Back to all projects
    Planning

    Raspberry Pi Fight Stick

    A portable all-in-one fight stick with a built-in Raspberry Pi. Plug into any TV and play — no console required.

    Built by Gary
    Computer
    Raspberry Pi 4
    Controls
    Sanwa JLF + 8 buttons
    Output
    HDMI
    Power
    USB-C
    Est. Cost
    ~$120
    Portability
    Fully portable

    The Idea

    What if you could bring an arcade anywhere? The concept is simple: build a fight stick enclosure that contains a Raspberry Pi inside. Plug it into any TV via HDMI, power it with USB-C, and you've got an instant retro arcade — no console, no laptop, no setup.

    Design Goals

  1. Fully self-contained — Pi, storage, and controls all inside the stick
  2. Premium feel — Sanwa JLF joystick and Sanwa OBSF-30 buttons
  3. Clean output — single HDMI cable to any TV or monitor
  4. Simple power — USB-C from any phone charger or power bank
  5. Travel-friendly — fits in a backpack

    6. Planned Build

    The enclosure will be CNC-cut from 1/2" birch plywood, sized to fit comfortably on a lap or table. The Raspberry Pi 4 mounts internally with a short HDMI extension cable routed to a panel-mount port on the back. A USB-C extension handles power.

    Layout:

  6. Top panel: — 1 Sanwa JLF joystick + 8 Sanwa 30mm buttons
  7. Side: — Start + Select buttons
  8. Rear panel: — HDMI out, USB-C power, USB-A port (for a second controller)

    9. Software

    RetroPie running on a 128GB microSD card with a curated library focused on fighting games and co-op beat-em-ups:

  9. Street Fighter II series
  10. King of Fighters
  11. Marvel vs. Capcom
  12. Metal Slug series
  13. TMNT / Simpsons / X-Men

    14. Use Cases

  14. House parties — plug into any TV
  15. Retro gaming meetups — portable arcade in a backpack
  16. Travel — hotel room gaming (pair with a compact monitor)
  17. Gifts — the ultimate custom gift for retro gaming fans

    18. Status

    Still in the planning phase. I'm finalizing the enclosure dimensions and waiting on a CNC file from a fellow builder. Parts are mostly sourced. Hoping to start the build next month.

    All Projects