00:00Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're diving into the Top 10 Fighting Game Franchises.
00:12Get ready to knuckle up and throw some punches.
00:19Number 10.
00:20BlazBlue
00:21Born from the minds behind Guilty Gear, BlazBlue brought a stylish anime aesthetic, deep lore,
00:30and ridiculously technical mechanics to the 2D fighter scene in 2008.
00:35While it doesn't quite have the mainstream pull of its rivals,
00:38it's beloved by the fighting game community for its insanely complex systems like the drive mechanic,
00:43which gives each character unique properties.
00:53The story mode is basically a visual novel meets multiverse fanfic with time travel,
00:58clones, and philosophical debates about fate.
01:01It's weird, it's beautiful, and it slaps harder than a tagger backhand.
01:05Plus, Arc System Works made sure each sequel expanded the roster and refined the combat,
01:10making BlazBlue a must-play for fighting game purists who like their fights fast
01:15and their combos 50 hits deep.
01:25Number 9.
01:26Soul Calibur
01:31If swords and spinning kicks are your thing,
01:33Soul Calibur delivers like a pizza with perfect footwork.
01:36Debuting in arcades as Soul Edge in 1995,
01:39it carved out a space by focusing on weapon-based combat,
01:42something its peers mostly ignored.
01:45With 8-way run movement,
01:46flashy counters,
01:47and a guard impact system that feels like mental chess,
01:50it's definitely more than just button mashing.
01:57Each installment raised the bar, especially Soul Calibur 2,
02:00which had console-exclusive characters like Link, Heihachi, and Spawn.
02:04Random?
02:05Yes.
02:06Iconic?
02:07Absolutely.
02:08The series peaked in popularity during the early 2000s,
02:11but still commands respect for its visuals, music,
02:14and mechanically rich fights.
02:16And let's be real,
02:17if you never spent 30 minutes customizing a character just to recreate Shrek,
02:21were you even playing Soul Calibur?
02:23Number 8- The King of Fighters
02:30SNK's The King of Fighters is basically the Avengers of 2D fighters,
02:40except with more punching and fewer quips.
02:42Debuting in 1994,
02:44it combined characters from SNK's previous titles into a massive crossover tournament.
02:49Its signature three-on-three team system changed the genre by making matchups more strategic
02:54and match lengths more intense.
02:56While the franchise hasn't always had the spotlight in the West,
03:02it's a powerhouse in Latin America and Asia,
03:05especially in competitive scenes like Mexico and China.
03:08With fluid animation, a massive roster,
03:11and some of the most brutal boss fights in gaming,
03:13The King of Fighters has erred its stripes.
03:20Number 7- Marvel vs. Capcom
03:27Two words- Hype incarnate.
03:29Marvel vs. Capcom brought comic book energy and arcade chaos to fighting games
03:33with wild crossover matchups and tag-team mayhem.
03:37From X-Men vs. Street Fighter to the beloved Marvel vs. Capcom 2,
03:41the series let us do what every nerd dreamed of,
03:43make Spider-Man punch Ryu in the face.
03:46Its 3v3 format and over-the-top supers turned every match into a firework show,
03:55with combos that could last longer than a Netflix binge.
03:58Sure, Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite stumbled with its art direction in Missing Mutants,
04:03but the legacy of Marvel vs. Capcom 2 still reigns supreme in tournament halls.
04:08Plus, there's no greater rush than hearing
04:10Welcome to the world of Marvel vs. Capcom
04:13while Iron Man shoots lasers in your face.
04:22Number 6- Guilty Gear
04:28Anime fighters owe a lot to Guilty Gear,
04:31a franchise that combines rock and roll vibes,
04:33frame-perfect combat,
04:34and character names like Soul Bad Guy.
04:37It's aggressively stylish,
04:38thanks to the insane guitar riffs and unique art design.
04:41But, make no mistake, Guilty Gear is hardcore.
04:45This isn't a pick-up-and-play kind of fighter.
04:47It's fast, it's technical,
04:49and it'll make you question your reflexes.
04:51But when you land that realm and cancel into a 60% damage combo,
04:55chefs kiss.
04:56Guilty Gear Strive finally cracked the mainstream by refining its systems
05:04and bringing in slick visuals that blur the line between 2D and 3D.
05:08This one is definitely a full-blown adrenaline concert.
05:11You'll learn to love the chaos after losing 200 matches in a row.
