The Best Online Fighting Games

Updated:

22 Aug 2024

Looking for the best online fighting games?

Fighting games are stooped in competition, whether it’s at a huge event, or just in your friend’s house, fighting games can get competitive. So where can you get some of this heated competition, right from your own house? Well today we’re going to run down some of the best online fighting games, so you can go toe-to-toe with some of the best fighters online.

1. Mortal Kombat X (2015)

Cinematic Trailer

Mortal Kombat X, the tenth installment in the popular franchise of fighting games, pits you against people and creatures from all different realms of the MK universe. You could be fighting a four-armed creature like Goro, or a fictional serial killer like Jason Voorhees. You can choose from 33 different fighters, all with their own unique styles of play.

You can take these characters and quickly go online to fight against others. You can easily just play a 1v1 online, fighting against another person in a quick match, or you can participate in some of the game’s new modes, like Faction Wars.

Faction Wars lets you choose one of the five factions, and earn points for that faction by competing in online events. You earn points by beating other players in singles matches, and these points will help your faction to win, and also grant you skill points and personal ranks.

Mortal Kombat has many unique factors, one being its gore. It was known in the early era of gaming for its extreme gore, and now this game has stepped that up even further. So if you get sick easily, this one is not for you, because there is sure to be some blood and guts.

Raiden delivers some powerful lightning.

Kotal Kahn devastates his opponent.

MKX Gameplay

2. Street Fighter 5 (2016)

Cinematic Trailer

The second giant of the fighting genre, is Street Fighter, with its fifth installment being released this year. Street Fighter 5 gives you control of some great and classic characters like Ryu, Ken, and even Chun-Li. You can take control of 21 characters in all, with some new additions like Rashid and Laura.

Street Fighter 5 has a simple online presence, letting you compete in 1v1 matches and giving you the access to ranked and unranked matches. With a bumpy start in the beginning, Capcom has shaped up their online perspective of the game, and it is coming together well. They’ve made matchmaking much better, so you will now be placed more accurately compared to when the game first came out.

Street Fighter 5 also adds a new “V-Gauge”, giving you access to new abilities once this gauge is full. This adds a whole new and unique perspective to the fighting, giving you new options with each character. They’ve also added a Stun Meter, that stuns a character when hit too many times consecutively. This encourages players to become more aggressive, and not always play so defensively. Street Fighter 5 also has additional content in the form of a DLC pack called Shadow Falls.

Use your super-powered punches to destroy your opponent.

Nash takes a obliterating punch from Ryu.

SF5 Gameplay

3. Tekken 7 (2017)

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Continuing the story of the Tekken series, and following up with the seventh Iron Fist Tournament, Tekken 7 starts where the sixth installment left off. We found out much more about the Devil gene and the story of the Mishima family.

You can take control of many of the characters that are staples of the Tekken series, like Jin Kazama and Kazuya Mishima. All in all, you gain access to 32 different chracters, some being added over time. Several new fighters are coming into play, such as Lucky Chloe and Shaheen, a Saudi Arabian man who is supposedly designed to help beginners learn the mechanics of the game.

Tekken 7 introduces two new mechanics, Rage art, allowing players to use critical attacks, dealing higher damage. The other, is Power Crush, which lets the player continue attacking their opponent even when they are being hit.

Akuma delivering a powerful kick.

Jin Contemplates.

Tekken 7 Gameplay

4. Street Warriors Online (2016)

Street Warriors Online is an early access Free-To-Play fighting game. SWO’s style and gameplay are centered around street fights, large brawls that take place in alleyways and other close encounter areas.

The fighting is centered on close combat, using quick punches and kicks to attack your enemies and blocks to reduce the damage of attacks.

Multiplayer matches take place between two teams, so it is beneficial to stick with your team, and try to use your numbers as your advantage. They have multiple game modes, one of them being Capture the Bag, where the objective is the same as Capture the Flag in similar games, grab the bag, and get it back to your base, gaining points for you team.

Your character is fully customizable and your skills are upgradeable. You have full control over the power of your character and the look that you present online.

A heated battle takes place in a stadium.

Two foes, take down a common enemy.

Street Warriors Online Gameplay

5. King of Fighters 14 (2016)

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King of Fighters 14, the latest installment in the long series, has many new features and characters. There are many playable characters, all having their own three character team, who interact together specially. You can play as teams like the K’ Team, Ikari Team, or the Kim Team.

This installment in the series adds a new type of Super, called the Climax Super Special Move, and it is the strongest Super in the game. You need three bars to use it and it is very powerful.

In the online mode of the game, you can play on a team, as a single player, or even in a party, it is your choice. The story mode is centered around the new King of Fighters tournament being hosted by a man named Antonov, and the teams that you play are integral to the story surrounding the tournament.

Kim’s intro being showcased.

Billy Kane getting in a great hit with his bo staff.

KoF 14 Gameplay

6. Brawlhalla

Cinematic Trailer

Brawlhalla is a 2D Free-To-Play platform fighting game. You can play as multiple different Legends, all with unique abilities, style, and weapons. You can play as Legends such as, Orion, who wields a large lance, and golden armor, or someone like Cassidy, who is dressed in sheriff garb, and dual wields revolvers.

