The 30 Best PS1 Fighting Games

Back in the day, Sega dived into the world of polygonal 3D fighters with the release of Virtua Fighter. Namco took inspiration from the second entry in the series and went on to create its very own 3D brawler that became one of its biggest IPs. The first Tekken introduced the gaming public to the warring father-and-son combo of Kazuya and Heihachi Mishima, whose family quarrels played out during the initial "King of the Iron Fist Tournament." An engrossing plotline, likable roster members, and hard-hitting 3D combat helped the first Tekken start the series off on a high note.

When Tekken 2 emerged, it blew fans' minds as it showcased an impressive uptick in visual fidelity. On the content front, new modes were introduced here that went on to become series staples (Survival, Time Attack, Team Battle, and Practice modes, for instance). Right alongside the first game's nice array of playable martial artists, Tekken 2 marked the debut of fan favorites Lei Wulong, Jun Kazama, Alex/Roger, Baek Doo San, and Bruce Irvin. Tekken 2 solidified Namco's 3D fighting game IP as the one to watch during its mid- to late-90s heyday.

Tekken isn't just one of the best PS1 fighting games, it's one of the best PS1 fighting games period! Namco stepped its game up immensely to craft one of the greatest 3D fighters of all time in Tekken 3. Jin Kazama and a whole new generation of fighters inspired by previous combatants from the last two series entries showed up to throw hands in one of the best-looking fighting games ever made. The newest additions of side-stepping and replay-worthy modes such as "Tekken Force" & "Tekken Ball" did an amazing job of making the third Tekken release a home run.

Namco garnered plenty of attention from fighting game fans thanks to its Tekken releases and the first installment of its weapons-based fighter, Soul Edge. There's still so much to reminisce about in regards to this classic PS1 title - its epic opening cinematic, its sweeping orchestral score, its well-tuned & perfectly paced battles, and its shockingly deep "Edge Master" mode are a perfect amalgamation of this game's greatest features. We'll always look to Soul Edge as another one of the best PS1 fighting games simply because it debuted amazing fighting game characters such as Mitsurugi, Siegfried, and Taki. Big shout out to the intro guy who hypes us up every time we load into another clash of varied weapons in this game!

We never knew we wanted a fighter on par with Virtua Fighter which features the iconic art style of Akira Toriyama of Dragon Ball fame until we laid eyes on Tobal No. 1. This underrated 3D brawler features one of the smoothest move transitions we've ever seen from a PS1 game, plus its "Quest Mode" turned out to be more feature-rich that everyone expected it to be. This game's immense freedom of movement across each battlefield and its distinctive grappling & blocking mechanics are two more reasons why Tobal No. 1 is such an innovative 3D fighter.

It's safe to say that we may never come across a fighting game quite like this one ever again. In a sea full of grounded 2D and 3D fighters, Psychic Force changed things by taking its battles into the sky in a boxed arena where elemental warriors launched projectiles at each other. The constant use of dashing, up close & personal melee strikes, and devastating wall slams all combined to offer one of the most invigorating combat systems seen in a fighter of this caliber. The main fire dude that stars on the cover of this game and the big machine-gun-toting guy always pop into our brains whenever we reminisce about this game.

Capcom adopted a slick anime art style when it decided to take its biggest fighting game IP to the period before the events of Street Fighter II. The first Street Fighter Alpha gave fans an awesome prequel game that showcased the early origins of their favorite characters and also added in surprise roster picks hailing from the first Street Fighter & Final Fight. The new & improved three-level "Super Combo Gauge" introduced a cool way to pull off crucial "Super Combo" techniques, plus the debut of "Air Blocking" and "Chain Combos" made the action in this game flow a bit better in comparison to the Street Fighter series entries that came before it. We owe it to this game for giving us "Dramatic Battle Mode," by the way!

There is just something so right about the way Street Fighter Alpha 2 feels, looks, and sounds. This sequel boosts the speed of combat and gives players more character creativity thanks to the "Custom Combo" system. We'll always hold this fighter in high regard for bringing back series veterans Dhalsim, Zangief, and Gen, the scrappy high school "Ansatsuken" practitioner Sakura, and another Final Fight crossover roster inclusion by the name of Rolento. Capcom's fighting game output during the 90s is unmatched - Street Fighter Alpha 2's presence on this list of the best PS1 fighting games provides clear evidence of that proclamation.

