The fighting game genre has a deep and rich history dating back to the early 90s. As the genre has evolved, fighting games have become more and more varied and distinct with a variety of sub-genres forming, including traditional 2D fighters, 3D fighters, platform fighters, arena fighters.
While many unfamiliar with the genre often assume fighting games have players control a single character, many popular fighting games opt to have players construct teams of characters, making use of tag-team mechanics. So today, we're going to look at the various team-based fighters that the genre has to offer and see which are the best.
10 Marvel Vs. Capcom
When talking about team-based fighting games, it's hard to have the conversation without bringing up the Marvel Vs. Capcom franchise. A crossover between the superheroes of Marvel comics and characters from various Capcom games, the original Marvel Vs. Capcom has players create tag teams of two characters.
Players must defeat each of their opponent's characters, while being able to freely tag between the characters in their team. The game was known for its fast-paced and flashy combat that was rife with infinite combos.
9 Power Rangers: Battle For The Grid
Easily one of the most underrated fighting games of recent history, Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid is a fast-paced fighter with many similarities to the previously mentioned Marvel Vs. Capcom series.
Featuring a roster of characters made up of characters from various Power Rangers series, players create teams of three characters that can be freely tagged into battle or used for assist moves. The game features over-the-top super moves and lengthy combos with every character in the game being their own special flavor of overpowered.
8 King Of Fighters XIV
The King of Fighters is one of genre veteran SNK's flagship fighting game franchises. One of the most recent entries in the series, Kight of Fighters XIV is a game that rewards strong fundamentals, spacing, and footsies while still allowing players to perform combos.
Having players create teams of three characters, rather than allowing players to tag between the members of their team, players are committed to each member of their team until they're knocked out.
7 Blazblue Cross Tag Battle
While Arc System Works is a developer known for making great fighting games, the vast majority of their releases have been one-on-one experiences. A crossover featuring characters from the Blazblue, Persona, Under Night In-Birth, and RWBY franchises, Blazblue Cross Tag Battle is proof that Arc System works can also make great team-based fighters.
A two-versus-two fighter like Marvel Vs. Capcom one, this high-speed fighter lowers the barrier of entry for newcomers to the genre, using a four-button combat system alongside universal inputs for every characters' special moves.
6 Dragon Ball FighterZ
Another of the few team-based fighters developed by Arc System Works, Dragon Ball FighterZ is a gorgeous and highly stylized experience that features a sizable cast of characters from across the Dragon Ball Z franchise.
Full to the brim with references to the anime it's based on, the game has players construct teams of three characters that can be freely tagged into and used for tag attacks much like in Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid. For those looking for games as visually impressive as they are fun, Dragon Ball FIghterZ may be for you.
5 Tekken Tag Tournament 2
Tekken Tag Tournament 2 is uniquely the only 3D fighter on this list. While Tekken games traditionally have players only control a single character, Tekken Tag Tournament allows players to create a tag team of two characters.
The game features the stellar 3D fighting gameplay the Tekken franchise is known for, while providing new gameplay variety through its tag-team mechanics. Unlike other entries on this list, a player loses a round as soon as their first character is knocked out, putting a heavy emphasis on ensuring players tag their partner into a fight at the right moment.
4 Capcom Vs. SNK 2
Released in 2001, Capcom Vs. SNK 2 is a fighting game masterclass that was made as a collaborative effort between genre veterans Capcom and SNK. The game is a blend of mechanics associated with the games of the two developers, providing players with a myriad of offensive and defensive options.
The game's roster features characters from several Capcom and SNK properties, having players create teams of three characters.
3 Skullgirls
Skullgirls is a 2D indie fighter that features impressive hand-drawn animation and a dark deco-inspired art style. With gameplay inspired by that from the Marvel Vs. Capcom series, Skullgirls is actually only a team-based fighter if any of the players in a given game want it to be.
Rather than having standardized team sizes, each player has the option to control one, two, or three characters, distributing their health bar accordingly. This means that while one player may want to use a team of three characters, their opponent may only be controlling two.
2 Ultimate Marvel Vs. Capcom 3
Ultimate Marvel Vs. Capcom 3 is often regarded as one of the finest fighting games of the 2010s. Using teams of three characters, the game is one defined by excess, featuring massive and over-the-top super moves and lengthy combos that can erase a character's entire health bar.
Similar to the previously mentioned Battle for the Grid, this is a game full of characters that some would potentially call broken if they were to appear in other fighters.
1 Marvel Vs. Capcom 2: New Age Of Heroes
Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 is by and large the most influential team-based fighting game of all time, directly impacting several other games on this list. With a massive roster of 56 playable characters, the game pioneered team-based combat by having players create teams of three characters, with each character having one of three potential assist attacks, providing additional depth.
Like many other entries in the Marvel Vs. Capcom series, the game is full of high-powered combos and massive, full-screen super attacks that constantly keep things intense.