GRS Super Joystick – USB Rotary Arcade Joystick

Available in October.

Bring back the twist that made the arcade unforgettable

Move through the battlefield. Turn the yellow knob. Aim in another direction without breaking your stride. If you remember Ikari Warriors, Time Soldiers, or Midnight Resistance, you know how much that twist mattered.

The GRS Super Joystick brings that hands-on rotary experience to your home arcade. Created by Glen’s Retro Show and Thunderstick Studios for retro enthusiasts and cabinet builders, this purpose-built, mass-produced USB rotary joystick puts movement and independent aiming back under one hand.

Whether you are revisiting a cabinet you loved in the ’80s or discovering these games for the first time, it gives you a way to build your arcade around the controls that made them special.

• Move and aim independently: Push the joystick to move while twisting the knob to control your aim in compatible rotary games.
• Choose your rotary feel: Interchangeable 8-, 12-, and 16-detent covers, plus a free-spin option.
• Bring rotary play to your USB arcade build: Use it with MAME on a PC, Raspberry Pi emulation setups, and supported MiSTer FPGA cores, with the appropriate configuration.
• Keep more classics within reach: Configurable rotary outputs, push-and-pull actions, and upgradeable firmware adapt the controller to different games.

Building your control panel? Gameplay push buttons are sold separately. Shop GRS Ultimate Gold-Plated Arcade Buttons (3-pack).

The control that gave the classics their character

In the mid-1980s, games such as T.N.K. III and Ikari Warriors made the rotary joystick part of the action. You could move in one direction while turning your weapon toward another. Escaping a tight corner, covering a friend, or lining up the next shot became something you felt through the stick.

That is the experience the GRS Super Joystick was built to bring home. Its rotating grip gives your hand a dedicated aiming control, while USB connectivity lets it become part of the PC or Raspberry Pi cabinet you are building today. Your favorite game, a familiar twist, and another reason to press Start.

Build a home for the rotary classics

Start with the games you remember, then explore the rest of this distinctive arcade family. The following library covers the classic rotary joystick titles and their notable regional names, followed by related dial and twist-control games.

Rotary joystick games

• Ikari Warriors (1986)
• Victory Road / Ikari Warriors II: Victory Road (1986) — Dogou Souken in Japan
• Ikari III: The Rescue (1989) — rotary-control versions
• T.N.K. III / T.A.N.K. (1985)
• Guerrilla War / Guevara (1987)
• Bermuda Triangle (1987)
• World Wars (1987)
• Time Soldiers / Battle Field (1987)
• Heavy Barrel (1987)
• Gondomania / Makyou Senshi (1987)
• Midnight Resistance (1989)
• S.A.R. — Search and Rescue (1989)
• DownTown / Mokugeki (1989)
• Caliber .50 (1989) — optical rotary control
• Last Survivor (1989)
• Exterminator (1989)
• TouchDown Fever (1987)
• TouchDown Fever 2 (1988)
• Fighting Soccer (1988)
• Jackal (1986) — rotary-control version
• Top Gunner (1986) — rotary-control bootleg variant

Related aiming-dial and twist-control classics

These games used different original controls, making them additional options to explore with the joystick’s configurable POV, keyboard, or mouse outputs:

• Front Line (1982) — directional aiming dial with push-to-fire
• Wild Western (1982) — directional aiming dial
• The Tin Star (1983) — directional aiming dial
• Sheriff (1979), Bandido (1980), and Western Gun Part II (1980) — directional aiming dials
• Forgotten Worlds / Lost Worlds (1988) — separate rotary “roll” control
• Xybots (1987) — twist-left / twist-right turning controls

Choose the right game version: Some titles have both rotary and standard-joystick versions. Game names here identify the original control styles; availability and rotary mapping depend on the emulator or FPGA core you use. Games and game software are sold or supplied separately.

Your favorite classics, on the setup you enjoy

MAME on PC

Revisit Ikari Warriors and the wider rotary arcade library in MAME. Connect the joystick by USB, map movement and buttons, then assign the knob to the game’s rotary or positional input. Use mouse output or configurable clockwise/counterclockwise keys as appropriate for the game and MAME version, adjust sensitivity, and save the settings for that title.

