Fighting Gameshave been dominating lately, offering some of the best competitive experiences you could ask for, which is a far cry from where the genre was just a handful of years ago. Whether you’re entirely new to the genre or have been here since the start, there’s no denying that we’re eating well, even if there are still some missteps here and there.
2024 continued the trend, seeing many fantastic additions to the genre, carrying the torch that seemingly got ignited withGuilty Gear Striveand passed onward toStreet Fighter 6. There’s no shortage of excellent fighting games, and even this year seems to be stacked on that front!
First dropping onto the scene back in 2022 in Early Access,MultiVersusmade a huge splash as a platform fighter, which was a bit rough around the edges but had a solid foundation from which to build. However, about roughly a year into its beta phase, the game was taken offline until its official launch in 2024.
While its reappearance was met with some disappointment, as some fan-favorite characters were either given considerable nerfs or removed altogether.It is still a decently robust and solid platform fighterand is certainly worth giving a shot if you’re a fan of the genre!
With a surprise announcement during EVO 2023, Under Night In-Birth Sys:Celes was finally released in January of 2024, serving as a direct sequel to 2012’s Under Night In-Birth, which received its final expansion update in 2020.
After getting over its rocky PC launch, Under Night In-Birth Sys:Celes was praised as it found its footing on solid ground. Its diverse and unique cast, fast-paced combat, and decent content offerings make it well worth picking up if you’re a fan of anime fighters!
If MetaVersus is for the more casual platform fighters, then Rivals of Aether 2 is by far for the more hardcore, harkening back to the Smash Melee scene, from which it clearly draws inspiration. However, while it is much more competitive-focused, there are also options for the more casual crowd.
Rivals of Aether 2 is jam-packed with personality from top to bottom. Every character feels unique, which shines bright in their gameplay and what they can and cannot do during battle. The art direction is also stunning, making it the best modern platform fighter by a mile!
Arena fighters are extremely hard to get correct. Fans of the genre often discard them, as they can lack the competitiveness or strategy that is present in traditional 2D fighters or 3D fighters such as Tekken. It’s something we see time and time again with anime arena fighters specifically.
Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero, however, is the exception to this rule, as it kicks ass from just about every aspect you could wish for. Its roster is massive and oozes personality, which is put on full display with the jaw-droppingly gorgeous visuals. Everything about Sparking Zero rules, and we want every anime arena fighter to take note going forward: seriously, don’t sleep on it!
One of last year’s most significant announcements was tucked away in an unassuming Nintendo Direct in June of last year, the announcement ofMarvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics, making the fighting game community lose its collective minds. And for good reason, Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes is back, baby!
Of course, there are more excellent games in this collection,but there’s no denying that Marvel vs. Capcom 2 is the most beloved of the bunch,and this product is worth the asking price for that title alone. The others are just a neat bonus. If you’ve never experienced Marvel vs. Capcom 2 in your lifetime, you can now do so without jumping through hoops!
Last but certainly not least, we haveTekken 8, the first content-rich entry in the series in what feels like forever. It actually has a training mode at launch! - Shade-throwing aside, Tekken 8 is incredible andwill only get better and better as the Seasons come and go.
Even though the Heat system is a bit too aggressively tuned at the moment, Tekken 8 is a blast to play and a nice pace change from the defensive-heavy Tekken 7. While we also loved Tekken 7, it’s awesome to see a new twist added to this beloved series. This twist makes every character feel strong in their own way, making each encounter feel tense and rewarding!
