30 Best Fighting Games Of All Time

There’s a sense of satisfaction that comes beating somebody in combat. Unfortunately, not all of us are physically gifted enough to actually win a fight in real life, so thankfully we have fighting games, which grant the same gratification without the risk of a black eye. Plus, in fighting games, you can throw fireballs, so that adds to the overall experience. Ever since the release of the PS4 and Xbox One in 2013, the genre has seen the release of some of the best fighting games ever made, proving that the genre is experiencing a whole new Golden Age.

But how do these new games truly stack up against the classics of yesteryear? To answer that question, I’ve ranked the best fighting games of all time (roll credits). Before we begin, one key ground rule to mention is that only one game per franchise has made the cut, purely because this list would be filled with much more Street Fighter if there were no limits. Also, thanks to backwards compatibility, all of the games listed for PS4 and Xbox One will also work on PS5 and Xbox Series X | S.

With that out of the way, let’s get into the list of the best fighting games of all time.

 

The Best Fighting Games of All Time

30. Dead Or Alive 6

Developer: Team Ninja
Publisher: Koei Tecmo Games
Platform(s): PC, PS4, XB1
Release Date: March 1st, 2019

You’d be forgiven for thinking that Dead or Alive is just that fighting game series with the boobs, and to be honest, the franchise has never gone out of its way to try and prove that notion wrong. Just look at their EVO Japan 2019 presentation. Or don’t. Honestly, you probably shouldn’t.

Underneath all that though, Dead or Alive 6 boasts an incredibly in-depth set of mechanics that separate the good from the button mashers. The strike/counter/throw mind games makes for an intricate and rewarding fighting game, underneath all of the unnecessary jiggly bits.

From our Dead or Alive 6 review:

For what it is, Dead or Alive 6 offers an enjoyable experience for new players and veterans alike, but the full package currently fails to deliver in a lot of key areas.

 

29. Power Rangers: Battle For The Grid

Developer: nWay Inc
Publisher: nWay Inc, Lionsgate
Platforms(s): PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, Stadia
Release Date: March 26th, 2019 (Switch & Xbox One)/April 2nd (PS4)/September 24th (PC)/June 1st, 2020 (Stadia)

You probably wouldn’t have thought that a licensed Power Rangers game would be a contender for one of the best fighting games ever made, and considering what little content Battle For The Grid had on launch, it didn’t look like this game would be it either. However, after numerous free updates and a bunch of paid DLC characters, BFTG is a real contender.

A 3v3 tag fighter, you control a team that can consist of Rangers, villains and anyone in between. The controls and gameplay are pretty similar to the likes of Marvel vs Capcom, with a lot of freedom when it comes to building combos. Combine the excellent gameplay with the post-launch free content the game received, including a Story Mode, along with cross-play across every single platform and Battle For The Grid is a complete package.

From our Power Rangers: Battle For The Grid review:

A fun budget fighter that has its core mechanics in the right place but is currently missing a lot of content, Battle for the Grid is a good fighting game with the potential to become great.

 

28. Bloody Roar 3

Developer: Eighting, Hudson Soft
Publisher: Hudson Soft, Virgin Interactive
Platform(s): PS2, Xbox, Gamecube
Release Date: March 1st 2001/June 25th 2001/August 24th 2001 (Japan, NA & EU respectively)

Bloody Roar has never been at the pinnacle of the fighting game genre, but it’s always been a popular series within the fighting game community. They were never the most technically sophisticated games on the markets, but they offered an enjoyable spectacle of shape-shifting fighters knocking the snot out of the each other.

While fans tend to go back and forth on what game in the series is the best, the general consensus is that Bloody Roar 3 and Bloody Roar: Primal Fury are the best the series has ever been, while Bloody Roar 4 is terrible. Considering the last game in the series launched in 2004, perhaps it’s time for the Bloody Roar to get the Killer Instinct reboot treatment.

 

27. ARMS

Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
Platform(s): Switch
Release Date: June 16th, 2017

Nintendo like to innovate as much as they can, and ARMS is no exception. The developers took a loose interpretation of boxing and added spring loaded arms for every character, along with a host of power-ups. The results are better than you’d imagine.

With a decent roster of a characters, along with an even larger array of attachable gloves that could be combined for new attacks and strategies, ARMS’ use of match-up knowledge to determine success makes it a damn good fighting. The host of updates post-launch have also helped make sure ARMS is worth your time and money. If nothing else, the motion controls will give you a workout, and you can’t say that about any other game on this list.

 

26. Def Jam: Fight For New York

Developer: AKI Corporation, EA Canada
Publisher: EA
Platform(s): PS2, Xbox, Gamecube
Release Date: September 21st/October 1st 2004 (NA/EU respectively)

While AKI are perhaps most known for the their wrestling games like the iconic WWF No Mercy, and the Def Jam games are basically wrestling games themselves, Fight For New York seamlessly blends superlative wrestling gameplay with heavy hitting strikes and flashy combos. The results are now legendary.

