The MAYFLASH F300 Arcade Fight Stick is an arcade-style joystick, not a flight stick — and it is a deliberate inclusion in this review series because the lines between fighting-game and flight gear can blur, and players new to either category sometimes confuse them. The F300 is a fight stick built for Street Fighter, Tekken, Mortal Kombat and other fighting games, with multi-platform support that is rare even at higher prices. This MAYFLASH F300 review covers the layout, switches, compatibility and value at around $80.
MAYFLASH F300 Arcade Fight Stick Joystick for Switch/Switch 2, PS4, PS3, Xbox Series S/X, Xbox One, Xbox 360, macOS, Windows, Steam Deck and more
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MAYFLASH F300 at a Glance
| Component | Specification |
|---|---|
| Type | Arcade fight stick — for fighting games, not flight sims |
| Compatibility | PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Android — USB and licence-detection chips |
| Buttons / axes | 8 face buttons + Start/Select/Home/Turbo and shoulder buttons; single 8-way arcade stick |
| Hall-effect sensors | No — uses a microswitch arcade lever (not Hall-effect) |
| Hat switches | None — fight sticks use an 8-way joystick rather than hats |
| Throttle / pedals included | None — fight sticks have no throttle or pedals |
| Detachable parts | Top panel can be opened for Sanwa or Seimitsu part swaps |
| Connection | Wired USB |
| Approx price | around $80 |
Build Quality & Realism
The F300 is built to a budget standard but with the bones of a serious arcade stick. The chassis is a heavy plastic box big enough to sit on the lap or rest on the desk without slipping, the top panel is a flat layout with 8 large face buttons in the traditional Vewlix arrangement, and the joystick is an 8-way microswitch arcade lever rather than the analogue Hall-effect stick of a flight controller. The action is positive and clicky, with the sharp four-corner detents that fighting-game players need for clean directional input.
Realism here means arcade realism, not flight realism. The F300 is engineered for fighting-game inputs — quarter-circles, dragon-punch motions, half-circles and dashes — and the layout, switches and button placement are all about that. The top panel is removable, which lets owners upgrade to genuine Sanwa or Seimitsu arcade parts — the de facto standard switches for serious fight sticks — without buying a whole new stick. That upgrade path is a major part of the F300’s appeal.
Compatibility & Platforms
The F300 is a multi-platform stick — Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo and Android are all supported through an onboard mode switch that selects the correct protocol on connection. PC is supported as a generic HID device, and the stick is recognised in Street Fighter 6, Tekken 8, Guilty Gear Strive and other PC fighting games on launch. PS4 support uses a licence-detection chip to enable the controller in games that enforce official certification.
Note that this is not flight gear. Although the F300 connects as a generic gamepad and could theoretically be used in a flight game, the 8-way arcade lever and discrete face buttons are wrong for flight sim use — there is no analogue stick axis for proportional control. For PC fight game players the F300 is a strong budget option; for flight sim use, choose a HOTAS instead. For the broader controller picture, see our best controllers for PC guide.
Sim Programs / Game Support
The F300’s natural home is fighting games. Street Fighter 6, Tekken 8, Mortal Kombat 1, Guilty Gear Strive, Granblue Fantasy Versus Rising and the rest of the current FGC catalogue all work natively on the F300. Retro arcade games on emulator front-ends and on classic compilation releases — Capcom, SNK, Neo Geo — are also a natural fit, often closer to the original arcade hardware than a modern gamepad can manage.
It is not a flight stick. The F300 cannot do proportional pitch and roll because it is a digital arcade lever, not an analogue joystick. If you have arrived at this review looking for a flight sim controller, the right answer is the Thrustmaster T-Flight Hotas X for PC/PS3, the Hotas One for Xbox, or the T16000M FCS for a serious PC HOTAS. For the wider arcade picture, our best arcade sticks for fighting games guide covers the category in depth.
