Settle it in the streets
When it comes to picking the best fighting games, there's no shortage of options--the genre has been one of the industry's most consistent since the early 1990s. Names like Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat, and Tekken have grown into some of the biggest series in the entire industry, let alone just fighting games, and they continue to get better through additional downloadable characters--some hailing from outside of the fighting game scene. At the moment, fighters are in the midst of another renaissance era.
As such, it might be intimidating to pick out a fighting game to play. Below, we run through our picks for some of the best fighting games you can play right now, whether you're on PS5, Xbox, Switch, or PC. Every game listed here can be purchased and downloaded right to your machine without needing to dig up any old hardware, and you'll be able to get into the fight whenever you like. From pure 1v1 fighters to chaotic platform battlers, from all-time classics to modern melees, these are the best of the best in fighting games in 2026.
Street Fighter 6
- Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
- Developer: Capcom
- Release Date: June 2, 2023
Street Fighter has routinely blazed a trail of success for fighting games as a whole, starting with Street Fighter II in 1991. Street Fighter 6 is no different; the vast improvements over its predecessor, coupled with an ever-growing roster and a robust online offering, have made SF6 one of the top fighting games on the market today. SF6's trajectory continues to trend upward, as it recently added Terry Bogard and Mai Shiranui--the first guest characters in franchise history--to the roster, and the second season of DLC will soon end with the Capoeira master Elena.
Tekken 8
- Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
- Developer: Bandai Namco
- Release Date: January 25, 2024
The latest in Bandai Namco's illustrious fighting franchise, Tekken 8 has stormed out of the gate in its first year. The Heat system offers a new level of offensive capabilities, the roster is packed with iconic characters from across the franchise, and the story mode is a wild ride following the struggle between Kazuya and his son, Jin. Plus, a full suite of customization options will let you transform your favorite character how you see fit, which adds a personal touch to the action. The first season of downloadable content added Heihachi Mishima, Lidia, Eddy Gordo, and guest character Clive from Final Fantasy XVI, and Season 2 has just kicked off with franchise veteran Anna Williams.
Mortal Kombat 1
- Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PC
- Developer: NetherRealm Studios
- Release Date: September 19, 2023
NetherRealm Studios's gloriously gory fighting franchise has reset the stage in Mortal Kombat 1, with a new era bringing big changes to established faces. The combat is still fast and furious, however, and the series's trademark Fatalities will both delight and disgust. Throw in guest characters like Homelander, Peacemaker, and Omni-Man, in-depth single-player modes, and more, and you have one bloody good time. Kombat Pack 2 kept the guest character train rolling with Ghostface, Conan the Barbarian, and T-1000, but rumors suggest that may be the end of the road for MK1.
Guilty Gear Strive
- Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
- Developer: Arc System Works
- Release Date: June 11, 2021
The anime subgenre of fighting games has built a reputation of precise, skill-based action, and the name Guilty Gear has been at the forefront of the conversation. Guilty Gear Strive has plenty of it to offer too, both through its multi-tiered online system and a roster with three seasons (and counting) of new additions under its belt--Season 4 began late last year with Dizzy, while Venom entered the fray in March. Strive is one of the more tenured games on this list, but it's only getting better with age.
Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves
- Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, PC
- Developer: SNK
- Release Date: April 24, 2025
26 years after the last Fatal Fury game launched, SNK's flagship fighting franchise made its triumphant return to the consoles in April, with a new comic-inspired style and a roster of new, returning, and outright strange guest characters in tow. Its REV System is a novel take on current fighting game tropes, with certain moves and techniques filling a meter that risks powering you down if you overuse them, and each character boasts a "easy to use, hard to master" moveset for those looking for a challenge.
Plus, Swedish DJ Salvatore Ganacci, as weird as it is to see him on the main roster, is a delightfully silly addition who somehow fits right in. The other guest character, however… that's another story. Since launch, the first season of DLC added two more guests in Street Fighter's Chun-Li and Ken, as well as Andy Bogard, Joe Higashi, and Mr. Big from previous Fatal Fury installments.
