The world of fighting games has many popular titles, and some have grown into huge franchises. But beyond the big names, there are also lesser-known games that are still really fun to play. These hidden gems often have unique features or a distinctive style, and they deserve recognition for their quality. The games listed below are a good place to start if you’re looking to explore some overlooked fighting games, but there are plenty more out there to discover.
Here are six forgotten fighting games that still hold up.
6) Saturday Night Slam Masters
Capcom’s Slam Masters blends the excitement of wrestling with the fast-paced action of a fighting game. It has the familiar visual style of classic Capcom fighters, but the gameplay focuses on wrestling moves – including grabs and powerful finishing moves reminiscent of games like WWE.
What really makes Slam Masters stand out is its character design. Created by Tetsuo Hara, famous for Fist of the North Star, the characters are instantly recognizable and contributed to a striking cover. The game features a diverse cast of memorable characters, many of whom are connected to Street Fighter. While the game received two sequels, it never achieved the widespread popularity it deserved.
5) Primal Rage
Back in the 90s, few game ideas were as exciting as a fighting game featuring dinosaurs. It perfectly captured the spirit of the decade by combining the worlds of Jurassic Park and Mortal Kombat. This game feels like a product of its time, which is probably why it’s not widely remembered today.
Despite its short lifespan, Primal Rage nearly spawned a franchise. Atari created toys, comics, and a novel based on the game’s unique style, hoping to build on its popularity. A sequel was planned for 1997, but it was ultimately canceled. All that remains of the planned sequel is a novel that tells the story and an unfinished test version playable through emulation.
4) Bloody Roar
From 1997 to 2003, five Bloody Roar fighting games were released – a significant achievement for a series that hasn’t seen a new installment since. Gameplay is generally similar to other fighting games, with standard punches, kicks, blocks, and grapples. However, what sets Bloody Roar apart is each character’s unique ‘beast button’ – a special move that transforms them and changes the fight.
Okay, so the coolest thing about this game is you can hit a button and turn into an animal version of your character! Everyone gets their own unique beast form, and it basically supercharges your moves. The developers aren’t afraid to get creative with it, which is awesome. You’ve got the usual powerful stuff like tigers and gorillas, but then you also have some surprising choices like moles and rabbits! It really makes you hope Konami will eventually give us a proper Bloody Roar 5.
3) Rival Schools: United by Fate
Rival Schools is a 3D fighting game by Capcom that’s unique for its team-based battles. It shares similarities with the popular Marvel vs. Capcom series, but brings the action into a 3D environment. Players choose a pair of fighters and compete against other characters representing different schools.
Battles are still fought one-on-one, though a teammate can join in for a powerful combined attack once a meter is filled. It can require a lot of quick button presses, but the game’s great characters and story make it enjoyable. While there have been a few sequels, the series hasn’t had a new release since 2001. Now that director Hideaki Itsuno has left Capcom, a future installment seems doubtful.
2) Power Stone
So, about Itsuno – the guy’s a legend! He actually teamed up with Tatsuya Nakae way back in 1999 to make Power Stone for Capcom. It was a 3D fighting game where you could grab stuff scattered around the arena. The best part? There were these three Power Stones you could collect, and if you managed to snag them all, your character would get seriously powered up!
A sequel, Power Stone 2, soon followed, allowing up to four players to compete simultaneously. In many respects, Power Stone 2 aimed to recreate the experience of Super Smash Bros. in a 3D environment. While it didn’t achieve the same level of success, Capcom hasn’t revisited the series except for including it in some compilation releases.
1) Darkstalkers
Capcom’s Darkstalkers series, beginning with The Night Warriors, is known for its incredibly unique and diverse cast of characters. Featuring figures like Demetri, a vampire who can walk in the daylight, and Morrigan, a fun-loving succubus, the lineup is remarkably varied.
With a few new features like blocking in the air and linking attacks together, this game became a beloved spin-off of the classic Street Fighter 2 style of fighting games. Capcom stopped making new entries in 1997, but they’ve kept the series alive with updated versions and collections. Fans would love to see a full new game, but Capcom hasn’t really hinted at one.
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2026-01-30 01:14