Best 2D Fighting Games

Playing a 2D fighting game against a tricky opponent can feel like partaking in an intense game of chess. To ensure they don’t get outplayed by the opponent, players always need to ensure that they are using their jumps, dashes, and attacks only when the time is right to have any hopes of scoring a win. This is the basic bread and butter of the 2D fighting gameplay formula, but the truth is, some games within this genre have gone above and beyond to provide an enjoyable and satisfying experience for players to enjoy.

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Whether it’s due to extra features, a diverse cast of characters, or even the art style, there are plenty of reasons why a 2D fighting game can stand out from the competition, but of course, the most important consideration is the core gameplay. Being able to make the gameplay both fun and fair for a new fighting game can’t be easy, let alone adding in extra content and tools, but these developers manage to successfully bring all this together, resulting in some of the best 2D fighters ever made.

8

Killer Instinct

Killer Instinct’s Unique Combo Style Makes It Satisfying To Pull Off Long, Meaty Strings

Systems

Released

November 22, 2013

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Suggestive Themes, Violence

Though the original Killer Instinct was a smash-hit arcade game back in the 90s, the series made a triumphant return in 2013 when it initially dropped as an Xbox One exclusive. While the game looks completely different from a visual perspective, the quirky cast of characters, and more importantly, the crunchy combo system have remained intact. Combos in Killer Instinct go on for quite a bit longer than most 2D games, but that’s ultimately what makes it so satisfying to play, as when paired with the punchy sound effects and the narrator screaming at the top of his lungs, it’s hard not to enjoy juggling an opponent high in the air.

After three seasons of content, Killer Instinct also features a ton of characters spanning across many different archetypes, and there’s also a fairly brief Shadow Lords single-player mode to try out too. Killer Instinct, despite its age, also boasts rollback netcode, which ensures the online play feels responsive at all times. It would have been nice to have gotten just a little extra content, but Killer Instinct’s core gameplay has still aged gracefully.

7

Skullgirls

Skullgirls Merges A Vibrant Art Style With Chaotic Gameplay

Released

April 10, 2012

ESRB

T For Teen due to Mild Language, Violence, Blood, Use of Tobacco, Partial Nudity

The first thing that jumps out to many people when looking at Skullgirls is the art style. The art-deco inspired aesthetic of Skullgirls’ world and characters ensures that every fight looks stunning to watch in-action, almost like a chaotic cartoon brawl that’s popping out of the screen. However, another reason Skullgirls has been able to maintain such a loyal fanbase over so many years is the mechanics, which are fairly complex.

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Throughout a battle, players can store up Dramatic Tension, which can be used in a variety of ways, such as to throw out a devastating attack, or to force the opponent to switch characters. Speaking of characters, players will be able to pick two to take into a match, with the tag-team element of the game adding a lot to the frantic nature of the gameplay. Over the many years since its release, the game has also amassed a pretty sizable roster of fighters who all possess their unique fighting style to play around with.

6

Mortal Kombat 10

Mortal Kombat 10 Speeds Up The Gameplay And Offers Some Of The Best DLC Characters Of Any Fighter

Released

April 7, 2015

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language

Though there have been a few installments in the Mortal Kombat series released since the tenth game, the majority of fans look back to this particular entry as the very best because of how well it managed to nail the series’ gameplay and aesthetic. Mortal Kombat 10‘s gameplay is a lot faster than its predecessors thanks to the introduction of a run mechanic, allowing players to close the gap in no time at all to get a combo going. The game also features plenty of gameplay diversity thanks to each character having three different variants that can be chosen.

Therefore, if players like the look of someone like Scorpion or Sub-Zero, they won’t be forced to fight a particular way, but instead, can choose a variant that suits their gameplay style the most. The dark and dreary tone of Mortal Kombat 10 also feels like the closest the series has gotten to the vibe of the classics in a very long time, and the horror-inspired DLC packs are simply must-buys, featuring the likes of Predator, Alien, and Leatherface.

5

King Of Fighters’ 98

KOF ’98 Implemented A Unique Balance System Before Patches And Updates Were Commonplace

Though the King of Fighters series has been making a comeback recently, it was truly inescapable during the mid to late 90s. This highly influential 2D fighter rally reached its peak though with KOF ’98, a game which offers a ton of character variety, along with a pretty unique Advanced and Extra feature which helps keep things balanced. When a player loses a round, they will either gain an extra Power Gauge, or will simply regenerate their gauge faster, depending on which of these modes is activated.

