Street Fighter II is the game that taught everyone how a fighting game works. Its 1991 release established many of the conventions of the one-on-one fighting genre, and it was the first to give players a choice of fighters with different moves. You pick a fighter and learn the motions for a Hadoken or a Shoryuken. Then you go looking for someone better than you. Street Fighter is still the longest-running fighting game franchise, with 60 million units sold.
Every big studio of the 90s wanted its own answer. These are the 25 games players recommend most to Street Fighter fans who want another fighter, ranked by how many different people named each one. A lot of them come from the PlayStation years.
25 Games Like Street Fighter Where You Pick a Fighter and Take On Anyone
Capcom vs. SNK (2000)
Capcom vs. SNK puts Street Fighter's cast in the ring with SNK's fighters. You build your team with a ratio system: each character is rated from 1 to 4 by overall strength, and your team's ratios must add up to 4. That means one strong fighter alone, or up to four weaker ones. It uses the SNK-style four-button format.
The big difference is the groove. Before a fight you pick an attack meter. The Capcom Groove is based on the Street Fighter Alpha series. The SNK Groove comes from the Extra mode of The King of Fighters '94 to '98. Fans of either company get a system they already know. The Pro version came to the PS1 a year later. Play it on PS1, or the original on Dreamcast.
Mortal Kombat X (2015)
Mortal Kombat X is Street Fighter's old rival at its most polished. Two players fight with a big array of character-specific attacks, special moves and the series' trademark gruesome finishing moves, Fatalities. A three-part energy meter pays for combo breakers and X-Ray moves. Selling more than 10 million copies, it was the fastest-selling game in the franchise, and some reviewers called it the best game in the Mortal Kombat series.
The big difference is the scenery. You can use parts of the stage to reposition yourself or grab objects as weapons. A Stamina Meter limits how often you run or back dash, so you cannot rush in forever. Get Mortal Kombat XL, which adds all the downloadable characters from the two Kombat Packs. Play it on PS4.
Mortal Kombat: Deception (2004)
Deception was the sixth main Mortal Kombat game, and critics praised its reworked combat. It was nominated as the best fighting game of 2004 by several publications. Arenas have weapons you can pick up, and most levels have deathtraps that kill any fighter knocked into them. Some arenas branch, so you can knock your opponent into a new area and keep fighting there.
The big difference is everything around the fights. It was designed with online play in mind and is regarded as the first fighting game with online multiplayer. There are chess and puzzle minigames, plus a Konquest Mode that follows a warrior named Shujinko, though critics disliked its story. Play it on PS2 or GameCube. On PSP it came out as Mortal Kombat: Unchained.
Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus (2008)
Guilty Gear XX is a 2D fighter by Arc System Works, and Accent Core Plus is one of its updated versions, first released in Japan for the PS2 in 2008. The fighting system uses five attack buttons, including a Dust button. Attacking or moving toward your rival charges a tension gauge, and backing off drains it. A full gauge pays for Overdrive Attacks and Roman Cancels. Some critics called it one of the best fighting games of all time.
The big difference is that tension gauge, which punishes you for playing safe. Turtling in a corner, the old way to beat a Street Fighter rival, slowly empties your meter here. The final revision, Accent Core Plus R, is still commonly played at fighting game conventions. Play Accent Core Plus on PS2, PSP or Wii, and Plus R on Vita or Switch.
SoulCalibur: Broken Destiny (2009)
Broken Destiny is a Soulcalibur spin-off for PSP built on Soulcalibur IV, and it fits a full weapon fighter in your pocket. It has 28 characters, including Kratos from God of War and Dampierre, a new character made for this game. Quick Match lets you pick from a list of computer opponents, each with a title and stats. Players call it one of the best and most fun fighters on PSP.
The big difference is the character creator. You can recolor a custom fighter and pose them for a photo, though custom slots drop from 50 in Soulcalibur IV to 16 here. The Star Wars guests from Soulcalibur IV are gone, and Kratos takes their place. Play it on PSP. It also came out digitally on PS4 and PS5 in December 2023.
Bloody Roar (1997)
Bloody Roar is a 3D fighter by Raizing and Hudson Soft where every fighter can turn into an animal. Attacks build a Beast meter, and when it is full you transform into a beast form with more speed, more strength, new moves and some health back. You can throw opponents against walls and fences, and hit them hard enough to break the wall for a ring-out. Reviewers noted the small cast of eight.
