Fighting game celebrates 20th anniversary in 2025

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Fighting games were in a good spot in 2005 as they continued to dominate both the arcade and console markets. Some of the most recognizable names in the genre have continued to expand with new entries, and several new series have quickly built communities around them to ensure long-term success.

Mai Shiranui, Mario, and Ryu stand in front of a collage of character select screens from some of the most notable fighting games ever made.

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Fans' expectations for the genre continue to grow, especially every time a fighting game has more than 50 characters, even before DLC is released.

Although the number of new fighting games is decreasing, the average quality of each title we saw that year was very high. It may feel like you were playing this game with your friends not too long ago, but this fighting game will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2025.

6

Samurai Shodown 6

Samurai Shodown may not be as iconic as Street Fighter or Mortal Kombat, but the long-running fighting series has been around since 1993 and focuses on weapon-based combat to set itself apart from the crowd. I am leaving it. The sixth entry first appeared in Japanese arcades in 2005, but wasn't playable in North America until nearly a decade later.

With 40 playable characters at launch and a gorgeous art style that perfectly blends 2D and 3D graphics, Samurai Shodown 6 is an impressive package. This is the only entry to feature a “spirit selection” system that allows you to choose one of a variety of fighting styles, which can affect how your character moves and attacks.

5

Neo Geo Battle Coliseum

Neo Geo was a home console developed by SNK to bring their large catalog of games out of arcades and into people's homes. It was fantastic, but the hardware and software were very expensive and couldn't keep up with the SNES that came out the same year.

[Left Panel] In The King of Fighters 15, Kyo delivers a fierce punch to Benimaru. [Right Panel] Jubei prepares his Super Special Move in Samurai Shodown (2019).

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Ranked: 12 Best SNK Fighting Games

SNK once again reminded us of its unrivaled position in the fighting game world through KOF15. Now, let's celebrate this release by looking back at some of the best titles.

NeoGeo Battle Coliseum is a crossover game that takes iconic characters from SNK titles like Metal Slug, King of Fighters, and more and pits them against each other in 2v2 tag battles. While the game doesn't really advance the medium, it feels like it celebrates the SNK brand in all the right ways, and is a great game to pick up if you have any nostalgia for the company.

4

Dead or Alive 4

Dead or Alive first released in arcades in 1996 and impressed with its visuals, satisfying gameplay, and mature tone. The fourth entry in the series was developed exclusively for Xbox 360 instead of arcade devices, and the results are more surprising than you could imagine.

Dead or Alive 4 feels amazing and great to play, despite its improved counter system that makes it harder to deflect enemy attacks. The best part of the game is the collaboration, which includes original Halo characters as playable fighters and licensed songs by Aerosmith that play during certain sequences.

3

Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi

There are countless fighting games in the world of Dragon Ball Z, many of which struggle to make a name for themselves while sharing similar character rosters, stages, and mechanics. Budokai Tenkaichi breaks this tradition with a new perspective and immersive gameplay.

DBZ game features

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Developed exclusively for the PlayStation 2, Budokai Tenkaichi quickly became every Dragon Ball fan's dream game with its massive cast of characters (64 in total) and exciting story mode. The series is still going strong today, with 2024's Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero being the latest entry in this unique fighting series.

2

Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection

Just a year after Tekken 5 hit Japanese arcades, Namco developed a superior version of the same game with Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection. This is the final version of one of the best entries in the series, featuring more characters, new modes, and some fine-tuning.

Tekken 5's foundation was already impressive with fantastic music and an incredible story mode, but Dark Resurrection raises the bar with surprising changes that make the experience even better. Unfortunately, this game was only released on the PSP outside of arcades, but it's worth taking the time to check it out if you haven't already.

1

soul calibur 3

Soulcalibur 2 was one of the biggest fighting games of the early 2000s, so the sequel had a big bar to clear to satisfy fans of the original and newcomers alike. Despite lacking an online mode, Soulcalibur 3 received more praise from audiences for its excellent story mode, unique gameplay, and character creation mode.

Interestingly, Soulcalibur 3 was first developed for the PlayStation 2 before being released in arcades worldwide. There's so much to do in the game, from experimenting with new characters to engaging in one of the various story modes. Although it doesn't feature guest characters like its predecessor, Soul Calibur 3 is an impressive piece of work that's still replayable.

fighting game prototype

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