Games like Mortal Kombat, Tekken, and Street Fighter are generally the first that come to mind when you think about fighting games. There are many other fantastic fighting games available, even if all of those games are fantastic.
Among them are combatants from anime, too. An anime fighters is what? They actually come in two varieties. One is a fighting game with an anime-inspired visual aesthetic. One is a combatant, inspired by a real anime. Some games fit into both categories! There are many fantastic anime fighters to pick from, regardless of how long you’ve been a fan or how new you’re to the genre.
There are surprisingly many enjoyable anime fighting games available, and the genre doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon. With this version, we’ve added some underappreciated classics as well as one that may be experiencing a comeback due to the potential inclusion of the now-essential Rollback Netcode feature.
The 15 Best Anime Fighting Games
In this article you can find out the best Anime Fighting Games list are below
15. Persona 4 Arena Ultimax
In a fight during June’s Persona 4 Arena Ultimax, the second fighting game in the Persona series, Aigis uses her 7th Gen Gatling Blast talent to assault Yosuke. It happens immediately following the events of Persona 4 Arena, in which Persona 3 and Persona 4 characters are made to fight each other.
Every character has control over their Persona, which serves as a partner in combat and a unique attack. Locations from both games are included in the battle stages, and each character’s sprite is exquisitely hand-drawn. Rise and Ken are two of the new playable characters in Ultimax, and the system has been adjusted to make fighting characters’ Shadow equivalents less difficult. It’s the Persona fighting game’s greatest way to play.
14. Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle R
Giorno Giovanna and Jolyne Cujoh engage in a titanic battle in Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure ASBR.
The manga series was not as well-known worldwide when the first All-Star Battle debuted in 2013. But Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure anime adaptation brought the manga to a wider audience. Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle R is a remaster that Bandai-Namco released to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the anime and the 35th anniversary of the manga.
The ASBR is a wonderful improvement over its predecessor. Ten new characters are included in the title, including characters that have long been favorites—such as Robert E. O. Speedwagon and Pet Shop—and heroes. In addition, ASBR introduces a number of fresh gameplay elements, like dash jumps and the addition of help characters. Unfortunately, because of its antiquated delay-based netcode, the remaster only performs poorly online.
13. Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Heritage For The Future
In a fierce battle inside a detention cell in Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Heritage For The Future, Avdol’s stand, Magician’s Red, burns Jotaro Kujo.
The characters from Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure were not originally included in fighting games until Bandai-Namco’s All-Star Battle series. Conversely, Capcom had already adapted the manga more than ten years prior in one of the few fighting games that were released on the CPS-III arcade board. However, this title concentrated mostly on Stardust Crusaders, the manga’s third arc, rather than creating a perfect match.
The definitive version of the Jojo fighting game was later converted to the Playstation and Sega Dreamcast as Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Heritage For The Future. Chain combos and other well-known Capcom features will be immediately recognizable to fans of the series. The game also included a number of brand-new Stands-inspired mechanics. Tandem Attacks, for instance, allow you to pre-programme your Stand to engage in simultaneous combat with the User and Stand.
12. Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 & 4
Sasuke and Naruto interlocking their hands in a mutual power punch
The fans of the long-running Naruto series have only become more fanatical in recent years, thanks to the Boruto sequel series. Unfortunately, Naruto is an anime that developers have tried to perfect in video game form for a long time, and many disappointing entries feature clunky and monotonous fighting.
But Ultimate Ninja Storm series is a pleasure, especially the third and fourth editions. Ultimate Ninja Storm 3’s strength is its well-developed story on top of the enjoyable gameplay. Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 takes that gameplay and refines it, balancing the characters and introducing new systems that make things less frustrating, such the Change Leader System. Both games are definitely worth checking out.
11. My Hero: One’s Justice 2
My Hero Academia is one of the most popular anime that’s now on television. But while its earlier fighting game, One’s Justice, is a solid effort, its latest sequel smacks it out of the park in every category.
My Hero: One’s Justice 2 takes what works from its predecessor and crams it with more content, including new characters like Pinky and Nejire Chan, as well as an extended story and mission mode. The addition of destructible surroundings and spectacular Team Final Smashes make One’s Justice 2 an unequivocal achievement.
10. Dragon Ball FighterZ
Without a Dragon Ball game, no list of the top anime fighting games would be complete. Of course, there are many amazing ones, but the finest one that captures the heart of the series is Dragon Ball FighterZ. Arc System Works, the same studio responsible for Blazblue and Guilty Gear, developed the game. FighterZ utilizes the same basic concepts as most other fighting games, and its base game includes a 21-character roster, with three unlocked by playtime.
It’s possible to purchase new fighters with DLC including characters like Vegito and Dragon Ball Super’s Android 17. In addition, it contains an original story mode where a new Android, 21, utilizes the Dragon Balls to resurrect several of the series’ villains and seals the power of Earth’s greatest heroes.
9. Under Night In-Birth
Under Night In-Birth is a 2D fighting game developed by French Bread, the same firm behind Dengeki Bonku and Melty Blood. For ages, the ‘Hollow Night’ has given way to horrible beasts that feed on a power called ‘Existence.’ There have been people who can see these monsters called Voids, and those that survive an attack from a Void earn the power to combat them and become In-Births.
As with Melty Blood, In-Birth contains unique fighting game mechanics that provide you multiple options to cancel and counter your opponents’ assaults. Each character also boasts distinctive combos and unusual exchanges with different characters, making all of them entertaining to play at least once.