Season 2 was recently announced, with series vets Kim Jae Hoon, Nightmare Geese, Blue Mary, and Wolfgang Krauser among the fighters on their way to the game. There are two mystery characters yet to be revealed as well, with teases suggest they may be Mr. Karate and another guest in Kenshiro from Fist of the North Star.
Granblue Fantasy Versus Rising
- Platforms: PS5, PS4, PC
- Developer: Arc System Works, CyGames
- Release Date: December 11, 2023
Granblue Fantasy Versus Rising is a sequel to Granblue Fantasy Versus--CyGames and Arc System Works's first attempt at bringing the world-renowned mobile RPG series to fighting games in 2020. The new entry brought major improvements, including an all-new online system featuring rollback netcode, redesigned fighting mechanics, and an expanded roster--including 2B from Nier: Automata as DLC. Pair all of this with a striking visual style, and Granblue Fantasy Versus Rising offers plenty for fighting fans to enjoy.
Marvel Vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics
- Platforms: PS4, Nintendo Switch, PC (coming to Xbox in 2025)
- Developer: Capcom
- Release Date: September 12, 2024 (digital); November 22, 2024 (physical)
The late '90s and early 2000s were dominated by Capcom's Vs. Series, with Marvel Vs. Capcom and its ilk leading the charge. The games were thought lost to time, but the two companies have finally rereleased them in a single collection, with rollback netcode, a music jukebox, and an art gallery to boot. Marvel Vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics gives fighting fans something they've been requesting for over a decade, and it was worth the wait.
Killer Instinct: Anniversary Edition
- Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC
- Developer: Microsoft Studios, Iron Galaxy Studios
- Release Date: November 23, 2023 (original launch November 22, 2013)
11 years ago, Killer Instinct re-emerged as an Xbox One launch title, and it became the first free-to-play fighting game on the market. Since then, it's grown to be a cult classic, with a flashy combo-based fighting system and characters from Halo, Gears Of War, and Battletoads alongside the KI originals. The recently released Anniversary Edition offers the full game, all of its DLC, and a new balance patch all in one package, and is the perfect way to experience KI right now. And if you subscribe to Game Pass, you can play it for free.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
- Platforms: Nintendo Switch
- Developer: Nintendo
- Release Date: December 7, 2018
Everyone is here! Super Smash Bros. Ultimate takes the platform-fighting format the Smash Bros. series popularized and cranks it up to 11, with a roster bursting at the seams with fighters and over 100 stages (or even more, counting the modified versions) to fight in. Nintendo stalwarts like Mario, Link, and Pikachu can do battle with the likes of Steve from Minecraft, Banjo-Kazooie, Cloud and Sephiroth from Final Fantasy VII, and Sora from Kingdom Hearts. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is video-game history in a box, one of the best Switch games, and a must-own for fighting fans and Switch owners alike.
2XKO
- Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PS5, PC
- Developer: Riot Games
- Release Date: January 20, 2026
Riot Games enters the fighting game scene with 2XKO, which offers a unique take on the tried-and-true tag-based fighting mechanics of Marvel Vs. Capcom. The roster is filled with fan-favorite champions from Riot's ultra-popular League of Legends, including the mage Ahri, the knight Darius, and the time-bending Ekko, and up to four players can pick up and throw down in team-based matches. 2XKO has been in beta test on PC and consoles for some time, but the full launch is days away--and based on that test, 2XKO is going to stick around for a long time.
The King of Fighters XV
- Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
- Developer: SNK
- Release Date: February 14, 2022
The King of Fighters has offered SNK fans hard-hitting three-on-three action since the first game in 1996, and KOF XV is no exception. Mixing and matching your favorite fighters, then choosing the order in which they'll fight, adds an extra layer of strategy that other fighting games simply don't have. KOF XV is a great choice for those who like that extra challenge every time they enter a match.
