7 Best Fighting Games you need to play in 2024

Essential fighting games for every player in 2024 with expert strategies and character guides

The Evolution of Fighting Games

Fighting games represent one of gaming’s most dynamically evolving genres, continuously refining their combat systems and presentation over decades. This guide explores seven essential titles that showcase the genre’s incredible diversity and technical depth.

The fighting game renaissance continues through 2024, with Street Fighter 6 leading the charge and Mortal Kombat 1 reinventing the iconic franchise. With Tekken 8 approaching release, now represents the perfect time to explore these masterful combat experiences.

Iconic moves like the Shoryuken and brutal fatalities have cemented fighting games’ influence across gaming history and broader pop culture. These mechanics have become cultural touchstones recognized far beyond their gaming origins.

The genre’s origins trace back to 1970s arcades when Sega introduced Heavyweight Champ, the pioneering title featuring fist-fighting mechanics. This launched what would become a global phenomenon.

During arcade gaming’s golden era, classics like Space Invaders and Street Fighter II dominated while franchises like Tekken and Mortal Kombat were still developing their identities. The foundation was being laid for future greatness.

After nearly five decades of evolution, certain fighting games have distinguished themselves through innovative mechanics, compelling characters, and enduring competitive scenes. Let’s examine these standout titles.

Mortal Kombat 1: The Brutal Reboot

What more appropriate starting point than the franchise that literally sparked age rating controversies upon its debut? The Mortal Kombat series has produced 23 titles since its 1992 inception, with Mortal Kombat 1 serving as an ideal modern entry point despite varying quality across releases.

Following eleven mainline entries, Mortal Kombat had accumulated overwhelming narrative complexity and deep lore that, while engaging for veterans, could intimidate newcomers. Mortal Kombat 1 cleverly resets the timeline post-previous game events, functioning as a franchise soft reboot that maintains continuity while welcoming new players.

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Additionally, the game features an ambitious DLC roadmap incorporating characters from popular media, including Homelander from The Boys and Omni Man from Invincible. Beyond its signature brutality, Mortal Kombat 1 warrants attention for its remarkably diverse character selection and accessibility features.

Pro Strategy: Master the Kameo fighter system by selecting assists that complement your main character’s weaknesses. For zoning characters, choose aggressive Kameos to cover approach options.

Common Mistake: New players often rely too heavily on fatal blows when behind. These should be combo enders, not panic buttons. Practice converting hits into full combos that incorporate these powerful moves.

Guilty Gear Strive: Anime Excellence

Maintaining balance becomes challenging with extravagant titles like Mortal Kombat dominating the landscape. However, Guilty Gear Strive achieves perfect equilibrium, establishing the anime fighting game gold standard through meticulously designed characters and exhilarating, fast-paced combat.

While not the series’ inaugural entry, Arc System Works’ flagship franchise didn’t achieve mainstream recognition until Guilty Gear Strive, and justifiably so. The game radiates audacious energy, extravagance, and features some of gaming’s most wildly imaginative character designs.

Pro Strategy: Understand the Roman Cancel system thoroughly – it’s your most powerful tool. Yellow RC for pressure, Red RC for combos, and Purple RC for defense. Each serves distinct strategic purposes.

Common Mistake: Beginners often misuse burst as a combo escape rather than saving it for critical situations. Burst should preserve your life total, not just escape pressure momentarily.

Character Tip: Sol Badguy offers excellent fundamentals for newcomers, while Testament provides unique zoning mechanics for players preferring keepaway strategies.

Brawlhalla: Accessible Mayhem

If Mortal Kombat 1’s crossover characters failed to capture your interest, Brawlhalla boasts arguably the industry’s most extensive and varied roster, featuring everyone from Ben 10 to Shovel Knight. The game excels as a social experience, supporting up to eight simultaneous players for chaotic multiplayer sessions.

Distinguishing itself from other listed titles, Brawlhalla remains completely free and features cross-platform functionality, enabling gameplay on mobile devices or handheld consoles regardless of whether friends are using PC or PlayStation systems.

Pro Strategy: Master weapon throw combos – they’re essential for advanced play. Each weapon type has specific throw properties that lead into devastating follow-ups.

Common Mistake: New players often chase opponents too aggressively. Brawlhalla rewards positional play and stage control more than relentless offense.

Platform Tip: The mobile version offers surprisingly responsive controls, but consider connecting a controller for competitive play against console and PC opponents.

Street Fighter 6: Legacy Perfected

Whenever fighting games enter conversation, mental imagery typically conjures Ryu and Ken assuming 2D stances as Ryu executes a Shoryuken. This demonstrates Street Fighter’s profound genre impact; many consider the franchise a cultural media milestone transcending gaming.

Street Fighter 6, the series’ latest installment, not only meets expectations but exceeds them, delivering an exceptional fighting experience that honors Street Fighter’s legacy while establishing its own identity. The game refines the distinctive visual style that defined the franchise, positioning itself among the premier next-generation fighting experiences.

Pro Strategy: The Drive System is your key to victory. Manage your Drive Gauge carefully – burnout state leaves you incredibly vulnerable. Use Drive Parry against projectile spam and Drive Rush to extend pressure.

Common Mistake: Modern control users often overlook manual inputs for critical moves. While Modern offers accessibility, learning classic motions for key specials significantly improves damage output.

Mode Recommendation: World Tour mode provides excellent fighting fundamentals training while unlocking custom character options. The Fighting Ground offers traditional arcade and versus experiences.

Dragon Ball FighterZ: Anime Power

Anime enthusiasts have consistently enjoyed quality fighting games, with titles like Granblue Fantasy Versus and Guilty Gear delivering premium experiences. Dragon Ball Z, the shonen phenomenon, has spawned numerous fighting games throughout its history, with Budokai Tenkaichi still receiving fan acclaim today.

FighterZ distinguishes itself from other Dragon Ball titles in this aspect. Developed by Arc System Works, creators of Guilty Gear Strive, FighterZ provides technical fighting blended with intense combat reminiscent of Mortal Kombat. The game enables selection from characters spanning the entire Dragon Ball saga, ranking among the finest fighting games ever created, surpassing its predecessors.

Pro Strategy: Master the tag system – smart assists and timely switches create overwhelming pressure. Learn each character’s assist properties and how they extend combos.

Common Mistake: Players frequently waste sparking blast as a simple combo extender. Save it for critical health situations where it provides maximum damage potential and comeback opportunity.

Team Building: Balance your team with point characters (strong without assists), batteries (build meter), and anchors (powerful with meter). This structure creates consistent team performance.

Tekken 7: 3D Mastery

With Tekken 8 scheduled for 2024 release, players anticipate Jin Kazama confronting his father Kazuya Mishima in what appears to be their final showdown. While we await performance comparisons against predecessors, Tekken 7 remains reliable in the interim.

Bandai Namco aimed to reaffirm their 3D combat dominance, and Tekken 7 unquestionably delivered. Featuring precision-based controls and extensive character selection, Tekken 7 ranks among the series’ finest entries, with some comparing it to critically acclaimed Tekken 3. Whether it surpasses the legendary Tekken 3 remains debatable, but it unquestionably delivers regarding brutal combo systems and overall enjoyable fighting mechanics.

Pro Strategy: Movement is everything in Tekken. Master backdash cancelling and sidewalk techniques to create whiff punishes. The best defense in Tekken is not getting hit.

Common Mistake: New players often button mash during pressure instead of learning proper punishment. Every move in Tekken has specific frame data – learn to punish accordingly.

Character Recommendation: