A real fighting game is simple on paper: two players, health bars, rounds, and a clean win condition. What matters is everything inside that frame, like spacing, timing, risk, and the mind games that happen once you both know the matchup. This list is for traditional versus fighters on PS5 only. No party brawlers, no co-op-first modes, no genre mashups where PvP is an afterthought. We’re focusing on games built around 1v1 (or structured team fighters) with competitive rules that hold up after the honeymoon period.
This article is part of our guide on the Best Multiplayer PS5 Games
How We Ranked These Games
We ranked these by how strong the core fighting systems are, how healthy the competitive environment looks long-term, and whether the training tools help you improve without flattening the skill ceiling.
Criterion | Weight | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
Core fighting systems | 30% | Determines how deep neutral, offense, defense, and character design really go. |
Competitive viability | 25% | Healthy balance direction and an active meta keep the game worth learning. |
Onboarding and training | 20% | Good tutorials and practice tools help you improve faster and stick with it. |
Online and local experience | 15% | Responsiveness and match stability matter when one dropped input can lose a round. |
Presentation and polish | 10% | Clear visuals and stable performance keep matches readable at full speed. |
The Top 10 Essential Fighting Games on PS5
The ranking order reflects how well each game supports serious versus play over time, not just first-week hype. Every pick here has a clear ruleset and a skill ladder you can actually climb. Lets get started with my personal favorite:
“The definitive modern 2D fighter with revolutionary accessibility and competitive depth”
Why We Picked This
Street Fighter 6 is the cleanest modern answer to “what should I learn first?” It’s a traditional 2D fighter where spacing, reactions, and small decisions win sets, and the Drive System gives you constant, readable risk-reward choices in neutral and pressure. I also love how the game teaches without babying you: the tutorials and character guides help you understand why something worked, not just how to do it. The catch is that Drive management can feel like another language early on. Stick with it. If you want one PS5 fighter to grow with for years, this is it.
“The king of 3D fighters returns with explosive aggression and technical mastery”
Why We Picked This
Tekken 8 is still the king of 3D movement and matchup knowledge. You’re not just trading hits; you’re managing range, sidesteps, and timing while trying to open someone up without getting launched for a full combo. Heat pushes the action forward and makes offense easier to start, but you still have to earn it with good decisions. It lands at #2 because the learning curve is real, especially once you realize every character has a long move list and weird little exceptions. When it clicks, though, Tekken becomes a long-term hobby. Best for players who like studying opponents as much as pressing buttons.
“Stunning anime fighter that balances accessibility with explosive offensive gameplay”
Why We Picked This
Guilty Gear -Strive- is the anime fighter I recommend when you want big personality without drowning in mechanics. Neutral is sharp, damage is scary, and Roman Cancels let you turn “that was a bad idea” into “wait, I’m cooking.” The wall break system keeps rounds moving and stops endless corner bullying, which makes matches feel punchy and easy to follow. It’s #3 because the streamlined approach also means some legacy depth is gone, and certain matchups can feel wildly different in pace. Still, if you want stylish aggression with strong competitive rules and a scene that actually plays, Strive delivers.
“Brutal cinematic fighter with innovative Kameo assist system and signature MK gore”
Why We Picked This
Mortal Kombat 1 earns its spot by committing to versus-first design with a twist: Kameo assists change how you build pressure, extend combos, and escape bad spots. Even if you’ve played MK before, the assist layer forces new matchup questions, and that’s a good thing for long-term learning. The presentation is a big draw, but the real hook is how clearly rounds are structured around turns, resources, and punishes. I ranked it below the top three because balance shifts have been a bit more dramatic than I’d like, and that can make the meta feel unstable. Best for players who want a western-style 2D fighter with a fresh competitive angle.
“Epic 3D weapons combat with 8-way movement and character-defining weapon styles”
Why We Picked This
SOULCALIBUR VI is the essential “weapons fighter” on PS5, and nothing else on this list really replaces it. The 8-way movement changes everything: you’re constantly angling around attacks, playing for ring position, and threatening big whiff punishes with long-reaching blades. Guard Impact and Soul Charge give you clear defensive and offensive pivots, so rounds don’t just devolve into mashing. It’s #5 because it’s an older competitive ecosystem, and online play can feel less consistent than the newest giants. But locally, it shines. If you want a 3D fighter where spacing looks and feels different from Tekken, this is the pick.