The big difference is Beast Rave, a PlayStation-only mode that boosts your speed by 25 percent and lets you chain attacks fast while it drains your Beast meter. Players who name it almost always name the sequel too, so play them back to back. Play it on PS1.
The King of Fighters '98 (1998)
The King of Fighters '98 is SNK's 2D fighter where you build a team of three and beat the other team one member at a time. It brings back most of the characters from KOF '94 to KOF '97 at once and drops the story completely. You pick one of two styles, Advanced or Extra, and losing a round gives your team a handicap in its favor. It is often called one of the best fighting games of all time thanks to its big roster and proper balance.
The big difference is the team of three. Whichever team keeps the most members at the end wins, so you need three fighters you trust. The remake, The King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match, came in 2008. Play the original on PS1 (Japan only), or Ultimate Match on PS2 or PS4.
Darkstalkers 3 (1997)
Darkstalkers 3 is Capcom's monster fighter, called Vampire Savior in Japan. It keeps the Night Warriors cast minus three and adds four new characters, including Lilith and Q-Bee. A demon noble named Jedah pulls their souls into a pocket dimension to feed his new world. The Dark Force System lets each fighter use a special power for a short time. It was a hit with critics and sold well.
The big difference is the rounds. A fight is one long round, with two life bars per fighter, like Killer Instinct. Lose a bar and both fighters reset their positions, but the winner keeps whatever health is left. The PlayStation version collects the rosters from all three arcade versions. Play it on PS1.
Evil Zone (1999)
Evil Zone is a 1999 fighter by Yuke's for the PlayStation, and it plays like an anime come to life. Ten fighters enter a tournament to find the strongest warrior across the dimensions. Each one has a story told through anime cutscenes drawn by the studio AIC. Fights happen on a 3D field where you move in every direction and attack mostly from range.
The big difference is the controls. The fighting system uses only two main move types, attack and guard. You charge Power Stocks by standing still, and the lower your health, the faster they fill. When two dash attacks meet, both players mash buttons to win the clash. It is an easy pick for a Street Fighter fan who wants something stranger. Play it on PS1.
Tekken 2 (1995)
Tekken 2 came to arcades in August 1995 and to the PlayStation in 1996, with a full-motion video ending for every character. Its 25 fighters include eight newcomers, among them Jun Kazama and Lei Wulong. Four buttons control your left and right punches and kicks, so every limb has its own button. Critics praised the deep system of moves and combos, and the soundtrack.
The big difference is how many modes it added. The home version brought Survival, Team Battle, Time Attack and Practice, which became staples of the series. Beat arcade mode with a default fighter and that fighter's sub-boss becomes playable. It sold 5.7 million PlayStation copies. Play it on PS1, or on PS3 and PSP from the PlayStation Network.
BlazBlue: Continuum Shift (2009)
BlazBlue: Continuum Shift keeps the traditional 2D fighter setup of two characters dueling on a flat plane. It first came to Japanese arcades in November 2009. You fill a Heat Gauge during a fight and spend it on Distortion Drives and Rapid Cancels. Each fighter has a set number of guard points, and when they run out your fighter is stuck for a moment in a Guard Crush.
The big difference is where you can play it. The revisions Continuum Shift II and Extend came to PSP, Vita and 3DS, so this is a fighter you can take anywhere. Players recommend it to anyone with a PSP or 3DS who wants a 2D fighter. Play it on PS3, PSP, Vita or 3DS.
Tekken 5 (2004)
Tekken 5 is a 2004 Namco fighter that dropped the uneven stages of Tekken 4 and brought back the fluid play of the older games. It has 32 fighters, including Jin's alter ego Devil Jin. For the first time you can customize your fighter with outfits and items bought with money you win. Floors crack when someone hits them hard enough. It sold over 9.43 million copies.
The big difference is the bonus disc inside the disc. The home version includes the arcade versions of Tekken, Tekken 2 and Tekken 3, plus StarBlade. The final update, Dark Resurrection, came to PSP, and PSP owners rate it highly, some above Tekken 6. Play Tekken 5 on PS2, or Tekken: Dark Resurrection on PSP.
