2019 has been a great year for fighting games, both because we have a great selection of titles up for grabs and because the competitive scene has been packed with some outstanding showdowns year-round. Whether you are shopping for a diehard fighting game enthusiast or someone who is looking to dip their toes into the genre, we have a list of the best gifts for the 2019 holiday season.
Mortal Kombat 11
There are lots of great fighting games out there, including Street Fighter V and Tekken 7, to name a few, but Mortal Kombat 11 is in a unique place right now. Since it only launched in April of this year, it should remain relevant for years to come as new DLC is released. Not only that, but the recent patches left the roster of fighters about as balanced as they have ever been. While there are some characters that the best players in the world consider to be “S” tier in quality, the differences among characters is so marginal that with practice one can be a force to be reckoned with regardless of who they choose.
Arcade1Up Mortal Kombat or Street Fighter
Arcade1Up has garnered a significant amount of attention recently with their constantly growing range of fully-licenced arcade replicas. These are great for any fighting game enthusiast, and since they are scaled down to ¾ the size of their original counterparts, can fit almost anywhere with ease. Choose from either Street Fighter ll, which comes complete with Champion Edition, The New Challengers, and Turbo, or Mortal Kombat, which comes complete with Mortal Kombat 1, 2, and 3.
Retrocade X Streefighter arcade cabinet
While the Arcade1Up is a great product, the scaled-down arcade cabinet may still be too large for some consumers. For them, or simply for those who many want a smaller, decorative option, the Retrocade X Streefighter arcade cabinet is a perfect alternative at a mere 12 inches in height, perfect for a desk or a shelf that can be easily moved in and out of the way. These premium cabinets look and feel like the original Street Fighter II: Champion Edition but are scaled to 1/6 the size and fully licensed by Capcom. They even come with a mini-arcade fight stick for a second player to join in.
Numskull Streetfighter sweater
Ugly sweaters are the best thing in the world and being officially licensed by Capcom only makes them better. Take a look at Numskull’s offerings of unisex sweaters featuring designs with the classic roster of fighters that are 100% knitted, meaning that they will stand the test of time and not be likely to rub off like cheaper alternatives that do a quick print job.
Mayflash F500 Arcade Fight Stick
If the person your shopping for does not yet own a fight stick, consider opting for a good introductory stick that works across all platforms. The base is sturdy, and the stick has overall received praise for being a good entry-level controller that can help take a player’s performance to the next level. Best of all, it is reasonably priced and a great way to decide if one wants to splurge into the high-end products later on.