Fighting games are a genre that attracts everybody. Whether you’re using your gaming console, playing in an actual arcade, or on your smartphone, it is guaranteed to give you an adrenaline rush.
There are newer versions of fighting games developing over the years, with an ever-growing fanbase. There are different types and genres of gaming, like PC fighting games, console, and mobile fighting games. This genre has something for everybody, from movies to fighting game aficionados. The fighting games are about precision, variety, and giving players a platform to defeat their opponents with their skills.
This blog will explore some classic titles and classic characters in fighting games. Let’s begin!
Types of fighting games
Broadly, there are four types of fighting game genres:
2-D fighters: The characters in a two-dimensional fighting game appear as pixels or hand-drawn, cartoon/anime-style characters. The player controlling it can move only left, right, up, and down along the x and y-axis. The game characters cannot move in or out of the frame/ screen.
5-D fighting: The graphics of these games are 3-dimensional, but the game continues to move on the two-dimensional axis, which gives the appearance of a 3D game.
3-D fighting: The graphics are three-dimensional, and the player characters can move on the z-axis, crossing each other, moving into and out of the screen.
Platform brawlers: Generally, these are 2-D or 2.5-D games where the main aim is to knock the opponent off a platform or a screen.
Best fighting games to Play on Mobile
Street Fighter 4: Champion Edition
Price: Free download on Google Play; $4.99 for full access | $4.99 on App Store
After street fighter iii, street fighter ii, and street fighter v on the console, the mobile version of the legendary franchise have unforgettable characters. Now with the accessibility of mobile phones, you can play it anytime and anywhere.
Street Fighter IV: Championship Edition is a free-to-play game, but you can purchase complete access to all modes. Once purchased, players can choose from 32 new and old characters. The game features multiple game modes that are available either in single-player or multiplayer.
The game uses traditional control via your touchpad, but the game supports Bluetooth controllers if you prefer the classic route.
Mortal Kombat
Availability: Android and iOS
Price: Free with in-app purchases
Despite its controversies, Mortal Kombat has to be one of the greatest fighting games of all time. The moment-to-moment combat flow of the game has its own share of an unforgettable cast of characters.
In the mobile version, Mortal Kombat borrows the characters and designs from Mortal Kombat 11. Instead of a 1vs1 fight, the game features a 3vs3 format that allows players to tag in and out their characters. Mortal Kombat also features multiple game modes and limited-time events.
Mortal Kombat XL is the version you can play on your Xbox, Nintendo.
Dragon Ball Legends
Availability: Android and iOS
Price: Free with in-app purchases
In this game, take control of your favourite characters, Goku, Gohan, Vegeta, and others from the Dragon Ball franchise. Featuring a new story and protagonists, Dragon Ball Legends is an innovative fighting game that uses card game mechanics. Aside from characters, the game allows you to collect different forms of these individuals from various points in the saga.
Once you are done upgrading your dream team, you can compete with other players from around the world.
Injustice 2
Price: Free with in-app purchases
A treat for the fighting fans and DC comics, Injustice 2 has all the fun. You can control various characters from the DC comics in an alternate timeline. You can create your own league where you have the chance to earn rewards to upgrade your heroes. The story mode continues where it left off. Besides playing the main single-player modes, you can test your mettle when you enter the PvP arena.
Real Steel: Boxing Champions
Availability: Android and iOS
Price: Free with in-app purchases
Real Steel: Boxing Champions is the perfect game for fans of the movie and fighting robots. Boxing Champions lets you design and configure their robots. Earn more valuable parts as you play different game modes. Aside from creating your champion, you can also take control of the robots from the movie.
Shadow Fight 3
Price: Free with in-app purchases
After the competitive fighting game genre, like ultra street fighter iv, super street fighter iv, and similar other games, Shadow Fight 3 is worth your time. The newest edition now has realistic sprites. You can collect as many weapons and modify your fighting style while playing across different game modes. The core gameplay does not keep changing with its updates. However, players can win a lot of awards with limited-time events.
