Anime games aren’t just limited to tie-ins and JRPGs, fighting games have become crowded by the art style in recent years. The best anime fighting games elevate the entire genre of the fighter.
They’ve become some of the games with the biggest fighting game esports scenes. There are regular tournaments held constantly for these games. the art style seems to lend itself perfectly to the frame-perfect clarity needed for a truly great fighter.
The top anime fighting games are a diverse group. They weren’t just a list of Arc System Works games (Although, let’s face it, they do make up a pretty big chunk). There’s anime fighting games that cross genres in anime, art style, and even include some of the big hitters in traditional fighting games.
| Ranking | Title | Release Date | Genre |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle | 2018-05-31 00:00:00 | 2D Fighter |
| 9 | Guilty Gear Xrd | 2014-02-20 00:00:00 | 2D Fighter |
| 8 | King of Fighters 13 | 2010-07-04 00:00:00 | 2D Fighter |
| 7 | Kill La kiLL if | 2019-07-25 00:00:00 | 3D Fighter |
| 6 | DNF Duel | 2022-06-28 00:00:00 | 2D Fighter |
| 5 | Persona 4 Arena | 2012-03-01 00:00:00 | 2D Fighter |
| 4 | Skullgirls | 2012-04-10 00:00:00 | 2D Fighter |
| 3 | GranBlue Fantasy Versus Rising | 2023-12-11 00:00:00 | 2D Fighter |
| 2 | Dragon Ball FighterZ | 2018-01-26 00:00:00 | 2D Fighter |
| 1 | Guilty Gear Strive | 2021-06-11 00:00:00 | 2D Fighter |
The Best Anime Fighting Games
While there are loads of titles that could make a best anime fighting games list, there are some which stand above the crowd. These are the games which are the most fun, the best representations of anime games in general, or titles that have brought anime-style games to an even bigger audience.
10. BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle
Source: Arc System Works
Blazblue Cross Tag Battle is a fighting game from Arc System Works, one of the best fighting game developers if not the definitive developer of anime fighting games. Players can choose from loads of different characters here as this BlazBlue game includes a fair bit of crossover content. There are characters from BlazBlue, Under Night In-birth, even Persona and RWBY. Hence the cross in the title. In terms of actual gameplay, one of the biggest features is the Astral Finishes special moves. These translate great to the anime art style.
9. Guilty Gear Xrd
Source: Arc System Works
There’s been quite a few Guilty Gear games and you’ll find another further down this list of the best anime fighting games, but Xrd is something special. This is the Guilty Gear game that’s probably had the longest life. Players are still clamouring for some characters like Dizzy in GG to come to Strive.
It’s the fifth in the series which develops on what was done before. There’s potential for technical gameplay that Guilty Gear is known for. But it’s also a more accessible title that can help ease you into the world of Guilty Gear. It’s even better in the modern Rev 2 edition, with extra content.
Xrd is still actively played and it’s a great way to get a start in the world of Guilty Gear. If the still-marching on complexity of Strive is a bit much for you to handle, then Xrd can be a great starting point for the series. You’ll get to grips with the characters, the world, and how the franchise handles.
8. King of Fighters 13
Source: SNK
King of Fighters game feature regularly on lists of the best Xbox fighting games and other genres, but what about an anime KoF game? The series has actually had instalments that use this art style! King of Fighters 13 puts the King of Fighters characters into an anime art style. It’s a different take on the series but it keeps the KoF mechanics and gameplay intact despite the art style shift. It’s definitely fun to see one of the major fighting game franchises represented.
King of Fighters as a series now expand across quite a few different styles. However, everyone has to start somewhere. KoF 13 is an interesting game to jump into and a bit simpler than the Global Match titles that have been more recent releases. It’s one of the best titles in the series to start with.
7. Kill La Kill If
Source: Arc System Works
Kill La Kill If is an anime fighting game by the studio behind a lot of the top choices, Arc System Works. This one has a few unique twists though. Its cell-shaded graphics are styled to look like the anime style of the original Kill La Kill. This makes for a pretty impressive experience. The cell-shaded characters actually manage to resemble the older style of animation. Visually it’s one of the most striking anime fighting games. It’s definitely going to be a crowd-pleaser for fans of the original series.
Kill La Kill If even has a unique mechanic where taunts can actually help with damage, great news for anyone whose playstyle is largely dictated by trying to annoy the opponent.
Arc have tons of major fighting games out there. Kill La Kill If is a bit of an older one. Still worth checking out though, even if there’s newer titles available.
