Summary
Despite not having aninflux of releases like JRPGs sawin 2023,fighting gamesstill saw a handful of spectacular releases worthy of your time and attention if you’re a longtime fan or someone looking to break into the genre for the first time.
Fighting games are one of the best genres in gaming, making for excellent experiences for casual and serious players across the board with exciting characters, tight mechanics, and much more. While it can be daunting to get into the genre, once you’re in. You’re in for life and will be checking out all the new releases until the end of time.
Fair Play Labs
Platforms
PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, PC
Rollback Netcode?
Yes
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2is a direct sequel to its 2021 predecessor. It brings with it many much-needed additions that turn what was a decent party fighter into one of the best of its kind, offering many systems and mechanics that make each encounter feel exciting and rewarding.
Despite the roster losing some notable characters -pour one out for Shredder- it makes up for it with added mechanics that finally flesh out the moment-to-moment gameplay, transforming it into a must-play fighter for fans of the genre!
Another surprising entry into the fighting game genre is Idol Showdown. This free-to-play fighting game features V-Tubers as its playable cast, making for bizarre encounters filled to the brim with personality and excitement.
To say that Idol Showdown was made with nothing but love would be an understatement, as it is constantly receiving updates and content drops while maintaining its completely free price tag. It’s also surprisingly fun and is worth checking out for anyone looking for a new fighting game to mess around in!
With a goal to take you back to the days of the Neo Geo Pocket era of fighting games with modern fighting game mechanics and systems, Pocket Bravery delivers one of 2023’s best in the genre, placing it right up beside Idol Showdown as a surprisingly solid release.
Everything from its visuals to animations to combo routes and how each character feels unique and solid will have you engaged in each encounter, making it worth seeking out for all fans of the genre, whether you’re new or a seasoned veteran!
Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising is a sequel - of sorts - to Granblue Fantasy Versus, bringing several new systems and mechanics to the field, along with new characters, arenas, and even a Fall Guys-inspired mode that makes it feel like a complete package worthy of its new price tag.
In terms of its visuals, Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising may very well be Arc System Works' best to date, and that’s saying something, as Guilty Gear Strive and Dragon Ball FighterZ both look stunning. If you’re looking for a flashy new 2D Anime Fighter, look no further than here!
Mortal Kombat 1may have launched a bit rougher than we anticipated, with bizarre Player 2 bugs that impacted combos and damage, a lack of meaningful rewards, and questionable Shop prices that felt like borderline robbery. Not to mention, crossplay is still unavailable and has no ETA in sight.
Still, since its launch, most of those issues have been either fixed or acknowledged, and the core gameplay is undeniably one of NetherRealm Studios' best offerings since Mortal Kombat 9.The roster is robust and eclectic,and the visuals are off the charts, making it a must-play for fans of the NRS fighting games or anyone looking to hop into the genre for the first time!
Last but certainly not least, we haveStreet Fighter 6, which is up there as one of the best launches you could possibly ask for in a fighting game, even if its shop struggles similarly to Mortal Kombat 1’s. But, besides that, you get a complete package that will keep you coming back for more.
Street Fighter 6 offers a tremendously deep and engaging campaign, a slew of party modes,a fantastic cast of characters,and one of the best Ranked and Social Modes in the genre, making it 2023’s best offering for fighting games without any debate. If you’re a fan of the series or genre or want to break into it for the first time, there’s no better game to do it with than this one!
