Best overall home arcade setup
Tankstick Max is the strongest current choice for a two-player arcade stick with joysticks, trackball control, and spinner support.
X-Arcade Arcade Stick Controllers for MAME, PC, and Home Arcade
Arcade sticks for home arcade, PC, and MAME
X-Arcade Arcade Stick Controllers for MAME, PC, and Home Arcade
Heavy-duty arcade controls for classic games, emulators, game rooms, home arcade cabinets, living-room TV play, and VR gameplay. Compare current Tankstick models, trackball and spinner options, and Arcade2TV-XR / Tankstick VR as both a VR arcade controller innovation and a premium pedestal setup.
Built for long-term arcade play
Larger control panels, heavy-duty controls, trackball options, spinner support, and repairable arcade parts for long-term setups.
Larger control panels, heavy-duty controls, trackball options, spinner support, and repairable arcade parts for long-term setups.
Quick answer
Which X-Arcade arcade stick should you buy?
If you want a compact travel fight stick for tournaments, a smaller fight stick or leverless controller may be the better fit. If you want a heavy-duty home arcade controller for MAME, PC, emulators, two-player arcade games, trackball games, cabinet projects, living-room TV play, or VR gameplay, start here.
Best trackball arcade stick
Tankstick with Trackball is the simpler two-player choice when you want a built-in 3-inch trackball for classic arcade and mouse-style games.
Best VR and premium pedestal setup
Arcade2TV-XR / Tankstick VR is the current path for VR gameplay with a real arcade-style controller, plus a modern adjustable-height pedestal for standard TV play.
Current X-Arcade options
Choose the right arcade stick
Start with the way you play. Tankstick models are built for home arcade, two-player, MAME, emulator, and trackball setups. Arcade2TV-XR / Tankstick VR is for shoppers who want X-Arcade's VR gameplay innovation plus a modern pedestal arcade setup for standard TV play, living rooms, retro games, and modern games.
Tankstick Max
Best for a fuller two-player arcade control panel with joysticks, trackball control, spinner support, and a long-term home arcade feel.
View Tankstick Max
Tankstick with Trackball
Best for two-player arcade stick play when you want a built-in 3-inch trackball for MAME, classic arcade, and mouse-supported games.
View Tankstick
Arcade2TV-XR / Tankstick VR
Best for X-Arcade's VR gameplay experience using an arcade-style controller, while also serving as a premium living-room pedestal with adjustable-height stand options and standard TV gameplay.
View Arcade2TV-XRLegacy note: Dual Joystick and Solo are no longer in production, so they are not shown as current recommended purchase options on this draft page.
Shop by setup
Match the controller to the job
Use this guide to match your setup, whether you care most about MAME, trackball games, spinner support, home arcade cabinets, VR gameplay, living-room TV play, or console-adapter planning.
MAME and emulators
Use Tankstick models for classic arcade layouts, two-player play, and emulator setups where keyboard, DirectInput, XInput, USB, or adapter modes may matter.
Trackball games
Choose Tankstick with Trackball or Tankstick Max for games that benefit from mouse-style trackball input, including classic arcade, bowling, golf, and aiming games.
Spinner games
Choose Tankstick Max when spinner support matters for paddle, dial, and spinner-style arcade games.
Home arcade cabinets
Use X-Arcade controllers when you want a control-panel feel for a game room, cabinet project, or long-term home arcade setup.
VR gameplay and TV pedestal
Review Arcade2TV-XR / Tankstick VR when you want VR gameplay with an arcade controller, plus an adjustable-height stand, modern pedestal design, and arcade-style gameplay on a standard TV.
Console and adapter planning
Optional console adapter kits and adapters can help with some console setups. Compatibility still depends on the exact model, adapter, mode, firmware, console, and game, so check the product page and support guides before buying for console-only play.
Buyer comparison
X-Arcade vs compact fight sticks
Many popular arcade sticks are optimized for fighting-game tournaments, portability, console licensing, and compact desk or lap play. X-Arcade is strongest when shoppers want a heavier, more cabinet-like arcade control panel for the home.
| Shopper intent | X-Arcade strength | Compact fight-stick strength |
|---|---|---|
| Home arcade, MAME, and game-room play | Strong fit: heavy-duty two-player control panels, trackball options, parts, and arcade ownership feel. | Often playable, but usually built around single-player fighting-game layouts. |
| Trackball or spinner games | Strong fit: Tankstick models cover trackball control, and Tankstick Max adds spinner support. | Most compact fight sticks do not include trackballs or spinners. |
| Fighting-game tournaments | Can work for many players, but it is larger and more home-arcade oriented. | Often stronger fit: lighter, portable, tournament-lock features, platform licensing, and compact layouts. |
| Long-term ownership and service | Strong fit: replacement parts, wiring, trackballs, buttons, joysticks, support guides, and upgrade paths. | Varies by brand; some are highly moddable, while others are more closed or platform-specific. |
| Console-only buying | Optional console adapter kits and adapters are available for some setups; confirm adapter, firmware, mode, console, and game support before buying. | Officially licensed fight sticks can be simpler for a single console ecosystem. |
Model comparison
Compare X-Arcade arcade sticks
Use this quick guide to match the controller to your setup. For console use, review the optional console adapter kit or adapters and confirm the exact adapter, mode, firmware, console, and game requirements before buying.