Street Fighter Alpha 3 gives off that "EVERYONE IS HERE!" vibe that Super Smash Bros. Ultimate used as a catchphrase during its promotional run. In a huge upgrade compared to the arcade version of this game, the PS1 port threw in a kitchen sink worth of additional characters. Surprising returns such as Dee Jay, Fei Long, and Guile were joined by newcomers that turned into series standbys, such as R. Mika, Karen, and Cody. From a mechanical standpoint, we love this game for giving players three variations of "-Ism" systems to choose from. Plus the "World Tour" mode ended up becoming one of Capcom's finest efforts when it came to installing quality single-player content in its fighting games.

Whoever came up with the genius concept for a fighting game pitting high schools against each other in a sort of gang warfare breakout needs to be given their damned flowers! Rival Schools: United by Fate deserves mentioning as another one of the best PS1 fighting games for these three main reasons - its 3D anime art style still looks good to this day, its roster is filled with idolized Capcom characters (Batsu, Roy, and Shoma are goated!), and its mix of fun combat systems still make it a joy to play. Landing a launcher that leads right into an epic air combo and then catching your opponent in a lethal life-bar-depleting "Team Up" attack will forever bring the hype!

Bushido Blade took a different route in its weapons-based fighting game presentation. Instead of pitting two warriors against each other on a 2D plane, this innovative fighter threw them onto a wide-open 3D battlefield. Players had to adopt more strategic play in hopes of approaching their foe and landing the decisive killing blow. It's still exciting to take part in battles that either last seconds or a couple of minutes longer if both players are experts when it comes to proper battleground placement. The nice variety of selectable weapons, the first-person viewpoint option, and the clever usage of a Bushido code that encouraged you to play honorable during the story mode compile more reasons why this game is remembered so fondly.

A year after its predecessor impressed PS1 owners who gave it a chance, Bushido Blade 2 arrived with a couple of changes that elicited a positive response. On the equipable weapons front, dual swords and even guns were added to add a different dynamic to the game's well-constructed approach to combat. Its story mode changed its format to present assorted clashes spread out across a map that involved two rival schools of lethal assassins. We'll admit to picking the legendary Yari spear more than anything else when we were ready to hand out some L's in this strategy-laden fighter!

Tekken isn't the only PS1 fighting game that owes its creation to the massive success of Virtua Fighter - development studio's Team Ninja got inspired by that series to make a signature 3D fighter of its own. Enter Dead or Alive, a dynamic brawler that provided something different in the form of a "Hold" button that led to creative counters. "Danger Zones" also played a huge part during this game's hard-hitting battles as they explode, send a character sky high, and bring them back down just in time to get juggled with a follow-up combo. Yeah we know, we know...all the young kinds that discovered this game were quite taken by its more "bountiful" female roster members.

Gundam Battle Assault 2 is such a massive step up from its less revered predecessor. One of the reasons we say that is because its "Street Mode" story-focused campaign does a fine job of producing sequences with dedicated dialogue that make it feel like you're witnessing a Gundam episode play out before your very eyes. The towering "Mobile Suits" look a tad bit better in this sequel and the slower-paced gameplay is even more refined here to mimic the weight & impact connected to such hulking robotic soldiers. Props to this game for changing its dodging and beam barrier usage mechanics to draining a character's boost gauge instead of their far more crucial health meter. As far as PS1 fighting games attached to popular anime go, Gundam Battle Assault 2 is one of the best.

The first X-Men: Mutant Academy certainly had a strong concept for a fighting game - that format included amassing several recognizable and lesser-known Marvel Comics mutants for a 1v1 fighter that features a control scheme similar to that of Street Fighter and a 3D art style. Sadly, that initial release left a lot to be desired. However, its sequel righted the wrongs of its predecessor by sprucing up its visuals, expanding the roster, and deepening its combat flow by adding in more combo routes for the entire roster. While it was fun to pick worshipped X-Men characters such as Wolverine, Phoenix, and Havoc during our old-school multiplayer sessions from this fighter, we had even more of a blast unlocking Spider-Man and bodying people with Marvel's greatest web-crawler!

