The Top 10 Fighting Games to Look Forward to in 2015 and Beyond

The year 2014 was a standout for the fighting game genre, with major releases like Guilty Gear Xrd Sign, Persona 4 Arena Ultimax, and both the 3DS and Wii U versions of Super Smash Bros. The following year was poised to build on that momentum with a slate of sequels, new properties, and definitive editions for multiple platforms.

Anime and Crossover Fighters

Under Night In-Birth Exe:Late, from the developers of the Melty Blood series, was scheduled for a February 24 release on PlayStation 3. The game featured a unique story set in a fictional modern day, a dedicated story mode, and online multiplayer. It was also notable for launching at a lower manufacturer’s suggested retail price than most new console software at the time.

From the same developers came Dengeki Bunko Fighting Climax, a crossover fighting game planned for a summer release on PlayStation 3 and Vita. The roster included characters from manga series such as Accel World and Sword Art Online. Players could also unlock Selvaria from Valkyria Chronicles and Akira from Virtua Fighter. The console version was set to include a campaign mode, online multiplayer, and cross-save compatibility between the two PlayStation platforms.

Another major crossover title, J-Stars Victory Vs +, was confirmed by Bandai Namco for a Western release. The game brought together popular anime characters like Goku from Dragon Ball, Luffy from One Piece, and Naruto. In addition to its campaign and multiplayer modes, the Western release was slated to include a new arcade mode. It was announced for a summer launch on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, and Vita.

For a more traditional anime fighting experience, Dragon Ball Xenoverse was set to release on February 24 for PS4, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS3, and PC. Its main feature was a character creator that allowed players to design their own fighter and travel through time to relive iconic moments from the anime. The game also supported cooperative and competitive play with a roster of dozens of established characters.

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 was promised to be the biggest game in its series. The development team chose to forgo the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, focusing instead on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One to achieve higher visual quality. The roster was the most current to date, including the grown-up versions of Hinata, Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke. The game was planned for a 2015 release and would also be available on PC.

Franchise Updates and Newcomers

Dead or Alive 5: Last Round was presented as the definitive version of the game. It was set to feature the largest character roster in the series’ history, introducing new fighters Honoka and Raidou. Hundreds of customization options were also included. A key benefit for existing players was the ability to transfer DLC purchases from the original Dead or Alive 5 on PS3 and Xbox 360 to the PS4 and Xbox One versions. The game was scheduled to release on consoles on February 17, with a PC version to follow.

In an unusual collaboration, The Pokemon Company partnered with Bandai Namco to create Pokken Tournament. This fighting game pitted Pokémon like Blaziken, Lucario, Machamp, and Pikachu against each other. The gameplay also incorporated assist characters, including Emolga, Fennekin, and Lapras. During battles, players could execute special moves and even trigger Mega Evolutions. At the time, Pokken Tournament was only announced for an arcade release in Japan toward the end of 2015, but a port to the Wii U was considered a strong possibility.

The Genre Heavyweights

Following the franchise-reviving Mortal Kombat (2011) and the superhero fighter Injustice: Gods Among Us, NetherRealm Studios returned with Mortal Kombat X. Set far in the future, the story featured older versions of fan-favorite characters alongside newcomers such as Cassie Cage. The gameplay evolved with the introduction of multiple fighting stances for each character and the ability to use environmental objects during fights. The series’ signature fatalities were confirmed to be returning and looked as brutal as ever. Mortal Kombat X was scheduled for an April 14 release on PS4, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS3, and PC.

Tekken 7, the next mainline installment in the popular 3D fighting series, introduced several major gameplay changes. One was Rage Art, a powerful attack that could only be activated when a player’s health was critically low. Another new mechanic prevented combos from being interrupted by a counterattack, though the countering player would still inflict damage. The story was promoted as the finale to the long-running Mishima family saga. The game was first set for a Japanese arcade release on February 18, with console ports expected to be announced later.

Finally, Capcom’s Street Fighter V was one of the most anticipated titles, following the genre-revitalizing success of Street Fighter IV. For this sequel, Capcom partnered with Sony. Early videos showed a significant graphical upgrade, with characters like Chun-Li and Ryu appearing more detailed than ever while maintaining the classic 2D gameplay. A major result of the Sony partnership was the announcement of cross-platform play between PlayStation 4 and PC users. This feature was designed to create a single, unified online community. While no official release date was set, an Amazon listing suggested a potential launch in early 2016.