The 20 Best Fighting Games of All Time (2026)

Super Smash Bros. Melee earns its place on presence rather than on a score. That is why it tops the ranking.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge is one of the few Fighting Games where players and critics say the same thing. That puts it at number 2.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is more loved by critics than by the average player. It holds the best critic score on the whole list, 92/100. That puts it at number 3.

Players and critics agree on Lethal League Blaze, which is rarer than it sounds in Fighting Games. No other entry of the 20 has a higher share of positive reviews: 97%. Number 4, inside the top 10.

With Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, the press was ahead of the public. Number 5, inside the top 10.

Critics were lukewarm on GUILTY GEAR XX ACCENT CORE PLUS R; players were not. That gets it into the top 10, at number 6.

Blade and Sorcery is carried by its players more than by its reviews. It is the newest on the list (2024), and has already earned its place. That gets it into the top 10, at number 7.

Domiverse earns its place on presence rather than on a score. That gets it into the top 10, at number 8.

Snow Resort Simulator is here because of its players — they are who it won over. That gets it into the top 10, at number 9.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl earns its place on presence rather than on a score. That gets it into the top 10, at number 10.

Slap City is carried by its players more than by its reviews. It sits at 11 of 20.

Idol Showdown is one of the few Fighting Games where players and critics say the same thing. It sits at 12 of 20.

TimeTekker has little in the way of ratings and a great deal of standing. It lands at 13 of 20.

Players and critics agree on Totally Accurate Battle Simulator, which is rarer than it sounds in Fighting Games. It is the most reviewed of the 20: 149,661 Steam reviews. It sits at 14 of 20.

MELTY BLOOD: TYPE LUMINA - Neco-Arc Round Announcements is here because of its players — they are who it won over. It lands at 15 of 20.

Rivals of Aether is here because of its players — they are who it won over. It lands at 16 of 20.

GUILTY GEAR Xrd REV 2 is one of the few Fighting Games where players and critics say the same thing. It sits at 17 of 20.

No argument here: NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja STORM 3 Full Burst HD wins over players and critics alike. It lands at 18 of 20.

Nidhogg is one of the few Fighting Games where players and critics say the same thing. It sits at 19 of 20.

Street Fighter II' Turbo has little in the way of ratings and a great deal of standing. It is the oldest game in the ranking (1993) and still here. It lands at 20 of 20.