After a lull in popularity throughout the mid-2000s,fighting gamesbenefited from a notable boost in popularity in the 2010s. Over the course of the decade, numerous developers created notable new series that are often regarded as some of the best the genre has to offer, while many other series were revived by franchise defining successors. Fighting games of the 2020s brought countless new players into the fighting game scene, and redefined what is possible to include in fighting games whilst still drawing influence from games of yesteryear.
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So today we’re going to look back on the past decade and examine the best fighting games the 2010s have to offer!
10Divekick
A comedic satire of the entire fighting game genre,Divekickis a game in which players are only capable of jumping and kicking. That’s right, this game doesn’t even allow players to walk. While this premise is simplistic to a hilarious degree, the game’s barebones design allows for players of any skill level to immediately grasp the game’s mechanics.
While many fighters possess high barriers of entry due to complex mechanics and combo systems,Divekickis by and large the most accessible fighting game of all time, subtly presenting fighting game tactics and techniques such as reading one’s opponent and “footsies.”
9Samurai Shodown
Released in 2019,Samurai Shodownwas the first new entry in its namesake main series since the release ofSamurai Shodown VIin 2005.
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A weapon based fighting game,Samurai Shodownrewards methodical and thought out play, favoring highly impactful single hit attacks over lengthy combos. Games can be swung into a player’s favor seemingly instantaneously due to the game’s high damage values. Aditionally,Samurai Shodownfeatures a balanced roster and easy to comprehend command-inputs, and is an excellent starting point for newcomers to the fighting game genre.
8Killer Instinct
Killer Instinctwas released in 2013 as a reboot of Rareware’s ’90s fighting game franchise of the same name.
Killer Instinctserves as an excellent blend of various elements of other notable fighting games, possessing a wide variety of play styles, an excellent combo system, and the series trademark combo system. One of the strongest elements ofKiller Instinctis its roster, which included characters from each previous installments in the series, numerous newcomers, and multiple guest characters such as the Arbiter fromHaloand even Rash fromBattletoads.
7Guilty Gear Xrd
While the upcomingGuilty Gear: Striveis building up to be something special,Guilty Gear Xrdhas been one of the most definitive anime fighting games since its release in 2014. At the time of its release,Guilty Gear Xrd’s visuals were completely game-changing, utilizing the unreal engine.
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Developed by Arc System Works,Guilty Gear Xrdis a perfect example of a game perfect for fighting game veterans, containing a roster of numerous characters that each possess their own character specific mechanics.
6Dragon Ball FighterZ
Prior to its release in 2018, players couldn’t fathom that a game likeDragon Ball FighterZcould even exist. Video games based on pre-existing anime never had a strong reputation as competitively viable fighting games, as they most often focused on their characters and story rather than gameplay mechanics, and balance.
Dragon Ball FighterZtakes the recognizable and beloved cast of theDragon Ballfranchise and puts them in the hands of veteran fighting game developer, Arc System Works. The end result is a fast paced team-based fighter that feels like aDBZandMarvel Vs. Capcomhybrid.
5Skullgirls
Few video games possess as much high quality visuals and animation asSkullgirls. Released in 2012,Skullgirlsis made up of fluid hand-drawn animation similar to that which is found inCuphead.Paired with a 1920’s art deco inspiration and countless anime references, and you have one of the most gorgeous fighting games of all time.
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WhileSkullgirlsmay be visually breathtaking, it has phenomenal gameplay mechanics that ensure the game is equal parts style and substance. Though the game’s roster may be on the slim side,Skullgirlsprovides players with the freedom to control a single character, a team of two like in games likeX-Men Vs. Street Fighter, or a team of three characters like inMarvel Vs. Capcom 2.
4Tekken 7
As far as 3D fighters are concerned,Tekken 7currently stands head and shoulders above any and all of its contemporaries.
Possessing a massive and diverse roster including a slew of guest characters ranging from Akuma fromStreet Fighter, Noctis fromFinal Fantasy XIV, and even Negan fromThe Walking Dead,Tekken 7has a character for any type of player. While this cast is large and balanced, inclusions such as the previously mentioned Akuma possess their own character specific mechanics that allow for players transitioning from other series toTekkento more easily acclimate.
Each character possesses enormous move sets that provide great amounts of depth, while the game’s refined mechanics have built upon each previous entry in the series, making it currently the idealTekkengame.
3Ultimate Marvel Vs. Capcom 3
WhileMarvel Vs. Capcom 2may be one of the defining fighting games of the 2000s,Ultimate Marvel Vs. Capcom 3brought the Marvel hype to the next decade. While the game possessed less characters than the previous installment’s roster,Marvel 3is a game that revels in excess.
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Each character in the roster is capable of their own special form of degeneracy, with essentially every character being over powered and capable of infinite combos in the right player’s hands. This makes for one of the most over the top fighting game experiences of all time and one of the most entertaining fighters to watch in a tournament setting.
2Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Few fighting game series have as much mainstream appeal asSuper Smash Bros, and for good reason. Each entry in the series is a culmination of video games as a whole, and is a massive crossover of characters from countless series. The most recent entry in the series,Super Smash Bros. Ultimatefeatures a staggering roster size of over seventy five characters, containing characters that can cater to any type of player.
While previous entries in the series had divided the player base when it came to which game to play competitively,Super Smash Bros. Ultimatewas able to better unify players more than any entry prior due to its more focused gameplay and more aggressive pace.
1Ultra Street Fighter IV
Street Fighteris often viewed as one of the most iconic fighting game series of all time, and as it stands,Ultra Street Fighter IVis the most fully realized and definitive entry the series has seen.
The final iteration ofStreet Fighter IVpossessed a balanced roster of forty-four characters that each had access to two selectable Ultra Combos.Ultra Street Fighter IVis mechanically straightforward at first glance, allowing players to pick it up with relative ease, whilst maintaining an excellent degree of depth for players willing to invest themselves and dig deep into the game’s mechanics and systems.