SNK 40th Anniversary Collection on Steam

The Windows PC collection brings together rotary favorites including Ikari Warriors, Victory Road, Ikari III: The Rescue, Guerrilla War, T.N.K. III, Time Soldiers, Bermuda Triangle, World Wars, and S.A.R. — Search and Rescue. Use the joystick’s dedicated purple-LED collection mode, with compatible firmware installed, as described in the digital manual. Select the arcade versions where the collection offers multiple versions. View SNK 40th Anniversary Collection on Steam.

MiSTer FPGA

The Ikari Warriors / Victory Road and T.N.K. III cores document support specifically for the GRS Super Joystick. Set up its green-LED keyboard mode in TS-RJ Configurator on a Windows PC, save the configuration, then connect it to MiSTer and enable the core’s GRS Super Joystick option. Follow the core’s player-specific rotary mappings: Ikari Warriors / Victory Road setup and T.N.K. III setup. Other cores need their own supported input mappings.

Raspberry Pi and single-board computers

Build a compact rotary arcade around a Raspberry Pi or another compatible single-board computer. The USB connection carries the controls to your system; your emulator supplies the game and rotary-input support. Raspberry Pi 3 and 4 and Linux are listed in the controller’s compatibility specifications. Other boards need a USB host connection and software that accepts the selected controller input mode.

Batocera

Choose an arcade emulator or core with rotary-input support and configure movement, buttons, and rotation for the game. When using mouse output, enable mouse input in the emulator; RetroArch-based cores may also need the correct mouse index.

RetroPie

Use an arcade emulator or core that supports the game’s rotary controls. In mouse mode, select the correct mouse device/index and map the rotary axis; in keyboard mode, assign the configured rotation keys. Save settings for each game so your cabinet is ready for the next session.

A little setup brings the experience together: Match the physical knob cover to the controller’s WAY setting and use the input mode your game expects. TS-RJ Configurator runs on Windows PC (x86); saved controller settings can then be used on your compatible gameplay system.

The rotary experience, with the encoder built in

The joystick contains its own self-contained USB encoder board. Connect it to your computer with one USB cable, choose D-input (DirectInput), X-input (XInput), or keyboard mode as appropriate for your software, and connect up to 12 gameplay push buttons directly to the built-in board using the included harness. No additional encoder board is required.

We integrated the encoder because rotary gameplay depends on how the input protocol, rotary output, and emulator work together. The joystick’s electronics and firmware handle movement, rotation, push-and-pull actions, and connected buttons as one configurable control system. That means fewer separate parts to assemble and more of your build focused on the games you want to play.

What you need for your build

• Your GRS Super Joystick kit, control panel or enclosure, and your choice of gameplay push buttons.
• A compatible PC, Raspberry Pi, single-board computer, or supported MiSTer setup.
• Your game software and the appropriate emulator or FPGA core, with controls configured for the title.
• A Windows PC (x86) for TS-RJ Configurator customization and firmware updates.

Rotary control at the heart of every feature

• Rotary aiming with push-and-pull actions: Rotate clockwise or counterclockwise, push down, or pull up to access the inputs your game uses.
• Interchangeable rotary feel: The shaft arrives with a 12-detent knob. Included 8-detent, 16-detent, and free-spin covers let you tailor rotation to different games. Match the firmware WAY setting to the installed cover.
• Flexible rotary outputs: Choose gamepad POV hat, keyboard keystrokes, or mouse movement; a dedicated purple-LED mode supports the PC SNK 40th Anniversary Collection with compatible firmware.
• Hall-effect directional control: Hall sensors provide joystick movement alongside the rotary input.
• Manual directional gates: Supplied 4-way and 8-way square restrictors control joystick movement independently of the rotary knob’s detents.
• Convenient mode controls: The included GRS TOS 2-in-1 button provides MODE and WAY controls with LED feedback. The primary joystick output can also be switched between D-pad and A-pad settings as described in the manual.
• Self-contained USB controller: D-input (DirectInput), X-input (XInput), and keyboard modes, with USB HID input capabilities including keyboard output. The built-in encoder accepts up to 12 external buttons.
• Configurable mounting orientation: Choose 0°, 90°, 180°, or 270° in the software to suit your control-panel layout.
• Upgradeable firmware and saved settings: Customize the controller in TS-RJ Configurator, save your configuration, and install compatible firmware updates.

