Fighting, combat, and beat ‘em ups are some of the most popular video game genres. Such games have come on in leaps and bounds since the side-scrolling Kung-Fu Master in 1984, with many modern titles featuring detailed 3D modeling and ultra-realistic combat. Whether you prefer arcade-style fighting or a game more akin to a sports simulation, you could do much worse than giving the following five fighting games some space on your machine’s hard drive.
EA Sports UFC 5
EA Sports UFC 5 is the official video game of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), one of the most brutal combat sports on the planet. The game is a must for any UFC fan because it features 229 unique fights, with 81 alternate versions, many of whom are current and past stars you see on the best UFC betting sites.
The game is the first in the series to carry an “M for mature” rating thanks to EA Sports ramping up the visuals, particularly the injuries the fighters sustain. Previously, fighters took damage as each fight progressed, but things are on another level this time. Wounds continue bleeding, and damage causes your character to be less effective, such as being unable to move or breathe freely. EA claims there are 64,000 possible facial injury combinations alone!
As for the combat, it is realistic, as you would expect from such a game. UFC is unique in that there is not only toe-to-toe punching and kicking but fighting on the ground, too. Fighting on the ground was a weak point of the previous UFC titles, but EA has revamped this with additional animations. It’s still not perfect, yet it is easily the best in the series.
EA Sports UFC 5 is not perfect, but it is as close as you will get to stepping into the Octagon without risking your life or limbs!
Mortal Kombat 1
The original Mortal Kombat was released in October 1992, almost 32 years ago, and is considered one of the greatest video games ever made. Known for its brutality, particularly the characters finishing moves, Mortal Kombat gained a cult following that is loyal to the brand to this day.
Mortal Kombat 1 is the latest title of the series, landing on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Windows, and Nintendo Switch in September 2023. By November 2023, more than three million copies had been sold, showing the game’s continued popularity.
The base roster comprises 22 playable characters, including the iconic Scorpion, Sub-Zero, and Johnny Cage, plus a dozen or so unlockable characters. Unlocking those characters takes time, but seasoned Mortal Kombat fans won’t mind grinding away.
Netherrealm Studios has made the pacing slightly faster than Mortal Kombat 11, making fights more fluid and intense. They’ve also upped the ante in the gore stakes, which won’t be for everyone. However, anyone purchasing Mortal Kombat 1 knows about the fatality and brutality finishing moves. Indeed, most Mortal Kombat fans play the game purely for those over-the-top features and moves.
Street Fighter 6
The Street Fighter series is the first set of video games everyone thinks of when asked about fighting games. The original Street Fighter was released almost 37 years ago, with the iconic Street Fighter II coming out in 1991. Street Fighter II is still playable today, a testament to how good it was at launch.
Street Fighter 6, launched in June 2023, is the ultimate arcade fighting game. Capcom created three overarching game modes, each with a different pacing. The game features real-time commentary for the first time, giving Street Fighter 6 a tournament-style feel.
Players from older Street Fighter titles will be delighted to see the likes of Blanka, Chun-Li, Dhalsim, E. Honda, Guile, Ken, Ryu, and Zangief present and correct, giving the player a sense of nostalgia. Of course, each character is beautifully animated.
Upon its launch, the game received critical acclaim, with Street Fighter 6 receiving the coveted Best Fighting Game title at The Game Awards 2023.
Tekken 8
It is fair to say that the Tekken series has often lived in the shadow of its Street Fighter rival, but Tekken 8 is an incredible fighting game that is up there with the very best fighting titles. Bandai Namco Entertainment made Tekken 8 cross-play for the first time in the franchise’s history, opening the door to thousands more players and some epic battles.
The action in Tekken 8 is more aggressive than ever, with the fast pacing requiring lightning-fast reflexes to succeed, either against AI characters or when facing online foes. Critics heaped praise on Tekken 8 for being an evolution of the series, not just another game bolted on to make money from adoring fans.
The new title has proven popular, with Namco announcing it had sold over two million copies during its first month after launch.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Four of the five fighting games in this article were only launched recently, but the fifth has been around since December 2018 and is only available on the Nintendo Switch. We are, of course, talking about the epic Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is a platform fighter for up to eight players where famous Nintendo characters and those from third-party franchises attempt to knock each other out of an arena. Who wouldn’t want to see Mario taking on Donkey Kong and Pikachu in a fight to the animated death?
Despite being a fighting game, Super Smash Bros. is open and accessible to all ages because there is no gore. Even though the game is six years old, it is still played by millions of gamers, meaning you won’t have a problem finding an online game whenever you fire up your Switch.
Conclusion
This article highlights five of the best fighting games available today, each with unique gameplay to keep fighting fans entertained. UFC 5 provides gamers with a game that is more of a sports simulation than a typical beat ‘em up, while Mortal Kombat 1 is a gore-fest known for being over-the-top.
Street Fighter 6 and Tekken 8 improve on their respective franchise’s older titles, while Super Smash Bros. Ultimate has stood the test of time and is still as incredible today as it was when it was first released in 2018.