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Everyone likes a good fighting game, right? Whether it’s to sit down and work out some aggression, or at a party with a group of friends, fighting games are great fun. They’re also one of the hardest genres to get right.
There’s been so many entries in the genre that you’d think they’d have been perfected by now, but that’s simply not the case. However, there are truly some incredible fighting games you can play in 2026, and you might not even know about all of them.
To save you playing some of the rubbish ones, we’ve made a list of the best fighting games you can play right now, whether that’s with your friends, family, or online to dole out some digital damage, and just like our best rhythm games article, we’ll even tell you when you should play them!
Street Fighter 6
One of two entries in the list with a 2026 film adaptation of the franchise, Street Fighter 6 is the latest entry from Capcom, and arguably the best fighting game on this list, at least at the minute. With the addition of the Drive Gauge, a mechanic designed to make us think and ‘feel’ the fight more, it’s a no brainer for a best fighting games list. It says a lot that three years after release it is still consistently one of the most played fighting games out there, and Capcom continues to support it with new characters being added regularly.
Plus, it’s the only game on this list you can shout “Hadouken!” whilst you’re playing and not be looked at like some sort of madman.
- Release Date: June 2nd, 2023.
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, XBOX Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC.
- Developer: Capcom.
- You Should Play: When you want fast and frantic fighting action.
- Copies Sold: As of June 2026, 9 million.
Guilty Gear Strive
Just like the above entry, Guilty Gear Strive is the seventh mainline entry in a huge franchise stretching back over the years. As the ending of Sol Badguy’s story, you might expect this to be a quick cash-in before the developer moves on to the next stage of the franchise. That’d be wrong. It reworked almost every facet of the gameplay, and brought in new mechanics to boot, with players able to move stages thanks to the Wall Break feature.
- Release Date:
- Platforms:
- Developer: Arc System Works
- Copies Sold: As of June 2026, 4 million.
- You Sbould Play: When environmental changes are important to you.
Injustice 2
With many thinking the comic series of the same name spawned the game, it should show the quality of the game franchise that it was actually the other way round. With fans clamouring for a third, it’s no surprise the second installment made it onto this list with relative ease.
Continuing the story after the events of the first game with Superman’s regime done-and-dusted, Batman tries, and fails, to rebuild society. It also introduces new mechanics like the Gear system, which keeps players going back again and again for ‘just one more fight’.
- Release Date: May 16th, 2017.
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, XBOX One, XBOX Series X|S, PC, and Mobile.
- Developer: NetherRealm Studios.
- Copies Sold: As of August 2026, 9 million.
- You Should Play: When you want to step into an alternate, entirely messed up version of the DC Universe.
Mortal Kombat 1
After three decades, it’s safe to say that the Mortal Kombat universe needed a time and canon reset, to allow some more creativity (and see the return of fan favourite, long-dead characters). After the ending of Mortal Kombat 11, Mortal Kombat 1 is exactly that.
While there were some contentious changes to characters, none less than the changes to both Sub Zero and Scorpion’s lore, and a less-than-well-received Kameo mechanic, the core gameplay is genuinely good, especially after numerous updates. The franchise’s trademark blood-and-guts are present, and the return of Animalities after so many years was a nice touch.
- Release Date: September 19th, 2023.
- Platforms: PlayStation 5, XBOX Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
- Developer:
- Copies Sold: As of April 2026, 8 million.
- You Should Play: When you want to rip your enemy limb from limb in the most gratuituously violent manner possible.
Dragon Ball Sparking! Zero
With what must be the biggest roster of characters of any game in this article, if not of fighting games in general, Dragon Ball Sparking! Zero is a behemoth of an entry. Despite the name change, it’s the fourth entry in the Tenkaichi franchise, and brings numerous mechanics with it to bring it up to speed to the other modern games in this list. From triggering special attacks based on your Skill Count, to Vanishing Assaults, which replicates the anime and manga series iconic teleportation attacks perfectly.
It also brings a number of iconic sagas back to the forefront via its Episode Battle mode, retelling those stories via different character’s point-of-view, a personal favourite story-telling method of mine.
- Release Date: October 10th, 2024.
- Platforms: PlayStation 5, XBOX Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC.
- Developer: Spike Chunsoft.
- Copies Sold: As of March 2025, 5 million.
