. There is a compartment for storing your USB cable.

You can swap out the Hayabusa buttons and lever for Sanwa Denshi switches just as quickly as the previous models let you do. It comes with red artwork on the top panel, as is the coloring scheme of Nintendo.

As for how this fight stick performs and feels, well, exactly how the RAP 4 does. There isn’t much difference in this except that it is compatible with Nintendo Switch and PC when using Dinput. It is just as great as the RAP 4 and feels excellent. You still don’t miss out on any high-end features since the Real Arcade Pro V does have them all.

Check Price on Amazon

 

5. Hori Real Arcade Pro Soul Calibur VI Edition

What sets the Hori Real Arcade Pro SoulCalibur VI Edition apart from the rest is its excellent custom artwork and coloring scheme and its compatibility.

The Real Arcade Pro fight sticks by Hori are available in quite a few different variants, and there aren’t many changes. The SoulCalibur VI Edition in the Hori fight sticks lineup is the same descent. You have the same Hayabusa buttons and joystick, which are pretty good.

It has a high-quality picture that you can appreciate a lot. Especially if you’re a fan of the SoulCalibur games. The top right corner has the Start button, which has a cover. You can use it to close it and prevent any accidental touches.

There are two variants of this Hori fight stick: one for the PlayStation consoles and the other for the Xbox. Both can be used with a PC, so that’s good. In addition, the PlayStation version lets you remap the buttons where you can use the joystick as an analog stick or a directional pad. However, the price takes a bump without offering any over-the-top features.

Check Price on Amazon

 

6. Hori Fighting Commander

Many people prefer to play arcade games with a joystick in the arcade fighting community. Arcade fighting sticks have been primarily designed for that since they originated.

The Hori Fighting Commander is made for people who are used to playing on a controller rather than an arcade stick. That is why the audience for The Fighting Commander is quite restricted.

The Hori Fighting Commander is designed for Xbox and PS4. It is a specially designed controller with a 6-button layout instead of the standard 4-button layout. The first thing you’ll see about the Hori Fighting Commander is how similar it is in the shape of a standard controller.

However, instead of having the Lb and Rb or L1 and R1 buttons in the front, they are on the top right beside the 4 buttons. And there is no joystick or analog stick. Along with that, it also has buttons such as Turbo for when you want uninterrupted gameplay.

Despite being of such a small size, it still has the features that you usually get from a full arcade fighting stick. Hori ensured that D-pad players were not left out by equipping the Fighting Commander with the essentials. As for the buttons, they are larger than the standard controller buttons.

Check Price on Amazon

 

7. Hori Fighting Stick Mini 4

This fight stick is a small and very compact little one by Hori, but it sure does pack a punch. Not always do you want a big and heavy arcade fighting stick?

As great as they are, they can propose specific problems for people looking for something like that. Hori’s fight sticks do an excellent job diversifying their lineup, and the Fighting Stick Mini 4 is a testament to that.

The Hori Fighting Stick Mini 4 has a bit of flimsy plastic used for its construction, making for a lightweight build overall. In addition to being small, the buttons are thinner and smaller than normal-sized ones.

Where 30mm wide buttons are what you usually get, Hori’s Fighting Stick Mini 4’s are only 24mm. They’re not Sanwa or Hayabusa but instead specially designed ones made to be small and are not snappy or as responsive. It has an 8-button layout. You can find the PS Share, Home, and Start buttons on the top panel where they are fixed.

There is a problem with its small size: it does not hold a fixed position. You have to ensure that you’re also weighing this stick down, as it can move around quite a lot.

You usually get a storage compartment or a Turbo or Tournament Mode button, which is not the case with this stick. This fight stick is compatible with PS4, PS3, and PC.

Check Price on Amazon

 

8. Hori Switch Fighting Stick Mini

The next and final stick-in line for you is the Hori Switch Fighting Stick Mini. Like the Mini 4, this is a very compact and small fighting stick, unlike traditional-sized arcade fighting sticks.

Its miniature version is its primary selling point; however, it is also compatible with the Nintendo Switch. Switch’s fight sticks market is a little low, so this can be an excellent option.

It has all the essentials, such as an 8-button layout that are smaller and thinner than normal ones, to avoid missing essential features. The joystick uses a unique micro-switch-activated mechanism that is made to be used for this small fight stick.

This Hori fighting stick does have rubber feet at the bottom. However, you may still find it problematic. The lightweight and low resistance means that the Hori Switch Fighting Stick Mini will move around. In addition to that, they are not quite as good feeling and tactile as Hayabusa or Sanwa buttons. So resting your hands comfortably may be a problem for many people.

This Hori fight stick has a grey color design on its stock model. However, there is a Street Fighter edition available. One has Cammy and Chun Li’s blue artwork, and the other has Ryu and Ken’s red artwork.

The Hori Fighting Stick Mini for Nintendo Switch is not exactly a high quality fight stick you can expect to see in tournament-level gameplay. There isn’t much of a highlight with this fight stick apart from its size.

Check Price on Amazon

 

Conclusion

Hori fighting sticks have been around for a long time and have made a name for themselves. This list ranges from expensive and very high-end to bare bones and essentials. The best Hori fighting stick will work for you for a long time, provided you use them with care.

• Our first pick is the “Hori Fighting Edge,” a top-quality fight stick. It has the ideal weight, its buttons are very responsive, and what we loved most about is the modeling we could do with it. However, it can be expensive for some and is not compatible with PS3.
• Our second recommendation is “Hori Real Arcade Pro N Hayabusa” because of its different compatibility options and the leverage of switching the buttons. The design and buttons have the look and function properly.
• Our third option is “Hori Real Arcade Pro 4 Kai,” with a firm base build. The quality and functionality of the buttons and joystick are pretty impressive; however, you cant swap the buttons or joystick on it. All in all, it is an excellent package at a reasonable price.

Our list has various options; therefore, explore your options, look for your requirements, and which arcade stick fulfills them the best.

The comments below are always open so feel free to ask anything. So read them carefully and look for what kind of arcade fighting stick you want. There is no harm in experimenting, so don’t be afraid to try something new.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

What games are compatible with the Hori Nintendo Switch Real Arcade Pro V Hayabusa?

The Hori Real Arcade Pro V Hayabusa is an excellent fight stick and is available in a version compatible with Nintendo Switch. You can use the Pro V Hayabusa with any arcade fighting games available for Nintendo Switch.

There aren’t many of them available on the Switch as of yet. However, a few notable titles, such as Skull Girls and Street Fighter.

Which Fight Stick is Best in the Long Run?

If you are looking for a fighting stick that you can rely on long-term, going for good build quality and having good parts is a good option.

You also want something that will let you mod it easily to change the look or buttons when you want. The fight sticks, as mentioned earlier an excellent choice for that.

Are Hayabusa Parts any Good?

The Sanwa JLF buttons and joystick are the best quality arcade fighting sticks. They are the choice of almost every professional because they are responsive and durable.

These Sanwa switches will not give out even if you smash the buttons. Compared to Hayabusa, they are pretty much better; however, there isn’t much difference.

Hori has done a lot of work on their Hayabusa parts, and they are very reliable. Only veterans who know what to look for can spot the differences.