Summary
- Tekken fans eagerly await final DLC character for season 1, predicting possible additions like Miguel and Anna.
- Guest characters like Kiryu and Tifa could bring unique combat styles to Tekken 8, fitting in well with the roster.
- Speculation rises on potential fighters like Jinpachi and Fahkumram to join the roster, adding excitement for future gameplay.
Over the last few weeks, Tekken fans have been eagerly awaiting the announcement of the final DLC character for season 1. While some initially theorized that the last entry would be none other than Heihachi himself, Bandai Namco surprised everyone by introducing him as DLC 3, which has made people even more excited about who could possibly fill the final slot.
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Some say that this is the perfect time to introduce a guest character, while others feel a classic character in the series would be a suitable pick to see off the first season. Either way, players expect this announcement to be a big one, so to prepare for what's to come, here are the characters many fans believe have a good chance of making the cut.
8 Miguel Caballero Rojo
An Unlikely Fan Favorite From Tekken 6 With An Unorthodox Fighting Style
Tekken 6
Miguel became somewhat of an unexpected fan favorite after he was introduced in Tekken 6. The major reason for this was due to how unique he was as a fighter, not just in his appearance, but also in his combat style, which involved a lot of wild haymakers and kicks, almost as if he'd gulped down a few bottles of beer before entering the arena.
His return in Tekken 8 would certainly be a surprise, and a sigh of relief for all those Miguel mains out there, but judging whether he quite has the star power to be the final fighter of Season 1 is hard to say. One thing is for sure though, he still has a score to settle with Jin, so it would be fascinating to see how the two of them interact in-game now that Jin is a changed man.
7 Kazuma Kiryu
Kiryu's Multiple Fighting Styles Would Make Him A Suitable Addition To The Roster
Yakuza Kiwami
- Released
- August 29, 2017
- Developer(s)
- Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
As far as guest characters go, Kiryu would easily fit into the Tekken roster given his combat expertise, and his stylish appearance, which puts some of the original fighters to shame. Since the Like a Dragon series is also now more popular than it's ever been with the massive success of Infinite Wealth, many believe that there's a good chance Kiryu could be on the cards as DLC 4.
The only issue with Kiryu entering the Iron Fist Tournament is his hesitancy to fight women in his original series. While it is possible to make Kiryu do this in combat, as a character, his chivalrous attitude often forces him to avoid harming women in any way. Still, whether this will matter much when he has the likes of Asuka and Lilly trying to rip his head off, only time will tell.
6 Anna Williams
A Classic Character Who First Debuted In The Original Tekken Could Be Making A Grand Return
Tekken
Making her debut in the very first Tekken game, Anna slowly became a fan favorite over the years and was added as DLC back in Tekken 7. Though she and her sister Nina were trained in the assassination style, Anna always felt a lot different than Nina to play, often being slower and more methodical in her approach to combat.
She is also a character who has been known to use stances, which could make her a tricky opponent to come up against. Another benefit of Anna being introduced as the final DLC character would be the special pre-match interactions she could have with the likes of Nina, and especially Steve.
5 Jinpachi Mishima
Heihachi's Father Still Has Unfinished Business With The Mashimas
Tekken 5
If Bandai Namco wanted to up the ante after Heihachi's entry into Tekken 8, the most logical fighter to turn to next would be his father, Jinpachi. This mysterious behemoth is recognized as being one of the most powerful fighters in all of Tekken, and considering he is a Mishima, he would have plenty to say to the likes of Heihachi, Jin, and Kazuya.
It's also worth mentioning that Jinpachi once assumed the role of final boss back in Tekken 5, and since it's always a treat to play as the big bad villains in fighting games, this would be a nice surprise for longtime fans who have stuck with the series for so long. Getting around his death might be an issue, but then again, if Heihachi can survive being dropped into a volcano, then this shouldn't be an issue for Jinpachi.
4 Tifa Lockhart
After Nocits Made An Appearance In Tekken 7, Could Tifa Be On The Cards For The Latest Game?
Final Fantasy 7
- Released
- January 31, 1997
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation (Original), PC, iOS, Android, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PS4
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Tifa from the Final Fantasy franchise being a Tekken character may have once seemed like a distant pipe dream, but there's good reason to believe she may make it in for the latest installment. Harada, the lead developer of Tekken, has come out on X and acknowledged how feverous fans have been to see Tifa be added to the game, and though nothing has been denied or confirmed, she would not feel out of place.
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Though she was initially a brawler in the original Final Fantasy 7, the remakes have made Tifa much more agile and almost an anime character in how quickly she can zoom around her opponents with quick and flashy strikes. This could make her an agile fighter who relies on sudden movements and maybe even command grabs to demonstrate her overwhelming strength.
3 Kazumi Mishima
Kazumi's Unique Fighting Style And Role Within The Story Made Her A Popular Fighter In Tekken 7
One of the only characters in the series who has ever been able to put up a fight against Heihachi, Kazumi is not a combatant to be messed with. Though she has been an integral character to the plot of Tekken for many years, Kazumi first became playable in Tekken 7 where her Hachijo-style karate and tiger attacks helped to make her a very popular member of the cast.
Kazumi is also one of the few characters who possesses the Devil Gene, which would allow her to use a wide range of special techniques and abilities, making her a joy to both play and watch. Kazumi would be a safe, but still exciting choice as the final DLC character, but fans can only wonder whether Bandai Namco considers her popular enough to return.
2 Fahkumram
Fahkumram Could Be The Muay-Thai Fighter That Tekken 8 Is Severely Missing
Tekken 7
- Released
- March 18, 2015
- Developer(s)
- Bandai Namco Studios
- Genre(s)
- Fighting
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Fahkumram was first introduced as a DLC fighter for Tekken 7, but in all honesty, he looks like he was ripped straight out of an anime like Baki or JoJo's Bizarre Adventure at first glance. Fahkumram is massive, by far one of the biggest fighters in the franchise, and since Tekken 8 is severely lacking giant characters right now, he would be welcomed with open arms by fans of that sort of archetype.
This could also be an opportunity for Bandai Namco to push Fahkumram as a mainstay in the cast, rather than just being a one-time add-on. He was by far one of the most popular DLC characters of the last game thanks to his physique and Muay Thai fighting style, so there's a good chance fans may see him again very soon.
1 Armor King
Many Fans Have Been Begging For Armor King's Return Ever Since Tekken 8's Launch
Tekken
King is already one of the most popular fighters in Tekken 8, and is a constant sight when playing online, so adding in his arch nemesis, Armor King, would help to add some variety while simultaneously allowing King players to experiment with someone new. Armor King is known for being a much more malicious and violent character than King, alongside having a few nasty tricks up his sleeve, including poison breath.
Armor King also tends to be a lot more defensive than regular King, capable of throwing out much faster pokes and a few extra lows to catch the enemy off guard, without requiring the technical skill needed to play King properly. Armor King is certainly popular enough to be eligible as the final DLC character, and it would make up for him not being on the roster to begin with.
Tekken 8
- Released
- January 26, 2024
- Developer(s)
- Bandai Namco Entertainment, Arika
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Fighting
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty