Fighting games are a classic staple of gaming. Series like Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter have lasted for decades, influencing the way we play games today and giving us some of our most memorable moments. Yet even with these giants of the genre, there’s always room for brave new warriors to take the stage. So, which fighting games are our favorites this year?
5. AEW: Fight Forever
While wrestling is fake, so the fights you engage in aren’t as bloody as Mortal Kombat, every match is fake, so we have to throw that argument out the window this time around. AEW: Fight Forever gave us a nostalgic cartoon wrestling game and also gave us some wild and wacky match stipulations that did a great job of encompassing the ridiculous nature of wrestling. It might not be as intense as the WWE 2K series has been recently, but it’s certainly a strong first step.
4. Nickelodeon All-Stars 2
With MultiVersus on hiatus earlier this year, there’s room for new platform fighters to join the mix, and Nickelodeon has answered our call with a second All-Stars Rumble. Giving us a ton of fun characters, the ability to make each game as fun as the last, and more, Nickelodeon All-Stars Brawl 2 satisfies the craving for some Looney Tunes-style action while also Let us finally answer the question of who would win in a battle between Squidward and Garfield.
3. Pocket brave
From fighters focused on casual fans to fighters with high-level competition at heart, Pocket Bravery is a nostalgic fighting game with visuals that look like they came straight out of an arcade. While it may be easy to pick up, this fighter is difficult to master and you’ll need to put in hours if you want to pull off the sickest combos. Pocket Bravery may be a little under the radar for other scary fighting games released this year, but for those with a deep connection to the genre, it’s a well-polished fighting game.
2. Mortal Kombat 1
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It’s time for the big boys. Mortal Kombat 1 was only officially revealed this year, but fans have been speculating for a while. A mostly rebooted universe, new Kameo fighters, and more make this fighter feel like a real breath of fresh air for the series. As always, we get a cinematic story as over-the-top as any Fast and Furious movie, and plenty of deaths that make us cringe in our gaming chairs, but even though Mortal Kombat 1 adds a lot of ingredients, it’s not all of them. The ingredients all worked out, and the hotpot it created was a bit messy at times, with things like Invasion not really landing as well as they could have. NetherRealm has also been embroiled in controversy over the rampant monetization experienced by players. Overall, though, Mortal Kombat 1’s intense and innovative combat proves that it stands out as a key player on this year’s fighting game roster.
1. Street Fighter 6
Even as a staunch Mortal Kombat fan, I can’t say it’s the best fighting game of the year. Street Fighter 6 takes that crown, as Capcom has enjoyed one hell of a year with its premier franchise. Tight, smooth gameplay, great visuals, and the ability to make any monster you want in the character creator all make Street Fighter 6 the fighting game of 2023. It’s effortlessly fun to play, and puts a lot of pressure on the upcoming Tekken 8 to see if it can live up to The King of Fighters (no, not that one).
Do you agree with our choice? Which fighting game is your favorite in 2023? let us know!
