Top Fighting Games: All-Time Favorites

Fighting games have always occupied a special place in the hearts of gamers globally, largely thanks to their emphasis on multiplayer experiences. Virtual arenas provide an excellent space for friendly competition with friends or online battles against other players.

Over the decades, developers have crafted numerous iconic titles. In this collection, we've considered not only popularity and influence but also the depth of gameplay, balance, innovation, and contributions to the genre's evolution. Here, you'll find both timeless classics and modern titles that can serve as an excellent starting point for exploring one of the most beloved video game genres. Let’s dive in!

We also suggest checking out our other collections:

• Best Games
• Shooters
• Survival
• Horrors
• Platformers
• Adventures
• Simulators

Table of Contents

1. Mortal Kombat
2. Killer Instinct: Definitive Edition
3. SoulCalibur
4. Skullgirls: 2nd Encore
5. Lethal League
6. Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars
7. Samurai Shodown
8. Ultra Street Fighter IV
9. Super Street Fighter II
10. Tekken 3
11. Injustice 2: Legendary Edition
12. Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes
13. Guilty Gear Strive
14. Arcana Heart
15. The King of Fighters XIII
16. Dragon Ball FighterZ
17. Mortal Kombat 9
18. Under Night In-Birth Exe: Late\[cl-r\]
19. Super Smash Bros. Brawl
20. Persona 4 Arena Ultimax
21. Them’s Fightin' Herds
22. Tekken 8
23. Super Street Fighter IV
24. Super Smash Bros. Melee
25. Granblue Fantasy: Versus
26. Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate
27. Capcom vs. SNK 2
28. Melty Blood Actress Again Current Code
29. BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger
30. Street Fighter 6

Mortal Kombat

Metascore: TBD
Release Date: September 13, 1993
Developer: Midway

No list of fighting games would be complete without the legendary Mortal Kombat from 1993. Released at the dawn of home consoles, it became a guiding star for dozens of other fighting game developers. Its influence is immense, as it established the key gameplay formula: arena, two fighters, and combos.

Sure, Street Fighter was already around, but it had greater popularity in the Eastern market, while the Western world waited years for the king of the genre to arrive. Unfortunately, MK is no longer playable today—time and trends are ruthless, even to video games. However, the title left a bright mark on the industry and remains undeniably the greatest fighting game in history.

Killer Instinct: Definitive Edition

Metascore: 86
Link: Microsoft Store
Release Date: September 20, 2016
Developer: Double Helix Games, Iron Galaxy

The Killer Instinct series is nearly as old as the Mortal Kombat franchise, though not as popular. However, in certain circles, it is regarded as one of the best fighting games ever made.

This is supported not only by its finely tuned balance and dynamic gameplay but also by the energetic music that makes you feel cool and pumped right from the main menu. Each character has their own musical theme that reflects their personality and backstory.

The first thing that surprises is the character roster: it feels like the developers gathered the most charismatic, authentic, and diverse heroes. From a street boxer to a werewolf, each character has their own unique traits, but what unites them all is the low entry barrier in terms of gameplay, allowing even newcomers to quickly get the hang of it and pull off stylish combos.

SoulCalibur

Metascore: 98
Release Date: September 8, 1999
Developer: Project Soul

Released in 1999 for the Sega Dreamcast, SoulCalibur rightfully remains one of the most beautiful games on the platform. Unlike flashy 2-3 meter jumps, battles are grounded and heavily rely on various weapons.

One of the unique features that impressed at the time was the ability to move in 3D space across eight horizontal directions, just like in Tekken. Along with excellent graphics, this added depth to the gameplay, focusing not only on attacks but also on quick dashes and the sense of distance between the characters.

This all felt fresh and invigorating, and to this day, SoulCalibur remains at the top of the genre.

Skullgirls: 2nd Encore

Metascore: 82
Link: Steam
Release Date: July 7, 2015