5 Iconic Fighting Games That Changed Gaming

FIGHT!

5 Iconic Fighting Games That Changed Gaming

Arguably one of the best things about gaming is the fact that so many genres are possible to enjoy and experience, like fighting games. As individuals, we all have our preferences and things that we are passionate about, and the gaming industry has made it possible for us to experience those things when playing the titles that are offered.

Sports have always been a massive niche for many, as has magic, action, adventure, horror, and so on. However, one niche that has perhaps been one of the standouts for the entire industry and has been more popular than others is the fighting genre.

There have been several incredible fighting titles created and released throughout the years. These iconic games have also been adapted into other genres that have proven popular. According to the Gambling Promo Codes site, Dead or Alive II is one of the best slots to play at the popular DraftKings Casino.

Here are the most iconic fighting games that helped change gaming:

Street Fighter II

5 Iconic Fighting Games That Changed Gaming 23050805

One of the very first fighting games that many will immediately think of because of the impact and influence it had on the gaming sector as a whole is Street Fighter II. Released in 1991, it is widely considered to be one of the best fighting games available.

Street Fighter II made headlines at the time as it was the first to introduce features such as special moves and combos, thus helping to give developers new ideas and a way of taking the fighting genre forward. The game also influenced others, with slot developers making their own version based on its themes, while a live-action film was created, and the game franchise continued with additional sequels being launched.

Super Smash Bros.

5 Iconic Fighting Games That Changed Gaming 23050805 1

For a generation of players, fighting games were perhaps catapulted into the mainstream gaming market because of Super Smash Bros. One of Nintendo’s iconic titles, it gave gamers the ability to fight as their favorite character across all of the developer’s games in one place in a fun and entertaining way.

You could be Mario and end up going up against Donkey Kong or even Link from Zelda. It could be argued it was a game ahead of its time when it was released in 1999, but it remains extremely popular today. Super Mario is one of the biggest characters ever, with a recently released new film, too!

Tekken 5

5 Iconic Fighting Games That Changed Gaming 23050805 2

As Street Fighter II did for a generation, Tekken 5 has had the same impact on younger gamers. Released in 2004 and argued to be the best title in the series, Tekken 5 gave players everything that they could want from a fighting game as they were given newer features, including tag-team battles.

The game also featured many characters that could be utilized throughout the game, all of which had unique power moves and sets that could help them overcome the opponents and bosses they met when competing against each other. In 2010, a film was made based on the game.

Mortal Kombat

5 Iconic Fighting Games That Changed Gaming 23050805 3

The Mortal Kombat series has had an influence on the gaming industry and the fighting niche in a couple of different ways. Its first release in 1992 completely changed the way these types of titles would appear and be played. This edition provided players with graphics and visuals that were unseen before as they were hyper-realistic and showed how violent fighting games could be.

Mortal Kombat X was released in 2015 to a new generation of gamers and has arguably been the best in the long series, as it provided players with newer characters and gave them even more detailed graphics. There have since been several films based on the game to have been released, too.

Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes

5 Iconic Fighting Games That Changed Gaming 23050805 4

Marvel vs Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes may have been released in 2000, but it remains hugely popular with fighting game enthusiasts to this day. One of the most obvious reasons is due to its crossover of characters.

The game featured several elements that other fighting games did not incorporate at the time, which have since influenced titles to have been released in the modern era.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something, CGMagazine may earn a commission. However, please know this does not impact our reviews or opinions in any way. See our ethics statement.

<div data-conversation-spotlight></div>