Top 10 Most Influential Fighting Games of All Time

The Top Ten
1 Street Fighter II: The World Warrior (1991)

Its predecessor Street Fighter (1987) may brought the innovation but Street Fighter II brought the revolution.

This game shaped the entire genre. No other game will ever come close in terms of influence.

2 Mortal Kombat (1992)

Street Fighter II may have set up the standards of whats to come in the Fighting genre, but Mortal Kombat would mark the gaming industry more greatly with its gore and violence and setting up age ratings for all future games. Its accessable gaming and memorable characters also made itself Street Fighter's biggest rival.

It helped to create the video game rating systems.

Still famous

3 Samurai Showdown (1993)

It brought weapons to fighting games

4 Tekken 2 (1995)

It also revolutionized and popularized 3d fighters, basically the Street Fighter II of 3d fighters

Virtua Fighter (1993) may brought the innovation but Tekken 2 brought the revolution.

5 Super Smash Bros. (1999)

While its sequels are way better then the originals, you can't deny its influence on the genre

"SUPER SMASH BROTHERS! "
I love that intro, and this game started the best fighting game series to ever be born.

6 The King of Fighters 94' (1994)

Awesome game, but hard as balls!

7 X-Men vs. Street Fighter (1996)

It was the 1st crossover in the fighting game genre and it introduced the tagging in fighting games.

8 Battle Arena Toshinden (1995)
9 Super Smash Bros Melee
10 Super Smash Bros. Melee (2001)
The Contenders
11 Super Smash Bros. Brawl
12 Virtua Fighter (1993)
13 Soul Calibur (1998)
14 Guilt Ygear (1998)
15 Dead or Alive 2 (1999)
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