Qanba Obsidian 2 vs HORI Fighting Stick Alpha
Qanba Obsidian 2 (#1, best overall) vs HORI Fighting Stick Alpha (#3): in our Fight Sticks scoring the Qanba Obsidian 2 totals 9.5/10 and the HORI Fighting Stick Alpha 8.6/10, the Qanba Obsidian 2 leading on Components and Build Quality.
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TopsFive comparison scores
Side by side
| Qanba Obsidian 2 | HORI Fighting Stick Alpha | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $300 | $200 |
| Buttons | Sanwa OBSF-30 | HORI Hayabusa high-speed |
| Joystick | Sanwa JLF with swappable tops | HORI Hayabusa |
| Platform | PS5, PS4, PC | PS5, PS4, PC |
| Connection | Wired USB | Wired USB (10ft cable) |
| Weight | 4.33 kg | 2.7 kg |
| Features | Tournament Lock, Side Storage | Touchpad, Tournament Lock, 4 Profiles, Audio Jack |
How they differ in real use
Built from our fight sticks scoring, each product's published specifications, and verified owner feedback — not hands-on testing.
Both the Qanba Obsidian 2 and the HORI Fighting Stick Alpha made our Top 5 Fight Sticks, at #1 (best overall) and #3. Premium Sanwa Denshi joystick and buttons out of the box with a sleek aluminum top panel. Tournament-proven build with excellent weight and stability for competitive play. HORI's flagship with Hayabusa lever and buttons, plus a hinged top panel for easy modding. Solid mid-range option backed by HORI's decades of fight stick expertise.
We score fight sticks on Components (35%), Build Quality (25%), Moddability (20%), Compatibility (10%) and Value (10%). On that basis the Qanba Obsidian 2 totals 9.5 out of 10 and the HORI Fighting Stick Alpha 8.6. The widest gap is Components, where the Qanba Obsidian 2 scores 10 against 9 for the HORI Fighting Stick Alpha — lever and button quality. Build Quality also separates them: 10 for the Qanba Obsidian 2 versus 9 for the HORI Fighting Stick Alpha.
On paper, the specifications that actually differ: Buttons — Sanwa OBSF-30 on the Qanba Obsidian 2 versus HORI Hayabusa high-speed on the HORI Fighting Stick Alpha; Joystick — Sanwa JLF with swappable tops on the Qanba Obsidian 2 versus HORI Hayabusa on the HORI Fighting Stick Alpha; Connection — Wired USB on the Qanba Obsidian 2 versus Wired USB (10ft cable) on the HORI Fighting Stick Alpha; Weight — 4.33 kg on the Qanba Obsidian 2 versus 2.7 kg on the HORI Fighting Stick Alpha; Features — Tournament Lock, Side Storage on the Qanba Obsidian 2 versus Touchpad, Tournament Lock, 4 Profiles, Audio Jack on the HORI Fighting Stick Alpha. They match on Platform.
Pricing as of February 1, 2026: $300 for the Qanba Obsidian 2 and $200 for the HORI Fighting Stick Alpha, a $100 difference in the HORI Fighting Stick Alpha's favor. Owners praise the Qanba Obsidian 2 for genuine Sanwa JLF joystick and buttons and swappable ball and bat tops included; the most common complaint is expensive at $300. Owners praise the HORI Fighting Stick Alpha for HORI Hayabusa joystick with arcade-quality feel and easy-open design for customization and maintenance; the most common complaint is hayabusa parts not Sanwa-standard.
Qanba Obsidian 2
- Genuine Sanwa JLF joystick and buttons
- Swappable ball and bat tops included
- Side storage compartments for accessories
- Heavy build for excellent stability
- Expensive at $300
- Piano finish shows fingerprints easily
- Wired only — no wireless option
HORI Fighting Stick Alpha
- HORI Hayabusa joystick with arcade-quality feel
- Easy-open design for customization and maintenance
- Replaceable artwork panels
- 10ft cable and 3.5mm audio jack
- Hayabusa parts not Sanwa-standard
- No wireless connectivity
- Relatively heavy for travel at 2.7kg
Which should you buy?
The Qanba Obsidian 2 is the better fit for serious fighting game players and tournament competitors — it is the higher-scoring pick here, chiefly for Components and Build Quality. The HORI Fighting Stick Alpha is the better fit for mid-range budget fighters and those wanting reliable HORI quality. If the $100 saving matters more than Components, the HORI Fighting Stick Alpha is the better value. The Qanba Obsidian 2 is a poor fit for budget shoppers; the HORI Fighting Stick Alpha is a poor fit for sanwa purists.
Choose the Qanba Obsidian 2 if
- Serious fighting game players
- Tournament competitors
- Those wanting premium Sanwa components
Skip it if
- Budget shoppers
- Those wanting wireless
Choose the HORI Fighting Stick Alpha if
- Mid-range budget fighters
- Those wanting reliable HORI quality
- PS5 and PC fighting game fans
Skip it if
- Sanwa purists
- Budget shoppers
Common questions
Is the Qanba Obsidian 2 better than the HORI Fighting Stick Alpha?
In our Fight Sticks ranking the Qanba Obsidian 2 scores higher overall, 9.5 to 8.6, with the biggest advantage in Components. The HORI Fighting Stick Alpha does not out-score it on any criterion we weigh.
How much more does the Qanba Obsidian 2 cost than the HORI Fighting Stick Alpha?
$100 more as of February 1, 2026: $300 for the Qanba Obsidian 2 against $200 for the HORI Fighting Stick Alpha. Prices move, so the merchant page shows the current figure. What the extra buys is mostly Components — 10 versus 9 in our scoring.
What is the main difference between the Qanba Obsidian 2 and the HORI Fighting Stick Alpha?
The headline spec difference is Buttons: Sanwa OBSF-30 on the Qanba Obsidian 2 versus HORI Hayabusa high-speed on the HORI Fighting Stick Alpha. In use, the gap that matters most is Components (10 vs 9 in our scoring): lever and button quality.