Top 10 Greatest Fighting Game Franchises

Your first controller probably didn't survive the button-mashing fury of a fighting game. Maybe it was a cracked D-pad or a joystick that leaned permanently to the left. Either way, that's how you know it was good.

Fighting games exploded in the '90s like a perfectly timed Hadouken. Arcades were loud, sweaty battlegrounds where rivalries were born and quarters were war medals. Most of the all-time great franchises were forged during that era, delivering round after round of combos, fatalities, and trash talk.

But don't sleep on the newer titles. A few fresh challengers have entered the arena with slick graphics, bold mechanics, and online matchmaking that makes couch competition feel quaint. Some bring tight, technical play. Others embrace chaos with glee. A handful even redefined the rules of the genre entirely.

The fighting game scene never really died. It just evolved. In some cases, it leveled up.

Scroll through the roster and vote for the franchises you think truly deserve the spotlight. Got a soft spot for high kicks and pixelated blood? Prefer swords, blasters, or interdimensional ninjas? It's all fair game.

1. Tekken

   

   I'm a fan of all fighting games, but I believe Tekken is much better than MK because it has more complicated and professional gameplay.

   Unfortunately, Tekken's developers are terrible at marketing, which I think makes their games low budget. I think that's why MK has much more content, with better story modes and entertaining features like fatalities, brutalities, the krypt, etc.

   So yeah, I think Tekken 8 will be able to compete with MK11 because they made a lot of money with Tekken 7. But again, it won't sell as much as MK because the Japanese are geniuses at creating art but terrible at marketing compared to the US.

2. Mortal Kombat

   

   I've been an MK fan since the 90s when I was only three years old. My parents failed at trying to keep me away from violence. I went out of my way to see the movies and play the games. In other words, there was nothing stopping me from seeing and playing Mortal Kombat. I would go to the arcades with friends and play MK1. Scorpion has always been my favorite character, but I did give Johnny Cage kudos for punching Goro's nuts! Haha.

   One of the finest fighting game franchises to exist. Since its debut, it has influenced traits now seen in modern games, such as combo juggling and finishing moves. Without it, franchises like Street Fighter and Tekken wouldn't have been pushed to the heights they are at now.

3. Super Smash Bros.

   

   Watching videos of various fighting games, they all look similar to me. Aside from their own little differences (like MK's gore), they have similar designs. Smash stands out, being far different from any other game but still being fun and requiring as much skill as any other fighter. Not only can it be played with more than two players, but it can also be played with up to eight at once. That's amazing.

   But then there is, of course, its biggest catch: its roster. Mario, Sonic, Ryu, and Pac-Man can all fight each other, and they feel pretty true to their series. Not only can no other fighting game match the magnitude of Smash's roster, but no game can at all.

   How could this not be number 1? Not only is Smash the most innovative fighting game franchise, it is also the third best-selling fighting game franchise, with all three installments in the top 10 best-selling fighting games.

   The original is the sixth best-selling, Melee is the third best-selling, and Brawl is the best-selling fighting game ever.

4. Street Fighter

   

   I love fighting games: Mortal Kombat, Tekken, King of Fighters, and all, but in my opinion, Street Fighter is the best. The characters are really interesting, and almost every game is amazing.

   Yes, I know, Street Fighter V wasn't really good in the beginning, but I think SFV Champion Edition is one of the best Street Fighter games out there.

   But anyway, Street Fighter is a legendary franchise.

   The fact that Mortal Kombat is currently in the lead is really depressing to me. The only good MK game since MK2 was the reboot in 2011. People need to look at the series, not just one good installment. As a series, Street Fighter is undoubtedly better in both mechanics and critical acclaim. SF4 single-handedly revived the fighting genre in the current generation as well.

5. Soulcalibur

   

   The combat is some of the best of any fighting game I've ever played. The character creation is really cool, the use of created characters in online play is awesome, the guest characters are great, and the story is pretty interesting. Really looking forward to SCVI, whenever that comes out.

   At least in this game, you can't possibly win by button-mashing and spamming. The 8-way moving system is a must-have. Smooth gameplay.

