WHAT TO PLAY
Fighting games
262 games in the catalog
Fighting games rest on a simple idea: you control a character who has to get past opponents with fists, feet or a weapon. Two branches grew out of it early on. Versus fighters are one-on-one duels decided by knowing the roster, timing and reading the other player. Beat 'em ups send a hero, often with a friend, through a scrolling stage full of enemies.
The genre took shape in arcades in the first half of the 1980s, when Hong Kong karate and kung-fu films had reached Western audiences. Arcades suited it: a fight can be explained in a few seconds, and two people standing side by side have an immediate reason to play against each other or together.
It lasted because it is hard to exhaust. The same set of moves can be played for hundreds of hours, and the gap between a beginner and an experienced player is visible at once. Versus fighters also built a tournament scene that is still active today.
Today (2015 onwards)
26 games in the catalogThe recent years are about returns and new directions. Streets of Rage 4 (Dotemu, Lizardcube and Guard Crush, 2020) and TMNT: Shredder's Revenge (Tribute Games, 2022) showed that a classic brawler with hand-drawn art still works. Versus fighters leaned on rollback netcode, which hides the lag of online play; Guilty Gear Strive (Arc System Works, 2021) is built on it. Sifu (Sloclap, 2022) took kung-fu into a single-player 3D action game where the character ages each time he is defeated. And in virtual reality the fight becomes swinging a weapon the game simulates physically, as Blade & Sorcery does.
PS5 Tekken 8
A more aggressive, faster Tekken thanks to the Heat mechanic; the Mishima clan's vendetta continues.
PS5 Mortal Kombat 1
A reboot of the series' mythology; Kameo fighters add a second character to every match.
PS4 Street Fighter 6
Nejpropracovanější Street Fighter dneška i pro starší PlayStation.
PS4 Sifu
Kung-fu pomsta, kde se každou smrtí stárne a hra se učí s vámi.
Switch Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge
A brawler returning to the arcade Turtles games of the late 80s and early 90s against the Foot Clan.
TMNT: Shredder's Revenge
A pixel-art celebration of the Ninja Turtles in the spirit of '90s beat 'em ups, for up to six players.
Quest Blade & Sorcery: Nomad
A physics-based combat sandbox with no story; sword, bow, and magic all in one hand.
PS5 Guilty Gear Strive
An anime fighting game with cel-shaded graphics; a slower pace opened the door to newcomers.
Quest GORN
A grotesque, physics-driven gladiator brawl; humor from your own weapon bouncing back into your face.
Switch Kirby Fighters 2
Up to four copies of Kirby in an arena, each with a different ability sucked in from across the series.
MD Paprium
A legendary modern beat 'em up whose release was plagued by years of controversy and waiting.
PCVR Star Wars: Squadrons
Convincing space fighter cockpits in VR; you manage power, weapons, and shields.
The HD generation (2005–2014)
47 games in the catalogHD consoles brought detailed characters and, above all, online play. Street Fighter IV (Capcom, 2008 in arcades, 2009 on consoles) revived the two-dimensional fight with 3D models and let people play opponents from around the world, though network lag became one more opponent. Scrolling brawlers returned with Castle Crashers (The Behemoth, 2008), a downloadable game for four players, and the hand-drawn Dragon's Crown (Vanillaware, 2013); both borrowed character progression and gear from RPGs. NetherRealm's Injustice (2013) built on Mortal Kombat and added parts of the environment that could be used in the arena.
Vita BlazBlue: Chrono Phantasma
A stylized 2D fighting game with hand-drawn sprites and animation like an anime series come to life.
Mobil Marvel Contest of Champions
3D fighting game with Marvel heroes; one-on-one battles and endless combos.
PS3 Persona 4 Arena Ultimax
A fast 2D fighter from the makers of BlazBlue, where your Persona attacks as a second layer of combat.
3DS Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS
The first full-fledged Smash Bros. in your pocket; a free-for-all brawl on the go.
Wii U Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
The flashier half of the twin release with the 3DS version; percentage-based battles that even newcomers can grasp.
Vita Dead or Alive 5 Plus
A fighting game built on a strike-throw-counter triangle; even the arenas themselves are dangerous.
Vita Dragon's Crown
An arcade beat 'em up combined with RPG progression; six classes, dungeons, and Vanillaware's signature style.
Wii U Injustice: Gods Among Us
The Mortal Kombat fighting system set in the DC universe; a dark, dictatorial Superman as the threat.
Vita Injustice: Gods Among Us Ultimate Edition
Battles of DC heroes in a dark alternate reality where Superman becomes a tyrant.
PS3 Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 Full Burst
An expanded edition of the fighting game from CyberConnect2, completing the story through the battle of the fourth war.
X360 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows
A three-dimensional beat-'em-up with four turtles, plagued by technical issues and a cool reception.
PS3 Dragon Ball Z: Budokai HD Collection
An HD remaster of two PS2 fighting games; the gameplay and content remained faithful to the originals, unchanged.
