Fighting games have had something of a resurgence over the past few years, with the release of some big names like Street Fighter 6 and Tekken 8 ushering in a new golden age for the genre. Things don’t look to be slowing down any time soon, as there are still quite a few exciting fighting games on the horizon for fans to get excited about, ranging from established IPs entering the PvP arena space to indie devs breaking into the crowded market.
Even within the genre itself, there are a few different kinds of games that suit specific preferences or playstyles. Players who enjoy the rush of a one-on-one battle have some interesting games just around the corner, but there are also plenty of tag fighters releasing soon, so whatever their preference, fans will almost certainly have a new favorite fighting game to enjoy very soon.
Combo Devils
Competitive And Co-op All In One
Release Date: TBA
Developer: Punkzilla
Platforms: PC
Combo Devils is the next evolution of platform-fighting, taking concepts from popular games like Smash Bros. and bringing in a fresh set of characters and a whole new setting. The game has several goals in mind: it aims to position itself as both a competitive fighter for veterans to appreciate, while also remaining accessible for new players with easy-to-understand movesets and additional modes, such as soccer, to allow more people than ever to revel in the chaos.
Visually, Combo Devils has a classic cartoony feel that feels familiar yet distinct at the same time, but still has enough visual clarity to keep the competitive integrity intact. It has already received a lot of early praise from demos at various expos, so only time will tell if its ambition and charm can carry the game to the same heights as the greats of the fighting game space.
MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls
Pitting The Earth’s Mightiest Heroes Against One Another
MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls is the superhero fighting game that many gamers have been dreaming of for decades. This isn’t the first time that iconic characters like Spider-Man and Captain America have appeared in the fighting game genre, but this new tag-fighter looks to be a cut above every other iteration before it. The gameplay revolves around 4v4 battles across various cinematic stages, with as much explosive action and superpowers as any blockbuster Marvel movie.
Everything looks over the top and exaggerated, and the game leans heavily into a unique anime-inspired aesthetic that makes every scene look like a panel from a manga. The roster itself may start small at launch, but with over 50 years of characters to pull from, it won’t take long for fan-favorites to enter the arena, and there is no telling how many more heroes could be added in the years to come if MARVEL Tōkon manages to take off.
2XKO
The Next Chapter For The League Universe
2XKO is Riot’s first attempt at breaking into the fighting game space, and with a vast library of existing characters to choose from, it seems like a match made in heaven. Despite taking champions and regions directly from League of Legends’ lore, the two games couldn’t be more different. Rather than being a slow-burning team-based MOBA, 2XKO takes legends from the land of Runeterra and throws them into 2v2 fights of speed, skill, and unmatched aggression.
The game already has a huge amount of hype around it, as not only does its IP hold a lot of weight, but the actual gameplay stands on its own. It’s fast and fluid, offering plenty of opportunities for players to express their skills from the moment the timer starts. Being a tag-fighter, that individual expression only becomes more insane as higher-level players master the minute details of every character and the interactions they have with one another.
Invincible VS
Bridging The Gap Between Comics And Games
Invincible VS brings the brutal superhero universe to the gaming world, allowing players to transform into fan-favorite characters from the hit graphic novel and animated show in a fight to the death. Combos are the key, with every swing, kick, and blow landing with a huge amount of weight, leaving opponents bloody and bruised. The game is set to launch with several modes, from a cinematic story to a more competitive multiplayer offering, to satisfy fighting fans of all kinds.
While the world might be a bit more niche than other fighting games, that doesn’t mean that it can’t be equally, if not more, satisfying than some of the bigger names in the market. Overall, Invincible VS looks to be a compelling new title from a new studio that is taking a few bold steps forward in order to prove that, with enough talent and a good enough IP, any franchise can become a popular fighting game.
Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection
Returning To The Classics
Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection is the compilation that many MK fans have been dreaming of. The game takes multiple versions of the first four games in the series, as well as a few spin-offs and portable versions, and gathers them all into a single place so that players can access the early days of the fighting game genre in all its glory.
This release isn’t a remaster per se, but simply serves to bring the old-school experience into the modern day, which means that the original feel of the games and the iconic visuals remain untouched. There are even a few extras for long-time fans to enjoy, like an interactive documentary that explores the history of the Mortal Kombat franchise, as well as handy features that let players unlock developer menus and secret characters without worrying about tedious unlock processes.