   In the more recent SC games, you have a detailed character creation, so you're not obligated to play with the same guy or gal over and over. The story is absolute crap, but that's not that important in fighting games anyway.

6. The King of Fighters

   

   This is so underrated. The King of Fighters is a great game, and the storylines are well told through characters such as Athena.

   Easily the best! Sadly forgotten today, but back in the '90s, it RULED the arcades.

   Without The King of Fighters '94, we wouldn't have the KoF series in the first place. KoF is awesome!

7. Marvel vs. Capcom

   

   The series became one of the most recognized franchises ever.

8. WWE

   

   The biggest fighting franchise that does not involve death but delivers enormous amounts of violence.

9. Killer Instinct

   

   Fighting games have been a staple for me since first laying hands on Street Fighter II as a kid. As an adult, I've waited a long time to see the comeback of Killer Instinct. The new game delivers in a way I hadn't expected.

   This is the first fighting game I've played that truly feels like it's you vs. your opponent, not you vs. the input system. Commands are easy and intuitive, and the breaker/counter system makes for the most mind-games-intensive experience ever. When you beat someone, it's obviously because you outplayed them, not because you managed to pull off the most damaging combo or special first.

   My number one fighter of all time.

10. PlayStation All-Stars

    
The Newcomers
11. ?

    ClayFighter

    
12. ?

    Arms

    
The Contenders

13. Virtua Fighter

    

    It doesn't have any magic projectile blasts like other fighting video games, just good ol' martial arts skills. At the time of Virtua Fighter 2, it was the most groundbreaking video game of its time. Graphics, gameplay, and fun factor were all #1.

14. Guilty Gear

    

    A series with gameplay that truly puts your technical skills to use, with blindingly fast pacing, a refined engine, and a stunning variety of combos and techniques. The overall depth and variety offered by this combat system are difficult to match and have evolved significantly since the unorthodox yet intriguing original game.

    The hand-drawn, sprite-based graphics are beautiful, especially the character models, and the backgrounds are breathtaking. Daisuke Ishiwatari's compositions for the soundtrack provide an energetic and uplifting feel and complement the furious action perfectly. The overall artwork of this series is creative, original, and well-conceived.

    The characters are all unique, likable, and inspiring, with surprisingly involving storylines and backgrounds, and strong, memorable personalities. Their names, moves, clothing, and overall design are full of rock and heavy-metal references. The franchise is almost guaranteed to introduce players to great bands they have never heard of.

    An underground series that has always deserved more praise and attention than it has received. It has earned its place among the best fighting game franchises around, regardless of what kind of legacy it may leave.

15. Godzilla

    

16. Darkstalkers

    

    Don't forget about the other fighter Capcom made. Not as popular as Street Fighter, but still a solid game.

17. Dragon Ball

    

18. Dead or Alive

    

    Probably the most underrated video game franchise ever. What's amazing about this franchise is the fact that Team Ninja was more focused on creating a fun fighting game over something that would become an esport while remaining unique to its identity from DOA 1-5. DOA 6 might be a weak entry, but from the combat system to the stages, to the ninja story, to the sexy girls, it is clear that Team Ninja set out to make an amazing fighting game franchise.

    In my opinion, Dead or Alive is one of my favorite fighting games of all time. Unfortunately, the series is only recognized for jiggle physics, and sadly, people only focus on that instead of the fun, over-the-top gameplay. Despite the franchise's memorable greatness, I pretty much love the modes in the game (like tag team, survival, story, etc.) and have been playing the franchise since Dead or Alive 2 on DC and PS2, eventually playing the rest of the series on Xbox consoles.

19. BlazBlue

    

    One of the most fun games with the coolest cast of characters I've ever played.

20. Capcom vs.

    

21. Rival Schools

    

22. Skullgirls

    

23. Fatal Fury

    

24. Samurai Shodown

    

25. Melty Blood

    

26. Bloody Roar

    

    I would definitely put this in the bottom half of the top ten.

    It's fast-paced, creative, and overall just a solid series.

27. Under Night In-Birth