Tekken has been around since Namco released the first game in 1994. It was one of the first fighting games to use 3D animation, and Tekken 2 and Tekken 3 are seen as landmark titles. The story follows the King of Iron Fist Tournament and a family aiming to destroy each other, a saga Guinness has listed as the longest running story in video games without reboots. Home releases mostly came to PlayStation, and the series has shipped over 61 million copies.
Sooner or later you know your main inside out and want a new fight. These are the 25 games players recommend most to Tekken fans, ranked by how many different people named each one.
25 Games Like Tekken Where Every Fight Happens in 3D
Kensei: Sacred Fist (1998)
Kensei: Sacred Fist is the closest thing to a Tekken clone on this list, and that is part of its charm. Konami made it for the PlayStation in 1998, its fourth 3D fighting game. The buttons split into punch, kick, throw and guard, and multi-step throws can be countered by pressing a button that flashes on the screen. You start with 9 fighters from around the world and unlock 14 more.
The big difference is the pace. The game is slow and relies on timing and knowing your attack ranges. Button-mashing is often a bad choice here, because a missed combo leaves you open for a long time. The guard button works more like a dodge. Play it on PS1.
Tobal No. 1 (1996)
Tobal No. 1 has real Tekken blood in it. Seiichi Ishii, who previously worked on Virtua Fighter and Tekken, helped design its mechanics. Square published it for the PlayStation in 1996, and Akira Toriyama designed the characters. Each fighter can dash and jump, with attacks at different heights and a grappling system full of throws and counter moves.
The big difference is Quest Mode, which takes the fighting controls into a three-dimensional dungeon with traps. Beating certain characters there unlocks them for the other modes. Every copy came with a playable demo of Final Fantasy VII on a second disc. The sequel was never released in North America and Europe. Play it on PS1.
Mortal Kombat: Unchained (2006)
Mortal Kombat: Unchained is Mortal Kombat: Deception on the PSP, released in November 2006. Deception was the sixth main game in the series, and its fights feel at home next to Tekken's. Some arenas have weapons to pick up. Others let you knock the opponent out of the fighting area and continue the fight in a new area. The Combo Breaker lets you interrupt combos up to three times per match.
The big difference is the gore. Each fighter has two Fatalities and a hara-kiri suicide move. You also get Chess Kombat, plus a Konquest mode expanded into a roaming adventure. Critics praised the reworked combat. Play it on PSP.
Mortal Kombat 4 (1997)
Mortal Kombat 4 is where the series stepped into 3D. It was the first in the series to use 3D computer graphics, and Midway had trouble with the graphics because it was one of the first 3D fighting games they made. It came to arcades in 1997, and the home ports followed in 1998.
The big difference is the weapons. Fighters can swing, club or toss them, and a dropped weapon can be picked up and used by the other player. Severed heads and rocks lying in the arena can be thrown too. Ed Boon wanted it more violent than the earlier games, so the comical finishing moves are gone. If Tekken feels too clean for you, this is the messy version. Play it on N64 or PS1.
Virtua Fighter 2 (1994)
Virtua Fighter 2 is a 1994 arcade game from Yu Suzuki's AM2 team at Sega, built on the purpose-made Sega Model 2 hardware. It is a 3D one-on-one fighter where you win by knocking the other fighter out or knocking them out of the square ring. The sequel added Shun Di, an old drunken fist master from China, and the French fighter Lion Rafale. It reached the Saturn in November 1995.
The big difference is how little it needs. An eight-way stick and three buttons are all you get, so the depth comes from timing. Ring outs make every match near the edge tense. Shun and Lion can do axis strikes that move around other characters' attacks. Play it on PS3 or Wii.
Bloody Roar 3 (2000)
In Bloody Roar 3 the fighters can turn into beasts in the middle of a match. Once you transform, you regain part of the health you lost and become much stronger. It is a 2000 arcade game from Eighting and Hudson Soft, built on Namco System 246 hardware, and it came to the PS2 in 2001. It is fast and a little silly in the best way.
