I just tested this arcade stick for PS5 and PC — and it's nearly perfect for fighting game fans

The Qanba Obsidian 2 is a premium arcade stick for serious fighting game fans. It’s large, built to endure heated matches, and has several unique features that distinguish it from similar products.

As expected from a luxury arcade stick, the Qanba Obsidian 2 packs responsive Sanwa parts that feel great to use. Thanks to the aluminum frame beneath the top panel, the buttons feel snappier and produce a deeper sound than other arcade sticks I’ve tested. You can change the joystick and buttons, though you’ll have to unscrew the bottom panel to access the internals.

Speaking of screws, large thumb screws on both sides let you access panels for storing the attached USB cable and a bat top for the joystick. The latter is a fun addition if you’re an old-school North American arcade dweller who grew up using balltop joysticks.

The all-plastic, all-black chassis looks and feels premium. Given the Obsidian 2’s size, your hands have plenty of room to move along the top panel. Unfortunately, said panel smudges easily, so you’ll want to frequently wipe it to maintain its sheen. The anti-slip base covering the entire bottom keeps the arcade stick firmly on your lap or desk, no matter how much you move.

While a fantastic peripheral, the Obsidian 2 lacks some features I expect from premium arcade sticks. Instead of an easy-to-open hatch to access the inside, you’ll need to unscrew the bottom plate. I also wish it came with a detachable and braided cable. Those features would have better justified the current $249 asking price.

Questionable design choices aside, the Qanba Obsidian 2 is still one of the best fight sticks for hardcore fighting game players. I’ll detail why in my full review.

Qanba Obsidian 2 review: Cheat sheet

• What is it? The Qanba Q7 Obsidian 2 is a premium tournament-grade arcade stick.
• Who is it for? For professional and enthusiast fighting game players
• What does it cost? The Qanba Q7 Obsidian 2 costs $249 on Amazon.
• What do we like? The responsive Sanwa parts, precise gaming performance, and overall build quality.
• What don’t we like? The Obsidian 2 isn’t easy to customize, doesn’t have a detachable cable, and commands a steep price despite these flaws.

Qanba Obsidian 2 review: Specs

Qanba Obsidian 2 review: The ups

If you love fighting games, then the Obsidian 2 can give you an edge thanks to its great design, excellent Sanwa parts and phenomenal gaming performance.

Stellar design

The Obsidian 2’s all-black rectangular plastic chassis instantly denotes it as a premium product. Though big and heavy at 19.1 x 10.2 x 4.6 inches and 7.3 pounds, this arcade stick doesn’t feel uncomfortable on your lap.

It’s also relatively easy to carry around, especially if you remove the nearly 2-pound aluminum plate from the bottom panel. Even without the plate’s extra weight, the firm padding on the Obsidian 2’s bottom ensures it stays in place even during the most intense matches.

The arcade stick and buttons are closer together than on similar peripherals—which is interesting considering how much space there is on the device’s surface. This didn’t impact my performance, so it’s not an issue.

The buttons along the top control panel aren’t too big, but they’re large enough to easily press. The buttons in question include Home, L3 and R3, Turbo, Share and Select. There are small toggles to switch between directional buttons (D-Pad, LS, RS) and a tournament lock switch that disables the Select button and Touchpad.

There’s a 3.5mm headphone jack along the controller’s top side. I would have preferred if this port was located elsewhere as your headset’s wire could start brushing up against your left hand if said wire isn’t long enough.

Though its frame is made entirely of plastic, the Obsidian 2 feels sturdy. The peripheral’s edges have a matte texture that makes it easier to grip when picking it up. Though the edges are squared, they’re rounded enough so you won’t accidentally hurt yourself when playing.

If you want to swap between joystick tops, you can do so by unscrewing the top via a quick access panel on the bottom. You don’t need a screwdriver since the panel’s cover can serve as that tool.