With support to up to four players, Def Jam: Fight For New York offered answers to the playground question of “which rapper could beat who in a fight?” The game included a host of brilliant hip-hop artists, and a few rubbish ones to boot (who the hell is Bless?!), but the real star of the show was the brutal fighting. After the less than stellar Def Jam: Icon, the series fell by the wayside, but we would love to see a return one day.

 

25. Fighting EX Layer

Developer: Arika
Publisher: Arika
Platform(s): PC, PS4, Switch
Release Date: June 28th, 2018 (PC, PS4)/May 20th, 2021 (Switch)

Arika’s return to the world of fighting games was a welcome one, no doubt. The developers of Fighting Layer and the Street Fighter EX series, which was halted by Capcom back in 2000, Arika published an Unreal Engine 4 demo on April Fool’s Day 2017 featuring EX and Fighting Layer characters. The rest was history.

A nigh-on perfect recreation of those predecessors, Fighting EX Layer retains a lot of the same core features, including Super Cancels and juggling, while introducing more up-to-date features like running, auto and chain combos, and a simplified Progressive mode with easier inputs. It’s everything you love about the old games, but with that little bit extra. In 2021, even Switch players were given a chance to enjoy FEXL, with Another Dash bringing the excellent gameplay to the handheld platform.

 

24. Darkstalkers: Resurrection

Developer: Iron Galaxy Studios
Publisher: Capcom
Platform(s): PS3, Xbox 360
Release Date: March 12th, 2013

This won’t be the first time an Iron Galaxy port makes its way on this list, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Darkstalkers: Resurrection was a HD collection of Capcom’s spookiest fighting game. Included in the package was Darkstalkers 2 and 3, providing a different and more horrific take on the 2D fighting game genre.

Unfortunately, Resurrection didn’t perform well commercially, and the Darkstalkers characters may well be resigned to cross-over game guest spots for the rest of eternity. It’s a real shame, as Darkstalkers boasted some of the most original and brilliant character designs in all of fighting games.

Capcom, do the right thing. Please.

 

23. Bushido Blade

Developer: Light Weight
Publisher: Square Enix (then SquareSoft), Sony Computer Entertainment
Platform(s): PS1
Release Date: March 14th, 1997 (Japan)/September 30th (North America)/February 1st, 1998 (Europe)

One of the PS1’s stand-out fighting games (that isn’t Tekken 3), Bushido Blade took a more realistic approach to the weapons-based fighting game genre. Instead of Soulcalibur’s juggle combos and oversized zweihanders, Bushido Blade was a more visceral, strategic experience, and it’s all the better for it.

Depending on how your attack landed on your opponent, you could maim them and render their limbs inoperable, while a well placed strike could absolutely kill them outright. Life and death, victory and defeat, honour and shame were always within reach, which only served to increase the game’s legend.

 

22. UFC 4

Developer: EA
Publisher: EA
Platform(s): PS4, XB1
Release Date: August 14th, 2020

Yes, the UFC games are fighting games. Two opponents battling to reduce the other’s health? That’s a fighting game alright, and UFC 4 is possibly the best interpretation of the popular combat sport, even if it only offers incremental improvements over the previous game as opposed to an overhaul of the series.

With a variety of modes, including the more arcadey Knockouts Mode, alongside a lengthy career mode and plenty of gameplay depth, UFC 4 should keep fans of the sport and fighting game fans occupied for a long time. Well, if you can figure out the grappling and submission systems, that is.

 

21. Divekick

Developer: One True Game Studio, Iron Galaxy
Publisher: Iron Galaxy
Platform(s): PC, PS3, PS4, Vita, XB1
Release Date: August 20th, 2013 (EU & NA for PC, PS3 & Vita)/October 7th, 2014 (PS4, XB1)

Equal parts a celebration and lampooning of the fighting game community, Divekick boils the genre down to its two most pure tenants: attacking and mobility. One button is for jumping, or “diving”, and the other is for kicking. Apparently those inputs are all you need to create a balanced, enjoyable and, most importantly, viable fighting game, and the Addition Edition + adds even more new characters and content.

If you’re looking for something a bit silly, or for a game that’ll allow you to learn/practice the core principles of spacing, footsies and meter management independent of other, more complicated fighting game principles, this is your game. Plus, where else can you see Johnny Gat beat up famed fighting game developer Seth Killian?

 

20. Gang Beasts

Developer: Boneloaf
Publisher: Double Fine
Platform(s): PC, PS4, XB1, Switch
Release Date: December 12th, 2017 (PC & PS4)/March 27th, 2019 (XB1)/October 7th, 2021 (Switch

You might be thinking that I’m playing fast and loose with what is and isn’t a fighting game, but tell me Gang Beasts isn’t a physics based version of Super Smash Bros. I’ll wait. Seriously, Gang Beasts is a phenomenon at this point, adding a fun, wacky, “anything can happen” physics element to fighting games.

