Fighting games are built for replayability. This has been true since the earliest arcade games and continues today with competitive tournaments on consoles and PCs.
Understanding a fighting game character’s full range of moves and skills takes practice. That’s why players often need to play through these games repeatedly to truly master a character and succeed in competitive player-versus-player battles or challenging solo content.
Beyond just fighting against other players or the computer, many fighting games have added extra content to keep people engaged. This includes things like detailed story modes, ways to customize characters, and downloadable new fighters.
Lots of fighting games are fun to play, but a handful truly excel. These top titles offer complex and engaging gameplay, memorable characters, extensive customization options, and plenty of extra features that keep players coming back for more.
10. Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith
Star Wars’ Best Fighting Game to Date
Even though Star Wars is a huge franchise with many video game adaptations, there haven’t been a lot of dedicated fighting games. The only real examples are the somewhat flawed Star Wars: Masters of Teras Kasi and the surprisingly good Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith.
Many fans consider this to be the best official Star Wars fighting game ever made. It surprisingly offers deep and satisfying fighting mechanics for all nine characters. What makes it special is that Nick Gillard, the stunt coordinator from Revenge of the Sith, actually trained the game’s animators to create realistic lightsaber battles.
The fighting in Revenge of the Sith feels more like Soulcalibur than classic 2D fighters like Street Fighter. Players can move around stages freely and dodge attacks to create openings for counterattacks.
Beyond the head-to-head Versus mode, Revenge of the Sith offers an enjoyable story mode that lets you relive the movie’s exciting battles, complete with challenging fights against both Sith and Jedi bosses. Players can also unlock cooperative modes and missions, allowing them to play as Yoda or a MagnaGuard.
9. Killer Instinct
Rare’s Fighting Legacy
As a long-time fighting game fan, I always felt Killer Instinct from Rare doesn’t get the love it deserves. It’s such a cool series, but it’s only had three games total! And honestly, the 2013 reboot is fantastic – it really shows how much potential this franchise has.
Originally released as a launch title for the Xbox One in 2013, the latest Killer Instinct successfully revitalized the series. It helped the game stand out in the crowded fighting game genre with innovative features like powerful Stage Ultras, enhanced Instinct Modes, and plenty of unlockable content.
Although KI didn’t have much content at launch, it’s been significantly expanded with free updates and paid downloadable content. These additions include seasonal arcade and story modes, regularly updated competitive multiplayer, and a wealth of new stages and characters – like the Arbiter from Halo and General RAAM from Gears of War – all of which have greatly increased the game’s replayability.
Killer Instinct stands out from other fighting games because of its Shadow Lab mode. This feature lets players design an AI opponent – a ‘Shadow’ – that mimics a specific playstyle. Players can then battle these AI Shadows online against others, or use them to practice and refine their own skills.
8. Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3
Marvel’s Greatest Fighting Game
Some of the most memorable moments in gaming come from the various Marvel vs. Capcom games, and while they’re all great, I think Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 from 2011 offers the most long-term fun and replayability.
Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 is the expanded and final version of Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds. It brings together 50 characters – 25 from the Marvel universe and 25 from Capcom’s popular video games – for epic battles between heroes and villains.
Similar to previous games, UMVC3 lets players battle in 3v3 teams using fast-paced, arcade-style fighting. Players can create their ideal team by combining different characters – for example, a team could include Wolverine, Nova, and Frank West from Dead Rising, or She-Hulk, Magneto, and Nemesis from Resident Evil.
With so many different ways to play, it’s hard to stop playing UMVC3. You can battle online as one of Galactus’s heralds in the Heroes & Heralds mode, or even take control of Galactus himself and fight all the game’s characters in Galactus Mode.
7. Tekken 8
Tekken at its Most Cinematic
The Tekken series from Bandai Namco is widely considered one of the greatest fighting game franchises ever made, whether you play it in arcades or at home. However, the newest installment, Tekken 8, might be the most addictive yet.
From the beginning, Tekken 8‘s director, Katsuhiro Harada, aimed to create a fighting game with a truly cinematic feel. This focus is evident in the game’s impressive story modes, The Dark Awakens and Unforgettable Echoes.
Tekken 8 already offers a lot of replayability with its two lengthy story modes, but the new Arcade Quest feature really sets it apart and keeps players coming back for more.
In this game, players create and customize their own characters to explore arcades and compete in Tekken 8 tournaments, as well as ghost battles and various challenges. It features a story and world that feels similar to the quest mode in Dance Dance Revolution Universe, but gives players much more control and freedom.
6. Soulcalibur VI
A Long Awaited Comeback
I think Soulcalibur doesn’t get the recognition it deserves among classic fighting game series. While I really enjoy Soulcalibur IV, especially its Star Wars characters, I find Soulcalibur VI to be the most fun to play over and over again.
Soulcalibur VI is a fantastic game for both newcomers and long-time fans. It retells the story of the original Soulcalibur through two engaging story modes – Soul Chronicle and Libra of Soul – while offering updated, challenging 3D combat.
Libra of Soul significantly boosts how much you’ll enjoy playing Soulcalibur VI. The story mode lets you design a unique fighter, choose from different weapons, and then improve their abilities and equipment through gameplay, offering a lot of customization options.