The Obsidian 2’s most distinctive design feature is its two side compartments, which open by twisting their respective thumb screws. The left-side compartment is for storing the USB cable, while the right is for storing the ball top or bat top, depending on which one you’re using at the moment. I always appreciate it when arcade sticks have compartments for cables and accessories, so kudos to Qanba for having them on this device.

Responsive Sanwa parts

The Sanwa JLF joystick and OBSF buttons are awesome to play on. I especially like the deep sound the buttons produce, thanks to the aluminum plate directly underneath the top panel. The buttons also don’t feel as hollow as on other controllers due to the metal plate. I’m also a fan of the flexible joystick that allows me to pull off complex motions.

This controller’s joystick has a square restrictor gate that locks in at the four top and bottom corners. This is standard fare for controllers with Sanwa parts, but if you’re not happy with that, you can always swap to an 8-way or circular gate. There’s a slight caveat to that, which I’ll get to in a moment.

Smooth gaming performance

The Obsidian 2’s gaming performance doesn’t disappoint. I effortlessly pulled off basic fireball motions in Street Fighter 6 and complicated combos in Tekken 8. The controller also works marvelously in faster-paced anime fighters like Guilty Gear Xrd Rev 2 and Dragon Ball FighterZ.

And since this is an arcade stick, it also works well with side-scrolling games. I had a good time blasting enemies away in Metal Slug 3 or introducing foes to the business end of my weapons in TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge.

Like the Victrix Pro FS and Hori Fighting Stick Alpha, the Obsidian 2 is compatible with PS4, PS5 and the best gaming PCs. I mainly used the controller on PS5 but it worked equally well on my gaming rig. This controller isn’t compatible with Xbox Series X out of the box, so you’ll need a wired stick converter.

Qanba Obsidian 2 review: The downs

The Qanba Q7 Obsidian is a marvelous fight stick. Unfortunately, some of its flaws make its premium price hard to justify.

Difficult customization

While you can swap out the Obsidian 2’s joystick, buttons and restrictor gate, getting to those parts isn’t easy.

Unlike the Victrix Pro FS or Hori Fighting Stick Alpha, the Obsidian 2 doesn’t have a hatch you can open to let you access the internal components. Instead, you’ll have to unscrew the eight screws keeping the bottom in place. The protruding joystick makes it difficult to place the controller on a flat surface, which compounds matters.

Thankfully, swapping out parts once you’ve removed the bottom panel isn’t a headache. There’s plenty of room to move around once you’re inside, which is good if you have big hands like I do. The button’s cables are color-coded, which means you’ll have less to worry about when swapping new buttons.

No detachable cable

Few arcade sticks offer wireless options since players want the precision of wired connectivity. I can’t fault the Obsidian 2 for being a wired device, but I wish I could disconnect the cable.

You can argue that you don’t need a detachable cable for a controller with a cable compartment. However, getting the cable back into its compartment can take a couple of minutes, which you might not have the time or patience for.

I’m grateful for the small opening on the compartment door that lets you keep the cable outside the controller. That said, I wish the opening were more rounded, as the flat edges can scrape against the cable and compromise its integrity. A braided cable would have alleviated some of my worries since they’re more flexible and durable than plastic cables.

A steep price

Right now, the Obsidian 2 costs $249. While that’s less than the Victrix Pro FS’ current price of $345 (typically $399), the steep cost stings more considering the issues I detailed above. For the asking price, it should've featured an easy-to-open hatch and detachable cable.

While the Obsidian 2 now costs $50 less than before, that’s small compensation for the features it’s missing.

Qanba Obsidian 2 review: Verdict

Even if the Qanba Q7 Obsidian 2 lacks features you’d expect from a premium arcade stick, it’s still a quality controller that feels amazing to use.

If you can overlook its steep price, you’ll be treated to one of the finest arcade stick experiences available. The Sanwa parts are top-notch, and the all-black chassis looks badass. And even if it doesn’t turn you into the next Justin Wong, you’ll have a grand time playing your favorite fighting games on the Qanba Q7 Obsidian 2.