Summary

  • Co-op mechanics in fighting games offer fun team-based combat with exciting 2v2 battles and seamless online experiences.
  • Explore tag team systems in games like Brawlhalla and Dragon Ball FighterZ for coordinated plays and unique animations.
  • Super Smash Bros. Ultimate remains a popular choice for its massive roster, diverse gameplay modes, and easy-to-learn controls.

Fighting games can trace their origins to early arcade titles, where players would insert a coin to face off against another player or CPU-controlled character. Having only two rival combatants on the screen remains the standard expectation for the genre, but several developers have innovated and built on this formula over time.

The-14-Best-Fighting-Games-For-Beginners,-Ranked
The 14 Best Fighting Games For Beginners, Ranked

Fighting games can be pretty intimidating for newcomers to the genre. The following games, however, are a good place to start.

Co-op fighting games can take two forms; multiple fighters per team sharing the arena at the same time, or teammates tagging in and out of 1-on-1 battles. These co-op mechanics make fights between sides more interesting, allowing players to put their skills to the test as part of a small team or duo. These games are best enjoyed by friends looking to enjoy the fighting genre while playing for the same side.

5 MultiVersus

Fight Across Dimensions

A screenshot from MultiVersus showing Tom, Steven Universe, Superman, and Shaggy.
MultiVersus
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Released
May 28, 2024
Developer(s)
Player First Games
Genre(s)
Fighting

MultiVersus is a colorful and stylish platform fighter that pits a massive pool of iconic Warner Bros. Characters against one another. Players can choose characters like Adventure Time's Jake the Dog, DC's Batman, LeBron James, and many more, and engage in exciting team-based combat online and locally.

Co-op play is a main feature, with systems that make teaming up with friends online a seamless experience, and the 2v2 team battles let players jump in as their favorite duos and go head-to-head with other teams online. There are also 4-player matches without teams, letting combatants test their skills as they fight in a free-for-all to be the last one standing.

4 Brawlhalla

2v2 Battles And Unique Team Combos

Rayman fighting two Brawlhalla characters
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Developer(s)
Blue Mammoth Games
Platform(s)
PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One, Android, iOS
Genre(s)
Fighting

Brawlhalla is a free-to-play, cross-platform party fighting game with similar mechanics and systems to the Smash Bros. Series. It features fast-paced action with engaging movement and controls. There can be up to 8 players on the screen at a time, which can be split into teams of 4.

Work as a team to stack damage against opponents and defeat them with a decisive hit, or launch them off the stage to win with a ring-out. The customizable 4v4 modes are quick and chaotic. Players can coordinate their attack combos with base attacks and stage items, and avoid attacks by quickly jumping across the platforms of the colorful stages.

3 For Honor

Medieval 2v2 And 4v4 Combat

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For Honor
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Released
February 14, 2017
Developer(s)
Ubisoft Montreal
Platform(s)
Xbox One, PC, PlayStation 4
Genre(s)
Action

For Honor is not a traditional fighting game. It is a 3rd-person title with no local multiplayer, but its technical, skill-based PvP duels set it apart from other more standard action games. It's also very accommodating for co-op, with 2v2 and 4v4 modes being the most popular ways to enjoy the game.

For Honor Characters Wallpaper
For Honor Co-Op Mode Now Available for Free

Ubisoft launches a new For Honor co-op mode for free, accompanied by an action-packed trailer unveiling its features.

The deep combat system features directional attacks and combos, much like its 2D counterparts, but the 3rd-person camera angle is well suited for team-based PvP. Players are encouraged to work together to defeat the enemy team, and the well-polished systems allow skilled players to come out on top even when they are outnumbered.

2 Dragon Ball FighterZ

The Ultimate Dragon Ball Fighting Experience

Goku, Frieza, and a Spirit Bomb in Dragon Ball FighterZ
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Released
January 26, 2018
Developer(s)
Arc System Works
Genre(s)
Fighting

Dragon Ball FighterZ is the ultimate fighting game experience for fans of the Dragon Ball series. It's also features one of the most refined and well-executed tag systems in fighting games. It allows players to fight 3v3 matches online and offline locally while playing their favorite characters from the iconic series.

The 3v3 battle system is core to the FighterZ experience. There are assist and team attack features that reward coordinated play with unique animations and impressive damage output. This is also present in 2v2 modes and co-op survival modes against bosses.

1 Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Unrivaled Co-op PvP Fighting

Multiple characters on a stage in sUPER smash Bros Ultimate
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Released
December 7, 2018
Franchise
Super Smash Bros.
Div
Platform(s)
Switch
Genre(s)
Fighting

The original Smash Bros. Was released in 1999 for the Nintendo 64, and its follow-up, Super Smash Bros. Melee created an enduring and dedicated community. The latest and most popular is Super Smash Bros. Ultimate on the Nintendo Switch, which features a massive roster of characters and stages that bring something for everyone. It's considered by many to be the best way to enjoy platform fighters today.

Smash Bros. Is known for its epic and chaotic battles, which feature up to 8 players, fighting individually or as part of a team. There are a variety of modes and settings to choose from for both couch co-op and online multiplayer, and the controls are easy to grasp for new players too. For these reasons, the active community continues to thrive several years after launch.