Best Fighting Games That Feel Like Street Fighter

One of the games that significantly shaped the fighting game category is known as “Street Fighter“. This classic game has given rise to multiple direct sequels and influenced a variety of other competitive arcade fighters. The intense, skill-expressive one-on-one battles it offers are renowned and serve as a blueprint for many fighting game mechanics. Skill sets based on combos, directional blocking, and distinctive fighter designs are among the contributions Street Fighter has made to the genre, which have since become essential elements in this category of games.

Numerous other combat games have striven to replicate the enchanting formula of Street Fighter, infusing their unique elements. These combative titles have been influenced by the venerable Street Fighter series, offering fresh concepts, personalities, and settings to gamers. Whether it’s for their one-versus-one battles, iconic lineups, or competitive play based on skill, these are the top fighting games that embody the essence of Street Fighter.

8. Dragon Ball FighterZ

Competitive DBZ for Epic Battles

In Dragon Ball FighterZ, the gameplay revolves around three versus three tag team battles. However, its action on a 2D plane with a strong emphasis on counterattacks mirrors the strategic player-versus-player interactions found in Street Fighter’s one-on-one matches. Unlike other Dragon Ball-inspired fighters that typically focus on flashy moves and free movement within 3D arenas, Dragon Ball FighterZ chooses a different approach.

FighterZ adheres closely to the structure of classic arcade fighting games, offering a traditional feel despite incorporating auto-combos. The combat, however, provides ample opportunity for players to showcase their skills. This is particularly appreciated by competitive gamers who laud the game’s rollback netcode, enabling seamless online battles with fast-paced action and quick input sequences, even during intense fights.

7. Killer Instinct

Combo Breaking Fighters (& Battletoads)

For over seven years now, the popular “Killer Instinct” series has not had a new installment, with the exception of a re-release on Steam in 2017 following its initial launch on Xbox One in 2013. Despite this, many devoted fans feel that the delay in producing fresh content for this legendary fighting franchise is unjustified and even borderline negligence. The distinctive cast of “Killer Instinstict” includes a host of larger-than-life characters and monstrous beings, venturing deeper into beastly combat than “Street Fighter,” while still retaining the memorable fighters that made it famous.

The fight scene has a tinge of the intricate mechanics found in Street Fighter and the raw violence of Mortal Kombat. Mastery of competitive play demands skillful use of combo breakers, which require both experience and precise input recognition. This technical complexity ensures that the 2013 reboot remains a relevant and challenging fighting game in today’s era.

6. Injustice: Gods Among Us

Super Powered Combat with DC Legends

The initial endeavor at a contemporary DC Universe fighter, titled “Injustice: Gods Among Us,“, effectively blends approachability with substantial complexity. In terms of well-known combatants, it’s hard to surpass characters such as Batman and Superman; however, Injustice excels in providing its fighters distinct personas during battle, even among lesser heroes and antagonists. Although its fundamental control setup is more streamlined compared to the complex, multi-input combos of Street Fighter, it offers strategic layers through meter management and counterplay.

Players must not only execute their own actions but also anticipate and respond effectively to their opponents’ movements. This skill becomes even more crucial in competitive play, where mastering both the timing of one’s own moves and understanding an opponent’s strategy can be the deciding factor.

5. Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising

Accessible Anime Fighter

The action game with a blend of anime and RPG elements, Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising, might not be the first thing that springs to mind when discussing Street Fighter, but it shares a comparable learning curve thanks to its 2.5D combat style. The characters boast both straightforward combos and intricate inputs and techniques to master. Although the visual aspect of the fights tends towards weapons and anime-inspired special moves, the experience of executing those moves while outwitting your opponent is reminiscent of traditional arcade fighters akin to Street Fighter.

Regardless of whether players are acquainted with the Granblue Fantasy universe or not, every character possesses individual appearances, traits, and gameplay styles that set them apart and make them stand out. The competitive online scene boasts the beloved rollback netcode, ensuring a strong player-versus-player interaction.

4. The King Of Fighters 15

King Of Street Fighting

It’s true that at first, King of Fighters was created to rival Street Fighter. However, as time has passed, both series have inherited many common traits from their arcade fighting game roots. The latest installment, King of Fighters 15, retains an enhanced combat system similar to its predecessor, offering players the choice between simple button combos and complex ones.

In King of Fighters 15, the Shatter Strike parry system resembles the Focus Attack counters found in Street Fighter 4, and battles share a rhythm of managing energy, mastering combos, and predicting opponents’ moves. What sets it apart is its 3v3 team-based fights, rather than the one-on-one matches in Street Fighter. Despite this difference, it still delivers the same thrill of an arcade fighting game.

3. Mortal Kombat 1

Kompetitive Kombat

In the evolution of the contemporary “Mortal Kombat” games, there has been a shift towards equitable battles and engaging player versus player gameplay, making them resemble other competitive arcade fighting games more closely. Earlier versions emphasized visual style, excessive gore, and spectacular finishers over game mechanics. However, Mortal Kombat 1 maintains its distinctive aesthetic while offering the series’ most seamless and tactical core combat experience.

In a competitive setting, players must execute actions with great precision, anticipate their opponents’ moves, and react accordingly. This creates a mental chess match similar to those seen in games like Street Fighter and other competitive fighting tournaments.

2. Guilty Gear -Strive-

Strive For Success

Arc System Works has a knack for crafting outstanding 2D fighting games, and Guilty Gear Strive is one of their crowning achievements. The game retains the intuitive yet challenging mechanics of traditional arcade fighters, boasting impressive special moves that are simple to perform and backed by robust features such as reversals and counters.

In Guilty Gear Strive, players will find themselves drawn to the diverse cast of characters, each offering unique playstyles ranging from swift combo enforcers to grappling combat specialists. This game’s rich variety and depth are evident in its thriving competitive community, with the 2021 edition still maintaining a devoted online player base.

1. Fatal Fury: City Of The Wolves

Modern Renovation

The game titled “Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves” can stand on its own as a new installment in the fighting game series, but it bears a striking resemblance to “Street Fighter,” making it the most similar fighting game since “Street Fighter 6.” Players familiar with the classic arcade fighter franchise will recognize familiar faces in the iconic lineup of characters from “Fatal Fury.” This doesn’t mean that the game is directly imitating the latest “Street Fighter” game, but rather, it combines aspects of both traditional and arcade fighters, while evoking a sense of nostalgia for fans of the original “Fatal Fury” games.

In simpler terms, these defensive options (such as dodges, Just Defense, and REV Guard) function more like countermeasures or parries in the game. While City of the Wolves is easy to get started with, it offers great depth for those who wish to fully master their characters, much like the classic Street Fighter Games.

2025-07-21 12:35