As far as gaming goes, 2026 feels like a peak Fighting Game year. From the release of Sony and ARCSYS’s Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls to the continued success of Capcom’s Street Fighter 6, fighting games are enjoying something of both a technical and cultural renaissance. This got me thinking back to a review I did about two years ago – a hands-on review of the KeebMonkey DOIO HitPad Mini. At the time, it was the first lever-less controller that I’ve ever tried and it left me with some thoughts about the hype around these modern gaming pads. Have my feelings changed in 2026?
What’s Changed in the DOIO HitPad Mini
The truth is that not much has changed with the DOIO HitPad except the way I use it. For the most part, I no longer use it with my PlayStation 5 and have largely paired it to my Steam Deck or Nintendo Switch. This has largely negated my biggest issue with it – the need for a second peripheral – the BrookGaming Wingman FGC Adapter. It’s not that it’s terribly inconvenient, but the additional peripheral does add to the overall cost of the controller – making it a combined $100+ device instead of an under $60 controller. All that being said, the HitPad Mini has become a fixture on my SteamDeck’s docking station, allowing me to take advantage of both device’s portability. The keys still feel a little cramped and unnatural – I’m definitely a gamepad gamer – but as I’ve played on my SteamDeck more over the past year, I’m getting accustomed to keyboard and mouse gaming.
Should You Buy a DOIO HitPad Mini in 2026
The honest answer lies in where you will be gaming on. When I first bought the HitPad Mini, I imagined that I would easily carry this to local tournaments and/or by my friends and family’s place. With most of them owning the PS5 for gaming, it would require the addition of the adapter – or just bringing my PS5 controller. Needless to say, the DOIO HitPad Mini doesn’t leave home nearly as much as I thought it would. IF you’re primarily gaming on PC, and those games happen to be fighting games, then you’ll find that the DOIO HitPad is a solid and compact option for gaming.