Summary
- Guilty Gear Strive remains popular due to its dedicated fanbase and stunning visuals.
- Street Fighter 6 is the most played fighting game with modern and classic controls for all players.
- Mortal Kombat 1 offers a fun gameplay experience with unique characters and a cameo system.
While fighting games have always been popular, in the grand scheme of things, they are still considered fairly niche when compared to other genres like open world or horror. Despite that, though, the fighting game community is still one of the most passionate out there, and they're always happy to stick with a new game if it seems promising from a gameplay standpoint; helping to maintain a healthy player base which is needed for the online matchmaking of these kinds of titles to work.
10 Strangest Guest Characters in Fighting Games
Guest characters have become a staple in fighting games, but over the years, some titles have made questionable choices about who they add.
Unfortunately, there are many examples of fighting games which, while relatively popular upon release, ended up fizzling out of relevance, making it pretty difficult to find others to play with. Thankfully, though, there have still been more than a few fighting games, both new and relatively old, which are still going strong to this day, so without further ado, it's time to take a look at the fighting games with the healthiest player bases right now.
8 Granblue Fantasy Versus Rising
Arc System's 2023 Anime Fighter Is A Joy To Both Play And Watch
Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising
- Released
- December 14, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Violence
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Fighting
When Granblue Fantasy Versus Rising first released in 2023, though there was a lot of hype building up to it, many assumed it would meet the same fate as a lot of anime games and would eventually fade into obscurity. The good news is, that didn't end up happening as the game is still very popular, especially thanks to the inclusion of crossplay, which allows console and PC players to duke it out in dazzling one-on-one encounters.
In classic Arc Systems fashion, this game looks absolutely incredible from a visual perspective, with even the smallest of animations having a real sense of weight and motion to them which make each of the characters feel responsive and a joy to watch an action. While there a quite a few systems and mechanics to keep track of during a fight, Granblue Fantasy Versus Rising is still a relatively easy game to get into and play online.
7 Super Smash Bros Ultimate
Nintendo's Chaotic Mash-Up Fighter Is Easy To Jump Into And Play
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
- Released
- December 7, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E for Everyone: Cartoon Violence, Comic Mischief, Suggestive Themes
- Genre(s)
- Fighting
The Super Smash Brothers series is Nintendo's flagship fighting game franchise, but rather than containing original characters, it instead acts as a mashup that features characters not only from Nintendo games, but from the gaming industry in general. To be honest, there's not that many well-known characters left who haven't made it into Smash, with the likes of Sonic, Sora, Snake, Cloud, Bayonetta, and so many others being playable characters in this fun and frantic Switch game.
Super Smash Bros Ultimate: Every Weakness For Top Tiers
Top-tier characters in Super Smash Bros Ultimate might feel unbeatable, but like the rest, they do have exploitable weaknesses.
Smash Ultimate feels like the culmination of what the franchise had been building up to, featuring a staggeringly large cast of characters and plenty of stages which can morph and change over the course of a match. Smash Ultimate is often considered more of a casual fighting game rather than a competitive one, which is why there are so many people playing it online even years after its release, as it's a lot more about just simply having fun rather than grinding out wins. Still, with that being said, those who do want to get competitive can still test their skills online to see how they match up to the other pros if they feel brave enough.
6 Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero
Duke It Out With Players From Around The World With Classic Dragon Ball Characters
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero
- Released
- October 11, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Spike Chunsoft
- Genre(s)
- Fighting, Action
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
Considering how insanely popular the Dragon Ball is, it makes sense that a lot of people would flock to a new game, but Sparking Zero specifically had people very excited, primarily because of its 180+ character roster. It doesn't matter how weak or insignificant a character may be in the anime, Sparking Zero ensured that everyone was able to make an appearance, and when paired with the explosive, high-octane gameplay, it results in an eye-catching and very intense game to play.
There are a handful of online modes players can choose from, including player and ranked matches depending on how competitive they want a match to be, alongside a world tournament too. With so many characters to use, many of which feeling completely original and distinct from one another, there's no wonder why many people continue coming back to Sparking Zero.
5 Fatal Fury: City Of The Wolves
Fatal Fury Is Back, And Thanks To Crossplay, There Are Plenty Of Opponents To Take On
Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves
- Released
- April 24, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Language, Violence, Suggestive Themes
- Genre(s)
- Fighting
After a 26 year hiatus, Fatal Fury has made its grand return with the latest installment, City of the Wolves. To say long-time fighting game fans were excited for this would be putting it mildly, as the classic 2D fighter is often considered one of the pioneers in the genre, so it's been great to see SNK getting back in the saddle and giving fans another excellent fighter to dive into and enjoy.