Soulcalibur VI offers incredibly detailed and easy-to-use character customization. Because of this, players frequently return to the game simply to create and play with bizarre and imaginative fighters – everything from a spooky Sonic the Hedgehog to the always-talking Deadpool has appeared!
5. Mortal Kombat 11
Mortal Kombat at its Peak
As a long-time Mortal Kombat player, I’ve seen the series go through a lot, and NetherRealm has seriously knocked it out of the park with this franchise. While every game has its strengths – some have better stories, others better online play – I honestly think Mortal Kombat 11 is the most polished and balanced modern MK game we’ve gotten. It just feels right.
The story mode in Mortal Kombat 11 is considered one of the series’ strongest. It continues the narrative from Mortal Kombat X while also revisiting characters and storylines from earlier games like Mortal Kombat (2011) and Mortal Kombat: Armageddon. The game offers multiple branching paths and different endings, both in the main story and the Aftermath expansion.
I’m still having a blast with MK 11 even after finishing the story! There’s so much to do online and playing with friends locally. What’s really cool is that all 37 characters are totally customizable – you can unlock tons of outfits and gear from the Krypt and these new Towers of Time. They’re always adding new challenges to the Towers, so there’s always something fresh to try!
Many fans consider the fighting in Mortal Kombat 11 to be the series’ peak. It featured impactful Fatal Blows and Krushing Blows, and brought back popular options like Friendships and Quitalities – all without the Kameo Fighters that appeared in Mortal Kombat 1.
4. Injustice 2
DC’s Greatest Fighting Game
Released in 2013, Injustice: Gods Among Us quickly became popular thanks to its unexpectedly gritty storyline and successful combination of the engaging gameplay of Mortal Kombat with beloved DC Comics characters. However, Injustice 2, released in 2017, refined almost every aspect of the original game, making it even better.
The story in Injustice 2 is a great follow-up to the first game. It mainly focuses on Batman trying to restore order after Superman ruled as a dictator. He eventually has to team up with Superman and his cousin, Supergirl, to stop the villain Brainiac from invading.
The story mode in Injustice 2 is among the very best in fighting game history, and the game boasts an impressive lineup of 38 characters. It’s great to see less common faces like Red Lantern Atrocitus and Doctor Fate included, alongside guest fighters from other franchises like Hellboy and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Similar to Mortal Kombat 11, Injustice 2 lets you customize characters with gear you earn by battling heroes and villains from different universes. This ‘Multiverse’ mode offers tough challenges and keeps the game fun to play again and again.
3. Street Fighter 6
Street Fighter at its Peak
When people imagine fighting games, they often think of classics like Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter, as these series consistently push boundaries and set the standard for the genre. Street Fighter 6 is a prime example of this innovation, widely considered one of the best fighting games ever made.
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While staying true to the classic 2D fighting that defines the Street Fighter series, Street Fighter 6 significantly expands the experience with new modes like World Tour and Battle Hub.
Both game modes let players design their own character to roam a vast world, complete with interactions inspired by role-playing games. Players can also use these customized characters to battle others online in player-versus-player (PvP) matches.
The extensive character customization in Street Fighter 6 already makes it highly replayable, but there’s even more to enjoy. Players can access classic Capcom games like Street Fighter II, Final Fight, and Mega Man 3 within the game’s Battle Hub, offering a nostalgic and fun experience.
2. Brawlhalla
Fighting Tournaments on the Go
Fighting games have typically been played in arcades or on home consoles, and haven’t always succeeded on mobile. However, Brawlhalla is one fighting game that’s remarkably successful on both traditional consoles and mobile devices.
I’ve been playing Brawlhalla since it came out in 2017, and it’s honestly one of the easiest fighting games to pick up! If you’ve ever played Super Smash Bros., you’ll get it right away – it’s got that same 2D platforming style. The best part? It’s free to play and you can even download it on your phone or tablet!
Similar to Super Smash Bros., the main goal in Brawlhalla is to defeat opponents by knocking them off the stage using unique character abilities and weapons. It also includes a battle pass system where players can earn rewards like new character skins and animations.
Unlike many other fighting games, Brawlhalla is constantly being updated with new content. This keeps the game fresh and exciting, often including characters and items from popular franchises—for example, you can play as Ezio Auditore from Assassin’s Creed.
1. Super Smash Bros. Brawl
The Ultimate Fighting Crossover
No list of fighting games would be complete without mentioning Super Smash Bros., which is easily one of the most popular series ever created.
Although many fans consider Super Smash Bros. Melee or Super Smash Bros. Ultimate to be the most replayable games, I believe Super Smash Bros. Brawl offers the most lasting appeal. This is primarily due to its story mode, The Subspace Emissary, and the creative possibilities of the Stage Builder feature.
Okay, so most Super Smash Bros. games have a single-player mode, but honestly, nothing compares to The Subspace Emissary. It was this amazing story campaign where you got to see all these iconic gaming characters team up and battle against Bowser, Ganondorf, Master Hand, and this seriously powerful villain named Tabuu. It felt epic, like a real adventure!
Beyond its incredible story mode, Subspace Emissary, and the already fun gameplay, Brawl introduced Stage Builder, letting players create and share their own levels. This feature, combined with everything else, makes Brawl one of Nintendo’s most replayable games ever.
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2026-01-25 22:42