Fighting games are relatively niche in the gaming industry, yet no one would deny that the genre absolutely deserves its spot in The Game Awards 2024. After all, the fighting game community is undoubtedly one of the most dedicated and passionate out there. Fighting games have begun to experience a full-blown renaissance, with a number of instant-classics hitting shelves in the last two years alone.
The Games Awards 2024 will take place on December 12, and officially mark the event's 10th anniversary. This will undoubtedly make the event a hotbed for exciting news. Many major fighting game franchises already have active titles out right now, which means game reveals may be relatively light. However, this only makes it more likely that each game will show off DLC for new characters and more. Game of the Year may be the most coveted prize of the night, but Best Fighting Game has been equally competitive in years past.
2024 Best Fighting Game Nominees
- Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO (Spike Chunsoft/Bandai Namco)
- Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising (Arc System Works/Cygames)
- Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics (Capcom)
- MultiVersus (Player First Games/WB Games)
- Tekken 8 (Bandai Namco)
The Game Awards 2024: Predicting the Game of the Year Winner
The Game Awards is almost upon us, and six new games find themselves duking it out in the Game of the Year category, but there can only be one winner.
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero
Between the tragic passing of series creator Akira Toriyama, and the subsequent release of his last work, Dragon Ball Daima, 2024 has been a long year for Dragon Ball. In that regard, the release of Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero can be accurately described as a full-blown event. Sparking Zero marked the return of the beloved Budokai Tenkaichi series, and accomplished the impossible task of living up to that legacy. With 181 characters and a plethora of story content, Sparking Zero earned its nomination through sheer force of will.
Despite the acclaim, it isn't all sunshine and rainbows. Most notably, Sparking Zero is an arena fighter, a sub-genre which many in the fighting game community commonly criticize. Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero has dodged this criticism thanks to its legacy, but it has still factored into perceptions of the game as one that cannot be played in a serious competitive format. Perhaps more importantly, publisher Bandai Namco has another game up for nomination that it may be more likely to throw some weight behind.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 82 /100 Critics Rec: 86%
- Released
- October 11, 2024
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Spike Chunsoft
- Publisher(s)
- Namco Bandai
WHERE TO PLAY
DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO takes the legendary gameplay of the Budokai Tenkaichi series and raises it to whole new levels. Become a super warrior and experience the earth-shaking, limit-breaking power of DRAGON BALL battles!
Unleash the strength of over 180 fighters from DRAGON BALL Z, DRAGON BALL Super, DRAGON BALL GT, and selected DRAGON BALL movies, all in the base game! Each character comes with their own signature abilities, transformations, and techniques.
Make the destructive power of the strongest fighters ever to appear in DRAGON BALL yours!
Engage in heart-pounding, high-speed 3D battles that stay true to the anime and video game series, with breathtaking visuals and authentic combat moves like beam clashes, rush attacks, movements too quick for the eyes to see, and planet-razing ultimate attacks.
Challenge other players online to test your skills, or sit down with friends offline to hone your skills exclusively in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber! Fight your way to become a champion across various tournament modes and victory conditions.
Conquer the action-packed battles from the beloved original story, or discover and unlock new encounters for your favorite Z-Fighters and more. Relive your favorite moments from the series through cutscenes you can experience from the perspectives of eight characters!
Recreate your favorite battles from throughout the DRAGON BALL story, or set up your dream story battle with your favorite characters! Share your creations with other fans and experience the battles brought to life by imaginations around the world.
- Engine
- proprietary engine
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer, Local Multiplayer
- Franchise
- Dragon Ball
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Fighting, Action
- How Long To Beat
- 11 hours
- How Long To Beat (Completionist Runs)
- 80 Hours
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising
In most years, Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising would likely be an underdog. In fact, when its predecessor was nominated in the same category for The Game Awards 2020, it was handily defeated by Mortal Kombat 11: Ultimate Edition. Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising arrives to The Game Awards 2024 in much better shape, and against very different competition. Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising has held a steady playerbase, and has put in the work to earn this nomination.
