PC Gaming

The DOIO HitPad Mini in 2026

A leverless gaming controller sits on a cutting mat.
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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?

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KeebMonkey DOIO HitPad Mini Leverless Controller is a HitBox You Can Pocket

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If you’ve been playing fighting games as long as I have, you probably have run the gamut of input controllers: from console pads to fighting game-specific pads to fight sticks to lever-less controllers. Like the games they’re made for, there’s a seemingly endless variety. But if you’ve ever looked for a truly pocketable controller chances are that you’ve been disappointed. The KeebMonkey DOIO HitPad Mini Leverless Controller (DOIO HitPad Mini from here on out) is a truly pocketable lever-less controller that aims to punch above its weight. Here’s what I’ve learned after 5 months of use.

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Barlow’s Dread Machine adds visual flair to twin-stick shooters

Bartlow's Dread Machine
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Bartlow’s Dread Machine, by developers Beep Games and Tribetoy, is a twin-stick shooter with a unique visual design. The game takes place in the early 1900s and considering the game’s abundant visual use of levers, tracks, dials, and even the animatronic character you navigate, it is meant to convey a piece of machinery that would be right at home during that time period. In fact, the game opens with one inserting a coin into an old-timey arcade machine which I outright love. The aesthetic even makes me overlook some of the game’s other flaws and recommend any fan of the twin-stick shooter genre add it to their must-play list.

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