Summary
Whilefighting gameshave always been popular, in the grand scheme of things, they are still considered fairly niche when compared to other genres like open world or horror. Despite that, though, the fighting game community is still one of the most passionate out there, and they’re always happy to stick with a new game if it seems promising from a gameplay standpoint; helping to maintain a healthy player base which is needed for the online matchmaking of these kinds of titles to work.
Unfortunately, there are many examples of fighting games which, while relatively popular upon release, ended up fizzling out of relevance, making it pretty difficult to find others to play with. Thankfully, though, there have still been more than a few fighting games, both new and relatively old, which are still going strong to this day, so without further ado, it’s time to take a look at the fighting games with the healthiest player bases right now.
WhenGranblue Fantasy Versus Risingfirst released in 2023, though there was a lot of hype building up to it, many assumed it would meet the same fate as a lot of anime games and would eventually fade into obscurity. The good news is, that didn’t end up happening as the game is still very popular, especially thanks to the inclusion of crossplay, which allows console and PC players to duke it out in dazzling one-on-one encounters.
In classicArc Systemsfashion, this game looks absolutely incredible from a visual perspective, with even the smallest of animations having a real sense of weight and motion to them which make each of the characters feel responsive and a joy to watch an action. While there a quite a few systems and mechanics to keep track of during a fight,Granblue Fantasy Versus Risingis still a relatively easy game to get into and play online.
TheSuper Smash Brothersseries is Nintendo’s flagship fighting game franchise, but rather than containing original characters, it instead acts as a mashup that features characters not only from Nintendo games, but from the gaming industry in general. To be honest, there’s not that many well-known characters left who haven’t made it intoSmash, with the likes of Sonic, Sora, Snake, Cloud, Bayonetta, and so many others being playable characters in this fun and franticSwitch game.
Smash Ultimatefeels like the culmination of what the franchise had been building up to, featuring a staggeringly large cast of characters and plenty of stages which can morph and change over the course of a match.Smash Ultimateis often considered more of a casual fighting game rather than a competitive one, which is why there are so many people playing it online even years after its release, as it’s a lot more about just simply having fun rather than grinding out wins. Still, with that being said, those who do want to get competitive can still test their skills online to see how they match up to the other pros if they feel brave enough.
Considering how insanely popular theDragon Ballis, it makes sense that a lot of people would flock to a new game, butSparking Zerospecifically had people very excited, primarily because of its180+ character roster. It doesn’t matter how weak or insignificant a character may be in the anime,Sparking Zeroensured that everyone was able to make an appearance, and when paired with the explosive, high-octane gameplay, it results in an eye-catching and very intense game to play.
There are a handful of online modes players can choose from, including player and ranked matches depending on how competitive they want a match to be, alongside a world tournament too. With so many characters to use, many of which feeling completely original and distinct from one another, there’s no wonder why many people continue coming back toSparking Zero.
After a 26 year hiatus,Fatal Furyhas made its grand return with the latest installment, City of the Wolves. To say long-time fighting game fans were excited for this would be putting it mildly, as the classic 2D fighter is often considered one of the pioneers in the genre, so it’s been great to see SNK getting back in the saddle and giving fans another excellent fighter to dive into and enjoy.
WhileCity of the Wolvesplays like a traditional 2D fighter, it’s also quite advanced in its core gameplay, requiring a lot of precise inputs and commands to dish out damage. While this inevitably means that a lot of experienced fans have picked up the game, the celebrity cameos fromSalvatore Ganacci and Cristiano Ronaldohave also helped the game pickup some steam among casuals and newcomers too, and with crossplay also turned on, finding a match usually takes no more than a few seconds.
Though theGuilty Gearseries has never been as popular as the likes ofStreet FighterorTekken, over the years it has managed to amass an extremely dedicated fanbase which has only grown over time, especially with the release ofStrive. Despite being released back in 2021,Guilty Gear Striveis still one of the most played fighting games on the market, being featured in major tournaments like Evo each and every year because of how much it’s played.
It’s an extremely fast paced game which is highly competitive nowadays considering most players have been testing out their characters for quite a while, though that doesn’t mean it’s still not accessible.Strivestands as a shiny example that anime fighting games can still be popular even years after their release, and in the case of this game specifically, a big reason why is because the visuals are so downright jawdropping to admire.
Mortal Kombathas always been immensely popular, even back when it was still only available in arcades, andMortal Kombat 1has proven that the die hard fans of this series are still around and more than happy to jump into a new entry. The main gimmick ofMortal Kombat 1that makes the gameplay feel so drastically different is the cameo system, where players are able to call on an extra character to dish out some damage in the middle of a fight in order to flesh out their combos.
What’s also made the game so replayable though is the frankly bizarre but extremely fun cast of fighters that are on offer, especially those who are introduced as DLC, such asConan the Barbarian and Ghostface. ThisMortal Kombatdefinitely took many risks and was willing to experiment a lot more than the series is used to, but it’s still very easy to find games and a ton of fun to play now that it’s been balanced out a bit.
It’s clear that when developingTekken 8, Bandai Namco decided to go for a faster pace and more offensive-oriented style of gameplay compared to the previous entry. While this has, admittedly, been somewhat divisive among longtime fans, it’s also managed to introduce many newcomers to the series, considering the game is now a lot easier to play. As a result, pulling off flashy and stylish moves can be done with only a few button presses thanks to the game’s unique Heat system, which can be used to extend combos or intercept enemy attacks.
While the rich legacy ofTekkendefinitely contributes to the game’s popularity, another reason this game in particular has managed to retain much of its player base is the diverse cast of characters. From tiger-masked wrestlers to katana-wielding aliens, there’s an entire catalog of fun and unique characters to try out online, whether it be in casual matches or on the competitive ranked mode.
1Street Fighter 6
The King Of The Genre Is Packed Full Of Players Of All Skill Levels
It’s clear that Capcom learned a lot from the rocky launch ofStreet Fighter 5. While that game was still very popular, many fans agreed it didn’t quite hit the expectations that had been set for this legendary fighting game series, and as a result, Capcom went all in with makingStreet Fighter 6the perfect game for players to enjoy.Street Fighter 6is by far the most played fighting game out there right now and the big reason why isbecause of its accessibility.
Players are able to freely choose between either modern controls, which make auto combos much easier pull off, or classic if they want to stick with traditional inputs to execute attacks and abilities. There’s also the Battle Hub which is essentially one giant lobby where players can not only fight one another, but also interact and even share advice. Needless to say, there’s a ton to do online with this game, but at its core, it features rock solid gameplay which not only plays great, but also looks incredible to boot.