“Unique Persona-summoning anime fighter with accessible controls and competitive depth”
Why We Picked This
Persona 4 Arena Ultimax is a fast, quirky anime fighter where your “persona” is basically a second move set you’re managing at the same time. That makes pressure strings and setplay feel distinct, and once you learn when to commit, the game has real bite competitively. It also does a nice job letting newer players get something on the screen quickly with easier combo paths. One warning: the match flow can look like chaos until you learn what to watch for, and some characters feel like homework. I put it at #6 because it’s more niche than the top five, but it’s absolutely worth your time if you want a different flavor of Arc System Works design.
“Classic team-based fighter with deep 3v3 strategy and SNK legacy appeal”
Why We Picked This
The King of Fighters XV is the purest “play neutral, then explode” team fighter on PS5. The 3v3 format matters because team order is strategy: you pick who builds resources, who spends them, and who closes out a set. Movement is a big deal here too, especially hops and short jumps that change how you approach and anti-air compared to Street Fighter. It’s ranked #7 because onboarding is not as friendly, and the game expects you to already speak a bit of KOF. Once you do, it’s deeply rewarding and surprisingly honest about risk and punishment. Best for players who like teams but don’t want the screen filled with nonstop assists.
“Surprisingly deep 3v3 fighter with accessible controls and excellent crossplay”
Why We Picked This
Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid is the rare licensed fighter that feels like it was built by people who actually play these games. It’s a 3v3 tag fighter with simplified inputs, so you can focus on spacing, assist timing, and mixups instead of fighting your hands. The vs flow is quick and very offense-forward, and learning how to convert a stray hit into real damage is the main skill ladder. I placed it at #8 because its look and feel won’t land for everyone, and the roster vibe is obviously specific. Still, as a competitive team game on PS5, it’s better than it has any right to be.
“SNK's triumphant return with modern systems and classic Fatal Fury appeal”
Why We Picked This
Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves makes the list because it represents SNK’s modern direction in a grounded, traditional 2D package. The REV system and its gauges give you a clear push-and-pull between “hold steady” and “spend to take control,” which is exactly what you want in a game built for repeated versus sets. It’s also the newest ecosystem here, and you can feel that sense of a meta still forming. That’s the big caveat too: long-term balance and scene size are harder to call early, which is why it’s #9 instead of higher. Best for players who like learning a game while everyone else is learning it too.
“Complex anime fighter with unique Drive mechanics for each character”
Why We Picked This
BlazBlue: Central Fiction is the “yes, I want the hard one” choice. Every character has a defining Drive ability that changes how they play at a fundamental level, so matchup knowledge isn’t optional, it’s the whole point. When you find a main, the game rewards lab time with nasty pressure routes, weird movement, and very specific win conditions. A short sentence: it’s demanding. I kept it at #10 because onboarding is dated and the competitive community is more dedicated than huge, so you may need to seek out opponents instead of expecting easy matchmaking. If you miss dense anime fighters, though, Central Fiction still hits.
Honorable Mentions
These didn’t make the final cut mostly due to smaller scenes, older onboarding, or being a more specialized fit. If the top 10 is your core rotation, think of these as smart side games.
Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising
Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising is a great “first fundamentals” fighter if motion inputs have ever scared you off. The cooldown-style specials keep decision-making upfront: you’re thinking about when to spend a tool, not whether you can execute it under pressure. Matches stay readable, and the pace is calmer than most anime fighters, which helps you learn spacing and anti-airs without feeling rushed. It missed the top 10 mainly because the competitive scene is smaller and the long-term meta doesn’t feel as central to the genre as the games above. Still, for newcomers who want real versus rules with a gentler start, Rising is an easy recommendation.