Skullgirls
Price: Free with in-app purchases
Skullgirls can be categorized as hyper-fighting but also as an RPG. Here, you collect new characters, build them and send them to battle to win. The art style and design are the highlights and notable character designs and backgrounds. The sound effects creators have done a fantastic job are a worthy aspect.
Online PvP is moderate, but you don’t have to engage in it to enjoy the game. You can choose from plenty of modes, including a story mode, and you will be entertained for quite some time. There are in-app purchases to buy relics to summon new characters and coins to level up your characters. Skullgirls is a hybrid fighter-RPG with mind-blowing art, fantastic sound effects, and addicting gameplay.
Brawl Stars
Price: Free with in-app purchases
Brawl Stars has more of the core gameplay of beat’em up style than an actual fighting game. It is a multiplayer game where you play online with three other opponents. The game’s basic concept is to beat the opponents and finish the challenge. However, the game has one versus once fighting mode to fight to the death. It is a quick game that uses a tactical offense position.
EA Sports UFC Mobile 2
Availability: Android and iOS
Price: Free trial with in-app purchases
The released EA was initially discontinued in early 2022, and the new version has no traces of the old version. The game controls are less granular and more arcade-like. There is also an RPG progression where the fighter gets more powers as you continue to level them up. Some other gaming features have a gacha element to build a perfect team of fighters.
Final Fighter
Availability: Android
Price: Free
Another one for the weapons-based fighting game community is this. Final Fighter has a massive list of warriors from different walks of life, and all you have to do is duel with other players in either 1v1 or 3v3 battles that happen in real-time. The story is about the struggle between humans and hybrids in online modes. This is indeed an excellent option for mobile devices.
The King of Fighters 97
Availability: Android and iOS
Price: Free for Android
Longtime fans of hardcore fighting games are already familiar with this name. Its popularity is alongside the Street Fighter series as one of the all-time favourites. This is a reasonably complete port of the game from the Neo Geo home arcade console, which — most important of all for a ported fighting game — has support for Bluetooth controllers. Select from 34 characters in the original game and create your team of fighters to take on either an AI opponent or a friend via local multiplayer.
There’s an insane amount of customization available for the controls, and the gameplay is exactly what you’d want from a ported fighting game. The King of Fighters series has to be on the top of your list.
Best Fighting Games to Play on Consoles
Soulcalibur
Developer: Bandai Namco
Platform(s): Android, iOS, PlayStation 2, GameCube Xbox Wii, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows PlayStation 4, Xbox One
With the first release of its series in 1995, the Soulcalibur is a developed version of Soul Blade. This is a weapons-based fighting game with a vast visual improvement over its predecessor. For fans of 3D fighters, playing Soulcalibur is a must. Learn to play and defeat the combative origins of Ivy, Kilik, Nightmare, and more.
Marvel Vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes
Developer: Capcom, Backbone Entertainment, Capcom Production Studio 1
Platform(s): iOS, Playstation 2, Dreamcast, Xbox, PlayStation 3, Arcade video game, Xbox 360
The ultimate marvel vs. capcom series is here to stay. It is the crossover war that is a top match made in heaven. This came in the form of Marvel vs. Capcom 2, a character count of 56 heroes/villains. Here you can introduce up to three characters, and furthermore, the 3v3 battles allow for fast and furious action. Marvel vs. Capcom 2 is full of fun and enticing to play on as a beginner and advanced levels.
Pokken Tournament DX
Developer: Bandai Namco
Platform(s): Nintendo Switch, Wii U, Arcade video game, Arcade game
This game is meant for the Pokemon fans out there. Slightly different from the original turn-based battle of Pokemon games, this one is a 3D with more significant stress on close-quarters brawling. Among many Pokemons, the fan favorites like Mewtwo, Pikachu, Blaziken, and Gengar are to choose from. It has a particular niche of the audience that isn’t into hardcore super competitive fighting but enjoys a good bout nonetheless.
