Mortal Kombat 1 and Street Fighter 6 release dates are on the way and Tekken 8 is a sure thing, so get your fighting skills ready with these games on consoles and PC.
The routine of spending an afternoon and dozens of quarters at the local arcade, trying to win a match against that kid in the neighborhood who knew how to perform all the special moves, may be a thing of the past — but fighting games are more relevant now than ever. Cross-play erases platform barriers, rollback netcode allows for smooth fights, and free-to-play models bring in more newcomers eager to test their skills.
Street Fighter 6 is right around the corner and Mortal Kombat 1 is officially due in September. Tekken 8 was also announced during one of Sony’s State of Play showcases last year, and although it doesn’t yet have a release date, it’s possible we could see it this year. In other words, 2023 could be a massive year for the fighting game genre, with three of its biggest franchises potentially receiving major sequels.
In the meantime, there’s an almost endless catalog of fighting games with which to hone your skills. Some fundamental titles aren’t currently available on modern platforms, but you can still find a fantastic selection of games to start flexing your fingers. We’ve gathered this list of the best fighting games (and, in some cases, the second-best games in their respective series) to help you dive deeper into one of the most rewardingly complex genres. (If you’re considering getting into fighting games for the first time, you should also watch the video below.)Guilty Gear Strive
Selecting only one Guilty Gear used to be tough. How could you choose between the brilliant and frenetic battles of XX Accent Core Plus and the ridiculous amount of freedom and systems that Rev 2 offers? Well, you couldn’t. Luckily, the latest entry in the series, Guilty Gear Strive, makes things much easier.
Simply put, Strive is the best pick for both hardcore fans of the series and players new to the fighting genre entirely. Its updated 3D cel-shaded style, with impressive grounded designs and use of shadows, makes for the most striking characters in the series — which is saying a lot — and Roman Cancel, the series’ signature mechanic that allows for extended combos, attacks, and evasion moves, is at its best and most approachable in Strive. The fighters might have a more limited move list compared to earlier entries, but they will still take endlessly rewarding practice to master.
Guilty Gear Strive is available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X. It’s also available via Game Pass.Soulcalibur 2
Released for GameCube, PlayStation 2, and Xbox in 2003, Soulcalibur 2 took everything the previous entry did — weapon-focused face-offs, detailed characters, and some key mechanics, including Guard Impact and the Critical Edge attacks — and turned it up to 11. The sequel set a new precedent for fighting games that let you use swords, spears, and myriad other sharp objects in a 3D environment. And it looked fantastic in the process.
Soulcalibur 2 also popularized a feature we now take for granted in the genre: platform-specific guest characters. Depending on the version you were playing, you could either play as Heihachi from Tekken, Spawn from the comic series of the same name, or Link from The Legend of Zelda.
Soulcalibur 2 is not currently available on modern platforms, but you can play Soulcalibur 6 on PlayStation 4, Windows PC, and Xbox One.Marvel vs. Capcom 2
Despite a lasting legacy as one of the greatest entries in the fighting game genre — a recent campaign by a well-known streamer brought the game back into the spotlight, as did an ESPN graphic during the 2020 NBA Finals and a sighting at a recent AEW event — Marvel vs. Capcom 2 has become woefully difficult to play in 2023. But with its iconic roster, 3v3 team-based mechanics, and stellar music, Marvel vs. Capcom 2 remains a high watermark in the fighting game scene.
Unless you want to drain your wallet with a deluxe arcade cabinet or download Marvel vs. Capcom 2 through… other means, the fighting game icon may be out of your reach. In that case, you can play Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, which is also pretty good.
Marvel vs.
