The fighting game genre is going strong and showing no signs of slowing down. With the Super Smash Bros and Street Fighter series producing some of the greatest fighting games of the 2000s, it's not hard to see why people still flood to play these experiences.
However, while the triple-A fighting game scene is booming, there are a lot of smaller indie titles that are just as good, but often overlooked. From some admittedly iconic indie fighting games to unique titles with an engrossing hook, these indie fighting games may not have the same budget, but they absolutely go toe to toe with their competitors.
Updated December 19, 2022 by Jacqueline Zalace: Love indie fighting games? We've added even more options to this list for you to choose from.
12 Lethal League Blaze
Lethal League Blaze is a truly bizarre and wonderful fighting game. Well, perhaps "fighting game" is too general of a term to label this game with. In fact, Lethal League Blaze is more of a hit-a-ball-and-hope-it-smashes-your-opponents-face sort of game.
You still pick from a phenomenal roster of cool dudes, dudettes, and everything in between to battle your opponent with, but it’s just less with fists and magical powers and more with skateboards, baseball bats, and an assortment of other bat-like objects. There’s truly nothing else quite like Lethal League Blaze on the market.
11 Rivals Of Aether
Have you ever wondered what Super Smash Bros. Ultimate would look like as an indie game? Well, it has pixel art and is called Rivals of Aether. In all honesty, to call Rivals of Aether a Smash clone would be disingenuous to this brilliant indie brawler.
While of course there are similarities, the fluidity in combat, various modes, amazing character designs and more make it stand out. To make the experience even sweeter, Rivals of Aether allows you to play as both Ori and Sein and Shovel Knight. There’s so much to love about this fighting game that it may just nudge Super Smash Bros. Ultimate down a ranking in your top ten.
10 Brawlout
While we’re discussing indie fighting games that take the Super Smash Bros. formula and tweak it ever so slightly, let’s talk Brawlout. Not unlike Rivals of Aether, Brawlout offers a Super Smash Bros.-esque experience with a range of brand-new characters and indie game guest stars.
You’ll be able to control the Drifter from the effortlessly stylish Hyper Light Drifter as well as Juan from Guacamelee!. The combat is brilliant, offering new players an easy way in and veterans of the genre plenty of skills and techniques to master. While comparatively Brawlout has a smaller roster of characters and maps, it more than makes up for it with its unique setting, humour, and charm.
9 Skullgirls 2nd Encore
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Skullgirls 2nd Encore is ridiculously stylish. One look at its launch trailer will show you just how gorgeous its onslaught of fluid animations and backgrounds are. It is one of the more satisfying indie fighting games to play, with the impressive amount of movesets allowing you to unleash a flurry of beautifully animated attacks.
While Skullgirls 2nd Encore is one of the most impressive fighting games from a mechanical point of view, it is its gorgeously designed characters that make it such a standout experience. From the aptly named Umbrella to the enormous Big Band, these designs feel instantly iconic. Suffice to say, Skullgirls 2nd Encore’s roster is made up of some of the most unique in the entirety of the fighting game genre.
8 Super Drink Bros
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There is finally a way of ending the tireless debate of whether Pepsi is better than Coke - it is, absolutely no question - or if Sprite is superior to 7up - it isn’t. Enter, Super Drink Bros, a fighting game in which the characters are soda cans. This novel concept may sound a little out there, but it, fortunately, translates into an incredibly satisfying fighting game.
Whatever drink you decide to control, you can be sure it has enormously buff arms and legs. These lethal weapons, in collaboration with magical abilities - because of course -, are your arsenal against the onslaught of generic brand soda drinks. You’ll fight in gorgeous 3D arenas, dash around to dodge attacks, block when necessary, and punch when possible. It’s ridiculously fun, more so than it has any right to be, and well worth your time.
7 One Strike
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One Strike is - like it sounds - a fighting game where you can take out your opponent with just one strike. Set in feudal Japan, One Strike is one of the most intense fighting experiences available. Each and every move you make needs to be carefully considered, as should you go one step too far you may find your head rolling on the floor.