Choose how your rotary knob plays

The computer input mode determines how the controller communicates with your system; the rotary output setting determines how knob movement is translated for your game. Select the appropriate settings and configure input mappings and sensitivity in your game or emulator. Setup requirements vary by system and title.

Technical details

Check the manual’s dimension drawing against your panel and enclosure before installation. Use the mounting spacer where needed to prevent the PCB from contacting the underside of the panel, and allow clearance for the mechanism and wiring.

Customize your controls with TS-RJ Configurator

TS-RJ Configurator is the Windows PC (x86) control software for setting up your GRS Super Joystick and installing firmware updates. Its controls include:

• Keyboard assignments: Map or unbind keystrokes for clockwise rotation, counterclockwise rotation, pull-up, and push-down.
• Mouse axis selection: Choose X-axis or Y-axis output.
• Mouse movement behavior: Select stepped 30-pixel movement or free movement to match rotary or spinner-style play.
• Joystick orientation: Choose 0°, 90°, 180°, or 270° without remapping your entire game setup.
• Controller identity: Select the controller product name for supported game or multiplayer setups.
• Status display and testing: Check the current firmware, MODE, and WAY settings and verify inputs in Controller Tester.
• Save Configuration and Factory Reset: Keep settings after reboot or restore the controller’s default configuration.
• Firmware Upgrade: Select a compatible firmware file and update the controller through the application.

Software & firmware downloads

TS-RJ Configurator — Windows PC (x86)

• Download TS-RJ Configurator v1.04.11 (.rar) — enhanced compatibility version.
• Download TS-RJ Configurator v1.04.9 (.rar) — previous version.

Controller firmware

• Download firmware v2.36 (.bin) — adds mouse pixel-mode switching through the configurator and bug fixes.
• Download firmware v2.35 (.bin) — driver compatibility improvements, Esc-key mapping fix, and bug fixes.
• Download firmware v2.33 (.bin) — orientation adjustment, free-spinner behavior, controller testing, firmware/mode/way display, and related improvements.

To update: Download and extract the configurator archive on a Windows PC, download the firmware file, connect the joystick by USB, and use Firmware Upgrade in TS-RJ Configurator. Follow the digital manual for the detailed procedure. Use Save Configuration after making control changes.

What’s in the box

• 1 × GRS Super Joystick shaft with 12-way rotary knob and dust-proof washer attached
• 1 × GRS Super Joystick base with integrated encoder
• 1 × mounting spacer
• 1 × interchangeable 8-way rotary knob cover
• 1 × interchangeable 16-way rotary knob cover
• 1 × interchangeable free-spin rotary knob cover
• 1 × GRS TOS 2-in-1 button
• 1 × encoder harness
• 1 × harness for the 2-in-1 button
• 1 × USB cable
• 1 × manual 4-way joystick restrictor gate
• 1 × manual 8-way square joystick restrictor gate
• 3 × knob caps
• 1 × Allen wrench
• 1 × QR-code card for the digital user manual

Gameplay push buttons are not included. The yellow interchangeable knob covers and knob caps shown in the kit photo are joystick components. The included 2-in-1 button is for controller settings.

Add your preferred button colors: shop GRS Ultimate Gold-Plated Arcade Buttons (3-pack). These connect directly to the joystick’s built-in encoder; no additional encoder board is needed.

Digital instructions, ready when you need them

Scan the QR code on the included card to open the digital user manual, or use the link below. The guide covers assembly, installation, knob changes, MODE and WAY settings, software customization, firmware upgrades, and game/emulator setup.

Open the GRS Super Joystick digital user manual (PDF)

No printed user manual is included. Keep the QR-code card for convenient access to the online instructions.