Fighting games occupy a special place in both the past and present of gaming. It’s a genre that requires quick thinking, spasmodic reflexes, and vast knowledge of both your own and your opponent’s options to play at a high level. It can often look intimidating. But some of pop culture’s most famous series, such as Street Fighter and Mortal His Kombat, belong to the same genre.
That’s why we’ve set a few extra criteria for consideration when compiling this list. We left out platform fighters such as the Smash Bros. series because they’re important enough to be on the list in their own right. Only one game represents each series. Legacy plays a big role, but it should provide robust mechanics and still be fun to play today. Here is the list of top 10 fighting games.
10. Mortal Kombat (2011)
Mortal Kombat 9 marked a turning point in MK’s history. It was a reboot of not just the story, but everything that has defined Mortal Kombat over the years. Gone are the puzzle combat, motor combat, and weird Create-a-Fatalities, instead of a back-to-basics approach that focuses on actual combat above all else. Mortal Kombat 9 brought the legendary fighting series back from the brink, thanks to its excellent story mode, tons of fanservice, and reworked mechanics that laid the foundation for subsequent games, so it’s as good as possible for the series. Turned out to be the best decision. follow.
It certainly wasn’t the most balanced fighting game in the world, but that’s part of its charm, and in fact its imperfections are one of the reasons many fans still prefer MK9.
read us Mortal Kombat 9 review.
9. Skullgirls
One look at Skullgirls in action and you’ll know this isn’t your average indie fighting game. But there’s more to Skullgirls than just looks. Skullgirls features one of the most flexible fighting game systems ever. Every character has different combo routes, play as a solo his character with increased health and damage, play as a balanced duo his team, or be weaker but with additional assists and combo benefits. You can fill your team with his 3 characters to provide. Extension. Add memorable character designs, art style, and music to silky-smooth gameplay, and it’s no wonder Skullgirls is still thriving ten years later.
read us Skullgirls review.
8. Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown
Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown was the last arcade and console iteration of Sega’s best 3D fighter until Ultimate Showdown, which rebuilt the game on Yakuza’s Dragon Engine for modern consoles. Often known for heavily influencing or creating the 3D fighter genre, Virtua his fighters are the basis of video games. The likes of Yu Suzuki (creator of Shenmue and Space His Harrier) and Toshihiro Nagoshi (longtime head of the Yakuza series) focus on ground martial arts, vast movements, attack and counter options, and instantly iconic characters. helped create the series.
Virtua Fighter 5 is the pinnacle of this design, with gameplay that stays true to its roots while setting it apart from other fighters and improving the online features of the series. Some single-player services have been removed from previous versions of Virtua Fighter 5, but Ultimate Showdown is the easiest way to play the latest entry on modern hardware. Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown has a very high execution ceiling, with moves that require an input window as small as 1/60th of a second, and characters that are just fun to mash buttons with, making it a must-have for 3D fighter fans and enthusiasts alike. is a must-see game. General genre.
7. Killer Instinct (Xbox One)
2013’s Killer Instinct proved that the series is more than the Mortal Kombat imitator some claim it is. It was one of the first mainstream fighting games to integrate rollback netcode, and its online play is still one of the smoothest. That his Dojo mode is the best educational tool the genre has ever seen. We don’t just teach you how to play Killer Instinct. It teaches you how to play fighting games, so it’s a must-read for anyone trying to learn the genre. Plus, Killer Instinct is packed with great single-player content, looks great no matter how you play it, and has a killer him soundtrack by Mick Gordon.
But whether you’re yelling with the announcer to land ultra combos, perfectly timed combos and counter-breakers, or learning new characters in training mode, Killer Instinct feels great to play and has great fighter skills. It has real depth. It’s unique and meets your needs. If only Microsoft would release a sequel…
read us Killer Instinct review.
6. Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3
Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3 stands out for its character balance (or lack thereof) and team building. Many of the characters are broken in ways only Marvel can get away with, and his three of these characters can be combined, each with his one of the three assist options, in various orders, so A sandbox of possibilities is created.
Perfectly executing infinite combos in one game, then stuck blocking Soul Fists non-stop without a chance to move the next game, making you question your life decisions, so you’re in total control I can do it. Start the game with a mix-up that leads to a death combo, mix up your opponent’s next character with another death combo, and on the third character he commits only one execution error, the whole team is level 3 of his X-Factor. You can watch the comeback die. It’s brutal and unforgiving, but the feeling of being omnipotent is worth it.It’s fast, flashy, and has a ridiculous combo system. It grabs your attention and takes you on a ride.
read us Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 review.
