10 best fighting games of all time

Although the first “fighting” game was born in 1976, called Heavyweight Champ, but this genre only became really popular and competitive thanks to Capcom’s Street Fighter II (1991). Brand after franchise has created its own playing field, like the violent Mortal Kombat game, or the high-speed combat in Super Smash Bros.

Here is a list of the top 10 fighting games ranked by Metacritic.

ten. DOA2: HARDCORE (91/100)

When it comes to Dead or Alive, some immediately think of skimpy costumes or excessive “swinging” interactions in some warriors.

But other than that, you’ll enjoy one of the best fighting games of all time. Smooth and eye-catching combos, and a tanking system that became the standard of fighting games. DOA2: Hardcore is the “final” version of DOA2, and the game has almost achieved the original ideas that the developer wanted to implement.

9. SUPER SMASH BROS. WII U VERSION (92/100)

Are you ready? Because we will see a lot of Super Smash Bros games on the list. The 2014 title brings together Nintendo’s most popular characters.

Although this version was outstripped in sales by the 3DS version in late 2017, it was still critically acclaimed. Super Smash Bros. on Wii U add Wii Fit Trainer, Dark Pit, Mega Man and many other notable characters.

8. SUPER SMASH BROS. MELEE (92/100)

Melee is the second installment of the Super Smash Bros. franchise, and is seen as a remix of Nintendo’s characters. The game begins adding unpopular characters to the lineup such as Roy and Marth from the Fire Emblem series.

It is greatly expanded from the original version with new game modes and challenges. Melee is a game that has attracted a lot of attention when it comes to esports, making it the focus of events like the Evolution Championship Series (Evo for short) in the 17 years since its release.

7. SOULCALIBUR II (93/100)

SoulCalibur II inherits the success of its predecessor: a medieval fighting game with characters using strange and unique weapons. To stand out when they first debuted in 2002 was not an easy challenge. SoulCalibur II has to contend with longtime legends like Super Smash Brothers, Street Fighter, and MortalKombat.

In addition to the characters from the first game, SoulCalibur II introduces many new names that have quickly become iconic to the franchise such as Sophitia, Talim, and Raphael. Exclusive guests are only available on consoles: like Link from The Legend of Zelda on the GameCube, and Spawn (from the comics) on the Xbox version.

6. STREET FIGHTER ALPHA 3 (93/100)

We finally have a Street Fighter game because they deserve to be on the higher end. Overall, Street Fighter is the brand that brings the fighting genre to the forefront. The Alpha series fills in the plot holes of the originals, but where do we play fighting games to learn its plot?

Alpha 3 introduces the “isms” system, a series of three different gameplay styles that you can change: combos, super gauges, and even each character’s move sets, taking your play skills to the next level.

5. SUPER SMASH BROS. BRAWL (93/100)

According to Metacritic, this is considered the best game in the Super Smash Bros. franchise. The 2008 version is celebrated for many reasons. Of course, it is still developed around the traditional “circle” gameplay, but with a few new points.

New warriors in this installment include Pit from Kid Icarus, Lucas from the classic Earthbound blockbuster. Not to mention we also have characters from third parties, like Metal Gear’s Solid Snake and Sonic the Hedgehog.

4. VIRTUA FIGHTER 4 (94/100)

Despite being a classic, the Virtua Fighter series is not as popular as the other names on the list. Even so, the fourth installment of the series is still strong enough to be included in Metacrtitic’s fighting games.

The game was praised for its impressive graphics at the time of its 2001 release without sacrificing gameplay value. More specifically, the Japanese arcade version was the first to add live and online elements, allowing players to claim unique rewards, customize warriors, and enter leaderboards.

3. STREET FIGHTER IV (94/100)

Although it did not win the number one position, this is the highest rated Street Fighter game to date. The North American version was released in 2009, with the goal of striking a balance between creativity and classic feel from Street Fighter II.

Street Fighter IV introduces the “Focus Attack” system: countermeasures; as well as “Ultra Combo”: Powerful, beautiful cinematic attacks; until “Revenge Meter”: increases when the warrior loses health.

2. TEKKEN 3 (96/100)

Although it is the only Tekken game on this list, the second place shows how good this fighting game is. Debuting on arcades in 1997, and on consoles the following year, the Tekken 3 lineup included brand-new characters from the series and became iconic, like Bryan Fury.

Tekken 3 is also the first in the series to utilize true 3D arenas. Players can dodge left, right into the “background”. Although it was not a complete revolution, it still made fans gasp at the time.

first. SOULCALIBUR (98/100)

No matter how you feel about the SoulCalibur series, you can either nod in agreement, or be surprised to know that the first place belongs to the beginning of the game. Either way, the rating numbers on Metacrtitc don’t lie.

Simply put, this classic weapon fighting game does everything right. It revolutionizes movement in 3D environments, allowing players to control freely. The game also eliminates the need to continuously enter buttons to perform combos, helping players feel the continuous battle phase more smoothly.

According to GameRant