In the West, the fighting game genre is dominated by just a few well-known franchises. The most well known areSuper Smash Bros,Street Fighter,Mortal Kombat,andTekken.However, in Japan, there are games that are as equally popular and as well played in tournaments.
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The fighting game genre isn’t just limited to the one-on-one style or tag battles likeStreet FighterandTekken. Fighting fans will remember classic co-op beat-em-ups at the arcade and eventually, the home-on gaming systems like the SNES and the Megadrive/Genesis, these games are starting to see a re-emergence in recent days with the upcomingStreets of Rage 4.Unfortunately, due to a lack of mainstream appeal, many of these games can unjustly get hit with lower review scores than they deserve. Let’s take a look at 10 fighting games better than their Metascore.
10Jump Force (Metascore 61)
Released in 2019 for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and the PC,Jump Forcefeatures over 50 characters from manga and anime in a crossover fighting game. It features characters fromDragon Ball,Bleach, Fist of the North Star, Saint Seya,and more in a 3D arena.
It was criticized for its main story mode and the loading screen but most reviewers agreed that the combat was highly entertaining and spectacular to look at. In a game of this type, that is exactly what matters for an over-the-top anime fighting game.
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9Street Fighter EX3 (Metascore 64)
Street Fighter EX3was released in 2000 for the PlayStation 2 as a launch title in North America. The EX series was the first in theStreet Fighterfranchise to use 3D character models.EX3also implemented the use of tag team battles like theTekken Tag Tournamentseries.
The game featured 26 characters including the hidden and unlockable fighters. Despite the move to 3D,EX3is still very much a game about skill, timing and pulling off complicated combos. In addition, the game has a great soundtrack and pure arcade-like and impactful sound design.
8Double Dragon Neon (Metascore 66)
Double Dragon Neonwas released in 2012 for Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network, and the PC. It was a retro throwback to the originalDouble Dragongames that ran from 1987 to 1994 under the original developers the now-defunct Technos Japan.
TheDouble Dragonseries received several remakes and retro-styled remakes butNeonis the best of them all. It’s a lot of fun with its quirky sense of humor and couch co-op gameplay and is a perfect shot of nostalgia for fans of the old arcade games.
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7Raging Justice (Metascore 69)
Released in 2018 for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, and the Nintendo Switch,Raging Justiceis another great retro throwback to classic co-op arcade beat-em-ups likeDouble Dragon, Streets of Rage,andFinal Fight.
Just like the games it takes inspiration from,Raging Justiceis a side-scrolling beat-em-up but with the added mechanic of a “good cop” and “bad cop” system that adds replay value. Depending on the player’s actions on the street the game’s narrative can take a different turn.
6Marvel Vs. Capcom: Infinite (Metascore 72)
Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinitewas released in 2017 for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and the PC. It’s a crossover fighting game featuring characters from both the Marvel universe and Capcom’s games pitting them against each other.
It received criticism at the time of its release for its lack of features and a weak story mode compared to better fighters that came out that year likeInjustice 2andDragon Ball FighterZ.However, those that are willing to give it a chance will find that there’s still a fantastic fighting system inMarvel vs Capcom.Besides, there aren’t many games that will allow players to pit Dante against the Ghost Rider.
5Blazblue: Cross Tag Battle (Metascore 76)
Released in 2018 for the PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and the PC,Blazblue: Cross Tag Battleis a crossover fighting game. It features characters from various gaming franchises likePersona 4, RWBY, Under Night In-Birth, Senran Kagura,Arcana Heart,Akatsuki Blitzkampfand of course theBlazbluefighting series.
Blazblue: Cross Tag Battlefeatures over 40 characters to choose from with all the included DLC and players can fight in 2v2battles in the single-player modes and multiplayer fights.
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4Samurai Shodown (Metascore 77)
Samurai Shodownwas released on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in 2019 and then the Nintendo Switch inFebruary2020. It’s a reboot of theSamurai Shodownseries that began in 1993 on the Neo Geo arcade machines.
It has received a hit with some critics because of its fairly straight forward story mode and a lack of other play modes. WhereSamurai Shodownshines, however, is its gameplay which is unlike any other fighter available. Despite its anime visuals, fights play out like an intense battle between two warriors that forces players to fight tactically, especially as the fight can end in just a few well-timed blows.
3The King Of Fighters XIV (Metascore 79)
Released on the PlayStation 4 and the PC in 2016 and 2017 respectively,The King of Fighters XIVis a fighting game in a long-running franchise created bySamurai ShodowndevelopersSNK. It features over 50 selectable fighters.
Several reviewers were critical ofKoF XIV’s visuals at the time of its release. However, the developers SNK released several patches to help improve the game’s visuals. It also features a Rush Mode which makes it easier for newcomers to hit devastating combos.
2Capcom Vs. SNK 2 (Metascore 81)
Capcom vs. SNK 2was released on the Sega Dreamcast, the PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube, and the Xbox in 2001. It’s the second game in the crossover fighting series featuring the two rival companies pitting characters from Capcom’sStreet Fighterseries and SNK’sKing of Fightersand theSamurai Shodownseries.
Both franchises seem like they belong together and work brilliantly together in one fighting game. Additionally, it features beautiful animations with the backgrounds, in particular, being a major high point in the game.
1Tekken Tag Tournament 2 (Metascore 82)
Released in 2012 for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and the Nintendo Wii U,Tekken Tag Tournament 2was a return to form for the series. It brought in a huge roster of characters from pastTekkengames and even included alternate looks.
Combat felt as well balanced and put together asTekken 3and the number of characters to choose from is 59 making it the best value entry in the series. While it didn’t add anything new to theTekkenformula it was pure fan service for long time players and an excellent package for fighting fans.
