Dominate the Arena: The Ultimate List of Best Fighting Games in 2025

Searching for the ultimate fighting games? It’s hard to imagine now, but PC gamers weren’t always first in line for the latest fighting game releases until the late 2000s. Thankfully, the genre is currently thriving in a golden age, offering incredible experiences for both newcomers and hardcore fans across legendary franchises like Street Fighter and Tekken.

The PC platform offers incredible flexibility, allowing you to use any input device you prefer—from a top-notch PC controller to a precision fight stick, or even your custom setup. With more developers embracing cross-platform play, you’ll find an endless supply of opponents ready for battle. After refining your combos in training mode, dive into these fantastic multiplayer titles and test your skills.

2XKO

Formerly known as Project L, this 2v2 fighting game, featuring champions from League of Legends, has finally entered early access. Imagine Marvel vs Capcom with a League twist – it’s a formula that promises excitement. Riot has assembled genre veterans, including former pro players, to craft one of the most intricately designed fighting games available. 2XKO isn’t the easiest to pick up, especially for new players, but its ranking system ensures you’ll always be matched with opponents of a similar skill level. For a competitive edge, you might want to consider which champions are currently dominating the meta.

Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves

Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves marks the latest chapter in the series, introducing the dynamic REV system that expands your offensive options. While it may not boast as much single-player content as the genre’s heavyweights, it offers plenty to delight both new and returning fans. Crucially, it features both crossplay and rollback netcode, ensuring smooth online battles without frustrating delays.

Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero

After a 17-year wait, Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero delivers the Budokai Tenkaichi sequel fans have craved. In many ways, Sparking Zero is everything a Dragon Ball enthusiast could wish for, featuring an immense roster of 182 characters. While not every fighter is entirely unique—there are over 15 Gokus, after all—each boasts a distinct moveset. You can explore a character unlock guide to quickly access every fighter. The developers opted for a fresh approach to storytelling with Sparking Episodes, unique ‘what if’ scenarios that present new narratives. For instance, one episode imagines what would happen if Vegeta had eliminated Piccolo upon arriving on Earth, leading to Goku’s early Super Saiyan transformation and an effortless victory against Frieza on Namek. Discover how to utilize the dragon balls by reading a guide on Sparking Zero wishes.

Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection

Concerns about the Marvel vs Capcom series fading into obscurity due to licensing complexities have been put to rest with the release of the Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection. This fantastic package delivers seven arcade classics, including The Punisher, the first game born from this legendary collaboration. The collection also features Marvel’s inaugural fighting game, X-Men: Children of the Atom, which kicked off a string of annual hits, culminating in Marvel vs Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes. All games in this collection come with accessible controls, adjustable difficulty, and training modes for skill refinement. Best of all, they are fully playable online and include rollback netcode for the smoothest possible network experience.

SNK vs Capcom: SVC Chaos

When Capcom announced Terry Bogard and Mai Shiranui as Street Fighter 6’s first guest characters, it sparked dreams of a renewed collaboration with SNK after decades. While a new game remains to be seen, we can celebrate the re-release of SNK vs Capcom: SVC Chaos, a classic fighting game previously confined to older consoles. Based on King of Fighters 2002, SVC Chaos unites 36 characters from SNK and Capcom’s most iconic series for intense 1v1 battles. This re-release’s standout additions are rollback netcode and online lobby support, making it easy to play with up to nine friends. It also includes a hitbox viewer in training mode, ideal for hardcore players looking to analyze attack ranges. This is a superb opportunity to experience a pivotal moment in fighting game history, and hopefully, it signals future re-releases like the legendary Capcom vs SNK 2.

WWE 2K25

WWE 2K25 stands out as a rare fighting game packed with engaging single-player options. This year’s highlights include two story-driven campaigns focusing on your custom character, alongside a special Showcase mode celebrating classic WrestleMania matches. New match types enhance this sports game, such as the Casket match for Attitude Era fans and the unique ability to step into the ring as a WWE guest referee. For competitive players, online action is readily available through exhibition matches or the MyFaction mode. Whether you’re a new WWE fan or returning after a long absence, this is the definitive modern wrestling game. Don’t forget to look for WWE 2K25 codes to grab some free in-game items.

Tekken 8

Bandai Namco has elevated the Tekken formula with the latest installment. Tekken 8 is meticulously designed for dedicated players, offering a revamped training mode with an array of valuable tools. A standout feature is the replay analyzer, which meticulously dissects your fights, pinpointing opportunities for stronger combos or evasive maneuvers. Season one is in full swing, with Eddy Gordo already making waves with his fluid capoeira. Lidia Sobieska joined in late July, and the legendary Heihachi arrived in September. One final character will complete the season pass, though their identity remains a mystery. Dive into our Tekken 8 review to see our full thoughts on this exceptional series entry.

Mortal Kombat 1

Mortal Kombat 1 marks the latest evolution in the long-running fighting game series, once again dramatically altering its core mechanics. Beyond the main Mortal Kombat 1 characters, each with refreshed origin stories, you now have access to Kameo characters who provide crucial assists. With solid online performance and a robust story mode, there’s a lot to appreciate here. New to this installment are Invasions, seasonal events reminiscent of previous MK games’ Krypt mode. You can find guides on what Mortal Kombat 1 Invasions entail and the timing of the latest season. And, of course, a comprehensive list of fatalities and brutalities is available for those who enjoy humiliating their opponents.

Street Fighter 6

In a series first, Street Fighter 6 introduces an extensive single-player campaign, where fighters embark on a global journey to rescue a dear friend. The Street Fighter 6 roster blends returning favorites with fresh faces; veterans have been reimagined with new designs and enhanced moves to distinguish them from their Street Fighter 5 counterparts. New characters bring innovative fighting styles never before seen in the series, such as Jamie’s unique drunken fighter approach. We highly recommend reading our Street Fighter 6 review to discover how Capcom has crafted an experience that caters to every type of fighting game player.