8. Guilty Gear Xrd
The Guilty Gear series has been around since 1998, and Guilty Gear Xrd is the fifth main entry in the series. ArcSys adopted a new art style for the series, featuring a stunning 2.5-D look. The game also offers features to make it easier for new players to get into, like a complete tutorial mode.
Goku punches, Tekken 8 promo image, and Super Smash Bros roster on a cliff
This fighting game language might sound bizarre from the outside, but it’s how things work.
Xrd’s story mode digs deep into the game’s mythology and quickly introduces what went on in the preceding series. 20 characters are in the roster, with classic characters like I-No, Sol, and Millia. Additionally, its current incarnation, Rev 2, contains 25 fighters.
7. Dead Or Alive 6
The first Dead or Alive game launched way back in 1996, and it’s still going strong thanks to its exciting fighting moves and memorable characters like Kasumi. But, of course, the series was always known for its ‘bounce physics.’ Still, the fast-paced fighting keeps you on your toes, and the cast appears to keep increasing.
The sixth iteration contains a new graphics system and better gameplay mechanics. It also contains tutorials for newcomers who want to invest in growing better at it. However, Dead or Alive 6 struggled initially with multiplayer functions. Still, it’s worth picking up if you’re a fan of the series and anime fighting games.
6. Fate/Unlimited Codes
Cavia produced this title for the Type-Moon segment, and it initially appeared in Japanese arcades in 2008. All fan-favorite characters make appearances, from Saber, Rin, and Archer to some exclusive characters like Zero Lancer related to the PSP or PS2 editions.
The story ties to Fate/Stay Night’s plot but gets told from your, the player’s, perspective. It’s a pleasure if you’re a fan of the Fate series, but even if you’re not, you can still have fun with it. The key to winning battles is employing your character’s meter correctly, since it can let you accomplish a multitude of things from pushing an assaulting opponent away to unleashing the character’s special ability.
5. Samurai Shodown (2019)
Samurai Shodown is a weapon-based combatant that puts a wild array of warriors from Tenmei-era Japan as well as beyond its limits in ferocious conflict. Characters include Samurai and Ninja, but also more strange adversaries like a French Fencer, a clumsy Chinese warrior, and even a cameo appearance by Baiken of Guilty Gear!
Combat promotes rapid thinking, hard reads, and huge moves, since if you play it well, you can leave your opponent defenseless – at disadvantage – or hit them with a powerful move if they aren’t expecting it, much like an actual sword fight. A lack of rollback netcode for online play has severely limited the game’s population, however the devs indicated that the game would have rollback in September, so any day now…?
4. Granblue Fantasy Versus
As evidenced with titles like Dragon Ball FighterZ, while Arc Sys has wonderful original material, the firm has brilliantly turned already-established IPs into fighting games. One such example is Granblue Fantasy Versus, which expands upon the tale of its mobile RPG forebearer.
A Tekken character poses, Super Smash Bros characters battle, and Ryu poses
There’s more to become skilled at fighting games than knowing your footsies from your zoning.
GBVS makes some good selections that offer a hand to the casual combat gaming industry. First, the game offers easier special and super move inputs. Second, GBVS contains an RPG Mode that plays like a beat-em-up game with level-progression and weapon-crafting systems. Finally, the game’s tutorials are thorough and concise, making entering a game an approachable process.
3. DNF Duel
Ranger performing his Air Raid Special Move in DNF Duel, inspired by the long-running MMORPG Dungeon Fighter Online, takes inspiration from GBVS while preserving its own character. Specific mechanics from GBVS, including streamlined inputs, are nice. However, the MP Gauge system and the Conversion and Awakening talents bring considerably more significant degrees of intricacy to the game.
Single-player content is less abundant in this title. While there are arcade, survival, and story modes, the story mode is pared down drastically from its competitor. After all, fighters in DNF Duel take inspiration from player classes rather than known characters. Still, DNF Duel shines in multiplayer with a netcode that makes you feel like you’re playing in the same room as someone hundreds of kilometers away.
2. Guilty Gear Strive
The Guilty Gear series gets another great entry in the form of Guilty Gear Strive, one of the best anime fighting games out right now. After all, how many fighting games are there that involve dolphin mechanics?
The character designs are excellent, from the rocking witch I-No to tough U.S. Defense Secretary Goldlewis Dickinson with his gruff manner, a pompadour, and… a laser eye? Its great rock soundtrack and variety of characters who readily distinguish out from one other make it a must-play if you’re an anime fighting game enthusiast.
Now a few years away from its first release, GGS is as fresh as ever, taking on a seasonal format. Each season of (paid) DLC not only contains new characters, but also implies a thorough reworking of the game.
1. The King Of Fighters 13
The King of Fighters 15 marks a tremendous advance from its last 2.5D entry, The King of Fighters 14. Still, The King of Fighters 13 displays some of the best anime combat games. The characters’ 2D models and motions look amazing, and the stages behind them are eye-catchingly lovely.
It includes over 30 characters to pick from, in addition to multiple modes. Whether you want to explore the plot in plot Mode or just get a hang of the characters you favor in Mission Mode, KOF 13 makes it exciting for you. The game strikes out as both a break and return to form for the franchise, yet it gives Street Fighter 4 levels of fun.