- You Should Play: When you want to delve back into the beautiful, weird, and wacky world that Akira Toriyama created decades ago.
Tekken 8
Another Bandai Namco property, although unlike the above, this one is directly developed in-house by the studio. Continuing the very long, very historic story of the Tekken tournaments, Tekken 8 opens in explosive fashion, some six months after the previous entry.
As for new mechanics, it brings the Heat System, which hopefully becomes the new normal in the franchise. In essence, it works as an aggression mode, putting your character up a few notches and possibly turning the fight in your favour. Using it at the wrong time can prove fatal, it has to be said.
- Release Date: January 26th, 2024.
- Platforms: PlayStation 5, XBOX Series X|S, and PC.
- Developer: Bandai Namco Studios.
- Copies Sold: As of February 2025, 3 million.
- You Should Play: When you want to see the culmination of a story decades in the making – and punch humanoid lion’s in the face at the same time.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
With almost 90 characters, this crossover game is full of characters you’ll recognise from multiple titles. Arguably the best go-to fighting game when you have multiple people to play, I’ve lost more hours to this than I’d care to reveal, but whether it’s your first chaotic fight, or your twentieth of the night, they all end the same – a mixture of fun, annoyance (if you lost), an all round hectic experience, and perhaps most importantly, a good laugh with friends.
Plus, which other fighting games will you see members of Minecraft, Pokemon, Fatal Fury, and so many other franchises fighting one another? It’s all IP-chaos!
- Release Date: December 7th, 2018.
- Platforms: Nintendo Switch.
- Developer: Bandai Namco Studios.
- Copies Sold: As of September 2026, 38.5 million.
- You Should Play: When you have a house party and want everyone gathered around the TV, shouting, hollering, and having a great time.
Invincible Vs.
A surprise inclusion, I’m sure you’d agree. It’s not the best fighting game on this list, but it is one of the most fun and diverse fighting games you can play in 2026, so it’s an easy addition in that regard. Stepping into the Invincible universe, first a comic, then a TV show on Prime Video, and now a fighting game in Invincible Vs, you can pick and choose how you want to digest the story from Robert Kirkman and Co.
- Release Date: April 20th, 2026.
- Platforms: PlayStation 5, XBOX Series X|S, and PC.
- Developer: Quarter Up.
- Copies Sold: No numbers yet.
- You Should Play: When you want to bridge the long gap between seasons of the hit TV show.
Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls
Who thought throwing together anime versions of iconic Marvel characters into a fighting game would work? No-one, when you write it like that, but it does. It’s mentally quick, hard to keep up with, flashy, beautiful to look at and a real treat to play, once you get the hang of everything the game throws at you.
Featuring a story where Earth has to literally fight for its survival in a fighting tournament, it’s not the most innovative game on the list, but it is one of the best fighting games in 2026, period.
- Release Date: August 6th, 2026.
- Platforms: PlayStation 5, and PC.
- Developer: Arc System Works.
- Copies Sold: No numbers yet.
- You Should Play: When you want to visit a unique, and ultimately incredibly different, version of the Marvel universe.
Fighting Games FAQs
What are the big three fighting games?
Without dispute, the big three fighting franchises have been Tekken, Street Fighter, and Mortal Kombat. It’s been that way for several decades, each swapping out with the others for top spot at different times.
What fighting game is easiest to learn?
Despite what some may tell you, there’s no ‘easiest’ fighting game to learn. Each title has different mechanics and features that different players will gel, or not, with.
What are some good fighting games to play with friends?
Almost all fighting games have multiplayer, whether it’s local, allowing players to go head-to-head, or online, offering the same. Other games, like Super Smash Bros. Ultimate will allow more than two players to get involved, sharing the fun.
What is a fighting game?
A fighting game is a game that allows you to fight another opponent, usually on a one-on-one basis. More often than not it’s from a 2D perspective, face-on, so both players can share the same screen with no need of split screen mechanics.
For more from us, check out every game coming out in 2027, or our Phantom Blade Zero Guide Hub.
Luke Addison is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Thumb Wars. Having previously been a part of multiple outlets over the years, including building an entire gaming team from nothing to something, he thought it best to forge his own path and answer only to himself. As likely to be found playing the latest game as he is in the kitchen relaxing (by cooking), he always brings the same bold and brash attitude to everything he does, with a heavy leaning on sarcasm and dry wit!