Brawls take place in a platform arena, where you have to jump over large chasms to get to your enemies, much like Super Smash Bros. Items are dropped in, giving the advantage to whoever manages to reach them first. They give the player enormous strength, or even health.

The game is entirely online, letting the players go toe to toe with three other opponents at a time.

A fighter scrambles to stay on the platform.

Two fighters are KO’d.

Brawlhalla Gameplay

7. Dragonball Xenoverse 2

Dragon Ball XENOVERSE 2 - Anime Expo Trailer

Dragonball Xenoverse 2 is the second installment in the fighting game series based on the popular anime show. The game plays more open-world than most games, letting you roam around in a hub, to access matches and the arenas of the game. The fights all take place in 3D battles arenas, letting you fly around and even go underwater.

You can customize your own character, becoming a protégé of some of the very notable characters of the Dragonball Universe. You can choose from five different races, Saiyans, Majins, Namekians, Humans, and Frieza’s race. This game has added in race specific side-quests, letting you gain access to them, based on the character that you create.

Goku and Vegeta fight.

Goku goes super saiyan.

Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 GAMEPLAY

8. WWE 2k17 (2016)

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WWE 2k17 is the latest installment in the annual WWE series. The game lets you create your own character, going through the MyCareer mode, and letting you journey through your characters career. You can have backstage brawls, and even callout other wrestlers.

The game also has the return of a feature that lets you fight in the crowd, also letting you fight backstage. There will be over 150 playable characters in the game, letting you take control of an entire variety of characters.

The online mode lets you play real WWE television programming as it is happening. You can also play against your friends in 1v1 matches or in team matches.

Brock Lesnar enters the ring.

One half of the Bella Twins gets ready to fight.

WWE 2k 17 Gameplay

9. Injustice 2 (2017)

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Injustice 2, the second installment in DC Entertainment’s fighting game series is set to release next year. You will be able to play as some returning characters like Aquaman, and Superman, and some new characters like Atrocitus, and Gorilla Grodd. They will also be adding more characters later as downloadable content, creating their self-proclaimed “Biggest DC roster ever offered in a fighting game”.

Injustice 2 also sees the return of the trait system, giving each hero a unique buff based on their character. You can also now gain loot, or gear that will drop from matches, giving your characters costume pieces that have status altering effects. You can get arm pieces, leg pieces or even capes. You can filter out the gear in matchmaking by playing matches without gear, to avoid any unfairness that may arise, and providing an even match for anyone that doesn’t want to use gear.

Injustice 2’s story will pick up where the first one left off, centering itself back on Batman and his goal to put society back together. It will follow after the death of the High Councilor, and will introduce a new threat that will put the entire world at risk.

Flash in the cinematic trailer.

Atroticus being introduced to the series.

Injustice 2 Gameplay

10. Smite (2014)

Cinematic

Smite is an online MOBA game, giving you control over many different dieties of all different religions. Play as gods from greek mythology, norse, or even Chinese myths. Characters such as Zeus, Agni, Nox, and Osiris, all have their own unique abilities, and playstyle.

Once you take control of these gods, you must take control of your enemy’s base, and an opposing team composed of dieties will try and stop you, their towers and minions included. It’s your job to take out their defenses, destroy their pawns, and take down their base, to win.

You can play online against multiple people, or play against AI to hone your skills. You can even play 1v1 matches, as a true test of might.

He’s ready to flame their entire team.

A diety approaches the battlefield.

Smite Gameplay

11. Chivalry: Medieval Warfare (2016)

Cinematic

Chivalry is a first person Medieval fighting game, set in the dark ages. You can play as different classes like the Archer, a ranged class that gives the player control of a crossbow, or a Knight, who uses a huge two-handed weapon, and very heavy armor.

You can play multiple different modes, like Team Deathmatch, or Free-For-All. The game plays very realistic, it makes you feel as if you are in a medieval battle, fighting against your enemies. The game started out as a mod for Half-Life 2, eventually venturing into its own standalone game and becoming Chivalry: Medieval Warfare.

The game features two factions, The Mason Order, and the Agatha Knights. Both factions vie for control of the lands that you fight for, and it’s your job to choose one and help them in their battle. The game also features a dismemberment system, letting you lob heads off and even take an arm or two.

A fighter holds his sword up to block an attack.

3 soldiers defeat an enemy.

Chivalry Gameplay

12. For Honor (2017)

Cinematic

For Honor is a hack-and-slash game set in the medieval period. You have control of three different factions, all battling for control of the land. They are The Legion, The chosen, and The warborn. These three factions are the knights, samurai, and the Vikings, and they all have four classes, giving you a large variation of choice to play with.

The fighting is very in-depth, letting players choose how to pace the fights, and whether they want to come from above, left or right. They can find weaknesses in their enemies attacks, noticing small hints, and utilize those weaknesses to destroy them.

The multiplayer consists of five modes, Dominion, Brawl, Duel, Skirmish, and Elimination. Brawl is a 2v2 match, Duel is a 1v1 match, and Skirmish is a 4v4. Dominion lets the players fight against another team, capturing and holding zones in an arena. The Elimination game mode, has a team of players going against of a team of four opponents, and whoever has the most surviving players wins.