Every time a new Mortal Kombat game came out, fans were treated to an even darker presentation, more off-the-wall characters, and more satisfying ways to brutalize an opponent at the end of two successfully fought rounds. At the time of its release, Mortal Kombat Trilogy put a lot of smiles on fans' faces since it's essentially a "best-of" compilation that presents the most definitive version of Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3. Yes, the bugs and glitches in this version of the game are unfortunate. But we can't overlook just how great its roster is (Raiden and Baraka came back!), the fact that the "Brutality" system debuted here, and the new moves given to many of our favorite characters.

To this day, Bloody Roar fans are begging and pleading with Konami to either put out a collection for the series or make an entirely new game altogether! That's because the first game left such a strong impression on players thanks to its incredible gimmick that lets characters transform into their beast form at any point during a battle. We'll always remember this top-tier PS1 fighting game for letting blood come flying out of everyone after ferocious attacks. Plus we'll always look back on our winning ways with the guy who can transform into a wolf, the chick who can change into a rabbit, and the hefty bruiser that can mutate into a gorilla with so much glee.

Bloody Roar 2 surpasses the first game simply by adding in some of the flashiest, most jaw-dropping super moves we've ever seen in a fighting game. We're sure our old unlucky foes hated getting torn to shreds by our favorite characters' "Beast Drives," but we certainly didn't! As far as new roster inclusions go, we loved the addition of new animal types that include a mole, a cat, a beetle, a leopard, a bat, and a chameleon. Add on upgraded visuals and you have one of the better PS1 fighting game sequels we've ever laid eyes on and played extensively as wee lads.

The dream battle of all dream battles finally became a reality back in 2000 once Capcom and SNK combined their rosters for a battle of the ages! Capcom vs. SNK Pro is the upgraded rendition of that arcade and Dreamcast classic - on top of its already quality 2D sprites and pleasing gameplay mechanics, this version of the game brought Capcom's Dan Hibiki and SNK's Joe Higashi along for the ride. Those two new characters, new moves for the rest of the game's roster, and additional modes are more than enough to help earn this title a slot on our list of the best PS1 fighting games (those PS1 load times were brutal, though!).

What a time to be alive for wrestling fans during the famed WWF Attitude Era! Vince McMahon's wrestling wonderland pumped out anything and everything when it came to merchandise, which included video games. While N64 owners got classics like WWF WrestleMania 2000 and WWF No Mercy, PS1 owners got the equally great SmackDown! series. WWF SmackDown! 2: Know Your Role marks a high point for the franchise - an improved story mode provided more intriguing storylines to take part in, the Create-A-Wrestler module was expanded to an incredible degree, and the wealth of match options & playable Superstars to choose from made this the perfect game for young wrestling fans who wanted to live out their WWF dream scenarios.

Here's a forgotten Capcom IP that deserves another chance at bringing in an even larger fanbase. Star Gladiator is presented as a more futuristic take on Soul Edge - instead of wielding steel, this game's characters employ the use of plasma-powered weapons that include a weapon that looks just like a lightsaber lifted from Star Wars. Great character designs are in abundance here - Hayato, June, and Bilstein (who's a splitting image of Darth Vader!) stick out as some of the coolest ones. Star Gladiator will always get praise from us for being another one of Capcom's more enjoyable 3D fighting game experiences.

When Capcom finally took its "World Warriors" to the realm of 3D, it tapped development studio Arika to create something truly magnificent. Street Fighter EX Plus Alpha is a bigger and better port of the arcade original due to its significant final roster of 23 characters. Street Fighter regulars such as Ryu, Chun-Li, and Dhalsim were accompanied by brand-new faces that fans have come to appreciate over time. Newcomers such as Garuda, Allen Snider, and Blair Dame got injected into a better-than-expected fighter where Super Combo cancel mechanics allowed them to pull off the most jaw-dropping moves in their repertoire in quick succession.

