If you came of age in the 80s or 90s, you likely discovered martial arts movies, especially those starring Jackie Chan, which became popular as they were released from China. Fans of martial arts often look for games that capture the same excitement, whether it’s through traditional fighting games or action-packed brawlers.
The last twenty years have seen some fantastic martial arts games, like Tekken 8, Jade Empire, and Forestrike. We’ll be ranking these and other titles based on how well they play and how accurately they recreate the excitement and power of classic martial arts movies, letting players feel like skilled fighters.
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10. Where Winds Meet
A Wuxia Martial Arts Game
If you loved the martial arts fantasy of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and wished for an open-world role-playing game set in that world, Where Winds Meet delivers. Launched in 2025, this game isn’t flawless, but it perfectly captures the spirit of Wuxia adventures.
Okay, so in Where Winds Meet, you get to build your own character and then roam around this really cool, ancient China. You’re basically fighting all sorts of enemies – soldiers, mythical creatures, the whole nine yards – and you can do it with tons of different weapons, from spears to swords. It’s mostly about getting better loot and weapons, honestly, but they do have some cool unarmed combat stuff, like these awesome Tai Chi blasts, which makes it feel pretty good as a martial arts game overall.
9. UFC Undisputed 3
Take It To The Octagon
If you’ve ever seen a mixed martial arts fight, you’ll quickly understand what UFC Undisputed 3 is all about. You can play as famous fighters like Anderson Silva, listen to commentary from well-known voices like Joe Rogan, or even create your own fighter. The game includes tutorials to help new players learn the ropes, but winning still takes skill and effort.
This game plays like a mix of fighting and wrestling, featuring hard-hitting punches, kicks, and grappling moves. Despite being released in 2012, winning still feels great, and the game’s visuals hold up well, even without relying on fantastical effects.
8. Absolver
The Soulslike Of Martial Arts Games
Absolver shares similarities with the Souls-like genre, but offers a unique experience. Players explore the world with their customizable fighter, facing off against enemies in close-quarters combat. While some encounters involve multiple opponents requiring dodging and blocking, most battles are focused, one-on-one duels.
In Absolver, you can learn new fighting moves by blocking enemy attacks and then customize your character’s style with those abilities. You can also improve your stats at rest areas. If you’re looking for a cooperative action game where you and up to two friends can explore a world and defeat enemies with stylish combat, Absolver is an excellent option.
7. Forestrike
The Right Senses
Forestrike is a recently released indie game with short, puzzle-like levels that help players perfect their kung fu skills. You can practice your moves before each fight, similar to the action sequences in the Robert Downey Jr. Sherlock Holmes movies from the late 2000s.
After players have carefully planned their attacks, dodges, and counters, they can begin the fight and often finish it very quickly. While the planning stage might take a while, Forestrike feels more like a strategic puzzle than a fast-paced action game, putting players in the mindset of a skilled martial artist.
6. Sleeping Dogs
John Woo Merged With GTA
While it might initially seem like a copy of Grand Theft Auto, Sleeping Dogs offers a unique experience. You play as Wei Shen, an undercover police officer who goes deep into the world of the Chinese mafia, constantly risking exposure. Though there’s plenty of shooting, the game truly shines with its acrobatic combat and martial arts moves.
Wei is an incredibly skilled hero, able to do stunts that would be impossible even for professional Hollywood stunt performers – like leaping between moving cars. Sleeping Dogs is a thrilling action game that expertly combines the excitement of Chinese crime films with incredible martial arts action.
5. Batman: Arkham City
My Bat Senses Are Tingling
In Batman: Arkham City, Batman relies more on tough, direct fighting than fancy martial arts, but he’s still incredibly effective in combat. The game features a fantastic counter system that rewards players for timing their blocks just right. When an enemy is about to attack, a clear signal appears, telling you when to hit the counter button.
Instead of rushing in, players who carefully use counters in Batman: Arkham City can handle any challenge and feel like the powerful Batman they imagine. This is a key reason why it’s such a successful Batman game.
4. Tekken 8
A Modern Fighting Marvel
Tekken 8 is a top-tier fighting game, and it’s quickly becoming a favorite in the competitive scene. It builds on the classic Tekken formula of choosing a character with unique punches, kicks, and combos, but adds some fresh gameplay features. The impact of each hit feels incredibly powerful and realistic.
I’m really loving Tekken 8! They added this new Heat gauge that lets you unleash even more powerful combos, which is awesome. And get this – you actually recover health by playing aggressively! It’s such a great system, I really hope other fighting games start doing things like this too.
3. Yakuza 0
Everything Is A Weapon
Yakuza 0 is a backstory to the main Yakuza series, set in 1980s Japan when the economy and the Yakuza criminal organization were both at their peak. Players control a young Ichiban Kasuga who finds himself in trouble and leaves the Yakuza to seek revenge on those who betrayed him. Like other Yakuza games, you can use almost anything around you as a weapon – throw enemies into walls, or pick up objects like furniture and bicycles to fight with.
Kazuma is a powerful character, and players can change his fighting style by switching between different stances. These stances can be improved to learn new attacks, making each hit feel even better. The game itself is an exciting and often hilarious experience.
2. Jade Empire
BioWare’s Forgotten RPG
While many remember BioWare’s other titles, Jade Empire is often overlooked, as it never received a sequel or was officially released on any platforms beyond the original Xbox and PC. Despite this, it’s a highly regarded RPG set in a unique world inspired by martial arts. The game lets you create your own character and embark on a quest for revenge after their training school is attacked.
The game plays out in real-time, and you can use special moves to make your kung fu attacks even more powerful. If you enjoyed BioWare’s Jade Empire but haven’t played it in a while, or missed it the first time, this game is definitely worth checking out thanks to its detailed RPG elements and choices in conversations.
1. Sifu
Revenge Through The Ages
While many games are enjoyable, Sifu truly shines as a modern favorite. It’s a tough, replayable game where you play as someone seeking revenge for a childhood attack. The fighting is unique and demanding – it’s not just about button-mashing, you really need to focus on blocking and timing your counters to succeed.
In Sifu, when players are defeated, they can revive using their life energy. While skilled players can continue for a long time, everyone eventually falls and must restart. The challenge is to complete the game in a single attempt, and through practice, players will master the martial arts and become a true Sifu.
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2026-05-05 10:36