7 Classic Martial Arts Games You Forgot Were Awesome

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Martial arts are incredibly popular in movies and TV, so it’s no surprise there are many fantastic martial arts games. While fighting games are often the first thing people think of, plenty of excellent games across all sorts of genres feature martial arts. This list focuses on those games excluding traditional fighters, offering a fresh look at the best the genre has to offer. If you’re searching for a new martial arts game to play, these are great places to start.

Here are seven martial arts games you might’ve forgotten about.

7) Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise

I’m focusing on lesser-known martial arts games, so I’ve left out the popular Yakuza series, even though they’d actually fit well. However, the creators of Yakuza did make a Fist of the North Star game in 2018 that plays a lot like Yakuza. Lost Paradise really emphasizes the Hokuto Shinken fighting style from the Fist of the North Star comic. It’s a made-up martial art, but it looks so good that it doesn’t matter!

As a huge fan of the Yakuza games, I was really impressed with Lost Paradise. It’s packed with tons of side stuff to do – seriously, you can easily spend dozens of hours exploring! Plus, the main story is really expansive. If you’re into modern beat ’em ups with quirky characters and just plain fun gameplay, you should definitely give Lost Paradise a try.

6) God Hand

God Hand is a unique beat ’em up game created by Shinji Mikami, the mind behind Resident Evil. While it doesn’t quite reach the same level of polish as his other work, it’s a wonderfully odd and worthwhile experience. The game requires you to learn a large number of moves to succeed in its many battles, but mastering the combat system reveals a genuinely fun game underneath.

Clover Studios aims to make the game fun and funny, which will appeal to some players more than others. When you need a change of pace from the action, you can visit the casino and try your luck at games like blackjack or even chihuahua racing. It’s definitely an unusual experience overall.

5) One Finger Death Punch

If you haven’t already, you should definitely check out One Finger Death Punch (and its sequel). It might take a little practice – every button press counts! – but those who persevere will discover a surprisingly detailed and satisfying martial arts game.

The game’s story mode is fun, but the real test of skill comes with the never-ending survival mode. While One Finger Death Punch isn’t much to look at, its incredible combat more than makes up for its simple graphics.

4) Jade Empire

Jade Empire offers a unique experience. This action role-playing game from BioWare was popular with players when it first came out on the original Xbox, but it didn’t reach a larger audience because most gamers had moved on to the Xbox 360. It’s a shame, really, because it’s a fantastic martial arts game.

Jade Empire lets you play as various martial arts masters thanks to its role-playing game features. While the combat isn’t as fluid as in games like Sifu, it still works well. Sadly, a strange release timeline led to poor sales, and BioWare hasn’t made a sequel despite the game becoming a fan favorite.

3) Absolver

I had intended to suggest Sifu, but it’s become quite well-known. Instead, I’d like to highlight Sloclap’s earlier game, Absolver, which hasn’t received much attention since its 2017 release. While it isn’t as refined as Sifu, Absolver offers a deeply rewarding combat system for players willing to invest time in mastering it.

At first, Absolver seems straightforward, but it quickly gets complicated due to its unique combat system. Players customize their fighting style by choosing different moves, represented as “cards” in a deck. This allows for a lot of depth and keeps battles unpredictable, as you never know what your opponent will do. While not flawless, Absolver is interesting because it lets you design your own personalized martial arts expert.

2) Jet Li: Rise to Honor

This PlayStation 2 game goes beyond simply using Jet Li’s name. He actively contributed to Rise to Honor, providing his appearance, voice, and even performing the motion capture for his character. To ensure authentic fight sequences, Sony also enlisted renowned fight choreographer Corey Yuen, famous for his collaborations with Bruce Lee and Jet Li.

Rise to Honor is an exciting, over-the-top action game, and Sony really delivered on that promise. It truly feels like you’re starring in an action movie, with intense combat, seamless action sequences – no frustrating loading screens – and spectacular stunts. While you might not replay it often, the thrilling experience will definitely leave a lasting impression.

1) Sleeping Dogs

Beyond being a hidden gem in the world of martial arts games, Sleeping Dogs is truly one of the all-time greats. Developed by United Front Games, it takes the open-world formula of Grand Theft Auto and combines it with a compelling police story, fantastic fighting, and incredibly immersive exploration.

Wei Shen, the protagonist of the popular game, was a standout character of the 2010s and deserves a sequel. It was a major mistake by Square Enix not to release one, especially considering multiple attempts were made. While a movie is reportedly in development, it won’t be enough if it doesn’t come with a new game – that would be another avoidable failure for Square Enix.

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2026-01-18 02:44