Ultimate Marvel Vs. Capcom 3
- Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
- Developer: Capcom
- Release Date: November 15, 2011
Ultimate Marvel Vs. Capcom 3 is the top game in the storied history of Marvel and Capcom crossovers--sorry MvC Infinite--and it's still a blast to play despite being 12 years old. While UMvC3 is also a three-on-three team fighter like KOF XV, that's where the similarities end, as all three characters can be switched in and out at will to create absolute havoc on the screen, and it's always a delight. While the aforementioned Marvel Vs. Capcom Collection is also an option, UMvC3 is a chance to see where the series stands now.
SNK Vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos
- Platforms: PS4, Nintendo Switch, PC
- Developer: SNK
- Release Date: July 22, 2024 (original launch July 24, 2003)
Evo 2024 saw the return of SNK Vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos, a weird-but-wonderful entry in the pantheon of Capcom and SNK crossover fighters. SVC Chaos was developed by SNK, so while the character roster is split between the two companies, the fighting mechanics and visual style are all SNK. While it hasn't resonated as much with players as the Capcom Vs. SNK games, the recent SVC Chaos re-release is a neat time capsule of a bygone era of fighting games.
Soul Calibur VI
- Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
- Developer: Bandai Namco
- Release Date: October 19, 2018
While Tekken has ruled the roost in Bandai Namco's fighting division as of late, Soul Calibur has flown under the radar despite producing one of the best fighters currently available. Soul Calibur VI features crisp weapon-based 3D fighting, with an iconic cast of characters including guests like Geralt from The Witcher and 2B from Nier: Automata--her second appearance on this list. We don't know if a new Soul Calibur game will ever come, but for now Soul Calibur VI more than gets the job done.
Under Night In-Birth II Sys:Celes
- Platforms: PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, PC
- Developer: French-Bread, Arc System Works
- Release Date: January 25, 2024
Speaking of under the radar, Under Night In-Birth surprised a lot of people when the first game hit arcades in 2012. After a few revisions, the sequel Under Night In-Birth II Sys:Celes finally released earlier this year, and it's become one of the top anime fighters on the market. The precise, skill-based fighting gameplay we mentioned before is on full display here, and the Grind system's push-and-pull mechanic makes each round a nail biter to the end. If you like fighting games at all, Under Night should be on your radar.
Capcom Fighting Collection 1 and 2
- Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PC
- Developer: Capcom
- Release Date: June 24, 2022 (Collection 1), May 16, 2025 (Collection 2)
This entry is cheating a bit by combining two games in one, but in doing so, we're also lumping 19 separate classics into one place. Capcom Fighting Collection 1 is 10 fighting games in one package, while the second collection offers nine more. However, considering how rare some of these games were before they hit this collection--Vampire Savior II and Red Earth from Collection 1 and Power Stone and Project Justice from Collection 2 chief among them--these collections may be the only way you can play them officially. The two fighting collections act as a terrific time capsule to the past, and each game is worth the walk down memory lane.
Mortal Kombat Legacy Kollection
- Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PC, Mobile (via Netflix)
- Developer: Digital Eclipse, Atari
- Release Date: October 30, 2025
A fighting franchise as storied as Mortal Kombat deserves a collection worthy of the source material, so leave it to Digital Eclipse and Atari to deliver in a big way. Mortal Kombat Legacy Kollection combines multiple versions of classic MK games--arcade, console, and more--into one cohesive package, with modern tools like Fatality Assist and easy-to-access move lists that enhance the experience. All of this is bundled with a full documentary on the series, which includes interviews with the developers, never-before-seen concept art and demo reels, and much more. This is the kollection (with a K) that Mortal Kombat fans have been waiting for.