Guilty Gear Xrd (2014)
Guilty Gear Xrd swaps the series' hand-drawn sprites for cel-shaded graphics made in Unreal Engine 3. Sign came out on PS3 and PS4 in December 2014, followed by Revelator and Rev 2. It uses five attack buttons, punch, kick, slash, heavy slash and dust, plus one for taunting. Critics praised the cel-shaded look and the approachable gameplay.
The big difference is how much it teaches you. Practice Mode has a tutorial for the basic controls and a challenge mode for combos. The story mode is a long movie with no fighting, which critics disliked. Players point 2D fans to Rev 2 first. Play it on PS3 or PS4.
Dead or Alive: Dimensions (2011)
Dead or Alive: Dimensions packs 26 fighters, more than any earlier game in the series, onto the 3DS. It runs on a modified Dead or Alive 4 engine, and its stages come mostly from Dead or Alive 3 and 4. Chronicle Mode plays through all four Dead or Alive tournaments, switching between fighters. Special moves are shown on the touch screen, much like Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition.
The big difference is how it uses the handheld. You can show frame data on the bottom screen in Training Mode, and StreetPass builds an AI copy of you for other owners to fight. It runs at 60 frames per second with the 3D turned off. Players call it one of the best fighters on 3DS. Play it on 3DS.
Injustice 2 (2017)
Injustice 2 is a one-on-one fighter with characters from the DC Universe, directed by Ed Boon of Mortal Kombat. You use directional inputs and button presses for special moves and combos, and you can use the stage too, with transitions that send your rival into a new area. The story picks up after the fall of Superman's Regime, with Batman facing Brainiac.
The big difference is the Gear System. Fights drop costume pieces and equipment that change how your character looks and change their stats. Critics praised the story and the amount of content, but not the random loot. Players pick it as a first fighter for a ten-year-old. Play it on PS4.
Tekken 6 (2007)
Tekken 6 came to arcades in 2007 and to home consoles in October 2009, the first Tekken with Katsuhiro Harada as producer. It adds a Rage system that makes your fighter stronger when health runs low, so a losing round can still flip. A Scenario Campaign follows Lars Alexandersson through a beat 'em up story where you win items and power up any fighter you choose.
The big difference is that campaign, which split critics. The fights themselves got praise for the visuals and the new mechanics. It sold 5.6 million copies, and the PSP port was well received for how faithful it is to the console versions. Play it on PS3 or PSP.
Dragon Ball FighterZ (2018)
Dragon Ball FighterZ has you pick a team of three Dragon Ball characters and an assist for each. You control one at a time and can switch to another whenever you like. The control scheme and team mechanics are lifted from Marvel vs. Capcom, and the look comes from Arc System Works games like Guilty Gear Xrd. All three of your fighters must go down before you lose.
The big difference is the tag team. You can call a partner in for an Assist move and combo with the whole team at once. With the Vanish Attack you spend Ki to teleport behind your rival and hit them in the back. Critics called it one of the best fighters of its generation, and it sold 10 million copies. Play it on PS4 or Switch.
Tekken 3 (1997)
Tekken 3 has been cited as one of the greatest games of all time. It came to the PlayStation in 1998 with Tekken Force, a side-scrolling beat 'em up mode. A largely new cast debuted, with Jin Kazama and Ling Xiaoyu among them. Every fighter can now sidestep into or out of the background, and jumps are lower, so jumping no longer dodges every ground attack.
The big difference is the third dimension. Street Fighter keeps you on one line, and here a sidestep is half the game. It sold 8.36 million PlayStation copies, which made it the fifth best-selling PlayStation game, and it holds 96 on Metacritic. Play it on PS1.
Def Jam: Fight for NY (2004)
Def Jam: Fight for NY grew out of a wrestling game into a brawler with five fighting styles: Streetfighting, Kickboxing, Martial Arts, Wrestling and Submissions. Your fighter can mix up to three of them. You slam opponents into walls and gates, and the crowd shoves fighters back in, sometimes holding one still for a free hit.
The big difference is the swagger. Clothes and jewelry raise a created fighter's Charisma, which fills the momentum meter faster. With a full meter you go Blazin' and pull off a brutal finisher made for your character. Some spectators even hand weapons to the fighters. Play it on PS2 or GameCube, or as Def Jam Fight for NY: The Takeover on PSP.