This is a rather unusual but still very welcome mechanic which ensures that most matches end up being a lot closer than they otherwise would have been. Still, with that being said, King of Fighters ’98 still has an incredibly high skill ceiling, and with how infamously brutal the AI is, it’s a tough game to get into, but one that’s all so rewarding to get good at.

4

Guilty Gear Strive

Arc System Works Knocked It Out Of The Park With This Flashy, Vibrant And Addictive Guilty Gear Entry

Released

June 11, 2021

ESRB

T For Teen due to Blood, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Violence

Even though it’s been a handful of years since Guilty Gear Strive‘s release, the game is still going strong thanks to its active playerbase, inclusion in global tournaments, and constant developer updates. What has made Strive so enjoyable for many people is the fluidity of the gameplay. Thanks to the bombastic and vibrant art style, it means every attack feels impactful, especially with how the camera will zoom in and out whenever someone pulls off a counter or combo breaker.

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Strive also uses a Wall Break mechanic so that players never get stuck on one side of the arena for an entire match, giving even newcomers a fighting chance. Strive‘s online scene, which is separated into rooms based on skill level, also adds to the accessibility, though the absence of a dedicated ranked mode is still noticeable. With a plethora of DLC characters and many more to come, it’s never been a better time to get into Guilty Gear Strive.

3

Street Fighter 3rd Strike

A Rock-Solid And Balanced Fighting Game That Has Aged Gracefully Over The Years

Released

June 8, 1999

ESRB

t

It’s not uncommon to hear many members of the fighting game community cite Third Strike as the best fighter ever to be made, which reflects just how strong of a legacy it has maintained since it was released over twenty years ago. At the core of what makes Street Fighter: Third Strike so fun is that it hones in more on skill than the previous two games. Mechanics like the Guard Parry made it so those who took the time to train and learn the flow of combat would have a leg-up over their opponents, and if they were able to pull out a combo, it proved they were someone who knew their way around the game.

Because Third Strike was released during the genre’s move to the 3D era, it also features a captivating art style where the 2D sprites move with such fluidity that it makes each movement look completely natural. It’s also hard to mention Third Strike without mentioning the groovy soundtrack, which has become one of the most beloved in all of gaming.

Marvel VS Capcom 3 Thrusts Players Into Fun And Frantic Matches Featuring Iconic Characters

Released

November 15, 2011

ESRB

T For Teen // Mild Blood, Mild Language, Partial Nudity, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol, Violence

Considering Marvel vs Capcom 3 throws in a bunch of characters from both the Marvel universe and popular Capcom franchises, it would be easy to assume this would be little more than a party game. However, in truth, MVC3 has become a highly competitive fighter thanks to the limitless freedom it gives to the player in terms of gameplay. Each player will have three characters in their team for a match, but since they can be called in more or less instantly, it means combos can get pretty crazy when everyone is working in tandem.

At the same time, because it’s easy to throw out auto combos, the game is also very accessible, especially considering how many recognizable characters are included here. When players feel like they want to step up their game a little, they can then start experimenting with the X-Factor system, which can completely change the course of a match. It’s also just so much fun creating dream matches featuring the likes of Dante, Deadpool, Wolverine, and so many others as part of this fast-paced and highly influential fighter.

1

Street Fighter 6

Street Fighter 6 Is the Definitive 2D Fighter Which Is Easy To Get Into But Hard To Master

Released

June 2, 2023

ESRB

T For Teen Due To Mild Blood, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Violence

Creating a fighting game which is welcoming to newcomers, without removing the skill ceiling entirely, is no easy task. However, after releasing a myriad of successful Street Fighter games, it feels as though Capcom perfected everything they had been working on so far with the sixth mainline game. Street Fighter 6 offers two control schemes, Modern and Classic, with the former allowing newcomers to execute combos much easier, but at the price of having less overall control of their character’s attacks.

When paired with the extra accessibility options, such as sound-based movement and the most fleshed-out training mode ever seen in a game, it’s no wonder why Street Fighter 6 has enjoyed such popularity. The game also goes above and beyond with its visuals, not just with the character models, but also the bright splashes of color that paint the screen after a Drive attack or parry. When also throwing in the Battle Hub online area and the lengthy open-world World Tour mode, Street Fighter 6 simply offers more than any other fighting game out there, while still providing an incredibly addictive core combat experience.

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