Virtua Fighter 5 REVO World Stage
- Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, PC
- Developer: Sega
- Release Date: January 28, 2025 (PC), October 30, 2025 (PS5, Xbox), 2026 (Nintendo Switch 2)
The most recent numbered release of Sega's 3D brawler Virtua Fighter was 20 years ago this year. The next installment is in the works, but while we wait, Sega repackaged that 2006 release as Virtua Fighter 5 REVO World Stage, which showed that despite its age, VF5 still plays great. New features like rollback netcode and an all-new single-player mode are new compliments to VF5's deep and engaging fighting system, which helps VF5 REVO World Stage serves as a fantastic appetizer leading up to the franchise's next main course.
Soulcalibur II
- Platforms: Nintendo Switch 2 (via Nintendo Switch Online GameCube Classics)
- Developer: Bandai Namco
- Release Date: August 26, 2003 (GameCube), June 5, 2025 (NSO)
Pretty strange to see a fighting game from 2003 sitting on this list, right? Well, thanks to the recent launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 and its access to classic GameCube games, we once again have easy access to this gem. Soulcalibur II built on its amazing predecessor with an expanded roster, robust single-player offerings, and the addition of console-exclusive guest characters--with the GameCube's character being none other than Link from The Legend of Zelda.
The Nintendo Switch Online version of SCII adds online multiplayer to the mix as well, so you can continue the tale of souls and swords, eternally retold, with your friends online. Though, for the authentic 2003 experience, we suggest playing SCII multiplayer locally with your friends, ideally with Doritos 3Ds and bottles of Pepsi Blue in close proximity.
Skullgirls: 2nd Encore
- Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PC
- Developer: Hidden Variable Studios
- Release Date: July 7, 2015
Skullgirls 2nd Encore is somehow still going strong in 2024, despite a tumultuous life cycle with multiple developers and publishers causing delays in support and extra content. Now though, the unique team-based fighter has a dedicated circle of fans, thanks to its solid fighting mechanics and fantastic character designs. Skullgirls may be on its 2nd Encore, but we wouldn't be surprised if a third is around the corner, so get in now.
BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle
- Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PC
- Developer: Arc System Works
- Release Date: May 31, 2018
BlazBlue is what happens when a bunch of anime-fighting-game developers put their games into a blender and make a two-on-two team-based fighting smoothie. BlazBlue, Persona 4 Arena, Arcana Heart, Melty Blood, and Under Night In-Birth are but a handful of the franchises on offer here--along with multiple characters from Rooster Teeth's anime RWBY making their fighting game debut. BlazBlue Cross Tag battle is a wild idea made into a wild fighting game, but every match is a ton of fun.
Brawlhalla
- Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS
- Developer: Blue Mammoth Games
- Release Date: April 30, 2014
Brawlhalla is a fighting game with a rollercoaster history, but it has settled nicely within its niche in the genre in 2025. While its animated graphics and goofy-looking characters might make it seem like a simple game at first, Brawlhalla features an extremely high skill ceiling in terms of its mechanics and combos. With over 50 characters currently in the game, you'll have to spend hundreds of hours to master every one. Brawlhalla features several different modes to play, including a 2v2 Ranked playlist and several casual playlists that can be played with up to eight players at once. It's a fantastic fighting game if you can get past the steep learning curve the community bestows upon you immediately.
Dragon Ball FighterZ
- Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Nintendo Switch
- Developer: Arc System Works
- Release Date: January 13, 2018
Dragon Ball FighterZ has been one of the most consistently well-rated fighting games since its initial release in 2018. Utilizing one of the most famous anime properties in the world, the game is action-packed with all of the recognizable characters from the Dragon Ball franchise. You'll also see the same anime graphics mixed with gameplay that's easy enough to pick up on, but extremely difficult to master. One of the more stand-out elements of the game is the 3v3 tag team mechanic. This allows you to craft a team of three fighters and use them interchangeably throughout the fight, adding a layer of strategy that's not present in other fighting games. Different teams allow for different combos, but you have to make sure your team matches up well against your opponent. You can play a Ranked playlist as well as unranked playlists, including a six-player party mode. Dragon Ball FighterZ has remained a top fighting game for years, and it's still one of the best in 2025.
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