The arrival of 3D (1995–2004)
103 games in the catalogAfter 1995 the third dimension took over. Virtua Fighter (Sega) and Tekken (Namco) had shown polygon fighters in 1993 and 1994, and in the following years it became the norm. Soul Edge (Namco, 1995) brought weapons into 3D, and Bushido Blade (1997) dropped the health bars altogether: one clean hit could decide the round. Movement into the depth of the arena meant a new kind of dodge, the sidestep, while SNK and Capcom kept 2D alive with team play: The King of Fighters was fought in teams of three, the Marvel vs. Capcom series in pairs. Power Stone (1999) then let two players loose in a free arena full of items.
Xbox Dead or Alive Ultimate
A double pack with a remake of the first game and a reworked second one; multi-level arenas.
PS2 Def Jam: Fight for NY
A brutal street brawler featuring hip-hop stars like DMX and Method Man.
Xbox Mortal Kombat: Deception
Builds on the series reboot with interactive arenas full of deadly traps for opponents.
PS2 Onimusha: Blade Warriors
A spin-off turns the adventure-driven Onimusha into an arena fighting game with characters from across the whole series.
MAME Tekken 5
Arkádový Tekken 5 bez režimu Devil Within, ale s tempem automatu.
GBA Astro Boy: Omega Factor
Treasure at full tilt; action that won't let you go.
PS1 InuYasha: A Feudal Fairy Tale
An anime fighter; for fans of the series.
Xbox Kung Fu Chaos
A party parody of kung-fu movies; a fictional director comments on the fights like a film shoot.
MAME SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos
The first crossover of Capcom and SNK fighters; development was handled by the experienced studio Noise Factory.
GBA Sonic Battle
1-on-1 arena with the Sonic crew; Emerl learns opponents' moves and grows with the player.
Xbox Tao Feng: Fist of the Lotus
A fighting game from the creators of Killer Instinct, emphasizing authentic martial arts like kung fu.
GCN Capcom vs. SNK 2 EO
Stejný křížovkový souboj Capcomu a SNK, ale s tlačítkem, které umí spustit speciál jedním stiskem.
8- and 16-bit (1986–1994)
77 games in the catalogBetween 1986 and 1994 the genre split in two. Renegade (Technos, 1986) moved the brawl onto city streets and Double Dragon (1987) added two-player play; Final Fight, Golden Axe and Streets of Rage then shaped the scrolling beat 'em up into the form we know. Among versus fighters the turning point was Street Fighter II (Capcom, 1991): six buttons, special moves entered by joystick motions, a different skill set for every character, and chained combos. Mortal Kombat (Midway, 1992) added digitised actors and finishing moves, Samurai Shodown added weapons, and Killer Instinct brought long combos that the opponent could interrupt.
CPS Alien vs. Predator (Capcom)
One of the highest-rated arcade brawlers ever made — hordes of xenomorphs against the legends.
CPS Armored Warriors
A beat 'em up where you pilot colossal combat mechs instead of street brawlers.
X68k Asuka 120% Burning Fest
A fighting game about school clubs made exclusively for the X68000; known for unusually snappy controls.
MAME Darkstalkers: The Night Warriors
Street Fighter's combat system in a horror setting; faster and more airborne combos.
MAME Killer Instinct
Původní arkádová podoba slavné bojovky - plynulejší, ostřejší a o rok starší než port na SNES.
X68k Mad Stalker: Full Metal Force
A beat-'em-up with level progression where each one ends in a one-on-one fighting-game duel.
MAME Samurai Shodown
Weapon-based fighting with an emphasis on timing; beautiful.
Neo Geo Samurai Shodown II
SNK's 1994 title moved away from combo-mashing; one precise katana slash can take half your health.
MD Streets of Rage 3
Faster, harder; reassessed today as excellent.
SNES Super Punch-Out!!
Polished boxing; fast and satisfying.
MAME Super Street Fighter II Turbo
The culmination of Street Fighter II's refinements; hidden Akuma and the series' first Super Combo meter.
MAME Tekken
One of the first 3D arena fights; the four-button limb control scheme became iconic.
The beginnings (until 1985)
5 games in the catalogIt began with simple duels on limited 8-bit machines. Karate Champ (Data East, 1984) set two fighters against each other with hits scored by judges, and Kung-Fu Master (Irem, 1984) sent a lone hero up the floors of a building full of enemies. Technically that meant a few large sprites, one screen and a joystick with a single button, so moves came from combining a direction with the button. Way of the Exploding Fist on the ZX Spectrum (1985) squeezed well over a dozen attacks out of that. Yie Ar Kung-Fu (Konami, 1985) put a string of opponents with different fighting styles in front of the player, and that variety pushed the genre on.
NES Kung Fu
An early NES beat-'em-up where you fight your way through the floors of a building toward a final rooftop showdown.
ZX Way of the Exploding Fist
Pure karate combat long before fighting games ruled the arcades; surprisingly sophisticated.
NES Yie Ar Kung-Fu
One of the founders of the fighting game genre; one-on-one duels long before Street Fighter II.
A800 Karateka
A cinematic fighter by Jordan Mechner (author of Prince of Persia); pioneering animation.
MAME Kung-Fu Master
A founding title of the beat 'em up genre; five floors of a pagoda defined the formula for years to come.