Whatoplay presents 15 of the best Switch Fighting games of all time. All arranged
by playscore. To check out our full list, visit our page on all the Best Switch Fighting Games.
15. Samurai Shodown SNK’s beloved classic
gets a new and improved fighting game experience for the modern consoles,
especially with the Switch. While the graphics are certainly a huge step up from its pixel roots,
the gameplay remains the same. It was one of those games that shaped the future of
Arcade gaming alongside Street Fighter and it receives a playscore of 7.51.
14. KILL la KILL -IF Studio Trigger’s first original anime
TV project makes its way to the Nintendo Switch. It doesn’t work too well in competitive scenes,
but with its variety of adorable waifus straight from the anime, it’s a treat for
fans of the original series. It also features simple controls and easy-to-pick-up combat,
as well as a story mode to help fans relive its best moments. It receives a playscore of 7.65.
13. Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers CAPCOM gives love to Nintendo consoles with this
revival of the classic Super Street Fighter Turbo II… and its other older iterations.
Ultra Street Fighter II is an enhanced edition of the 1991 fighting game and it comes with a handy
dual graphics mode. This gives you the choice between going back to the good ol’ retro days
or witnessing everything in high definition. A few gameplay tweaks and some new mechanics
keep the game fresh despite being 2 decades old. A playscore of 7.68.
12. ACA NEOGEO Waku Waku 7
Sunsoft’s 1996 2D fighter is the first of many classic titles to come out on the Switch from
the NEOGEO’s archives. Others might be familiar since it’s heavily inspired by SNK’s other titles.
This re-release might not bring anything new to the table, but it’s a great way to
introduce new players to the series. It’s a time machine for anyone looking to play this
game on a portable platform… without the need for emulators. A playscore of 7.70.
11. ACA NEOGEO THE KING OF FIGHTERS '98 And of course SNKs acclaimed fighting
series returns to the world all thanks to Hamster Corporation’s NEOGEO archives.
It’s hailed as one of the best 2D arcade fighters of its time. To this day, it’s a hallmark of the
genre and everyone’s hoping the upcoming KoF will live up to its name. Unfortunately the game
doesn’t support online play. The ACA version is still the same from its 1998 original.
If you want to play with a buddy, a separate joy-con will do the trick. A playscore of 7.79.
10. Blade Strangers It might not be the strongest fighting
game in the market, but its solid roster is enough to lure players in. Like Super Smash Bros, this is
Nicalis’ attempt at a crossover 2D fighter. Its lineup consists of original and familiar names
in today's indie video game scene such as Isaac from Binding of Isaac, Shovel Knight and more.
It’s not as mechanically demanding as the other fighters, but the developers are making creative
use of each character's individual abilities. If you're an indie game fan looking for a simple
fighting game on the Switch, Blade Strangers is one to check out. A playscore of 7.97.
9. Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 A high-powered sequel to Dragonball
Xenoverse, Bandai Namco takes a turn towards time-bending plots in this latest installment
of their unique Dragon Ball title. There's plenty of opportunities for high flying fighting here.
Create your very own character and join the iconic band of heroes as they jump from
timeline to timeline in the hopes of saving their reality. It’s a far cry from FighterZ’s gameplay.
Xenoverse combines RPG and fighting into one flashy Dragon Ball game. A playscore of 8.21.
8. My Hero One's Justice 2 One of this generation’s hit
anime, it didn't take long for My Hero Academia to get a Fighting Game title…
and a sequel. Competing with the likes of Dragonball FighterZ for the top spot in
anime-based fighting games, One's Justice lets you take on the shoes of Deku,
Bakugo, and so much more. It retains the anime’s quirky humor and charm as you weave through its
story mode. With over the top playable characters to choose from, form your team's three favorites,
and get supercharged on smooth animations and fast-paced battles. A playscore of 8.09.
7. Pokken Tournament DX
Fighting games and crossovers work so well together, and for a game like Pokken,
borrowing the fighting game mechanics from Bandai Namco’s beloved Tekken franchise is something
we didn’t know we needed. DX is an enhanced version of the Pokken Tournament experience.
It’s rebuilt for the Switch and each fight is an eye-popping spectacle of powerful skills
and varying element types from its roster of 21 iconic Pokemon. A playscore of 8.28.
6. ARMS
This fighting game was one of the surprises among Switch's launch titles. It was a brand
new IP that was set to follow in Super Smash Brothers' footsteps. Except, it's different
in all the best ways. Its motion controls work well with the Switch, catching every jab, grab,
and combo. It actually feels like you're piloting these crazy-limbed characters. Customize your ARMS
according to your playstyle and get ready to sweat it out on your way to victory. With different game
modes on offer, it's all-around fun for the whole family. It gets a playscore of 8.29.
5. BlazBlue: Central Fiction - Special Edition The wheel of fate continues to turn in Arc
System’s long-running 2D fighter. If you’re not busy fighting and showing off those flashy moves
with other players, you can enjoy over 40 hours of convoluted story from the BlazBlue universe.
The gameplay continues to be fluid and responsive as ever.
This Special Edition contains all the DLCs from Central Fiction. All the new characters,
story bonuses and balance changes are all here. A playscore of 8.46.
4. Under Night In-Birth Exe:Late[cl-r] The definitive edition of French Bread’s
Arcade fighter. In partnership with Arc System Works, unravel the mystery of the Hollow Night
and select from 20 playable characters in the emo-est fighting game in existence.
Unleash their powers and become a ruler of the night. Compared to Late[St], [cl-r] is the updated
version of the game with balance changes, new moves and an extra character. A playscore of 8.64.
3. Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate NetherRealm has been having a
great run with their Mortal Kombat series. With this eleventh installment, though,
they completely refreshed the formula. Their gory fatalities have always been the star of the show,
and it continues to be, with some slight upgrades to add more punch to the over-the-top finishes.
But, there's more under the hood for serious fighters. It welcomed some changes
to pacing that make fights more strategic. There's just more of everything: content,
game modes, DLCs. Mortal Kombat 11 exceeded all expectations, earning itself a playscore of 8.67.
2. Dragon Ball FighterZ
We're certain there are a lot of you anime fans out there. And you'll
certainly appreciate the fighting atmosphere of Bandai Namco's latest Dragon Ball release.
While it has an all-too-familiar story, the dramatic flourish of its newly-minted animations,
care of developers Arc System Works, makes their trademark fighting leagues better than
it was before. And through all that, it’s still a comfortable experience on the Switch. If you're a
long-time fan of Dragon Ball, what could be better than a game that lets you hang out with your
favorite characters and puts you square in the middle of the action. It has a playscore of 8.74.
1. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Super Smash's combat is simple, with a few basic moves tied to each directional key.
That's part of what makes it easy to pick up for players with any level of fighting experience.
On top of its accessibility, it's also incredibly dynamic. There are hundreds of stages that move
around and turn the tables for each player, and a bunch of characters to play around with. Under all
of that, is a surprising level of depth. Even a veteran fighter can enjoy the sweet victory
off of a perfectly timed mid-air attack. With its consistent stream of updates and new characters,
it may be the Switch’s best fighter for a long time, with a playscore of 9.29.