While City of the Wolves plays like a traditional 2D fighter, it's also quite advanced in its core gameplay, requiring a lot of precise inputs and commands to dish out damage. While this inevitably means that a lot of experienced fans have picked up the game, the celebrity cameos from Salvatore Ganacci and Cristiano Ronaldo have also helped the game pickup some steam among casuals and newcomers too, and with crossplay also turned on, finding a match usually takes no more than a few seconds.
4 Guilty Gear Strive
Strive Features A Passionate And Active Playerbase To Meet And Play With
Guilty Gear -Strive-
- Released
- June 11, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Blood, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Arc System Works
- Genre(s)
- Fighting
- Platform(s)
- Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
Though the Guilty Gear series has never been as popular as the likes of Street Fighter or Tekken, over the years it has managed to amass an extremely dedicated fanbase which has only grown over time, especially with the release of Strive. Despite being released back in 2021, Guilty Gear Strive is still one of the most played fighting games on the market, being featured in major tournaments like Evo each and every year because of how much it's played.
Guilty Gear Strive: 15 Tips & Tricks For Executing Combos
Combos are essential for a successful fight in Guilty Gear Strive. Here's how to master the techniques.
It's an extremely fast paced game which is highly competitive nowadays considering most players have been testing out their characters for quite a while, though that doesn't mean it's still not accessible. Strive stands as a shiny example that anime fighting games can still be popular even years after their release, and in the case of this game specifically, a big reason why is because the visuals are so downright jawdropping to admire.
3 Mortal Kombat 1
The Latest Mortal Kombat Features A Ton Of Characters For Players To Try Out
Mortal Kombat 1
- Released
- September 19, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Genre(s)
- Fighting
Mortal Kombat has always been immensely popular, even back when it was still only available in arcades, and Mortal Kombat 1 has proven that the die hard fans of this series are still around and more than happy to jump into a new entry. The main gimmick of Mortal Kombat 1 that makes the gameplay feel so drastically different is the cameo system, where players are able to call on an extra character to dish out some damage in the middle of a fight in order to flesh out their combos.
What's also made the game so replayable though is the frankly bizarre but extremely fun cast of fighters that are on offer, especially those who are introduced as DLC, such as Conan the Barbarian and Ghostface. This Mortal Kombat definitely took many risks and was willing to experiment a lot more than the series is used to, but it's still very easy to find games and a ton of fun to play now that it's been balanced out a bit.
2 Tekken 8
Tekken 8's More Offensive Style Of Gameplay Has Drawn In A Lot Of New Fans
Tekken 8
- Released
- January 26, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Developer(s)
- Bandai Namco Entertainment, Arika
- Genre(s)
- Fighting
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
It's clear that when developing Tekken 8, Bandai Namco decided to go for a faster pace and more offensive-oriented style of gameplay compared to the previous entry. While this has, admittedly, been somewhat divisive among longtime fans, it's also managed to introduce many newcomers to the series, considering the game is now a lot easier to play. As a result, pulling off flashy and stylish moves can be done with only a few button presses thanks to the game's unique Heat system, which can be used to extend combos or intercept enemy attacks.
While the rich legacy of Tekken definitely contributes to the game's popularity, another reason this game in particular has managed to retain much of its player base is the diverse cast of characters. From tiger-masked wrestlers to katana-wielding aliens, there's an entire catalog of fun and unique characters to try out online, whether it be in casual matches or on the competitive ranked mode.
1 Street Fighter 6
The King Of The Genre Is Packed Full Of Players Of All Skill Levels
Street Fighter 6
- Released
- June 2, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Mild Blood, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Fighting
It's clear that Capcom learned a lot from the rocky launch of Street Fighter 5. While that game was still very popular, many fans agreed it didn't quite hit the expectations that had been set for this legendary fighting game series, and as a result, Capcom went all in with making Street Fighter 6 the perfect game for players to enjoy. Street Fighter 6 is by far the most played fighting game out there right now and the big reason why is because of its accessibility.
Players are able to freely choose between either modern controls, which make auto combos much easier pull off, or classic if they want to stick with traditional inputs to execute attacks and abilities. There's also the Battle Hub which is essentially one giant lobby where players can not only fight one another, but also interact and even share advice. Needless to say, there's a ton to do online with this game, but at its core, it features rock solid gameplay which not only plays great, but also looks incredible to boot.
9 Best Fighting Games With Crossplay
For players looking for fighting games featuring crossplay features, these are some of the best titles.