Under Night In-Birth II Sys:Celes
Under Night In-Birth II Sys:Celes is a system-heavy anime fighter where the GRD tug-of-war changes how you play neutral. You’re not only trying to hit the other player; you’re trying to win “momentum” that turns into powerful options through Chain Shift and related mechanics. That extra layer makes close matches feel like chess with punches. The reason it’s an honorable mention is simple: it’s niche, and the game asks you to study before it starts feeling good. If you love labbing pressure strings and optimizing defense, this is a strong rabbit hole. If you want instant clarity, pick Strive or Street Fighter first.
Skullgirls 2nd Encore
Skullgirls 2nd Encore remains one of the best games to learn “team fighter logic” in a controlled way. The tutorials are famously thorough, and the game is honest about what’s happening on screen: assists, resets, and defensive choices all have clear answers if you’re willing to practice them. You can also scale your team size, which is perfect when you’re not ready to manage three characters at once. It didn’t crack the top 10 because it’s an older title with a more specialized community, and the presentation won’t hit the same for everyone. But if you want a competitive ruleset with serious depth, Skullgirls still holds up.
DRAGON BALL FighterZ
Dragon Ball FighterZ is still a blast if you want high-speed 3v3 with big assists and huge conversions, and it nails the feel of the source material without compromising the round-based fighting structure. The core appeal is momentum: one clean hit can become a full sequence if your team order and assists are set up right. I left it in honorable mentions because it’s no longer the center of the conversation competitively, and its training and onboarding feel older next to modern leaders. For Dragon Ball fans who want a real versus game, it’s absolutely worth having, just go in knowing you might need to find the community rather than relying on the game to bring opponents to you.
FIGHTING EX LAYER (Standard Version)
Fighting EX Layer: Another Dash is for players who like traditional 2D footsies but want a weird, personal build to mess with. The Gougi deck system changes what your character is good at, so sets can become as much about preparation as execution. When I played it seriously, the best part was how it rewards smart, grounded choices instead of constant chaos. The trade-off is that it’s a niche pick with a smaller ecosystem, so you’re not buying it for a massive ranked ladder. If you’ve already played the big names and want a different competitive sandbox on PS5, EX Layer is a fun detour that still respects versus fundamentals.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you’re choosing your first fighter or coming back after a long break, these are the questions we see most often.
What counts as a traditional fighting game in this list?
We’re talking about versus games built around rounds, health bars, defined move sets, and consistent win conditions. You can play 1v1 or structured team formats like 3v3, but head-to-head competition has to be the main point.
If I’m brand new, which fighting game should I start with on PS5?
Street Fighter 6 is the easiest starting point without feeling watered down, thanks to its training tools and clear fundamentals. If you want something flashier, Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising is also friendly while still teaching you real spacing and turn-taking.
Do I need to play ranked online to enjoy these games?
No. A lot of people get better fastest by playing a friend locally, running long sets, and using training mode between matches. Ranked can be helpful because it usually finds opponents near your level, but it’s not the only way to play seriously.
What’s the difference between 2D and 3D fighters?
2D fighters focus on left-right spacing and jump arcs, so tiny footwork decisions matter a lot. 3D fighters add sidestepping and circular movement, which changes how you approach, defend, and punish whiffs. Tekken 8 is the go-to 3D example, while Street Fighter 6 is the clearest 2D baseline.
Why do fighting games stay popular for so long?
Because the opponent is the content. Once you learn the basics, the game becomes about reads, adaptation, and solving matchups, and that doesn’t run out the way a campaign does. A good ruleset also means you can stop playing for months and still come back with something to work on.
Conclusion
If you’re a newcomer, start with Street Fighter 6 for the clearest fundamentals and best learning tools. Veterans who want pure 3D mind games should be in Tekken 8, while anime fans are spoiled with Strive and deeper legacy picks like BlazBlue. Fighting games age well because the best ones give you endless small problems to solve, and every set teaches you something. If you want broader recommendations beyond this competitive lane, check our 2-Player Versus and Local Versus guides. Ready for more tailored picks? Try our Recommendations Engine for suggestions that match your play style.