Bloody Roar 2 (1998)
Bloody Roar 2 is the 1998 sequel by Raizing and Hudson Soft, and it keeps the beast forms from the first game. Turn into your animal to get faster attacks and some health back. New Beast Drives are super attacks that play a cutscene and do big damage, different for each fighter. Eleven characters, seven of them new, include a mole ninja named Bakuryu and Uriko, a half-beast cat girl who was the first game's final boss.
The big difference is how much it adds over the first game. Next Generation called it "a visually pretty and fun-to-play fighting game with just enough to set it apart from the rest." Play it on PS1, or on PS3 and PSP from the PlayStation Network.
Tekken 7 (2015)
Tekken 7 came to PS4 in June 2017 and builds to the final battle between Heihachi Mishima and his son, Kazuya. Rage Arts and the Power Crush mechanic made it more beginner friendly than earlier Tekkens. Street Fighter's Akuma shows up in the story too, with a promise to kill both Heihachi and Kazuya.
The big difference is the depth. Tekken 7 focuses on 1v1 battles in 3D, and each fighter has a huge list of moves to learn. It sold 12 million copies, and a sequel, Tekken 8, followed in January 2024. Players call it one of the best fighters on PS4. Play it on PS4.
Mortal Kombat Trilogy (1996)
Mortal Kombat Trilogy is a 1996 update to Mortal Kombat 3 by Midway. It adds characters and stages from Mortal Kombat and Mortal Kombat II, so nearly every fighter from the early games is here. The new Aggressor bar fills as you fight, twice as fast when your rival blocks. When it is full you get fast movement and greater attack damage for a short time.
The big difference is the finishing moves. Trilogy adds Brutalities, where you keep attacking your opponent until they explode. Sub-Zero's Spine Rip Fatality is back but censored, with the screen going black. Critics were mixed to positive, but players keep naming it as the Mortal Kombat to get on PS1. Play it on PS1 or N64.
Soul Blade (1997)
Soul Blade is the PlayStation version of Soul Edge, the first game in the Soulcalibur series, released in 1997. Nine warriors chase a sword said to give unlimited power to whoever finds and wields it. You attack with horizontal and vertical swings or a kick, and block with its own button. You can sidestep toward or away from the screen, and the moves have the feel of Namco's Tekken.
The big difference is the weapon. Each fighter's weapon has its own life bar, the Weapon Gauge, and a Critical Edge combo spends a third of it. Every character also has one or two slow attacks that cannot be blocked. It holds 89 on Metacritic. Play it on PS1.
Bushido Blade (1997)
Bushido Blade is a one-on-one sword fighter developed by Lightweight and published by Square in 1997. There is no time limit and no health bar. Most hits kill instantly, and a hit can also wound your opponent without killing them. You choose from eight weapons, from a katana to a sledgehammer, and each has a realistic weight and length.
The big difference is how fast a fight ends. One clean hit and it is over, so every swing is a risk. You switch between high, neutral and low stances, and each stance has its own attacks. Its realistic fighting engine was seen as innovative, and players still name it among the PS1 fighters to own. Play it on PS1, or on PS3 and PSP from the PlayStation Network.
Rival Schools: United by Fate (1997)
Rival Schools is a 1997 Capcom fighter about tag team battles between students from schools in a Japanese city, told in a comical style. Sakura from Street Fighter is in it. You pick two characters, but the fights are one-on-one: your partner only jumps in for a Team Up attack when you have enough vigor. Tardy Counters work much like Alpha Counters from Street Fighter Alpha.
The big difference is the partner. Team Ups can be offensive or defensive, and after each round you choose who fights next. The vigor meter goes up to 9 levels, and a Team Up costs two. The PlayStation version came on two discs with new minigames. Players recommend it more than any other fighter on this list. Play it on PS1, PS3 or PSP.
Which one to play
There you have it, the whole list of games like Street Fighter. Capcom made three of them, so the Street Fighter feel is never far away.
If you want Street Fighter characters in the mix, play Rival Schools or Capcom vs. SNK. If you want a 2D fighter with its own twist, play Darkstalkers 3 or The King of Fighters '98. If you want to fight in 3D, start with Tekken 3 and then Tekken 7. If you love finishing moves, play Mortal Kombat Trilogy. If you want something different, try Bushido Blade, where one hit can end it. If you are picking for a younger player, start with Injustice 2. If you play on the go, take BlazBlue: Continuum Shift or Dead or Alive: Dimensions.
