Fighting games have been a staple since the early days of gaming, and they've been evolving with every generation. They may seem simple to those who aren't familiar with them, but there's a lot of time and effort you have to put in to truly master just one fighting game character, let alone multiple.
But you don't need to learn characters perfectly to have fun in these games. There are usually multiple game modes and achievements that help you immerse yourself in the game, no matter your skill level. There are a ton of fighting games to choose from on the PS5, but which are the best of them?
7 Guilty Gear Strive
If you've grown up with the PlayStation, you may be familiar with the Guilty Gear series, which started on the PS1. One thing that makes it stand out is its hard rock soundtrack. But it doesn't always take itself too seriously, seeing as its protagonist's last name is literally "Badguy."
Guilty Gear Strive boasts a strong roster of characters that all feel and play uniquely; it doesn't have any clone characters like other fighting games tend to. The fighting system is also relatively easy for beginners to understand, and the sprites and animations have the right balance of fluid and flashy that always make battling feel fun and engaging.
6 Tekken 7
The Tekken games aren't exactly known for being easy to master, and that goes doubly so for Tekken 7. But if you're looking for a challenge or just want to try something new, this game is well worth the effort. Its mechanics are deep and intricate, and it's surprisingly fun to try conquering once you get past the initial hurdle.
The fact that not only the characters, but also the arenas, are 3D make for some interesting extra aspects you won't find in many other fighting games, like sidestepping. Though some people say you just have to button mash to get through fighting games, trying that with Tekken 7 will probably end in a loss on your side.
5 The King Of Fighters 15
The King of Fighters 15 immediately sets itself apart from most other fighting games by having fights in teams of three. Things quickly become a lot more unpredictable and entertaining when characters match up in rounds of three-versus-three. There are a total of 39 diverse playable characters, and the team setup gives you a chance to try them all out without feeling as overwhelmed as you might when having to play each one individually.
Though the characters primarily fight with their hands and feet, there are tons of different striking visual effects with every move you make. These don't get bogged down by lag, since the game's netcode is pretty great, making for a smooth experience.
4 Soulcalibur 6
Even if you've played previous Soulcalibur games, Soulcalibur 6 has a few new mechanics exclusive to it. The defensive Reversal Edge and super-offensive Soul Charge add more strategy to winning against your opponent. Besides that, Soulcalibur is known for its weapon-based gameplay, where you have characters who fight with standard weapons, but also whip-like swords and sharp hoops that hurt the user too.
You can give these weapons to any character you create in Character Creation, which is always a fun aspect that most other fighting games don't have. Also, seeing which guest character from another franchise appears in every game is always a nice surprise, and Soulcalibur 6 features Geralt from The Witcher this time.
3 Dragon Ball FighterZ
Whether or not you're a Dragon Ball fan, this fast-paced anime fighter is a great entry in the world of fighting games. You get to fight in teams of three, allowing you to build all kinds of different teams with the 24 characters you get in the base game. With all the DLC characters, that number shoots up to a whopping 44.
Dragon Ball is known for its ridiculously showy scenes whenever a character is demonstrating their power, and FighterZ retains that perfectly. It'll scratch that itch if you're a fan of the show, and if not, you still get to experience a fun fighting game that doesn't hold back in terms of moves and visual effects.
2 BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle
If one-versus-one is too boring but three-versus-three is too much for you, BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle hits that sweet spot with battles in teams of two. Unlike in The King of Fighters 15, you can switch between the two characters you've picked whenever you like, giving you a lot of room for unique strategies by rotating different character combos.
Even if you've never played a BlazBlue game before, this one features popular characters from other media, like Persona 4's protagonist and Ruby from RWBY. So, you'll most likely find someone familiar to start with. Its mechanics are easy to understand even for beginners, so you'll feel right at home playing it, regardless of your fighting game experience.
1 Grandblue Fantasy: Versus
Granblue Fantasy is a popular RPG mobile game in Japan, but no matter how good it is, the gacha aspect may have turned you off from ever trying it out. Luckily, Granblue Fantasy: Versus is a nice substitute to get a taste of how the themes and characters work. It even adds some of its RPG elements to the fighting game by allowing you to level up your characters and their weapons.
This inclusion adds a distinctive layer of gameplay that goes beyond simply how well you know how to play a character. Yet, the game doesn't let that mechanic carry it, as its fighting system is also solid for both newcomers and veterans.