"Guard Breaks" and "Super Canceling" helped the first game in this Street Fighter spinoff series gain a much-needed identity of its own. By the time Street Fighter EX2 came around, every fight got a million times more enthralling thanks to the eye-popping "Excel Combos" that are close in structure to Street Fighter Alpha's Custom Combos. The PS1 release is the ultimate package of this fighter thanks to the even more mind-blowing "Meteor Combos," a monumental new minigame that lets you assault a satellite, and Hayate as an extra secret character.

Street Fighter wasn't the only 2D sprite-based fighter that adopted a gorgeous anime sheen - it also developed a comparable fighter that housed a roster full of characters inspired by horror movie archetypes. There's a reason why the likes of Morrigan, Felicia, and Hsien-Ko get so much air time as crossover characters in other Capcom titles - the greatness of the Darkstalkers: The Night Warriors solidified their relevance forever and ever. An amazing roster, a catchy OST, and up-tempo gameplay supplemented by cool mechanics ("Crouch Walking" is clutch!) are the most commendable parts of this classic Capcom PS1 fighting game.

Darkstalkers 3 marks the series' highest point of recognizability and fan adoration by a country mile. The amazing 2D gameplay of past games in the series got deeper and showier from a visual standpoint via the signature "Dark Force System." Witnessing Lord Raptor go rabid with a chainsaw arm, ambushing an opponent with a Morrigan doppelganger, and being able to stay airborne for an extended period as Jedah points to that system being a godsend as far as new features. Darkstalkers 3 also earns a nod on this list thanks to its introduction of the best new series entrants we've ever seen - Jedah, Lilith, Q-Bee, and B. B. Hood are top-of-the-line when it comes to original Capcom characters!

The majority of The King of Fighters games came to PS1 as Japan-only releases. Out of the series entries that were also released in North America, the one we've chosen to throw on this list of the best PS1 fighting games in KOF '95. Being able to create a custom team comprised of characters from different teams ended up being the defining feature of this prized SNK fighter. It's also worth shouting out this game for birthing the "Rival Team" and giving the world of gaming one of the best maniacal characters of all time in Iori Yagami. Kyo's awesome pops Saisyu Kusanagi debuted in this game, too!

Most Guilty Gear players were exposed to it at the launch of Guilty Gear X. If you played the very first entry in Arc System Works' most prized IP, then you were considered one of the cool kids in the schoolyard who played games that other folks just weren't up on yet. Guilty Gear's rocking soundtrack, wild plot machinations, and energetic anime fighting game feel were all established in this introduction to the series as a whole. Those "Instant Kill" techniques also originated here - your cool schoolyard kid cred increased even more if you could pull those off!

We'll always applaud Capcom for taking its oh-so-cute chibi-stylized versions of its fighting game characters from Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo and putting them in a 1v1 brawler. Pocket Fighter is one of the most amusing 2D fighters ever made. Each character on the roster has traditional moves, of course. But it's the more non-traditional maneuvers (such as Ibuki changing into a penguin costume to land an air kick) that make this fighter so memorable. Knocking a bunch of multicolored gems out of character via a powerful blow never grows tiresome, plus you just can't be mad at a fighting game that lets you play with a super cute version of Akuma.

Fighting game compilations are all over the place these days, but they were more of a rarity back in the day. One of Capcom's first attempts at mastering that approach to honoring its legacy is the first Street Fighter Collection, which includes Super Street Fighter II: The New Challengers, Super Street Fighter II Turbo, and Street Fighter Alpha 2 Gold. The obvious main attraction here is the last game we mentioned beforehand since it comes with the best version of one of the top Street Fighter games. More moves for certain characters, secret "EX" characters, and the inclusion of X-Men vs. Street Fighter's Cammy rendition as another playable character improve upon the foundation put in place by the vanilla version of Street Fighter Alpha 2.

While Street Fighter Collection 2's slate of content pales in comparison to everything in the first one, it still deserves a placement on our list of the best PS1 fighting gams. The OG version of Street Fighter 2, Street Fighter 2: Champion Edition, and Street Fighter 2 Turbo: Hyper Fighting are all included here thankfully. The remixed audio for the soundtrack is pretty dope and the "Deluxe Vs." mode that lets players pick different versions of each game's roster for some dream matches set a cool standard that made its welcome return in Hyper Street Fighter II.