6. DNF Duel
Source: Arc System Works
DNF Duel is one of the more recent additions to the best anime fighting games. It’s a title from Arc System Works, but it has a few differences. This game was inspired by an MMORPG, and incorporates some elements from Dungeon Fighter online into its gameplay. DNF Duel features mechanics like conversion, awakening skills, and an MP Gauge system which add a lot of extra depth.
As one of the more recent Arc games, it boasts pretty decent netcode which can make it a lot more fun to play at home than most other titles. It’s a great anime fighting game, and a good example of what can be done with the genre.
DNF might be more recent, but it’s been one of the quieter Arc releases. It isn’t being included in too many major events anymore. But there’s still plenty of reasons to check it out.
5. Persona 4 Arena
Source: Arc System Works
Persona has become one of the biggest anime-style games in recent years, Arena is the anime fighting game equivalent of the title.
This is a fighter that lets you control a cast of characters from Persona and puts the attacks from the game into a real-time battle context. Visually, it’s a great match for the prettier overworld sections of the game. It still carries a lot of the charm of the original series too. Arena is one of the best anime fighting games, with a lot of appeal even if you’re not into the base franchise. It’s also on loads of platforms despite being a bit older, so it’s one of the best Switch fighting games.
Fans are still waiting for a Persona 5 version of Arena. Until then, we’ve still got 4 to enjoy.
4. Skullgirls
© MARVELOUS!
Skullgirls is another of the best anime fighting games online and offline. This game has tight mechanics, it can be played to a ridiculously high level at major events. It’s also fun to play at home though, with a great online experience and plenty of modes for you to practise as a single player. Skullgirls’ anime art style is a big part of its appeal and the title’s characters are some of the most creative. It’s still getting new characters, each with fun fresh designs.
Skullgirls now has a mobile version too! While gameplay is a little different, both are worth checking out. If you’d rather try things out on mobile then that version is available too.
3. GranBlue Fantasy Versus Rising
Source: Arc System Works
GranBlue Fantasy Versus is the fighter version of the popular series, but one that has much more developed gameplay than you’d expect from the spin-off. It’s yet another one of the best anime fighting games that hails from Arc System Works. This new game is on the newer side for Arc’s releases. It has got a more accessible approach but also a free version of GBFV to get more players involved.
The game is one of Arc’s more accessible games. There are standard inputs, but also simplified special and super move inputs if you just can’t get your head around the more complicated controls. It’s possibly one of their best games for getting into fighting games. Once you’ve mastered it though, Arc deliver a polished fighter that’s still rewarding for high skill players. Its get a lot of space to grow as a competitive fighter now the sequel has been released. Especially since it’s so easy for players to jump in and try out.
As the most recent Arc game it’s their highest polished so far. Their art style is usually incredibly polished, but it’s only gotten better over the years. It’s definitely one of the best looking anime fighting games.
2. Dragon Ball FighterZ
© Arc System Works
FighterZ is a 2D fighter coming from one of the most popular and iconic anime franchises ever. The wide Dragon Ball FighterZ roster brings in loads of characters from across the world of this series. The graphics are also a fantastic match for the source material.
Any list of the best anime fighting games really has to acknowledge the huge fighting Shonen genre, and FighterZ is a perfect encapsulation of that in a video game. It is out of active development now. However, players are still finding new places to take the game.
There are plenty of Dragon Ball video games, including newer games like Sparking Zero. However, FighterZ is still a great title with a lot to offer. It’s the only really competitively viable Dragon Ball fighting game we’ve seen. It still stands up to esports level play, with competitors finding new places to take it.
1. Guilty Gear Strive
Source: Arc System Works
Guilty Gear Strive is the latest of seven titles, but it’s had a long life as a competitive anime fighting game. It still features at huge competitive events and gets regular updates with new characters. If you’re looking for an anime fighting game that you can elevate to an esports level, this might be it. The skill cap is high. If you put the time in, it’s possible to really elevate gameplay here.
Guilty Gear has anime-styled characters and a world that brings the title alive even outside of the competitive play. It’s one of the best anime fighting games to play with friends, competitively, or even get stuck into the rich world of its single player content.
The title still gets new characters regularly. Having a particularly long lifespan. The new characters still. find interesting things to do with the game’s mechanics. Some of them have proven the most popular out of the huge roster.
Those are some of our top picks for the best anime fighting games. There will always be more emerging though, especially as long as Arc System Works needs to keep shipping titles. Keep an eye out for new releases, as we’re due a new blockbuster fighter in the anime style pretty soon.
Read next: Top 10 Fighting Games in 2025