Fighting games are considered the most intimidating genre to get started in. So much so that developers of fighting games have been forced to make their games more accessible to casual gamers if they wish to make a profit. But that doesn’t sacrifice the enjoyment and competitive nature of the games. If you suck at fighting games then no worries, check out these good starter games to get your foot in the door.
10. Street Fighter V (Playstation 4, PC)
Street Fighter has always been one of the most popular fighting games there is. But it is also one of the hardest for new fighting game players to learn. The series has always relied on having fast reflexes and precise timing to execute hard hitting combos, special moves and parries.
Capcom decided to ease that difficulty and make Street Fighter V the most casual-friendly entry of the series. Various mechanics have been redesigned to allow for easier to execute combos and special moves. An in-depth tutorial going over every aspect of the game has helped newcomers greatly. And despite all of the so called “nerfing” to the game, Street Fighter V has attracted many longtime fans and even more new players to be the best selling game of the franchise. It’s currently one of the most played fighting games as of 2022.
9. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles (Playstation 4, Playstation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC)
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles Nintendo Switch Launch Trailer
Relive the hype of the popular Demon Slayer anime series in this 3D fighting game. The story of Hinokami Chronicles follows the brutal adventures of Tanjiro as he becomes a demon slayer to defeat the ruthless army of demons to find a way to save his sister Nezuko. No worries if you're not a serious gamer, anime fighting games are usually created for casual gamers in mind. So jump right into the action with the two fighter team system that lets you call in an assist whenever needed and end the match with a devastating breathing attack technique.
8. DNF Duel (Playstation 4, Playstation 5, PC)
BlazBlue and Guilty Gear are considered some of the more difficult games in the fighting genre. But Arc System, the developers of these games, decided to change pace and create a more approachable 2.5D fighting game. DNF Duel is the end result. Pull off strong combos to melt down the opponent's health with simplified controls. No more practicing one combo for hours just to get it right, just two taps of a button. Always have a charge ready for special attacks with the regenerating power meter. Unlike other fighting games that require you to attack the opposing player or receive damage to fill up the special meter.
7. Injustice 2 (Playstation 4, Xbox One, PC)
NetherRealm Studio games are widely considered to be some of the easiest fighting games out there. So it’s not a surprise that Injustice 2 would make a great starter game for those looking to get into the fighting game genre. Play with a huge roster of some of DC’s most beloved heroes and villains. Each character has a unique trait that provides a buff, weapon change or some sort of other complementary ability.
As one of the first fighting games with RPG elements, find loot and personalize characters as you level up each one through offline story tower battles or in online PvP. Collect costume pieces to unlock new versions of the character for unique weapons and powers.
6. UFC 4 (Playstation 4, Xbox One, PC)
Jump into the octagon with over 200 different fighters to play as. Create your own custom fighter in career mode to jab and uppercut your way to becoming the champion. The controls have been improved and revamped to allow the game to be more accessible. New players won’t have to struggle so hard to learn the game and get some wins under their belt. The fighting is also more grounded and realistic than other games on this list so there’s plenty of time to react and not be overwhelmed by the opposing fighter’s attacks.
5. Mortal Kombat 11 (Playstation 4, Playstation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, PC)
Fast-paced, brutally gory combat is the hallmark of all Mortal Kombat games. But it seems that the release of Mortal Kombat X obviously made the developers question if they made the game too fast-paced and chaotic.
Their solution to solve this in Mortal Kombat 11 was to slow the pacing and add mechanics to force players to actually think about what they're doing. Footsies/neutral game actually matter and this is good news for new players since the slow combat gives them the chance to react and adapt to their opponents. You can no longer spam attacks, mash buttons, or be too aggressive or else you’ll be punished by powerful Krushing Blows. And players can create a custom variation of moves and combos to match their particular playing style.
4. Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid (Playstation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Stadia, PC)
Not much of a popular game but it is definitely one of the easiest fighting games to get into. Create a team of three fighters by selecting three Power Rangers. Fight enemies in one-on-one battle and switch out with the other two rangers at any time. Call in your teammates for powerful assists to get the upper hand. When you’ve received enough damage then you call in a Megazord to help turn the battle around. The storyline of the game is based on the “Shattered Grid” Power Rangers comic book.
3. Divekick (Playstation 3, Playstation 4, Playstaton Vita, Xbox One, PC)
Simple is always better and Divekick takes this concept to the extreme. Every fighting game has a long list of combos and special moves to memorize for each character and it can be troublesome for new fighting game players to remember them all. Divekick takes all that trouble away by only having two buttons and one attack for all characters. Could you have guessed that it’s the divekick move?
A game with only one move seems extremely boring but it is quite the opposite. The game can be very fun and competitive since it only takes one hit to win a round. Because of this, the game forces the player to have good footsies/neutral game if they want to win. Essentially, Divekick is a highly efficient footsies trainer. And since footsies/neutral game is arguably the most important aspect to improve your skills in fighting games, newcomers of the genre will benefit greatly by giving this game an honest try.
2. Brawlhalla (Playstation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android, PC)
Brawlhalla has remained as one of the most popular fighting games in recent years. The simplicity of the game’s controls and mechanics are a huge aspect of its popularity and success. Because of that, newcomers of Brawlhalla, or fighting games in general, won’t have a problem at all jumping into the action. However, the skill ceiling (how good a player can get) is quite high, allowing for very competitive matches as you continue to get better and face tougher opponents.
If you get good enough and wish to try out eSports then you’re up for heavy competition. Brawlhalla has one of the largest professional competitive scenes for any game. The Brawlhalla eSport Season 7 of 2022 currently has the largest prize pool of any fighting game at $1,300,000.
1. MultiVersus (Playstation 4, Playstation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC)
Bugs Bunny and Superman get into a fight and Bugs win? That wasn’t possible ever until this simple to learn but thrilling platformer game arrived. Now, a roster of fan favorite characters battle out for victory in MultiVersus. And there’s still plenty of characters coming to the game.
Each character is either an assassin, bruiser, tank or mage and has a passive ability and unique set of moves and perks. Players must duel each other in a traversable arena and force the opposing player off the map. The more damage a player receives, the farther they will be knocked away. Team up with a friend or a random person in 2v2 mode or truly test your skills in classic 1v1 duels. MultiVersus has very quickly become the most popular fighting game with over 7 million players logging in within a week and an average of 100,00 daily players on the PC, according to SteamCharts.
