AlthoughStreet Fighter,Tekken, andMortal Kombatare seen as the symbols of the fighting game genre, their styles are not guaranteed hits, with many preferring to venture toward other IPs for their daily dose of adrenaline.
But diving into a new fighting game is not a trivial matter, after all, no one wants to fall in love with a title only to find either a bare-bones experience or no one else playing it. Here are the best fighting games to play right now that are not part of theStreet Fighter,Tekken, andMortal Kombatfranchises.
10. Killer Instinct
To start with a well-placed Wind Kick, we haveKiller Instinct. Released in 2013 as a reboot,KIearned praise for its action-packed gameplay but divided many given its small roster and content approach. Fast forward 10 years and 20 characters later, and the game has grown to be an unquestionable success.
Looking a little more into its combat,Killer Instinctoffers an easy-to-pick-up but highly technical approach that revolves around the ability to Combo Break. To put it on as few words as possible, the mechanic allows you to interrupt your opponent’s offense through a well-timed input. Get the timing wrong, however, and you will be in for one hell of a time.
9. Brawlhalla
Brawlhallais a live-service platform fighter that plays just like you would expect, you pick a character and then battle your foes until they either fall or are propelled out of the screen. Given its free-to-play status and cross-play/progression features, the game can be seen as the ideal pick for those looking to play online with friends new to the genre.
Brawhallais also widely known for its crossover characters. But don’t worry, as to avoid turning a F2P game into a pay-to-win experience, all of them (except Rayman) are presented as skins to already existing and free-to-obtain units.
8. Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 (2016)
An enhanced version of the title of the same name, now running at 60fps,Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3allows players to pick from a roster of 50 signature characters as they take part in 3v3 battles. In trueMvCfashion, air combos are the norm here, and a well-timed assist can change everything.
If you can, I recommend playing the game’s PC version, as even if its base roster already packs quite a punch, its community has done a phenomenal job by producing a wide array of extra characters.
7. UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes
The latest installment in the series and a direct sequel toExe:Late[cl-r],UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celestakes a natural step forward by smoothing its predecessor’s edges and adding new mechanics to the mix. True to the franchise’s fame, the title also features one of the most diverse rosters in the market.
It’s important to point out that, even if visually similar to other sprite-based series likeBlazBlueand even its older siblingMelty Blood,UNDER NIGHTis a completely different beast.The reason? The way its Grind Grid system awards control, all while penalizing backpedaling and pushing you to be as efficient as possible.
6. Soulcalibur VI
After the mixed reception ofSoulcalibur V, Project Soul decided to bet all of their remaining chips inSoulcalibur VI, a soft reboot of the franchise taking place in a new timeline.
But although the game ended up failing to meet its publisher’s expectations,SC6succeeded in presenting the most polished version of the franchise’s signature combat, now featuring improved animations and getting a breath of fresh air through new mechanics. In trueSoulcaliburfashion, you will also find a good amount of single-player content here, be it from its in-depth character creation system or its Soul Chronicle and Libra of Soul modes.
5. Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising
An updated version ofGranblue Fantasy Versus, now featuring new mechanics, improved visuals, and the more than welcome addition of rollback netcode,GBVS RIsing‘s ability to blend standard fighting and RPG elements makes it one of Ark System Works‘smost distinct games.
Apart from its story mode bosses, that can be seen in the game’s cooldown mechanic. Also featured in the vanilla version, the mechanic does exactly what you might expect and adds different cooldowns to Special Moves/abilities, thus forcing players to plan their every move to maximize their damage and options.
4. Dragon Ball FighterZ
The game responsible for raising the bar when it comes to anime/manga-based titles,Dragon Ball FighterZtakes the already over-the-top approach of most tag fighters and turns it up to 8000 by allowing players to both fly across the screen and make use of all of the planet-destroying moves they wish to come out on top.
The above is then paired with a roster featuring faces going from the classicDragon BallZanime adaptation (and its many non-canon movies) toSuperand evenGT. In other words, no matter which season is your favorite, you are sure to meet a representative here.
3. The King of Fighters XV
Even if it hurts not seeingKOFas part of the big three,The King of Fighters XVis considered by many as the franchise’s best entry point sinceXIII. After all, long gone are the days when your execution needed to be pitch-perfect to land damaging combos.
The game also showcases significant improvements in presentation when compared toXIV, as well as a few new mechanics that premiered both at launch and later in the game’s cycle (I’m looking at you, Advance Strike). The roster also doesn’t disappoint and features a total of 59 characters at the time of writing.
2. Guilty Gear Strive
The firstGuilty Geargame to go mainstream,Guilty Gear Striveis the seemingly final chapter in the Soul Badguy story and the most inviting title in the franchise. Truly, what ArcSys managed to accomplish deserves commendation, as they succeeded in giving the series an overhaul while keeping its soul intact.
But that was not achieved without its losses, as many see the removal of certain moves/mechanics as a tone-down. For me, although I believeGG Striveexcelled in adjusting its scope to verify everything would be up to par, I can’t say that I don’t miss the wild Dragon Install Sol combos featured in the older entries.
1. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
The latest in the series that helped coin the term platform fighter,Super Smash Bros. Ultimatetakes the first spot in our list given how its easy-to-pick-up mechanics and welcoming presentation make the game a guaranteed fit for all, no matter if they are newcomers looking to have fun or seasoned players.
Another huge difference between the game and pretty much all other fighting games in the market lies in its star-filled roster of 82, which features both Nintendo staples and wild crossover characters. Have you ever imagined having Bayonetta and Samus fare off against Joker and Sora? Well, wonder no more.
