As one of gaming’s oldest genres, Fighting Games have had iconic, innovative titles almost every year, with the best ones over the last decade helping create competitive combat experiences. From continuations of 1v1 classics to fresh 3v3 titles, the past 10 years have seen many fighting games that still have ongoing communities in 2025.
Much like the best RPGs of the decade, the greatest Fighting Games are complete packages, offering both competitive and casual avenues for players to explore. Titles of this genre are instantly amazing when their addictive gameplay creates a series of unforgettable fights between friends. Some of the listed games have even stood the test of time, still receiving updates or new DLC characters to their roster.
2015 – Mortal Kombat X
Embracing A New Generation Of Hyper-Violence
<em>Mortal Kombat X</em> was a continuation of the series’ reinvention in 2011 with Mortal Kombat (9). This game is still, by far, the most fast-paced of any title in the franchise, with players able to sprint at each other and chain together incredibly long, complex combos using a fighter’s unique tools.
One of the most interesting features of Mortal Kombat X was the variation system, which gave each fighter three different movesets for players to pick between. This created complicated match-ups that kept things fresh for almost every fight.
This game saw the series’ favorite characters return, like Johnny Cage, Scorpion, Jax, and Sonya Blade. However, it was the new characters that made this game stand out from others in 2015, giving players incredible new fighters like Kotal Khan, D’vorah, and the gunslinger Erron Black.
As this game developed, it only got better, including some of the greatest guest characters in all fighting games. Figures from horror like Jason Vorhees and Leatherface were present in MKX, as well as The Alien Xenomorph and The Predator in a movie rivalry translated into the game post launch.
2016 – Guilty Gear Xrd – Revelator
Sleek Anime Fighting Brought To Console
Until 2016, Guilty Gear Xrd – Revelator was only playable in Japanese arcades, but this year saw it move to an official home console launch. This game is a masterwork of anime visuals, featuring incredibly unique characters with extraordinary amounts of detail. Every move or attack from the fighters in this title is sleek, stylish, and led to fluid gameplay that took fighting game fans by storm.
This Guilty Gear entry is known for the refinement of series mechanics that had come before, including series staples, but also introducing new systems. Fans of the arcade games of the past praised Revelator for its fast-paced controls that emphasize player creativity, while new players got to enjoy a fighting game with arguably some of the most rewarding character expression.
2017 – Tekken 7
Martial Arts Mastery With An Unexpected Guest
After spending some years exclusively in arcades, Tekken 7 released in 2017 as a definitive, reimagined 3D fighting game for long-time fans. This title took everything players already enjoyed about the series and dialed it to 11, including cinematic Rage Art attacks, slow motion to end close rounds, and fantastic graphics that showcased martial arts mastery from iconic characters.
While new fighters like Shaheen, Gigas, and Lucky Chloe spiced up the new entry, one character stood out to attract more players. Street Fighter’s Akuma was made into a main roster fighter for Tekken 7, creating a previously thought impossible union of a 2D character into a 3D space.
This only added to Tekken 7‘s explosive changes, which marked a new direction for the series. This title added more to existing characters, adding new dynamics to the already complex 3D fighting, making a game with almost endless depth for players to keep innovating upon.
2018 — Dragon Ball FighterZ
The Ultimate Tribute To The Most Revered Anime/Manga Series
Dragon Ball FighterZ wasn’t just a popular fighting game, it was a landmark inclusion in the genre that lit communities on fire with unimaginable hype. This game was almost a spiritual successor to Marvel vs Capcom 3 following Marvel vs Capcom: Infinite‘s disappointing launch.
This title featured iconic characters from the Dragon Ball,Dragon Ball Z, andDragon Ball Superseries , even featuring those fromDragon Ball GTlater on.Dragon Ball FighterZis a celebration of all thingsDragon Ball , with HD graphics that look like they are almost ripped straight from the anime or mangafrom which they originate.
The tag-team nature of this fighting game means that battles are larger affairs , with characters able to assist others during battle. The chaos this brought to matches still makesDragon Ball FighterZone of the most action-packed games in the genre to play.
Every character’s energy blasts , superdash flight , instant transmission , or super attacks make you feel like you are in an explosive episode of the anime
With its hyper-stylized artstyle and plenty of moments representingDragon Ball‘s history , it’s no wonder why this is still considered a must-play game for fighting game fans.
2019 — Samurai Shodown
Intense Duels Decided In A Single Strike
Most fighting games are defined by lengthy combos and multiple interactions , butSamurai Shodown breaks the mold. In this game,every attack deals massive damage , possibly deciding the course of a round in one strike. This SNK series has been like that since its appearance in arcades , but this2019 title brings it into3D , updating its graphics to make this patient combat even more fascinating.
New features in the2019game added more cinematic moments to already movie-quality fights.< much like a Kurosawa film , bursts of blood from a character's well-timed blow create unforgettable moments, especially when you factor in the unique abilities of different fighters.