One Strike succeeds because of this core mechanic, but it’s also just a gorgeous game. Each of the game’s limited backgrounds is stunning, bringing to life a traditional Japanese art style through the use of pixel art. With a handful of characters to choose from - each of which plays drastically different from one another - and a few modes to really sink your teeth into, this small but sweet indie fighting game is truly gripping.
6 Pocket Rumble
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Fighting games are often rather complex, presenting players with numerous ways to attack their opponent from the outside. If you don’t understand Bread and Butter Combos, Chip Damage, Chicken-guard, and the Bacon Maneuver - only one of those is made up -, we completely sympathize. Fortunately, Pocket Rumble is here to make things easier for you.
Pocket Rumble’s whole philosophy is to offer newcomers to the fighting game genre an accessible entry point. It does away with all the complex combos and needless button presses and instead offers a simple control scheme. It’s all contextualized by gorgeous visuals and a fun roster of maps to fight in. While it isn’t the most in-depth fighting game, those looking for something a little easier may want to give it a go.
5 Ultra Space Battle Brawl
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Not unlike Lethal League Blaze, Ultra Space Battle Brawl offers players a fighting game centered around hitting a ball with your bat. However, whereas Lethal League Blaze is all about hitting your opponent with said ball, Ultra Space Battle Brawl combines the thrill and frantic action of a fighting game with Brick Breaker-esque gameplay.
Amazingly, it works and is unbelievably satisfying to play. With each character having a unique ability to help them gain the upper hand in combat, this fighting game offers a unique experience when compared to its contemporaries. While UItra Space Battle Brawl may never see a sequel, the charm and brilliant world-building packed into this indie gem still make for a perfect one-off fighting game experience.
4 Schwarzerblitz
Schwarzerblitz is a 3D low-poly game packed with 27 playable characters and '90s nostalgia. This classic-feeling fighting game also happens to be free, which is all the more reason to play it. In Schwarzerblitz, you can play through a story that is roughly five hours long, or you can play endlessly in an arcade mode.
Whatever your play style is, there are nearly 40 stages in the game, each with a unique and different appearance. If this isn't enough, the characters aren't just basic fighters; you can even play as the Evilobster, which is a 25-year-old lobster who loves wrestling, motorcycles, and Kant's philosophy.
3 Fatal Art Reload
Fatal Art Reload is a stick figure fighting game, which happens to be a revamp of the original Fatal Art game. In this Reload version, the pixelated art style returns. The game itself runs on a new engine, with tons of small changes that enhance your gaming experience, such as new mechanics for every character.
In addition to these changes, you can now find new characters, such as a fighter named S.P.A.R. Overall, if you are a fan of fast-paced fighting games with fluid combat, this stick figure fighter is the game for you.
2 Them's Fightin' Herds
Ever wanted to play a fighting game as a cute animal? Now you can with Them's Fightin' Herds. This 2D fighting game allows you to play as adorable cartoon animals, all animated by Lauren Faust. This is the wife of Craig McCraken; the two of them worked on shows such as The Powerpuff Girls and Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends (both of which Craig created). Oh, did we mention that she created and developed My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic?
Don't let the art style of Them's Fightin' Herds fool you though; this fighting game has fun and fluid mechanics, as well as a story mode that you can play though. Whether you are a My Little Pony or fighting game fan, this game has something for everyone.
1 Guilty Verdict
Lastly, we have Guilty Verdict. This is a Korean fighter game, set in Neo Seoul. In the game, you will choose to play as either a cop or criminal, with each one having unique fighting mechanics. To get familiar with the characters, you can complete a short story mode for each one. This will essentially teach you about the character that you are playing as.
Guilty Verdict is the ultimate '90s arcade game. Even though it was released in 2016, it truly feels like you have stepped back in time. Rather than a classic tournament-style fighting theme, the cops and criminals theme is quite refreshing; you can even use handcuffs and tasers in combat.