What’s in the Box
The F300 ships with the stick itself, a permanent USB cable and a printed manual. The chassis can be opened — instructions are in the manual — to allow the user to swap the joystick lever and buttons for Sanwa or Seimitsu parts, which is the standard upgrade path for the FGC. No tools beyond a screwdriver are needed. The stick is heavy enough to stay put on the lap or desk without slipping.
What is not included is any kind of replacement part — the stock joystick and buttons are perfectly playable, but a serious player will eventually want to upgrade them. The F300 was designed with that in mind, and the modding scene around the stick is mature and well documented.
Who It’s For
The F300 is for the fighting game player who wants a multi-platform arcade fight stick at a budget price. If you play Street Fighter, Tekken, Mortal Kombat or retro arcade games, want to use the same stick across PC, PS4, Xbox One and Switch, and value the option to upgrade to Sanwa parts later, the F300 is an excellent choice.
It is emphatically not for flight sim pilots — please choose a HOTAS instead. It is also not for serious tournament-level FGC players who want premium Sanwa or Seimitsu parts from the start, who should look at higher-tier sticks. For the casual-to-intermediate fight gamer, the F300 hits its mark.
Pros and Cons
Pros: Multi-platform support across PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and Android — rare even at higher prices; heavy plastic chassis stays put on lap or desk; standard Vewlix 8-button face layout; 8-way microswitch arcade lever with clean corner detents; opening top panel supports Sanwa and Seimitsu upgrades; mature modding scene with well-documented part swaps; sensible price for the platform coverage; turbo and licence-detection chips for PS4 use.
Cons: Stock joystick and buttons are budget-grade — most serious players upgrade; not a flight stick — the 8-way digital lever cannot do proportional flight axes; no Hall-effect sensors; wired-only with no wireless mode; bulky chassis takes desk space; no analog stick or rudder twist; intended for fighting games only, not for flight sims, racing or other genres needing analog input.
Verdict
The MAYFLASH F300 Arcade Fight Stick is a sound choice for what it is — a budget multi-platform arcade fight stick for fighting games. At around $80 it delivers a heavy chassis, an 8-way microswitch lever, the standard Vewlix face-button layout, broad multi-platform compatibility and an opening top panel that supports the standard Sanwa upgrade path. It is not a flight stick — if you need flight gear, look elsewhere — but for fighting games it earns a recommendation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the MAYFLASH F300 be used as a flight stick?
No. The F300 is an arcade fight stick with an 8-way digital microswitch lever, not an analogue joystick. It does not provide proportional pitch and roll axes and is not suitable for flight sims. For flight, see the Thrustmaster Hotas X or T16000M.
What platforms does the MAYFLASH F300 work on?
PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and Android. The stick uses an onboard mode switch to select the correct protocol.
Can the F300 be upgraded with Sanwa or Seimitsu parts?
Yes. The top panel of the F300 opens to allow the user to swap the joystick lever and buttons for genuine Sanwa or Seimitsu arcade parts, which is the standard upgrade path for serious fight stick players.
Is the F300 good for retro arcade games?
Yes. The 8-way microswitch lever and discrete face buttons are well suited to retro arcade game compilations and emulator front-ends, often giving a more authentic feel than a modern gamepad.
More Flight Stick & Sim Controller Reviews
- 8BitDo Arcade Stick Review: Wireless Switch and PC Fight Stick
- Thrustmaster T16000M FCS HOTAS Review: Hall-Effect Joystick + Throttle
- Thrustmaster T-Flight Hotas X Review: Budget HOTAS for PS3 and PC
- Thrustmaster T-Flight Hotas One Review: Xbox-Certified Flight Stick
- Thrustmaster TFRP Flight Rudder Pedals Review: Sliding-Rail Sim Pedals
- Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog Review: Metal A-10C Replica Flight Stick
- Thrustmaster TCA Sidestick Airbus Edition Review: Civilian Airliner Sidestick
- Logitech G Extreme 3D Pro Review: Budget USB Flight Stick Joystick
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