10 Best Arcade Fighting Games of the 1990s, Ranked

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Fighting games have existed for decades, but the 1990s were a golden age for the genre, producing some of the greatest games ever made – and many consider them the best arcade games of all time. We reviewed 50 popular fighting games from the ’90s and picked our top 10. These rankings are based mainly on how critics reviewed the games when they first came out, how popular they were with players, and how much they influenced the genre. When a series had multiple releases in the ’90s, we chose the highest-rated version.

10) The King of Fighters ‘98

Released as the fifth installment in the series, The King of Fighters ‘98 is often hailed by critics as the best game from the 1990s. It differs from previous King of Fighters games by including nearly every character who appeared in earlier titles and focusing solely on exciting, non-story driven matchups. Players build teams of three fighters to compete in the King of Fighters tournament, ultimately facing off against Rugal Bernstein. The game was a major success and remains a fan favorite, even though the King of Fighters series has continued to release excellent games into the 2020s.

9) Samurai Showdown II

The Samurai Showdown series began in 1993 with a fighting game set in feudal Japan. What set it apart from other fighting games of the time was its emphasis on battles fought with weapons, rather than hand-to-hand combat. This unique approach proved popular, quickly establishing Samurai Showdown as a successful franchise across various gaming platforms. Though opinions vary, Samurai Showdown II is often regarded as the high point of the series during the 1990s.

8) Garou: Mark Of The Wolves

The Fatal Fury series started in 1991 with Fatal Fury: King of Fighters, a truly great game that kicked off a long-running franchise. While the series had many strong entries throughout the 90s, Garou: Mark of the Wolves is widely considered the best. It was also the last Fatal Fury game released in that decade, with fans waiting until 2025 for the next installment. Garou: Mark of the Wolves significantly revamped the series, modernizing its gameplay and characters to be more in line with the evolving King of Fighters. This made the game easier for newcomers to pick up, and its overall quality cemented its place as one of the best fighting games of the 90s.

7) Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes

Critics in the 1990s consistently ranked Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes as the best in the series, and it’s clear why. The game was released on several platforms, with the Dreamcast version being a standout (the PlayStation version wasn’t as polished). Featuring a large cast of characters from both Marvel and Capcom – going beyond just Street Fighter – Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes was a huge hit when it arrived in arcades in 1998 and quickly became one of the most popular games available.

6) Soulcalibur

Released in 1998, the original Soulcalibur revolutionized fighting games. Though created by the same team behind Tekken, Soulcalibur distinguished itself with its emphasis on eight-way movement and weapon-based combat. It was a massive hit, becoming a flagship title for the Sega Dreamcast, and set a new standard for graphics, sound, gameplay, characters, and animation. Widely considered one of the best fighting games of the 1990s, Soulcalibur‘s success spawned a long-running series that continues today with the 2018 release of Soulcalibur VI.

5) Killer Instinct

Originally created for arcades in 1994 by Rare, Killer Instinct quickly became available on consoles like the Game Boy. The game centers around a fighting tournament where characters battle each other. It borrowed gameplay elements from Street Fighter and finishing moves from Mortal Kombat, but also introduced unique mechanics and a compelling storyline. Killer Instinct was a commercial success, selling very well in both arcades and on home consoles, and it spawned a whole series of games. The latest version, also called Killer Instinct, was released as a launch title for the Xbox One in 2013.

4) Mortal Kombat II

The original Mortal Kombat was a groundbreaking game that truly revolutionized the industry. However, Mortal Kombat II took everything to the next level. It built upon the foundation of the first game with improvements in every area, including the addition of new finishing moves like Friendship and Babalities. The sequel also expanded the roster with several key new characters, and even included a secret fighter. With its enhanced features and gameplay, Mortal Kombat II stands out as one of the best fighting games of the 90s.

3) Virtua Fighter 2

As a huge fan, I always thought Virtua Fighter 2 really built on what made the first game great. It just felt like a much more polished experience! They seriously upgraded the graphics engine – the move to texture-mapped 3D really made a difference. But what really impressed me was how fluid the characters moved. They used motion capture, which was a big deal back then, and it made everything feel so much more realistic. Honestly, it blew everyone away – critics loved it, players couldn’t get enough, and it sold like crazy! It was a massive hit for Sega and really kept the Virtua Fighter series alive. It’s easily one of the best arcade games they ever made.

2) Tekken 3

The Tekken series revolutionized fighting games, and Tekken 3 built upon that success. Taking place 19 years after Tekken 2, the game featured mostly new characters alongside a few returning favorites. Tekken 3 introduced sidestepping as a universal move, and it became a huge commercial success, outselling nearly all other fighting games of the 1990s. Today, it’s considered one of the best games of all time and remains enjoyable to play even with its older graphics.

1) Street Fighter II

If you’re looking for the best fighting game of the 1990s, Street Fighter II is the clear winner. It practically created the modern fighting game as we know it. Capcom released several updated versions, each with slight changes, and fans often have a preference for a specific one. For simplicity, we’re considering all those versions together as Street Fighter II. It wasn’t just the top fighting game of the decade, but is widely considered one of the greatest fighting games – and video games – ever made.

What’s your all-time favorite fighting game from the 90s? Share your pick in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-03-25 15:11