Fighting games are excellent. If you take the effort to really learn a traditional fighting game, there is little else like it. All the decisions and the mental gymnastics of a complex strategy game packed into a tight and fast-paced martial arts: That’s something! Competing against CPU opponents in Story Mode is, of course, one way to enjoy the game, but these titles are usually designed with real life opponents in mind.
Whether you’re already a seasoned fighter or looking to get started in the world of competitive fighting, this list is for you. COMPUTER BILD has put together the best fighting games here, which convinced in 2021 and which will still inspire you in 2022.
Most gamers have at least heard of “Street Fighter”.
Street Fighter 5
The netcode is still a little awkward, but the Street Fighter community is as alive as ever, so there is always an online game to be found, and maybe even an online tournament to play.
“Guilty Gear Strive” is a must have purchase for any genre enthusiast.
Guilty Gear Strive
“Guilty Gear Strive” (GGST) is the must-see fighting game of 2021. It features excellent rollback netcode, beautiful graphics that represent an evolved version of the Arc System Works house style, and a small but varied selection of characters that offer a lot to the right user. Several new characters have also been added to “Guilty Gear Strive” in the form of DLC packs, and further support has been announced.
GGST contains robust rollback netcode that enables the best online gameplay available on any platform and in any game. Rollback netcode is currently the best way for peer-to-peer multiplayer games like Fighting Games to play online. It adjusts the result of the inputs frame by frame to ensure that players are perfectly synchronized and that randomness has no influence on the outcome of a game.
All of these factors have made GGST one of the most successful fighting game launches in history on Steam and a must-have purchase for genre enthusiasts. The solid tutorials and the stylish look make life easier for newcomers.
BlazBlue
“BlazBlue”, another game from Arc System Works, is a classic, sprite-based 2D fighting game with the attitude of GGST and a terrifyingly high level of difficulty. This game was traditionally reserved for the fighting game elite, but luckily the creators have recently simplified it. Rollback netcode updates have been announced for both BlazBlue: Central Fiction and BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle.
In contrast to the main games, “Cross Tag Battle” contains characters from “Persona”, “Under Night In-Birth” and “RWBY” and is far more accessible to new players. If you are looking for a challenge, “Central Fiction” is ideal. Meanwhile, the “Cross Tag Battle” is ideal for those new to the genre.
Granblue Fantasy: Versus contains a single player component based on the RPGs in the series.
Granblue Fantasy: Versus
The last Arc System Works game for this article, I promise. But the truth is that he is one of the most experienced and productive fighting game developers in the world. Granblue Fantasy: Versus (GBFV) is another great exponent of the discipline based on the Granblue Fantasy franchise and featuring a combat system that rewards both new and experienced fighters. If you are struggling with movement inputs for special attacks, GBFV is for you.
The netcode isn’t as good as the studio’s other games on this list, but it still offers a decent online experience. Plus, in the style of the mobile RPGs the title is based on, there’s a long story mode with 2D battles against monsters, and even a gacha loot system that you can use – don’t worry, it’s only in-game currency Bet, nothing can be done with real money.
Melty Blood: Type Lumina
For a long time “Melty Blood” was only talked about in private, but with “Melty Blood: Type Lumina” you get the feeling that the series is finally getting the attention of the broader fighting game community. The game is essentially a spin-off of a visual novel saga called “Tsukihime” in which the characters are engaged in deadly combat.
The series was a niche market until recently, but this year Melty Blood: Type Lumina was released for consoles and PC with – you guessed it – rollback netcode. Netcode is really a big issue when a pandemic makes tournaments in the real world difficult or impossible. The complex of themes also gives games like “Melty Blood: Type Lumina” the chance to shine through good implementation.
Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid
Battle for the Grid has received many DLC character updates since it was originally released in 2019. Even now, it’s still getting new content and is the only competitive fighting game that features crossplay between the Stadia, PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
“Ultimate” has proven to be a worthy successor to the legendary “Smash Bros. Melee”.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Nintendo support for eSports
The youngest character, Sora, was only introduced a few months ago after iconic characters like Sephiroth, Kazuya and yes, even Steve from “Minecraft” entered the game. While Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is arguably the least traditional fighting game on this list, it’s one of the most accessible games to play with friends for hours. If there was only one fighting game in your life, it should be this one.