The big difference is the cast. Yugo the Wolf leads the returning fighters, with Uriko the Half-Beast back too. The new villain Xion plots to exterminate all other Zoanthropes. Play it on PS2.
Virtua Fighter 5 (2006)
Virtua Fighter 5 is the series at its deepest. Sega released it in arcades in July 2006, and the PS3 port came in 2007. The rings come in different shapes and heights, so stages change how you play. It launched with 17 playable characters plus the boss Dural. If you play Tekken for the lab and the frame data, this is the one to try.
The big difference is how much it rewards precision. With the Clash System, a well-timed throw cancels an attack and leaves both players neutral. A remaster called Ultimate Showdown came to PlayStation 4 and Japanese arcades in 2021. Play it on PS3 or PS4.
SoulCalibur IV (2008)
SoulCalibur IV brought weapon fighting to the PS3 in 2008. Its guest characters come from Star Wars, with Darth Vader and Yoda among them. The Tower of Lost Souls asks you to win battles to gain rewards, and online play was new for the series.
The big difference is the character creator. You build a fighter and choose which character from the series they mimic. You can also change physique and muscularity. Equipped items now affect a character's statistics, so armor can raise health or attack. It is the one for players who spend more time in customization than in ranked. Play it on PS3.
Bloody Roar (1997)
Bloody Roar started the beast idea. Raizing built it for arcades in 1997 before it came to the PlayStation. Each fighter can shapeshift into a powerful animal form for more strength and speed. Critics praised its fast, fluid gameplay and precise controls.
The big difference is the story. It is about "zoanthropes", people capable of shifting into powerful beast forms, and the Tyron Corporation using them to develop biological weapons. Reviewers did find the character roster small. Play it on PS1, PS3 or PSP.
SoulCalibur III (2005)
SoulCalibur III came out on PlayStation 2 first, with an improved arcade version after. It has the largest roster in the series, with 24 characters in Tales of Souls mode and 18 more in the other modes. Tales of Souls is presented as a book, and you press buttons when an icon appears during cut scenes.
The big difference is that you can make your own fighter. Character Creation lets you choose a class and dress them in clothing and armor. Chronicles of the Sword mixes real-time strategy with regular Soul Calibur fights. There is no online play, since Namco chose to work on the offline content instead. Play it on PS2.
Evil Zone (1999)
Evil Zone is the oddball of the PlayStation fighters. Yuke's made it in 1999. Fights take place on a 3D field where you can sidestep left and right, so Tekken players already know the footwork. Story mode is presented as an anime, and each of the ten fighters gets a unique title movie.
The big difference is the controls. There are only two main move types, attack and guard, and most of the fighting is done with range-based attacks. Standing still charges Power Stocks for an ultra-attack, and the less health you have, the faster it charges. Play it on PS1.
Battle Arena Toshinden (1995)
Battle Arena Toshinden came before Soul Blade, which was the second 3D fighting game based on weapons. Tamsoft developed it and Takara produced it, with the first release on January 1, 1995. Character designer Miho Furukawa worked on the cast, including Tracy, an aggressive police officer invited to the tournament.
The big difference is its age. It looks rougher than the PlayStation fighters that came after it, but the weapon fights still have charm. The first three numbered games are often called the Toshinden trilogy, and a Toshinden Collection of those three is planned for 2027. Play it on PS1, PS3 or PSP.
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 3 (2004)
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 3 is the pick for anime fans who want Tekken's one-on-one focus. Dimps developed it for the PlayStation 2, and it came out in North America on November 16, 2004. A transformation raises your base Ki level. Before an attack connects, you can teleport behind the opponent and counter-attack at the cost of some Ki.