Capcom Fighting Collection

While many companies capitalize on the retro trend, few go as far as the Capcom Fighting Collection. This collection serves as a near-complete archive of Capcom’s best arcade titles from the 1990s. Unlike the Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection, the exciting news is that every game in this package is fully playable online, offering a seamless way to challenge players worldwide. For one purchase, you get Hyper Street Fighter 2: The Anniversary Edition, all five Darkstalkers games and their revisions, Cyberbots: Fullmetal Madness, and the first official home port of Red Earth, a fantasy fighting game with RPG progression. Puzzle fans can also enjoy Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo for a block-dropping fix, or Super Gem Fighter Mini Mix if they prefer chibi-style fighters brawling it out. That’s ten classic arcade games, all essential for any retro fighting game enthusiast.

The King of Fighters XV

King of Fighters XV introduces the Shatter Strike, a new defensive option that counters attacks at the cost of a power gauge. Additionally, returning mechanics from previous games have been refined for greater accessibility for newer players. For instance, Max Mode now has two variations: one boosts your fighter’s attack and guard crush strength, while the other instantly cancels any landed attack into a new, otherwise impossible combo. Its online features are impressive, with multiple ways to compete, including an online training mode for collaborative learning. Thanks to improved netcode, especially in the PC version, online matches against other players feel remarkably close to an arcade experience. There’s a fair bit of legacy skill involved, meaning KoF veterans might initially dominate newcomers, but that’s a challenge that can be overcome with consistent practice.

Guilty Gear Strive

Guilty Gear Strive showcases a more refined structure in its combat, presentation, and fully voiced stage music for every character – some are genuinely great songs in their own right, and all perfectly complement the stages. What truly makes GG Strive shine is its online mode. Despite sometimes confusing lobbies, it remains one of the most stable fighting games available today, thanks to its bespoke rollback netcode. This technology has been instrumental in the success of online tournaments throughout the pandemic and into the future. We consistently experienced stable connections, even when battling players across oceans.

Samurai Shodown

Many fighting games emphasize flashy combos with massive hit counters to create excitement, but Samurai Shodown takes a different approach. This cult classic arcade fighting game is weapon-based, where nearly every hit carries the potential to deplete significant portions of your health. It’s ideal if you prefer a fighting game focused more on strategic ‘footsies’ than elaborate special moves. Its feature set leans more towards old-school mechanics than most modern fighting games. However, the truly tense fights it offers are well worth the investment. You could be on the verge of defeat, only to stage a spectacular comeback with just a few perfectly timed strikes.

Soulcalibur 6

The Soulcalibur series often struggled to recapture the magic of its original Dreamcast release. After nearly two decades, Soulcalibur 6 finally achieves this feat. This weapon-based fighter is a joy to play at all skill levels, earning its place among the best sword games on PC. Whether you’re mashing buttons or executing intricate combos, there’s a generous amount of content to keep you engaged, even outside of online competition. This includes the extensive Soulcalibur 6 character creator mode, which has given rise to some of the most imaginative (and terrifying) custom creations we’ve ever seen. You can guide your custom fighter through a lengthy campaign, complete with RPG-style upgrade systems and an almost limitless supply of side missions. If that’s not enough, a full story mode with unique dialogue and fights for every character on the roster awaits.

Dragon Ball FighterZ

Dragon Ball FighterZ may not be the first good Dragon Ball game, but it’s unequivocally the first truly great one. Arc System Works has utilized its expertise in creating some of the market’s most technically complex fighting games to build a title that maintains the depth of top-tier brawlers while remaining accessible. The studio poured immense love and care into every character on the Dragon Ball FighterZ roster, honoring one of anime’s most beloved series. For Dragon Ball fans, this anime game is a stunning tribute, from its gorgeous anime aesthetic to the unique intro and finish cutscenes for specific matchups – Yamcha’s iconic death pose is a perfect example. But all that dedication and artistry is evident even if you don’t know your Goku from your Super Saiyan God Super Saiyan Goku.

Injustice 2

Injustice 2 presents a gritty reimagining of the DC universe, rebalancing the forces of good and evil – essentially setting Superman and Batman against each other. Its diverse roster features fan-favorite superheroes alongside wonderfully obscure picks, all delivering authentic powers in richly strategic matches filled with combat options and spectacular environmental destruction. NetherRealm games consistently excel in their content offerings, and Injustice 2 is no exception. It boasts a best-in-class cinematic story mode, a Multiverse brimming with gameplay challenges and unlockables, and a comprehensive gear system to customize your fighter’s stats and appearance. Even if a newer Mortal Kombat title has superseded Injustice 2, this remains one of the most complete fighting game packages available, especially if you favor the Caped Crusader over the Armored Avenger.

Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3

The fighting game community typically embraces new entries in established series, regardless of transition roughness. However, this wasn’t entirely the case with Marvel vs Capcom. Partly due to the latest title, Infinite, receiving a lukewarm reception, but mostly because Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3 is simply phenomenal. It features a robust roster from two of the most cherished companies and their iconic franchises. The art direction beautifully captures the essence of these fan favorites. Above all, Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3 boasts a wonderfully intricate tag-team fighting system, as deep and varied as any game in fighting game history. Its 3v3 battles are rich with tags and assist moves, and its symphony of combos and specials creates a complex ballet that rewards mastery in a way few other games can rival.

The premier fighting games on PC have certainly captured our hearts, but the journey doesn’t end here. From exciting upcoming PC games to cherished classics like those found in the Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection, a vast and vibrant world of fighters awaits your challenge.