5 Best Arcade Fighting Games of the 1980s, Ranked

Released in 1984, Kung-Fu Master is typically known as a beat-’em-up, but it deserves a place among classic fighting games. The game combines side-scrolling action with challenging boss fights. Unlike many games of its time, each boss has an energy meter, and battles are focused one-on-one, requiring you to deplete the boss’s energy. After each boss, you advance to the next level. These innovative boss battles were a major inspiration for the development of many future one-on-one fighting games.








