Summary
- Superheroes in fighting games attract both casual and dedicated gamers, offering engaging storylines and fast-paced gameplay.
- Marvel Vs. Capcom: Infinite disappointed initially, but fans' mods revived the game's appeal, leading to a resurgence in popularity.
- Injustice 2 improved upon its predecessor with a gear system, more characters, and a grander storyline for a better overall experience.
Superheroes are the perfect subject to be used in various genres of video games, from open-world RPGS to tournament fighting games in the style of Street Fighter or Mortal Kombat. It is the ideal way to live out the ultimate power fantasy, blasting an enemy opponent with the iconic superpower or weapon of a superhero from Marvel, DC, and other franchises.
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These recognizable fighting game protagonists have long been the faces of their franchises, but which stands as the most iconic of them all?
Many superhero fighting games attract both casual gamers who want to play as their favorite characters and dedicated fighting game fans. Players can enjoy fast-paced gameplay solo, with friends, or online against random opponents. Additionally, they can immerse themselves in comic book worlds through engaging storylines that serve as the backdrop for numerous battles.
10 X-Men: Next Dimension
If Marvel Took On The Style Of Tekken
X-Men Next Dimension
- Released
- October 15, 2002
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Developer(s)
- Midway Games
- Genre(s)
- Fighting, Action
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 3, Xbox (Original), GameCube
Those expecting a Capcom-esque fighting game in the vein of X-Men: Children Of The Atom were surprised by X-Men: Next Dimension, which took on a 3D gameplay style. A more accurate comparison would be Soulcalibur or Tekken, even featuring a story mode about the villain Bastion, creating a plot that would force the X-Men and the Brotherhood of Mutants to fight.
Before the emergence of titles like Injustice and later iterations of Marvel Vs. Capcom, X-Men: Next Dimension deserves recognition for presenting a storyline in a fighting game, even if it is straightforward. Each character possesses their trademark abilities and fighting styles that accurately represent the comic books, leading to engaging gameplay that fans can truly appreciate.
9 Justice League: Task Force
Blizzard's Forgotten Gem Did The Concept Before Injustice
Justice League Task Force
- Released
- June, 1995
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Sunsoft, Blizzard Entertainment, Condor, Inc.
- Genre(s)
- Fighting
- Platform(s)
- SNES, Sega Genesis
Before they became famous for WarCraft and Diablo, Blizzard created the first DC fighting game, Justice League: Task Force. Unlike the Injustice games, which took inspiration from Mortal Kombat, Justice League: Task Force is a clear imitation of Street Fighter, even featuring slow-motion finishes in matches.
The resemblance to Street Fighter helps anyone determine if they'll enjoy it, but DC fans might also be intrigued by the unconventional cast of characters influenced by 90s comics at the time. Superman with his infamous mullet, Green Arrow, Aquaman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, and Batman make up a small roster, but one that was ahead of its time, doing things that foreshadowed Injustice.
8 Marvel Vs. Capcom: Infinite
Fans Helped Transform The Game For The Better
Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite
- Released
- September 19, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
As the fourth game in the series with so many Marvel and Capcom franchises to pull characters from, Marvel Vs. Capcom: Infinite proved to be a disappointment on release. Even with all the DLC, the visual style of the game, with uninspired character designs and unappealing backgrounds, made players feel detached from what is a potentially strong fighter.
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However, thanks to fans like Maximillian_Dood on YouTube, mods resurrected Marvel Vs. Capcom: Infinite to feel like a proper sequel, with new animations, improved gameplay, and an overhauled art style. This expansion mod, Marvel Vs. Capcom: Infinite & Beyond makes it feel like an entirely different game, which led to gamers rediscovering the game and showing love for it.
7 Marvel Contest Of Champions
Ambitious Marvel Title For At Home Or On The Go
Marvel Contest of Champions
- Released
- December 10, 2014
- Engine
- Unity
Despite being a mobile game, Marvel Contest of Champions provides an addictive experience that can be played at home, on the go, and now on PCs. After years of patches and updates, it has polished its simplistic yet engaging gameplay to provide an experience that can be enjoyable whether someone is just starting fighting games or has played them for years.
Like many mobile games, there is a push for microtransactions; however, they are not required to play Marvel Contest of Champions. By simply grinding every day, players can unlock dozens of heroes, villains, and anti-heroes from across the multiverse, making it one of the largest ensembles in Marvel games, up there with Marvel Ultimate Alliance and Marvel Heroes Omega.
6 Power Rangers: Battle For The Grid
A Crossover That Shows The Longevity Of Power Rangers
Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid
- Released
- March 26, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Violence
- Developer(s)
- nWay
- Genre(s)
- Fighting
- Platform(s)
- Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Weak
From the original Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers to the 2017 reboot to even the modern shows, Power Rangers: Battle For The Grid features many characters on its roster. It’s not just fan-service either, as every Power Ranger has different moves and special attacks to diversify the gameplay as a 3v3 tag-team fighter.