Unfortunately, Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising's biggest strength could very well be its undoing. The game is undoubtedly an improvement on its predecessor. Despite this, it has occasionally struggled to escape this comparison, with some even relating it to an expansive update. Whether the game can distinguish itself as a standalone title or not may make a world of difference in this category.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 83 /100 Critics Rec: 95%
- Released
- December 14, 2023
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Violence
- Developer(s)
- Arc System Works
- Publisher(s)
- Cygames
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 4
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer
- Franchise
- Granblue Fantasy
WHERE TO PLAY
The latest installment in the GBVS series is taking the genre to new heights! Rise to glory in the definitive fighting game experience for beginners and veterans alike.
It's a Party! Claim Your Crown in Grand Bruise Legends!
Need a break from matches? Take a breather and experience a one-of-a-kind island lobby filled with fun attractions. You can even go head-to-head with other players online in a variety of obstacle courses and survival games in an all-new party mode, Grand Bruise Legends!
Stay Focused on the Battle, Not the Controls: Newcomers can fully enjoy the intensity and thrills of one-on-one combat without needing to memorize complicated controls—simple inputs can be used to perform skills with the press of a single button!
A Captivating Story Campaign Awaits: Embark on a journey through the vast skies of Granblue Fantasy and immerse yourself in an epic adventure while mastering the fundamentals of gameplay. As you take on more quests in this action RPG-inspired experience, you'll continue to grow stronger.
Personalize the Experience On Every Level: Express yourself and show some love for your favorite Granblue characters through a variety of character colors, weapon skins, lobby avatars, and even a selectable partner character to cheer you on and give you advice!
Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics
Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics shocked the community when it was first announced in June 2024. The compilation brought more than a half dozen games from the brink of extinction, and each one of them holds a special place in fighting game history. Among them, Marvel vs. Capcom 2 stands out as an undisputed classic and is a huge selling point for the collection.
However, some see its candidacy for Best Fighting Game as a non-starter. It's a matter of fact that every game in the collection is well over 20 years old, with a clear effort made to keep them as faithful to their original release as possible. Considering the games featured in the collection were previously inaccessible to general audiences, they are still very much a new experience for many players. Regardless of if it can score a win or not, Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection will still go down in history.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 86 /100 Critics Rec: 95%
- Released
- September 12, 2024
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Blood, Drug Reference, Suggestive Themes, Use of Tobacco, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Publisher(s)
- Capcom
- Engine
- MT Framework
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer
- Franchise
- Marvel Vs. Capcom
WHERE TO PLAY
The legendary crossover hits are back!
Jump into this collection of arcade classics from the fan-favorite Marvel and Capcom crossover games!
Dive into an action-packed lineup consisting of seven unique titles, including heavy hitters like X-MEN VS. STREET FIGHTER, and MARVEL vs. CAPCOM 2 New Age of Heroes. The collection also includes the rare beat 'em up game, THE PUNISHER.
Each game in the collection can be played online or co-op!
Whether you're new to the series or you played back in the arcades, players of all levels can enjoy these timeless classics together!
Included Games:
X-MEN CHILDREN OF THE ATOM
MARVEL SUPER HEROES
X-MEN VS. STREET FIGHTER
MARVEL SUPER HEROES vs. STREET FIGHTER
MARVEL vs. CAPCOM CLASH OF SUPER HEROES
MARVEL vs. CAPCOM 2 New Age of Heroes
THE PUNISHER
- Number of Players
- 1-2
- Platform(s)
- PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4
- Genre(s)
- Action, Fighting
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Multiversus
Even in a year of some off-kilter nominees, Multiversus manages to be the odd one out. Multiversus is a platform fighter, which places it in a completely different sub-genre from the rest of the list. Moreover, Multiversus has spent a fair bit of time in the spotlight already. Multiversus was released in early access in 2022, and remained playable for nearly a year. This has given the game plenty of time to build a following, and it has also added a fair bit of brand-new content upon its full release in May 2024.
Ironically, Multiversus has already won this exact award when it was nominated in 2022. Instead of improving its chances, this has only led some to question its eligibility for nomination. Multiversus has added a fair bit of original content since then, including plenty of new characters to an already stacked roster. For now, only time will tell if this is enough to earn a repeat win.