Guilty Gear Xrd
Developer: Arc System Works
Platform(s): PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Arcade game, Microsoft Windows
This game console version is primarily about one on one competitive battles. Players are supposed to deplete the life/energy bar by attacking their opponent. In the case of timed matches, the player with the most lives remaining after the timer is up is declared the winner. The guilty gear series can use up to four players simultaneously or play in teams. They will be a loser for the entire match if their life gauge and souls are over. These features weren’t there in the future genres. However, there is an introduction of more characters. There are a lot of versions of the Guilty Gear series that you must try.
Dragon Ball FighterZ
Developer: Arc System Works
Platform(s): PC, PS4, Xbox One
The fight in these games is unparalleled. The FighterZ’s mechanics are something that all fighting game fans will absolutely love. It is an exceptionally fast game that leans on aggressive and rush-down tactical offense positions. The game boasts of several other features like “Come on, Shenron!”, which allows players to gather the Dragon Balls one by one as the fight progresses. A player gets a random Dragon Ball that properly performs a light auto combo. Obtain specific Dragon Balls by completing a multi-hit combo, with the number of hits determining which ball is given.
Another unique feature is once you assemble all seven, Ki, Shenron appears to grant a wish and allows players to choose one among the following benefits: give the fighter a second Sparkling Blast, revive a fallen ally, recover a fighter’s health or regenerate health for the rest of the match.
Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection
Developer: Capcom
Platform(s): PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
When it spells the Anniversary edition, it is not one game but twelve games in one package. With top-quality games like Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo and Street Fighter 3: Third Strike, this edition will capture your attention. These games have the best 2D fighters you will enjoy.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Developer: Nintendo
Platform(s): Nintendo Switch
This edition has a wide variety and qualities of players to choose from. As many as 80 fighters to choose from, including third-party legends Like Sephiroth, Ryu, and Persona 5’s Joker. Whether you are a casual or a pro player, there is something for everyone. This is one of the best fighting games of all time.
Gundam Versus
Developer: Bandai Namco
Format(s): PS4
This game is a 2v2 battle where you, as a robot, will be battling another robot on land and in the sky as you use laser swords, cannons, and everything else that you have to defeat an opponent team. You have a variety of more than 90 suits collected from 17 years of anime history. There aren’t any epic storylines as such. However, there are mostly played competitively as online battles.
War of the Monsters
Developer: Incognito Entertainment
Platform(s): PS4
This is a 3D fighting game that was developed for PlayStation 2. This game does not require intricate strategies, but it is just a game where you battle out monsters and crush buildings, vehicles, and pedestrians. The new version for PS4 has an increased resolution and smoother frame rate. This game is for having a fun time and not too taxing on the brain.
Under Night In-Birth
Developer: Ecole Software
Platform(s): PC, PS4
With its captivating music, a host of supernatural beings, and missions with secret organizations, Under the Night In-Birth is an underrated fan favourite in the fighting game genre. It is a part visual novel and part fighting game. The game focuses on fighting on the ground.
Arms
Developer: Nintendo
Platform(s): Nintendo Switch
This game is more of hand-to-hand combat as you try to outsmart and defeat your opponents. It is much like boxing, tennis, and other games. You will have to throw hooks, jabs, and uppercuts as you try to defeat your opponent. You will be using the Nintendo Switch’s Joy-Con as an extension for this. Once you customize your in-game arms, the Joy-Con, you will get access to different strategies and power-ups, and the character designs are worth mentioning. If you are looking for an actual fight and a solid arm workout, this game is for you.
Also Read: 15 Best Strategy Games of the Year Missing On Your Devices
FAQs
What is the number 1 mobile fighting game?
The best fighting games on mobile are Mortal Kombat, Skullgirls, Brawl Stars, Brawlhalla, and the Injustice series.
What is the best fighting game ever?
The best fighting games of all time are the Street Fighter series, the Mortal Kombat series, Virtua Fighter and Tekken.