| Model | Best fit | Why shoppers choose it |
|---|---|---|
| Tankstick Max | Two-player arcade stick with trackball and spinner support | The most complete heavy-duty X-Arcade control-panel setup for classic arcade, MAME, emulator, and game-room play. |
| Tankstick with Trackball | Two-player arcade stick with built-in trackball | Strong choice for MAME, long-term arcade play, classic games, and setups that benefit from mouse-style input. |
| Arcade2TV-XR / Tankstick VR | VR gameplay controller and premium TV arcade pedestal | The current path for shoppers who want X-Arcade's VR gameplay experience, an adjustable-height stand, modern pedestal design, standard TV gameplay, and retro or modern games. |
Why X-Arcade is different
Built like a real arcade control panel
X-Arcade products are closer to arcade control panels than compact travel fight sticks. Shoppers often choose them for heavy-duty build quality, arcade layouts, serviceable parts, trackball options, spinner support, and long-term home arcade ownership.
Heavy-duty build qualityDesigned for repeated arcade play, game rooms, cabinet projects, and long-term ownership instead of short-term controller trends.
Arcade-style layoutsChoose from two-player, trackball, spinner, cabinet-style, VR gameplay, living-room pedestal, and Arcade2TV-XR / Tankstick VR setups.
Built for PC and MAMEDesigned for classic arcade play, emulator setups, game rooms, and cabinet projects.
Repairable ecosystemShop replacement parts, wiring, trackballs, buttons, joysticks, and upgrade kits.
Compatibility guidanceUse support guides to confirm optional console adapter kits, adapters, modes, firmware, and console requirements.
Before you buy
Compatibility depends on your setup
X-Arcade products can support many PC, MAME, emulator, cabinet, TV, and adapter-based setups, but the right answer depends on the controller model, input mode, adapter, firmware, console, and game. Optional console adapter kits and adapters may help with some console setups; check the product page and support article before buying for a console-only setup.
Safe buying rule: If your main goal is one specific console, verify the optional console adapter kit or adapter and support guide first. If your main goal is PC, MAME, emulators, trackball games, spinner games, living-room TV play, or a home arcade cabinet feel, start with the setup that matches that use case.
Arcade stick FAQ
Questions shoppers ask before choosing
Clear answers for common arcade stick, fight stick, MAME, emulator, trackball, spinner, and console-adapter questions.
Is X-Arcade an arcade stick?
Yes. Current X-Arcade arcade-stick style options include Tankstick Max, Tankstick with Trackball, and Arcade2TV-XR / Tankstick VR. They are larger and more cabinet-like than many compact fight sticks. Dual Joystick and Solo are legacy models that are no longer in production.
What is the best X-Arcade arcade stick for MAME?
For most two-player MAME and emulator setups, start with Tankstick with Trackball or Tankstick Max. Choose Tankstick Max if spinner support matters. Choose Tankstick with Trackball if you want a simpler two-player arcade stick with built-in trackball control.
Does X-Arcade make an arcade stick with a trackball?
Yes. Tankstick with Trackball and Tankstick Max include trackball control for games and setups that benefit from mouse-style input.
Does X-Arcade make an arcade stick with spinner support?
Yes. Tankstick Max is the current X-Arcade option for shoppers who want a two-player arcade stick with trackball and spinner support.
Is X-Arcade good for fighting games?
Yes, X-Arcade can be used for fighting games, especially in a home arcade or two-player setup. Competitive players who prioritize portability, tournament locks, or console-specific licensing may prefer a compact fight stick made for tournament travel.
What is the difference between an arcade stick and a fight stick?
A fight stick is usually a compact single-player controller designed around fighting-game layouts. X-Arcade Tankstick controllers are larger home arcade control panels built for classic arcade games, MAME, emulators, two-player play, trackball games, and cabinet-style setups.
Does X-Arcade work on consoles?
Console support depends on the X-Arcade model, adapter, firmware, mode, console, and game. Optional console adapter kits and adapters are available for some setups, but you should check the product page and support guides before buying for a console-only setup.
What is Arcade2TV-XR / Tankstick VR?
Arcade2TV-XR / Tankstick VR is X-Arcade's VR gameplay innovation using a real arcade-style controller. It also functions as a modern pedestal arcade setup for standard TV gameplay, living-room use, retro games, and modern games. Depending on the package, it can include a stand with adjustable height, a modern design, and a flexible setup for playing directly on a TV screen.
Can Arcade2TV-XR be used without VR?
Yes. VR gameplay is the headline innovation, but Arcade2TV-XR / Tankstick VR can also work as a stand-based arcade controller setup for a standard TV, including retro and modern games.
Start here
Compare X-Arcade arcade sticks and build the right setup
Shop current X-Arcade arcade sticks, Tankstick controllers, Arcade2TV-XR / Tankstick VR, replacement parts, and adapters before choosing the setup that fits your game room.