The big difference is Hyper Mode. Your fighter turns red and is unfazed by regular melee attacks and Ki blasts, at the cost of not being able to block. It is the only way to start a Dragon Rush or Ultimate Move. When two beam attacks collide at close range, both cancel out. Play it on PS2.
SoulCalibur: Broken Destiny (2009)
SoulCalibur: Broken Destiny puts the series on the PSP. Project Soul made it in 2009 to target beginners and novice players with SoulCalibur IV's content, including its character customization mode. It has 28 characters, and Kratos from the God of War series is the guest.
The big difference is how it teaches. The Gauntlet is the tutorial and story mode, and Quick Match gives you a list of AI players with their titles and stats to choose from. In December 2023, the game was released digitally on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. Play it on PSP.
Bloody Roar 2 (1998)
Bloody Roar 2 is the one most beast fans remember. Raizing made the arcade game in 1998, and the PlayStation port came in 1999. Each fighter has a beast form that opens new attacks and can recover some lost health. IGN praised its "deep combo-laden fighting system".
The big difference is the Beast Drive, a super attack that starts a cutscene and does substantial damage. There are eleven playable characters, including Uriko, a cat zoanthrope half-beast, and Bakuryu, a mole zoanthrope ninja. Play it on PS1, PS3 or PSP.
Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance (2002)
Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance is the 2002 game that gave the series real 3D movement. It was the first all-new Mortal Kombat produced only for home consoles. Moving into the background and foreground is much easier and can be used continuously. The story follows the alliance between the sorcerers Quan Chi and Shang Tsung, and it is the only main game where Liu Kang is not playable.
The big difference is the fighting styles. Each character has three, generally two hand-to-hand styles and one weapon style, and you switch between them with the push of a button. Special moves were cut to two to four for most characters, so the styles do the talking. Play it on GameCube or PS2.
Virtua Fighter 4 (2001)
Virtua Fighter 4 is a 2001 arcade game by Sega AM2, released on the NAOMI 2 board. The PS2 got the port and then Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution, both under the budget-priced Greatest Hits label. Some stages' walls can be broken by knocking down the opponent behind them. Vanessa Lewis and Lei-Fei joined the cast.
The big difference is the teaching. Virtua Fighter 4 introduced a comprehensive training mode with an encyclopedia of fighting game terms. In Evolution, you compete by traveling to various arcades, and Sega captured the style of top tournament players for the AI. Play it on PS2.
Dead or Alive 2 (1999)
Dead or Alive 2 is a 1999 arcade game from Team Ninja and Tecmo, ported to the Dreamcast and PlayStation 2 in 2000. It popularized multi-tiered stages. Knock someone off a ledge and the fight drops to the next area. It is considered one of the greatest fighting games of all time and sold over 1.5 million units by 2001.
The big difference is the holds. Offensive and Defensive Holds let you counter a strike instead of only blocking it. Tag Battle Mode lets you switch between two fighters for combos. Fights can occur on water or ice, where most hits stun. The PS2 version is called Hardcore. Play it on PS2.
SoulCalibur VI (2018)
SoulCalibur VI is a reboot of the Soulcalibur series, released on October 19, 2018. It has a base roster of 21 playable characters, and DLC brings the total to 29. Weapon fights in 3D feel close to Tekken's movement, with a sword in every hand.
The big difference is the story. Soul Chronicle unfolds similarly to a visual novel, with voiced cutscenes between matches. Libra of Soul lets you create a custom character, known as the Conduit, and shape the fate of the world through your choices. Play it on PS4.
Ehrgeiz (1998)
Ehrgeiz is a 1998 fighting game by DreamFactory, developed as a partnership between Square and DreamFactory and published by Namco for arcades. Cloud Strife and Tifa Lockhart from Final Fantasy VII are playable, and the PlayStation roster adds Sephiroth and more. One fighter, Godhand, bears a strong resemblance to Jin Kazama.
