Street Fighteris one of the games that defined the fighting game genre. Its legacy has spawned numerous direct sequels, as well as inspired a number of othercompetitive arcade fighters. The intense one-on-one duels that allow for plenty of skill expression are iconic and created the template for many staples of fighting game gameplay. Combo-based skills, directional blocking, and iconic fighter designs are just some of the thingsStreet Fighterbrought to the table that have become necessary to the genre.
Many other fighting games have attempted to recreateStreet Fighter’s magic formula, while adding their own twists. These fighting games have all taken inspiration from the classic fighting game series, while bringing fans new ideas, characters, and worlds. Whether it’s for their one-on-one duels, iconic rosters, or skill-based competitive gameplay, these are the best fighting games that capture the spirit ofStreet Fighter.
WhileDragon Ball FighterZopts for3v3 tag team battles, the counter-heavy 3D-on-a-2D plane action evokes the same feeling of PvP mind games asStreet Fighter’s one-on-ones. OtherDragon Ball-inspired fighters have often gone for flashy moves and freedom of movement in 3D arenas.
FighterZsticks much closer to the formula of a traditional arcade fighter and, despite featuring auto-combos, the game still leaves room for a lot of player skill expression in its battles. Competitive players particularly praise the game’s rollback netcode, which allows for smooth online battles even with hectic fights and rapid inputs.
TheKiller Instinctfranchise hasn’t seen an entry since the 2013 reboot on Xbox One (re-released on Steam in 2017). With that said, there are many fans who consider this criminal neglect of an iconic fighting franchise. Theiconic roster ofKiller Instinctfeatures many larger-than-life characters and creatures, going a bit further into full-on monster battles thanStreet Fighterbut echoing its memorable fighters.
The combat takes a little from the technicality ofStreet Fighterand a little from the brutality ofMortal Kombat, and competitive play relies on the use of combo breakers that require experience and input recognition. This technical depth means that the 2013 reboot still holds up as a modern fighting game.
The first attempt at amodern DC Universe fighter,Injustice: Gods Among Us,does a great job of mixing accessibility with technical depth. When it comes to recognizable fighters, you can’t beat superheroes like Batman and Superman, butInjusticealso does a good job of giving its fighters unique identities in combat, even the minor heroes and villains. While its basic control scheme is much simpler thanStreet Fighter’smulti-input combos, the strategic depth comes from meter management and counter-play.
The clash system and other combat layers mean players have to be able to read and react to their opponents as well as just pulling off their own moves. This is amplified in competitive gameplay, where precise execution and knowledge of an opponent’s moveset are vital.
The anime and RPG-inspired fighterGranblue Fantasy Versus: Risingmight not be at the top of anyone’s mind whenStreet Fighteris mentioned, but it offers a similar learning curve with its 2.5D fighting. Characters have both simple combos and more complex inputs and mechanics to master. While visually the combat leans more towards weapons and anime-style special moves, the actual process of pulling off those moves while countering your opponent feels very similar to theclassic arcade fighter.
Whether players are familiar with theGranblue Fantasyuniverse or not, the roster of characters each has unique looks, personalities, and playstyles, making them distinct and memorable. The online competitive scene features the fan-favored rollback netcode, making for a solid PvP experience.
While it could be said thatKing of Fighterswas originally designed as a distinctcompetitor toStreet Fighter, the modern incarnations of both franchises now share a lot of similar DNA carried forward from those arcade fighter days.King of Fighters 15features a refined version of the combat system from its previous entry, with both one-button and complex combo options.
The Shatter Strike parry system has been compared to the Focus Attack counters ofStreet Fighter 4, and fights have a similar flow of meter management, combo mastery, and reading an opponent. The main difference inKing of Fighters 15is the 3v3 team-based combat, as opposed toStreet Fighter’s one-on-ones. That doesn’t stop it from offering the same arcade fighter satisfaction, though.
As the modernMortal Kombatgames have moved more towards balanced combat and solid PvP gameplay, the games have become more similar to other competitive arcade fighters. While earlier entries focused more on the visual presentation, gore factor, and over-the-top finishers,Mortal Kombat 1retains that aesthetic while delivering the series' most fluid and strategic core combat.
The combat demands precise execution and, at a competitive level, players need to be able to accurately predict and respond to an opponent’s moves, leading to multiplayer mind gamesreminiscent ofStreet Fighterand other tournament fighting games.
Arc System Works certainly knows how to make a2D fighter with an iconic roster, andGuilty Gear Striveis one of their best examples. Strive follows the easy-to-pick-up, hard-to-master gameplay of classic arcade fighters, with flashy and easy-to-execute special moves backed up by solid systems like reversals and counters.
With a creative character roster that players will instantly warm to,Guilty Gear Strivegives players many different playstyles, from fast combo punishers to grapple-focused brawlers. This gameplay variety and depth are borne out by its vibrant competitive scene, and the 2021 fighter continues to have a dedicated online player base.
Fatal Fury: City of the Wolvesmay be a revival of a fighting game franchise in its own right, but it’s also the mostStreet Fighter-like fighting game to come out sinceStreet Fighter 6. Players of the iconic arcade fighter franchise will easily be able to pick out character analogues amongFatal Fury’s iconic character roster. That’s not to say that the game is directly taking cues from the latestStreet Fightergame, more that it blends elements of both classic and arcade fighters, with a heavy dose of nostalgia for fans of the classicFatal Furygames.
That means defensive options like dodges, as well as Just Defense and REV Guard, that act more like counters and parries. Like the classicStreet FighterGames,City of the Wolveshas a low bar to entry, but a high skill ceiling if players want to master a character.
