5 Best Fighting Games That Aren't Mortal Kombat

Ever since its debut in 1992, the "Mortal Kombat" series has provided some of the most popular fighting games in the world. The franchise mixed fast-paced combat with graphic violence, releasing some of the most controversial retro video games of all time. But any fighting game purist will tell you that there are plenty of other franchises in the genre that match or surpass "Mortal Kombat" in their own respective ways. With that in mind, we're highlighting other fighting games that should at least be on your radar and are well worth checking out.

The fighting games we're including here are a mix of older titles that still hold up decades later and contemporary classics in the genre. Some of these titles are played from a side-scrolling perspective while others have embraced the possibilities of fully 3D combat. Either way, all of these games revolve around frenetic melee fighting, encouraging speed and combo-driven techniques. These are the five best fighting games that aren't "Mortal Kombat," each offering their own type of hard-hitting thrills.

While "Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes" pitted Capcom's biggest icons against Marvel superheroes and supervillains in 2v2 tag-team combat, its sequel went even more ambitious. 2000's "Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes" not only significantly increased the playable roster compared to its 1998 predecessor, but also expanded the scope of the combat. This time around, the gameplay centers on 3v3 tag-team action and introduced heightened speed to the fighting. In expanding the roster, the game also features a handful of original characters while introducing more favorites to the series, like X-Men's Cable and Jill Valentine from "Resident Evil."

As great as "Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3" is, "Marvel vs. Capcom 2" is still the bar against which the rest of the series will be judged. A big part of that is the absolutely bonkers size of its playable roster, with 56 characters in all. But the game also offers faster gameplay, a heightened emphasis on assist-driven combos, and 3D backgrounds for each stage. A transcendent crossover fighting game, "Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes" is a pure knockout.

The original "Soulcalibur" was one of the few near-perfect Sega Dreamcast games, a 3D fighter with its combatants using different melee weapons. This was followed up in 2002 by "Soulcalibur II," one of the best-looking fighting games of its generation. In an effective twist, every platform received its own unique guest character, with Link on the GameCube, Heihachi Mishima on the PlayStation 2, and Spawn on the Xbox. The combat was also significantly refined with the sequel while the number of game modes and other features was increased.

"Soulcalibur II" is an absolute joy to play and it's still available on the Nintendo Switch 2's digital library of GameCube titles. The combat is relatively easy to learn and the difficulty a bit more accessible than other fighting games of its era. The 2002 game also set up the continuing tradition of "Soulcalibur" to prominently feature guest characters in its playable roster moving forward. Creating the template for the series, "Soulcalibur II" has stood the test of time for over 20 years.

One of the best games like "Mortal Kombat," particularly from the '90s, is "Killer Instinct," which debuted in 1994. The series similarly features similarly edgy fighters and presentation, including its own version of finishing moves. After an extended period of dormancy, the franchise was revived in 2013 for the Xbox One, later ported to the PC, and remastered for the Xbox Series X|S. Retaining the combo-fueled combat that the series is known for, the 2013 revival adds new gameplay features, such as unique temporary enhancements for each fighter, known as Instinct Mode.

Once removed from its initial rotating seasonal content format, "Killer Instinct" really stands as an impressive modernization of the series. It was fascinating to see the game roll out, with the developers adding to and refining the experience before the definitive version's eventual release. Now that it has, the full breadth of its achievement can be appreciated, along with a more consistent online multiplayer experience. While little has been done with the franchise since, the "Killer Instinct" revival is a strong reminder of how distinctly enjoyable the fighting game series is.

There are many "Tekken" games that could make this list, with "Tekken 3" and "Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection" among the franchise's highlights. But there's just something about 2015's "Tekken 7" that really went the extra mile, setting a new bar for the series in comparison to its predecessors. The game's story revolves around the global war between the G Corporation and Mishima Zaibatsu, with Heihachi Mishima plotting to reclaim his empire. This unfolds with the series' signature 3D combat, with several new features, including Rage Arts, to turn the tide of battle.

To be clear, "Tekken 8" provided the franchise with a resounding resurgence but "Tekken 7" just edges it out, especially in regard to post-launch support. The guest fighters in the roster, including Akuma from "Street Fighter" and Geese Howard from "Fatal Fury," are easily the best in the series. But what puts "Tekken 7" above its sequel is its overall gameplay balance, something that was only improved upon each subsequent post-launch season. Defining what "Tekken" could be in the modern era, "Tekken 7" is a high watermark for the franchise.

We were sorely tempted to put an older "Street Fighter" game on this list, like "Super Street Fighter II Turbo" or "Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike." But honestly, Capcom's latest entry in its long-running franchise, "Street Fighter 6," is a landmark achievement for the entire series. In addition to the usual multiplayer and arcade gameplay modes, the 2023 game includes an open-world story campaign. This ambitious addition provides a fresh perspective on the entire "Street Fighter" story, with a player character training under all of the main figures from the usual roster.

"Street Fighter 6" is an expansive love letter to the entire franchise, while also honoring Capcom's wider and celebrated history of fighting game excellence. The combat modernizes the familiar mechanics in ways that its immediate predecessors only broached, while the wealth of features is ridiculous. This extends to the inclusion of its own online ecosystem, referred to as the battle hub, and the series' first guest characters, with fighters from "Fatal Fury" and "Final Fantasy." The latest leap in the stunning transformation of "Street Fighter," "Street Fighter 6" is the best modern fighter currently around.