MultiVersus
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 76 /100 Critics Rec: 68%
- Released
- May 28, 2024
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Fantasy Violence, Language
- Developer(s)
- Player First Games
- Publisher(s)
- Warner Bros. Games
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op
- PC Release Date
- May 28, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
CHARACTERS: Choose from Bugs Bunny, Batman, Arya Stark, Rick Sanchez, and many more. In MultiVersus, every star brings their unique moves, worlds and attitudes to fight. And as the roster expands, so does the spectacle — with new personalities and play styles turning up the heat in every battle.
MAPS: Our maps turn legendary realms like the Batman’s Bat Cave, Jake and Finn’s Treefort, Game of Thrones’ Throne Room into epic battle grounds. And the best part? We’re adding new maps regularly, so the party never stops!
MODES: Whether you’re seeking the intensity of 1v1, the frenzy of a 4-player mayhem, or team up for strategic 2v2 battles, we’ve got you covered. Plus, introducing an all new PvE mode, a thrilling realm of limitless combat possibilities designed for solo or co-op play.
CROSS-PLATFORM: MultiVersus has full cross-play and cross-progression support across all platforms.
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Fighting
Tekken 8
Tekken 8 enters the competition with plenty of wind in its sails. Tekken is a massive franchise, often cited as a member of the "Big 3" alongside Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat. Considering neither of the latter two are up for nomination, one couldn't be blamed for believing that Tekken 8 is sitting pretty. Of course, Tekken 8 is a strong contender in its own right.
Tekken 8 is riding some pretty strong good will thanks to the previous entry in the series, and has been sure to make some major developments of its own. Tekken 8's DLC has been somewhat well received, even if the return of a fan-favorite character has been ironically controversial. Despite everything it has going for it, it isn't fully out of the woods yet. After all, Tekken 8 has been review bombed multiple times due to its monetization practices, which could have a major effect on its path to victory.
Tekken 8
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 90 /100 Critics Rec: 99%
- Released
- January 26, 2024
- ESRB
- t
- Developer(s)
- Bandai Namco Entertainment, Arika
- Publisher(s)
- Bandai Namco Entertainment
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
- Multiplayer
- Local Multiplayer, Online Multiplayer
- Cross-Platform Play
- PC, PS5 & Xbox Series X|S
WHERE TO PLAY
Tekken 8 brings the fight to the latest generation of consoles, powered by Unreal Engine 5. Feel the power of every hit in Tekken 8, the latest entry in the legendary fighting game franchise from Bandai Namco. Utilising the power and realism of Unreal Engine 5, Tekken 8 pushes the envelope for fighting games by taking full advantage of the power of the latest generation of consoles. Ground-breaking new features, breathtakingly detailed character models and dramatic environments make this one of the most visually stunning and immersive titles in the genre yet. Tekken 8 picks up after the gruesome battle that ended in Heihachi Mishima’s defeat in Tekken 7, focusing on a new rivalry, pitting father against son as Jin Kazama stands in defiance against Kazuya Mishima in a city-shattering face-to-face showdown.
- Franchise
- Tekken
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Fighting
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Final Prediction
There are several solid games in the running, but only one can ultimately claim victory. On the same note, one game far and away stands as the best contender to be crowned Best Fighting Game of 2024.
Tekken 8 was a clear front-runner from the start, considered the favorite to win by fans and critics alike. Tekken 8 distinguishes itself as the best fighting game of the year purely on its own merits, but has plenty of outside factors going for it as well. Riding the coattails of Tekken 7 helps to overcome Tekken 8's own controversies. Between Rivals of Aether 2 and Under Night In-Birth 2, the category received its fair share of snubs as well. Finally, many of the games that were nominated have one or two factors holding them back.
Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero and Multiversus are both from different sub-genres, and the latter faces the pressure of a previous nomination. Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising is a solid game overall, but it struggles against an existing legacy. Marvel vs. Capcom: Fighting Collection is steeped in legacy, but its lack of original content could hold it back. Tekken 8 has expertly dodged each of these roadblocks, and may have potentially paved the way for a resounding victory over the other nominees in The Game Awards 2024.