The big difference is the freedom. You get full 360-degree movement, and fighters do not have to face each other. Quest Mode is a hack and slash action RPG where hunger management matters. There is even a board game similar to Reversi. Play it on PS1, PS3 or PSP.
Bushido Blade (1997)
Bushido Blade is the most tense fight on this list. Lightweight made it and Square published it for the PlayStation, out in North America on October 16, 1997. There is no time limit or health gauge, and most hits will cause instant death. It is possible to wound an opponent without killing them. Critics saw its Body Damage System as innovative.
The big difference is the honor code. In story mode, acting dishonorably ends your playthrough. You pick from six playable characters and switch stances with the shoulder buttons. Slash mode pits you against a long string of 100 enemies. A direct sequel was released on the PlayStation a year later. Play it on PS1, PS3 or PSP.
Soul Blade (1997)
Soul Blade is Tekken's sibling with swords. The arcade game, Soul Edge, ran on the same board used by Tekken and Tekken 2, and the PlayStation version was renamed Soul Blade outside Japan and released in 1997. Character moves retain a feel of Namco's Tekken series. You sidestep by double-tapping down, and a jump can carry you over the opponent, much like in Tekken.
The big difference is the weapon gauge. Critical Edge attacks drain it, and if the bar is emptied, your weapon is lost and you fight unarmed. The plot follows a sword rumored to offer unlimited power to anyone who can find and wield it. The game was a commercial and critical success. Play it on PS1.
Def Jam: Fight for NY (2004)
Def Jam: Fight for NY is a 3D fighting game developed by AKI Corporation and EA Canada, released on September 21, 2004. Fighters can choose one, two, or three of five fighting styles, from Kickboxing to Submissions. Some spectators carry weapons and will offer them to the fighters. The only way to win a fight is through Knock Out or Submission.
The big difference is the story mode. You create a fighter and work your way through the New York Underground, with a gym run by Henry Rollins. The game has 69 playable characters, including real hip hop artists signed to Def Jam. It came to PSP as Def Jam Fight for NY: The Takeover in 2006. Play it on GameCube, PS2 or PSP.
SoulCalibur II (2002)
SoulCalibur II is a 2002 fighting game from Namco and the third game in its series of weapon-based fighting games. The game was built on the Namco System 246 board before coming home. The story starts with the legendary weapon Soul Edge shattered into pieces. Link on the GameCube version was acclaimed by critics and audiences alike. It is considered one of the greatest video games ever made.
The big difference is the weapons themselves. Extra Weapons came back from Soul Edge. It also has Versus Team Battle, with teams of up to 8 characters. An HD port came to PlayStation 3 in 2013, and the GameCube version returned on Nintendo Switch 2 in 2025. Play it on GameCube or PS2.
Dead or Alive 5 (2012)
Dead or Alive 5 is a 2012 fighting game from Team Ninja, with guest characters from Virtua Fighter, the series it took inspiration from. Akira Yuki, the mascot of Sega's Virtua Fighter series, is one of them. The visual style is more realistic than in earlier games, and the Training Mode lets you adjust the AI opponent's behavior.
The big difference is the triangle. Strikes beat throws, throws beat holds, and holds beat strikes, with extra damage on each counter. Tag team battles return too. A final version called Last Round came out in 2015 for PlayStation 4. All versions together sold over 1.5 million copies by mid-2015. Play it on PS3, PS4 or Vita.
Which one to play
There you have it, the whole list of games like Tekken. Some play like Tekken with a new coat of paint, and others take 3D fighting somewhere strange.
If you want the closest feel, start with Soul Blade, then move to SoulCalibur II. For deep study, play Virtua Fighter 4. If you want something wild, try Bloody Roar 2 or Ehrgeiz. For one-hit tension, nothing beats Bushido Blade. If you want a career story, play Def Jam: Fight for NY. Handheld players should grab SoulCalibur: Broken Destiny. And for nights on the couch with a friend, Dead or Alive 2's tag mode is a great pick.