05:15Number 5- Dragon Ball
05:27From pixelated punches on the NES to the cinematic clashes of Dragon Ball fighters,
05:32the Dragon Ball fighting games have powered up alongside their Saiyan protagonists.
05:36Starting with titles like Dragon Ball Z Super Butuden back in the early 90s,
05:41these games have let fans reenact and often rewrite their favorite anime battles.
05:52The Budokai and Budokai Tenkaichi series became fan favorites,
05:56offering expansive rosters and faithful recreations of iconic scenes.
06:00Then came Dragon Ball fighters in 2018,
06:03a game so stylish and fluid it felt like controlling an episode of the anime.
06:07With over 65 million units sold across the franchise,
06:11it's clear that players just can't get enough Kamehameha in their lives.
06:15Number 4- Tekken
06:29Enter the King of Iron Fist tournament,
06:31where family therapy involves uppercuts and laser beams.
06:34Tekken punched its way onto the scene in 1994,
06:37introducing 3D movement and a diverse cast with deep backstories,
06:41mostly about patricide.
06:45The series is renowned for its intricate combat system,
06:51where each limb is mapped to a button,
06:53allowing for precise and complex combos.
06:56With over 58 million copies sold,
06:58Tekken has solidified its place in fighting game history.
07:01And let's not forget the cutscenes that range from epic showdowns to,
07:05well, bears asking pandas out on dates.
07:08It's this blend of serious combat and quirky charm that keeps fans coming back for more.
07:15Number 3- Mortal Kombat
07:25Finish him!
07:26Two words that became synonymous with gaming in the 90s.
07:29Mortal Kombat burst into arcades in 1992,
07:32turning heads and ripping them off with its digitized graphics and infamous fatalities.
07:37Not only did this series court some serious controversy,
07:40it roundhouse kicked it into the mainstream,
07:42leading to the creation of the ESRB rating system.
07:45Beyond the gore,
07:51Mortal Kombat offered a rich lore of realms, gods, and ninjas color-coded like a bag of Skittles.
07:57With over 85 million units sold,
07:59it's clear that gamers have a deep, perhaps slightly concerning love for spine-ripping action.
08:04And with recent titles like Mortal Kombat 1 refining its gameplay and providing fun guest fighters,
08:10the franchise shows no signs of enduring a fatality.
08:13Number 2- Super Smash Bros.
08:23What happens when you throw a plumber, a space bounty hunter, and a pink puffball into an arena?
08:28Super Smash Bros.
08:29That's what.
08:30Debuting in 1999,
08:32this crossover brawler took beloved Nintendo characters and eventually guests from other franchises
08:37and made them duke it out in chaotic, item-filled arenas.
08:41Unlike traditional fighters,
08:42Super Smash Bros. emphasizes ring-outs over health bars,
08:45leading to frantic battles where the stage itself is often your biggest enemy.
08:55With Super Smash Bros. Ultimate boasting a roster of over 80 characters,
08:59it's like the gaming world's most ambitious family reunion.
09:02And with over 75 million copies sold,
09:05it's clear that players love to settle it in Smash.
09:14Before we continue,
09:15be sure to subscribe to our channel and ring the bell to get notified about our latest videos.
09:20You have the option to be notified for occasional videos or all of them.
09:24If you're on your phone,
09:25make sure to go into your settings and switch on notifications.
09:28Number 1.
09:31Street Fighter
09:37The granddaddy of them all,
09:38Street Fighter didn't just define the genre.
09:41It is the genre.
09:42Since 1987,
09:43it's been the gold standard for 2D fighters,
09:46introducing mechanics like combos and special moves that are now staples in the industry.
09:51Street Fighter 2 alone is credited with launching the 90s fighting game boom,
09:55filling arcades with quarter-slapping enthusiasts eager to prove their mettle.
10:04The series' iconic characters like Ryu, Chun-Li, and Guile's hair are gaming legends.
10:10With over 56 million units sold,
10:12Street Fighter remains a tournament staple and a beloved franchise that continues to evolve, ensuring that the fight is far from over.
10:18Were there any fighting games that you felt got punched out of the list?
10:25Be sure to let us know in the comments.
10:27Did you enjoy this video?
10:34Check out these other clips from WatchMojo,
10:37and be sure to subscribe and ring that bell to be notified about our latest videos.
Comments