While there’s still some element of skill required to win consistently, as throwing enemies off of ledges takes a certain nuance, the random nature of the game and the way you can interact with the environment levels the playing field. Gang Beasts is an ideal party game, especially now that it’s available on the Nintendo Switch. If you can’t find enough controllers though, there’s always the online mode instead.

From our Gang Beasts review:

The Xbox One launch means a new audience can experience the hilarious gameplay that Gang Beasts offers, but it won’t do anything for players who own the game on other platforms.

 

19. Blazblue Cross Tag Battle

Developer: Arc System Works
Publisher: Arc System Works
Platform(s): PC, PS4, Switch
Release Date: May 31st, 2018

Arc System Works have made a name for themselves for their incredible anime fighters, with titles like Blazblue and Persona 4 Arena among others, but BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle is possibly their best encapsulation of what those games have to offer.

Featuring characters from BlazBlue, Persona 4 Arena, Under Night and the anime series RWBY, with a 2.0 update that introduces even more characters, Cross Tag Battle feels like a love letter to one of the genre’s biggest subsets. Plus, the simplified controls and tutorials make it the most accessible entry too. However, its launch DLC practices did leave a lot to be desired.

From our BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle review:

We’d like to focus on how deep and intricate the game is, or how much fun it can be learning different characters, but the way Blazblue: Cross Tag Battle handles its DLC and roster can’t be ignored.

 

18. Fantasy Strike

Developer: Sirlin Games
Publisher: Sirlin Games
Platform(s): PC, PS4, Switch
Release Date: July 25th, 2019

A more recent entry into the world of fighting games, from a new IP no less, Fantasy Strike definitely has the pedigree to compete with the titans of the genre. Developed by industry veteran David Sirlin, who wrote the book Play To Win, Fantasy Strike walks the fine line between accessibility and intricacy.

With a simplified control scheme and a roster filled with depth and variety, along with a hefty dosage of modes and decent online play, Fantasy Strike offers something to fighting game players of all skill levels, meaning it deserves a place on this list. When you consider the fact that it’s also gone free-to-play, and there’s no reason not to give Fantasy Strike a try.

From our Fantasy Strike review:

Fantasy Strike’s philosophy of a truly “accessible” fighting game is a successful one, with plenty to love for new fighting games players and veterans alike.

 

17. Skullgirls 2nd Encore

Developer: Reverge Labs
Publisher: Autumn Games
Platform(s): PS4, Switch
Release Date: July 7th, 2015 (PS4)/October 22nd, 2019 (Switch)

Any fans of 3v3 tag fighters will attest to the quality of Skullgirls, a game that looks and plays like the lovechild of Marvel vs Capcom and Cuphead. Okay, maybe that’s not the best comparison considering Skullgirls pre-dates Cuphead by a wide margin, but you get the point. Skullgirls has an “old-timey” graphical style that’s absolutely beautiful.

The unique animated style and vibrant cast of characters give Skullgirls an identity unlike any other, but other features like a Capcom vs SNK inspired team system, where the less fighters you have, the more powerful they are, and the ability to set custom assists for your characters, prove that the appeal of Skullgirls is more than just skin deep.

From our Skullgirls 2nd Encore review:

With beautiful visuals and enough brilliant mechanics, Skullgirls: 2nd Encore is a great addition to the Nintendo Switch eShop.

 

16. Nidhogg 2

Developer: Messhof Games
Publisher: Messhof Games
Platform(s): PC, PS4, XB1, Switch
Release Date: August 15th, 2017 (PC, PS4)/July 18th, 2018 (XB1)/November 22nd (Switch)

A more niche take on fighting games, but a fighting game nonetheless, Nidhogg 2 is about as competitive as games can get. 2 players try to reach the side of the level that the other player is guarding. That’s it, that’s the whole premise, and it’s one that can lead to some intense, back and forth battles, where victory is always uncertain. One swing of momentum could be enough to carry you to victory.

Dedicated Nidhogg fans might prefer the original game, and in all honesty, the art style is much better. However, the increased amount of arenas and weapons available makes Nidhogg 2 a more well-rounded game. The online play might not be the best, and Nidhogg 2 offers little to no appeal for those solo players, but stick this on during a party and you’re guaranteed to have some fun.

From our Nidhogg 2 review:

It’s a testament to the game design that Nidhogg offered the depth and strategy of a regular fighting game without the barrier of execution that stops lower level players from enjoying the game fully. It’s a two button fighter, yet it’s more engaging than some 6 button fighters.

NEXT PAGE