5. The King of Fighters XIII
There are many great works in the King of Fighters series, with many picking the 98 and 2002 as their favorites, and the XV being the latest and much loved. But for our money, it’s KOF XIII that remains his one of the best fighting games of all time. Highly detailed pixel art, pacing of play, and a hyperdrive combo system all helped KOF to make a comeback in the competitive and casual fighting game scene that continues to this day. Use while playing. Characters, team-based combat, and beautiful animations keep this particular king on his throne.
read us King of Fighter XIII review.
4. Dragon Ball Fighters
Not only is Dragon Ball FighterZ ultimately a good Dragon Ball game, it’s a great fighting game in its own right. The first thing you notice is the presentation. It’s absolutely amazing to watch and the sounds of the haymakers, super dashes and energy beams give the action the punch it really needs. Hmm.
Combine that presentation with a deep roster of fan-favorite characters, a 3v3 tag system, and a friendly auto-combo system that makes flashy combos easy even for beginners, and it’s one of the most played fighting games in recent memory. Be one of the funniest and competitive. It continues to this day. With the recent announcement of Rollback Netcode, the future looks very bright for Dragon Ball FighterZ. Even if Netcode isn’t all that great, a clear love of knowledge for both Dragon Ball and the genre comes through in every fight.
read us Review for Dragon Ball FighterZ.
3. Tekken 7
Tekken has always been known as one of the hardest fighting game franchises. That his 3D moves add a layer of complexity, each of him has over 50 characters with well over 100 moves, and the simple act of moving backwards properly takes practice. is. Its depth and complexity are as demanding as it is challenging, and those who put in the time will be rewarded.
What distinguishes Tekken 7 from other entries in the series and earns a spot here is how much it improves accessibility without sacrificing its depth. cuts the amount of moves you need to learn in half, but all characters are just as complex as before, if not more. Rage Arts and Rage Drive are exciting comeback mechanics, but Nothing beats solid play. The slow-motion finisher didn’t change the gameplay significantly, but it did create some of the best moments of the tournament. increase.
read us Tekken 7 review.
2. Guilty Gear Strive
The Guilty Gear series has been churning out great fighting games for over two decades, but Guilty Gear Strive is where Arc System Works’ flagship title finally found mainstream success, and for good reason. Strive employs the industry’s best rollback netcode. This was largely unknown to mainstream fighters a few years ago.
But good netcode alone does not make a good fighter. Strive has also improved the series’ infamous technical gameplay to make it easier to understand without losing the depth and variety of Guilty Gear’s Gonzo cast. Each of his 20 characters in Strive plays very differently, whether it’s his Sol Badguy in Rushdown his monster in the series’ poster boy or the coffin-shaking Goldlewis Dickinson. a single character. Add in Roman Cancels, which let you cancel any action into another, and Strive has an almost endless level of player freedom and expression.
All this with an excellent story mode, in-depth educational tools, tons of concept art and customization options to unlock, a rocking soundtrack that spans nearly every game in the franchise, and some of the most striking visuals in the genre. Combined with some, see why Strive has taken the fighting game community by storm.
read us Guilty Gear Strive review.
1. Street Fighter III Third Strike
Picking one game to represent the most famous fighting game franchise was a tough question. After all, Street Fighter II popularized the genre when it hit arcades in 1991. And Street Fighter IV brought it back to life when it hit home his console in 2009. But Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike is something special. Evo Moment 37 brought Daigo’s parry and inspired an entire generation of players. But that’s not all. Sprite work is still the most beautifully animated. A style that oozes the background. The jazz-inspired soundtrack features some of the best music in any fighting game. Even the then-underrated roster, with fewer characters carried over from Street Fighter II and some of the characters being weird, works very well with options to suit every playstyle.
But the real highlight is the parry system. The decision to allow parrying of Hadouken to Super His arts adds near-infinite depth to an already-famous series while making it easy for newcomers to pick up and play. 3rd Strike showed what was possible by taking the genre’s most important series up against its contemporaries while simultaneously elevating it to new heights. More importantly, which most games post 1999 can’t say, recent re-releases also support rollback netcode. Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike is simply the best fighting game of all time.
read us Street Fighter III: Third Strike review.
So that’s our pick for the top 10 greatest fighting games of all time. Which games do you think will be on the list? Let us know in the comments below. For all other games, you’re in the right place, IGN.
Collectively selected list: Ronny Barrier, Mitchell Saltzman, Emeka Nwosu, Kate MacPherson, Tate Fiebing, Aaron Smith, Will Borger
Claim authors: Ronny Barrier, Mitchell Saltzman, Emeka Nwosu, Tate Fiebing, Aaron Smith, Will Borger
