List 10 Most Popular Fighting Game Franchises 2023: The fighting game genre is type of video game that focuses on hand-to hand combat between characters controlled by the gamers.

Fighting gamees oftne feature one-on-one battles or team battles style and abilites.

The genre has been around since the early days of video games and has continued to evolve with advancements in technology.

Tekken:

Namco released in 1994, it marked the company’s entry into the fighting game genre. The game quickly made waves due to its impressive 3D animation that was not common in other fighting games at the time. In addition to its graphics, Tekken introduced several characteristics that have since become common in fighting games, and it has sold nearly 50 million units, making it one of the best-selling fighting game franchises ever.

Mortal Kombat:

During the 1990s, parents in the United States were terrified of their children playing Mortal Kombat because of its use of bloody gore, fatalities, and death. Despite their disgust, the controversy only served to increase the game’s popularity. Since then, the Mortal Kombat franchise has released 25 games, along with spin-offs, sequels, prequels, cartoons, comics, and live-action feature films.

Samurai Showdown:

Samurai Showdown is a fighting game series developed by SNK that originated in 1993 and has continued to receive updates and new releases, with the latest one launched in June 2020. The franchise is set in 18th century Japan and features a rich storyline and memorable characters that have spawned a significant amount of lore.

Street Fighter:

The Street Fighter franchise is arguably one of the most well-known and widely popular fighting game franchises in history. It made its debut in arcades in 1987 and has since released over 25 different sequels and versions. Throughout its history, Street Fighter has become one of the highest-grossing video game franchises of all time.

Super Smash Bros:

Traditionally, fighting games have typically involved two players facing each other on a battlefield. However, Nintendo revolutionized this format with its Super Smash Bros. franchise, which debuted on the Nintendo 64 in 1994. Since then, the series has released five games, each more popular than the last, and it shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

Soul Calibur:

SoulCalibur arrived relatively late to the fighting game genre in 1995, a full year after many other games on the list. Initially an arcade game, it later became available on home consoles. In the years since, the SoulCalibur franchise has spawned a dozen titles.

The King Of Fighters:

In 1994, SNK combined some of the best fighters from various games, including Ikari Warriors, Psycho Soldier, Fatal Fury, and Art of Fighting, to create The King of Fighters ’94. Since then, the franchise has remained popular for years and released the most recent title, The King of Fighters XIV, in 2016.

Marvel vs. Capcom:

Before the release of Marvel vs. Capcom in 1996, it was not possible to have Capcom and Marvel characters battle against each other in fighting games, even though both character sets had previously appeared in their own separate fighting games. The inclusion of both character sets in the new game franchise was a game-changer for the fighting game genre, as players were now able to pit characters like Ryu against the Incredible Hulk.

Guilty Gear:

Guilty Gear, a franchise that has been around since 1998, is widely recognized for its intricate combos, cancels, and complex systems, which are also the very aspects that make it appealing and enduring. With more than 20 iterations released so far, the latest being Guilty Gear Xrd Rev 2 in May 2017, the game is famous for its exceptional graphics, immersive sound, and technical gameplay.

Dead or Alive:

Tecmo introduced Dead or Alive in 1996, and since then, the franchise has spawned numerous games. The series’ fast-paced combat system, featuring beautifully detailed 3D fighting, quickly gained a following among fans. Moreover, the game’s inclusion of intriguing female characters contributed to its popularity. The franchise even had spin-offs that capitalized on the characters’ sex appeal, such as Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball, which had multiple sequels.