Fighting games are among the most iconic video game genres, pitting agile combatants against one another in close-quarters battle since the days of early arcade titles like Sega‘s Heavyweight Champ in 1976. The genre exploded in popularity in 1987 with the release of Capcom’s Street Fighter, revolutionizing arcade culture with its competitive head-to-head gameplay.
But it was 1991’s Street Fighter II that truly popularized fighting games, making them a staple of both arcade halls and home consoles. Other landmark franchises like Mortal Kombat and Tekken soon emerged as rivals, pushing the genre forward with each new installment.
Today, fighting games remain a major force in gaming, blending lightning-fast gameplay with showcases for dazzling graphics and animation. And while modern franchises like Super Smash Bros. and Dragonball FighterZ cater to contemporary tastes, many of the genre‘s seminal titles are still revered as the absolute best fighting games ever made.
What Defines a Fighting Game?
While mechanics and features vary across different series, most fighting games share a common set of core gameplay elements:
- Close-quarters combat between two fighters in a small arena-like stage
- An emphasis on quick reactions and complex button inputs to chain together moves
- Special techniques and supers attacks unique to each playable character
- Rounds-based matches, with the first player to take their opponent‘s health bar down being declared the winner
- Single-player modes to hone skills, paired with local or online multiplayer as the main attraction
Beyond this foundation, standout fighting games distinguish themselves through innovative mechanics, massive crossover rosters drawing from various franchises, and a mastery of sprite animation or 3D visuals to bring the action to life.
Here are 7 fighting titles that set the gold standard for the genre, ranked according to their Metacritic critic average.
#7: Marvel vs. Capcom 2 (2000)
Platforms: Arcade, Dreamcast, PlayStation 2, Xbox, iOS
Metascore: 90
The Marvel vs. Capcom series brought together iconic comic book heroes and characters from Capcom‘s stable of video game properties, allowing players to pit the likes of Mega Man against Wolverine. Marvel vs. Capcom 2 took this crossover premise to new extremes with a staggering 56 playable fighters to choose from, hailing from franchises like Street Fighter, Resident Evil, Strider and many more.
The hectic 3-on-3 tag team battles helped Marvel vs. Capcom 2 stand out, letting you swap between characters on the fly to save endangered allies or dish out punishing team-up attacks. Critic IGN praised this system as "undeniably one of the best gameplay systems around" with "complexity and depth unlike anything else out there" upon its 2000 Dreamcast release.
Beyond its diverse roster, Marvel vs. Capcom 2 featured gorgeous expressive sprite animation and lighting effects that brought its comic book world to life. While follow-ups like Marvel vs. Capcom 3 entered the 3D arena, the second installment‘s acclaimed sprite work is still seen as some of the most impressive of its era.
#6: Super Smash Bros. Melee (2001)
Platform: GameCube
Metascore: 92
The Super Smash Bros. series has taken the fighting game genre in an entirely unique direction, replacing health bars and complex inputs with fast-paced action centered on knocking opponents off platforms. Melee represents a refinement of the first game’s winning formula from 1999, introducing chain throws, air dodges and highly technical advanced techniques that gave pro players immense room for creativity.
Up to 4 players could face off using Nintendo mascots like Mario, Link, Pikachu and more, with battles moving between dynamic stages based on games like Super Mario 64 and Yoshi‘s Story. New single-player modes also emerged, like the engaging Adventure campaign that saw players progress through side-scrolling levels between standout boss fights. Add in bonus multiplayer games like the Home Run Contest, and Melee offered incredible replay value on top of its fighting core.
With over 7 million copies sold, Melee remains the best-selling GameCube title of all time. Its legacy continues today with a passionate competitive scene of top players who still consider it the peak of high-level Smash gameplay.
#5: Super Smash Bros. Brawl (2008)
Platform: Wii
Metascore: 93
Super Smash Bros. Brawl built upon Melee’s runaway success in dramatic fashion when it launched on the Nintendo Wii in 2008. Series director Masahiro Sakurai aimed to make Brawl more accessible for casual gamers, though it still retained much of Melee’s advanced techniques andcompetitive merits.
The character roster ballooned to 35 fighters, headlined by gaming legends like Sonic the Hedgehog making his Smash debut. Stages now brought elaborate set pieces into the fray that players could interact with, while an enhanced single-player Subspace Emissary mode featured a new side-scrolling adventure. When you add in features like online multiplayer, Stage Builder and over 200 collectible trophies, Brawl was stuffed with content.
Over 13 million sales made Brawl the eighth best-selling Wii game ever. And with its stellar animation and graphics still impressing today, Brawl remains the apex of traditional Smash gameplay for many fans before later sequels diversified the formula further.