Those familiar with Street Fighter gameplay will adjust easily to the fast-paced gameplay of Power Rangers: Battle For The Grid, with lots of dodging and dashing to get in closer with powerful barrages of attacks. There are even Street Fighter characters featured in the game, given Power Ranger suits and abilities, combined with their familiar attacks.
5 Dragon Ball FighterZ
Arguably The Best Universe For A Fighting Game
Dragon Ball FighterZ
- Released
- January 26, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Cartoon Violence, Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes
- Developer(s)
- Arc System Works
- Genre(s)
- Fighting
- Platform(s)
- PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Arc System Works, the developers behind the Guilty Gear games, used their talent to bring characters like Goku and Vegeta to life in their signature style. Unlike other Dragon Ball games, Dragon Ball FighterZ sticks to a 2D perspective but utilizes 2.5D visuals to make the characters and their various powers look as authentic to the anime as possible.
For longtime fans of Dragon Ball, there are characters from the original series, Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball GT, Dragon Ball Super, and even a multitude of movies over the years. Similar to Power Rangers, it puts heavy emphasis on 3v3 tag-team fighting, which can result in so many mixes and matches to create a team that appeals to the player’s tastes.
4 Ultimate Marvel Vs. Capcom 3
The Jump to 3D Solidified An Iconic Trilogy
Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3
- Released
- November 15, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Mild Blood, Mild Language, Partial Nudity, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Eighting, Capcom
- Genre(s)
- Fighting
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 3, PS Vita, PlayStation 4, PC, Xbox One, Xbox 360
Ultimate Marvel Vs. Capcom 3 leaped into 3D visuals, utilizing cel-shaded animation to create ultra-colorful visuals that are almost comic-book-like. This somehow works for characters on both the Marvel and Capcom sides of things, with the latter having inclusions like Chris Redfield from Resident Evil and various heroes from the Mega Man franchise.
Even the Marvel side was expanded on, especially in the Ultimate Marvel Vs. Capcom 3 version, which added new characters, modes, and even updated moves for base characters. New additions include Rocket Raccoon, Doctor Strange, Iron Fist, and many more. While not as strong as its predecessor, Ultimate Marvel Vs. Capcom 3 proved to be a worthwhile addition to the franchise.
3 Injustice: Gods Among Us
Netherrealm Studios Spawned Another Fighting Game Franchise
Injustice: Gods Among Us
- Released
- April 16, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Blood, Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Tobacco, Violence
- Developer(s)
- NetherRealm Studios
- Genre(s)
- Fighting
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Even though Mortal Kombat Vs. DC Universe wasn’t a hit; it was essentially the seed that would grow and blossom into Injustice: Gods Among Us, developed by Netherrealm Studios as their second IP. It has similar gameplay to Mortal Kombat but with enough twists to not only make the game more distinguished but also fit an all-DC fighting game.
Injustice: Gods Among Us also excels because of its cinematic story mode, which has been praised for being on par or even better than several DC movies. With heroes and villains, including Batman, The Flash, Lobo, Killer Frost, and many more, Injustice was so successful that even the films took inspiration from it.
2 Marvel Vs. Capcom 2: New Age Of Heroes
Gamers Are Still Playing It Over Two Decades Later
Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes
- Released
- June 29, 2000
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Blood, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Engine
- NAOMI
- Genre(s)
- Fighting
- Platform(s)
- Arcade, iOS, Sega Dreamcast, PS2, PS3, Xbox (Original), Xbox 360
In the long line of Marvel/Capcom fighting games, Marvel Vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes is often regarded as the most beloved. It takes the already polished 3v3 gameplay of past games and goes even further. The visual style fits both Marvel and Capcom characters to create what looks like an interactive animated movie, with sprites that are still unrivaled to this day.
For years, Marvel Vs. Capcom 2: New Age Of Heroes remained a title played at tournaments, despite there being multiple sequels. This resulted in the game and many others being brought back in the Marvel Vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics, with gamers able to go online and continue the fight in multiplayer matches.
1 Injustice 2
The Gear System And Story Made For An Even Better Sequel
Injustice 2
- Released
- May 11, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
While sometimes less is more, Injustice 2 proves that sometimes bigger is better. It evolves from the first game with more characters, a grander storyline, and visuals that shame the original. Even the gameplay is similar to Injustice: Gods Among Us, but with significant improvements that make battling DC heroes and villains more enjoyable.
The new gear system in Injustice 2 also enhances the gameplay, offering thousands of items that can be unlocked to customize and create the Batman or Swamp Thing of the player’s dreams. Injustice 2 also features superheroes from other comic book universes, including the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Hellboy, which results in a memorable roster when combined with some Mortal Kombat characters.