2020 — Street Fighter V: Champion Edition
Redemption Of The Classic Fighting Game’s Most Overlooked Entry
!['Street Fighter V Championship Edition Gill]()
Street Fighter V release was very lackluster , only featuring a handful of characters with mechanics greatly restricted fromStreet Fighter IV. Given how celebrated the last game was , many fans stopped playingStreet Fighterentirely with this game. That is , until theChampion Edition culminated several years’ worth of effort to bring the game back to player expectations.
<For starters,<Champion Edition includes all the innovative mechanics added toStreet Fighter V over four years. The game’s V-trigger system gained multiple variants , with additional V-Skill abilities for all characters adding more depth to the game as time went on.
<Furthermore,<the roster ofthegame exploded,<starting from atiny15characters to endingwith45. This<strong came with hundreds offree costumes for everycharacter releasedwiththe Champion Edition package, as well as a robust Arcade modeand refined online networking for better matchmaking.
2021 — Guilty Gear -STRIVE-
Stylistic Anime Animation Returns With Modern Innovations
!['The title screen showing a man andthe titleof Guilty Gear Strive.]()
<After multiple instancesofth eXrdseries,<Guilty Gear Strivemarked thenext stepfor theseries,<refiningitsstylizedanimeartstyleevenfurther.
<Eachcharacterwasmade more streamlinedinGuilty Gear Strive,<toning downsomeoftheseries' complexitiesinexchangeforaccessibilityto thosewho'dneverpickedupafightinggamebefore.
<Inayearfullofxpansions,this game's signature style made itincredibly appealing,andstillcultivatesalo yal fanbasein20'25withongoingDLC Seasons.
2022 — The King Of Fighters XV
The Largest Roster Of SNK Characters Ever Assembled
<The Kingof Fighters XV</ is an entrythat shattersexpectationsbyincludingalmosteverysystemtheserieshaseverseenintoone title.< Thisgamehadanincredible39characterroster thatexpandedto61quickly,makingitTheSNKfightinggamewiththelargestselectionofcharacters ever.
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Aninterestingfeatureof
KoF15was
inclusion
free
bosscharacters,
OmegaRugal
Goenitz.
Youcouldfightthesecharactersinchallengingbossbattlesforfreealternateoutfitsaswell.
FansofSNKgamescanplayastonsofnewandreturningcharactersfromthecompany’shistory,
fromtheiconicKyoKusanagiandTerryBogardtonewcomerslikeIsla.
ThissheerrostersizefeaturedanalmostendlesslibraryofSNKmusictoo,
whichplayerscanmixandmatchintostagesforcustomplaylists.
KingofFightersXV,muchlikeGuiltyGearStrivetheyearbefore,
alsofeaturedrefinedrollbacknetcodemake matchmakingtogiveplayersasmootheronlineexperience.
Whileseemingastapleinfightinggamesnow,thiswasahugeblessingatthetime
thatmadebothgamesfarmorerenjoyable.
h22023—street-fighter-
ReturnAndRevivalOfTheFoundationalSeries
StreetFighter6isconsideredthefirstnext-genfightinggame,
trailblazingthewayforotherswithultra-realisticcharacterswithsomeofthemostimpressiveanimationsingamingasawhole.
Eachfighterisoozingwithpersonality,
fromclassiccharacterslikeRyuandChun-Lito brand-newfaces,
likeKimberly,
Manon,andMarisa.
ThisStreetFightertitlemayhavethebestbalanceofreturningandnewcharacters,
withfiguressuchasLilyandJ.P.fittingrightinwithBlanka,E.Honda,andDhalsim.
Whatmakesthisgamefarbetterthanothersof2023,
though,isitsimpressivesingle-playerWorldTourmode.
ThisRPG-esqueadventuremodeseesyoutakeacustomfighterwholessonsfromdifferentStreetFightermasterinasearchfortheirownstrength.
WorldTourhasyouttravelingallovertheplacechallengingfightersondifferentmapsandovercominguniquechallenges togrow strongerandunlockrewards.
Thisinnovativemodeisone-of-a-kindinfightinggames,givingthosewhodon’tenjoythegenre’scompetitiveelementsawaytoenjoyanamazing single-playerexperience.
h22024—tekken-
HeatedElevationOfBombasticBattles
Tekken8keptalotofwhatmadeTekken7sopopular,butrefineditsedgesforanevenmorevisuallyimpressiveexperience.
CharactershavethesameincrediblerealismasStreetFighter6,
usingthesameclassicmovesthatfansknowandlove.
WhatmadeTekken8standoutin204wasitsnewHeatsystem,
whichcreatedmoreexplosive,
aggressivemomentswithinthisgame.
Withanexcellentrosterofnewcomersandoldfavorites,thisanticipatedentryintheseriescombinedwithamuchmoreexpansivestorymode,makingitastand-outgamethatallfightinggamefansrushedtotry.
Here you can find the original article ;the photos and images used in our article also come from this source. We are not their authors ; they have been used solely for informational purposes with proper attribution to their original source.[nospin]