#4: Virtua Fighter 4 (2002)
Platforms: Arcade, PlayStation 2
Metascore: 94
Virtua Fighter helped define 3D fighting games through the 1990s, with Virtua Fighter 4 representing the pinnacle of the series‘ signature gameplay. The fourth entry expands the roster to 17 fighters, with combat styles based on real-life martial arts and requiring precision timing to master elaborate movesets.
Underneath the realistic visuals and backdrops lies an incredibly deep fighting system, centered around three buttons for Punch, Kick and Guard. Players can enact lightning-fast combos and counters, complemented by new offense abilities called the Offense and Tactical steps that enable sidestepping maneuvers.
Impressive graphics brought each arena to life upon Virtua Fighter 4‘s 2002 PS2 release, earning praise from IGN as some of “best visuals that have ever been seen in a fighter.” The title‘s enduring gameplay holds up remarkably well too, keeping the essence of 3D fighting refined and technical amidst flashier modern franchises.
#3: Street Fighter IV (2008)
Platforms: Arcade, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Metascore: 94
Street Fighter II revitalized America’s struggling arcade scene in 1991, redefining fighting games through the decade. But a long period of Street Fighter mediocrity followed until Street Fighter IV arrived in 2008 to a rapturous reception. Beautifully resurrecting the storied franchise in modern 3D, the fourth installment expertly retained the tight and technical six-button gameplay synonymous with the series.
A roster blending classic characters like Ryu and Chun-Li with new faces gave players plenty of fighting styles to master across vivid locations, realized through cel-shaded graphics that brought Street Fighter’s signature exaggerated animations to life. Underneath the visual spectacle lay plenty of modern additions too, like Focus Attacks, EX Special Moves and the show-stopping Ultra Combos.
Destructoid summed up Street Fighter IV as “the greatest competitive fighting game ever made” upon its 2009 console release, while it took home honors like IGN’s Best Xbox 360 Fighting Game award. By appealing to nostalgic fans while proving fighting games still had untapped potential, Street Fighter IV earned both commercial success and immense critical acclaim.
#2: Tekken 3 (1997)
Platforms: Arcade, PlayStation, PlayStation 2 (re-release)
Metascore: 96
The Tekken series has remained a fighting game juggernaut since its 1994 debut, with its first two PlayStation installments cementing its position as a 3D combat innovator. Tekken 3 raises the already high bar with one of the most iconic and celebrated fighting game rosters ever assembled. Series mainstays like Jin, Heihachi and Eddy Gordo pair with newcomers like forest guardian Ogre and deadly android Alisa.
Tekken 3 realizes these fighters through gorgeously smooth animation and visuals, paired with incredibly balanced movesets between the 23 playable characters. Underneath the graphical improvements lies unmatched gameplay depth too, with nuanced mechanics like Sidestepping and low parrying debuting among tactical additions like Critical Stances and Triangle Jumps.
Tekken 3 remains the fifth best-selling PlayStation game ever at over 8 million copies. Like Virtua Fighter, its gameplay purity has helped the title‘s stellar combat withstand the test of time. Modern franchises still struggle matching the precision and flexibility that Tekken 3 executed so sublimely.
#1: Soulcalibur (1999)
Platforms: Arcade, Dreamcast
Metascore: 98
The original Soulcalibur heralded a new era of weapons-based 3D fighting mechanics when it hit arcades in 1998, before a landmark Dreamcast port in 1999 sealed its legendary status with a 98 critic average. The sequel to 1995’s Soul Edge implements an eight-way movement system for true 3D movement in arena stages, enabling tactical sidestepping and advanced strategies.
Diverse sword and weapon styles define the selectable roster of 11 warriors, headlined by the iconic knight Nightmare. Mastering movement gives players immense creativity in approaching opponents, from nailing the spacing of each attack type to dodging and counterattacking with grace.
Sublime combat merges with lush visuals as stages visit scenic locales from Japanese shrines to pirate ships, realized smoothly at 60FPS. Additional gameplay modes like Survival and Practice help perfect your skills with the stellar cast. For these innovations in opening up new depths for 3D fighting games, not to mention gorgeous looks that still impress today, Soulcalibur remains the genre‘s crowning glory.
The Hall of Fame Candidates
This collection represents the cream of the crop – landmark titles that either established key fighting game conventions or executed them to sheer perfection. Every genre has its iconic entries that stand immortal, and these masterworks helped enshrine competitive fighting games as one of gaming‘s most enduring staples.
Through crisp 2D animation, groundbreaking 3D visuals or innovative mechanics, these are the virtual battlefields where legendary warriors were forged. Their gameplay foundations remain uniquely compelling and rewarding even today. These seven games aren‘t just all-time fighting greats, but some of the best video games ever crafted.
