Although Street Fighter, Tekken, and Mortal Kombat are seen as the symbols of the fighting game genre, their styles are not guaranteed hits, with many preferring to venture toward other IPs for their daily dose of adrenaline.
But diving into a new fighting game is not a trivial matter, after all, no one wants to fall in love with a title only to find either a bare-bones experience or no one else playing it. Here are the best fighting games to play right now that are not part of the Street Fighter, Tekken, and Mortal Kombat franchises.
10. Killer Instinct
- Release date: November 22, 2013
- Available on: PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series S/X
- Developed by: Double Helix Games (At launch) / Iron Galaxy Studios
- Does it have rollback netcode? Yes
To start with a well-placed Wind Kick, we have Killer Instinct. Released in 2013 as a reboot, KI earned praise for its action-packed gameplay but divided many given its small roster and content approach. Fast forward 10 years and 20 characters later, and the game has grown to be an unquestionable success.
Looking a little more into its combat, Killer Instinct offers an easy-to-pick-up but highly technical approach that revolves around the ability to Combo Break. To put it on as few words as possible, the mechanic allows you to interrupt your opponent’s offense through a well-timed input. Get the timing wrong, however, and you will be in for one hell of a time.
9. Brawlhalla
- Release date: October 17, 2017
- Available on: Mobile, PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Series S/X, and Nintendo Switch
- Developed by: Blue Mammoth Games
- Does it have rollback netcode? Yes
Brawlhalla is a live-service platform fighter that plays just like you would expect, you pick a character and then battle your foes until they either fall or are propelled out of the screen. Given its free-to-play status and cross-play/progression features, the game can be seen as the ideal pick for those looking to play online with friends new to the genre.
Brawhalla is also widely known for its crossover characters. But don’t worry, as to avoid turning a F2P game into a pay-to-win experience, all of them (except Rayman) are presented as skins to already existing and free-to-obtain units.
8. Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 (2016)
- Release date: December 16, 2016 (PS4) / March 7, 2017 (PC / Xbox One)
- Available on: PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox One, and Series S/X
- Developed by: CAPCOM
- Does it have rollback netcode? No
An enhanced version of the title of the same name, now running at 60fps, Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 allows players to pick from a roster of 50 signature characters as they take part in 3v3 battles. In true MvC fashion, air combos are the norm here, and a well-timed assist can change everything.
If you can, I recommend playing the game’s PC version, as even if its base roster already packs quite a punch, its community has done a phenomenal job by producing a wide array of extra characters.
7. UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes
- Release date: January 24, 2024
- Available on: PS5, PS4, PC, and Switch
- Developed by: French Bread
- Does it have rollback netcode? Yes
The latest installment in the series and a direct sequel to Exe:Late[cl-r], UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes takes a natural step forward by smoothing its predecessor’s edges and adding new mechanics to the mix. True to the franchise’s fame, the title also features one of the most diverse rosters in the market.
It’s important to point out that, even if visually similar to other sprite-based series like BlazBlue and even its older sibling Melty Blood, UNDER NIGHT is a completely different beast. The reason? The way its Grind Grid system awards control, all while penalizing backpedaling and pushing you to be as efficient as possible.
6. Soulcalibur VI
- Release date: October 19, 2018
- Available on: PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Xbox Series S/X
- Developed by: Bandai Namco
- Does it have rollback netcode? No
After the mixed reception of Soulcalibur V, Project Soul decided to bet all of their remaining chips in Soulcalibur VI, a soft reboot of the franchise taking place in a new timeline.
But although the game ended up failing to meet its publisher’s expectations, SC6 succeeded in presenting the most polished version of the franchise’s signature combat, now featuring improved animations and getting a breath of fresh air through new mechanics. In true Soulcalibur fashion, you will also find a good amount of single-player content here, be it from its in-depth character creation system or its Soul Chronicle and Libra of Soul modes.
5. Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising
- Release date: December 11, 2023
- Available on: PS5, PS4, and PC
- Developed by: Arc System Works
- Does it have rollback netcode? Yes
An updated version of Granblue Fantasy Versus, now featuring new mechanics, improved visuals, and the more than welcome addition of rollback netcode, GBVS RIsing‘s ability to blend standard fighting and RPG elements makes it one of Ark System Works‘s most distinct games.
Apart from its story mode bosses, that can be seen in the game’s cooldown mechanic. Also featured in the vanilla version, the mechanic does exactly what you might expect and adds different cooldowns to Special Moves/abilities, thus forcing players to plan their every move to maximize their damage and options.
4. Dragon Ball FighterZ
- Release date: January 26, 2018 (PC, PS4, Xbox One) / September 27, 2018 (Nintendo Switch)
- Available on: PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Series S/X, and Switch
- Developed by: Arc System Works
- Does it have rollback netcode? Yes
The game responsible for raising the bar when it comes to anime/manga-based titles, Dragon Ball FighterZ takes the already over-the-top approach of most tag fighters and turns it up to 8000 by allowing players to both fly across the screen and make use of all of the planet-destroying moves they wish to come out on top.
The above is then paired with a roster featuring faces going from the classic Dragon Ball Z anime adaptation (and its many non-canon movies) to Super and even GT. In other words, no matter which season is your favorite, you are sure to meet a representative here.
3. The King of Fighters XV
- Release date: February 17, 2022
- Available on: PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox One, and Series S/X
- Developed by: SNK Corporation
- Does it have rollback netcode? Yes
Even if it hurts not seeing KOF as part of the big three, The King of Fighters XV is considered by many as the franchise’s best entry point since XIII. After all, long gone are the days when your execution needed to be pitch-perfect to land damaging combos.
The game also showcases significant improvements in presentation when compared to XIV, as well as a few new mechanics that premiered both at launch and later in the game’s cycle (I’m looking at you, Advance Strike). The roster also doesn’t disappoint and features a total of 59 characters at the time of writing.
2. Guilty Gear Strive
- Release date: June 11, 2021
- Available on: PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox One, and Xbox Series S/X
- Developed by: Arc System Works
- Does it have rollback netcode? Yes
The first Guilty Gear game to go mainstream, Guilty Gear Strive is the seemingly final chapter in the Soul Badguy story and the most inviting title in the franchise. Truly, what ArcSys managed to accomplish deserves commendation, as they succeeded in giving the series an overhaul while keeping its soul intact.
But that was not achieved without its losses, as many see the removal of certain moves/mechanics as a tone-down. For me, although I believe GG Strive excelled in adjusting its scope to make sure everything would be up to par, I can’t say that I don’t miss the wild Dragon Install Sol combos featured in the older entries.
1. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
- Release date: December 7, 2018
- Available on: Nintendo Switch
- Developed by: Bandai Namco and Sora Ltd
- Does it have rollback netcode? No
The latest in the series that helped coin the term platform fighter, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate takes the first spot in our list given how its easy-to-pick-up mechanics and welcoming presentation make the game a guaranteed fit for all, no matter if they are newcomers looking to have fun or seasoned players.
Another huge difference between the game and pretty much all other fighting games in the market lies in its star-filled roster of 82, which features both Nintendo staples and wild crossover characters. Have you ever imagined having Bayonetta and Samus fare off against Joker and Sora? Well, wonder no more.
