What are the best PS4 fighting games? When it comes to hardcore communities, fighting games have some of the most dedicated players out there. The genre generates all kinds of competition, and luckily, the PlayStation 4 is home to an impressive selection of beat-'em-ups, from traditional 2D fighters and 3D fighters to anime-based titles.
There's something for just about everyone, but what are the best fighting games on PS4? We've rounded up what we think are Sony's top 15 system titles, taking into account the polish, content, popularity, and strength and depth of their combat systems. For a more comprehensive guide to the best PS4 games, click on the link.
Best PS4 fighting games
Below is a complete list of the best PS4 fighting games. These are our favorites in the genre, as determined by our editorial team. You can check out another list of free PS4 games.
15. Dead or Alive 5: Last Round (PS4)
Look beyond the title's ridiculous season and potentially disturbing obsession with the female form and you'll find competent, fast-paced, and fun fighting game in Dead or Alive 5: Last Round. A relatively easy to pick up and play 3D fighter, it's a great choice for anyone trying to get a foothold in the genre. It also has a good amount of game modes to choose from and a large roster of characters. It might not be the latest entry in the series, but we still think it's the best Dead or Alive money can buy.
14. Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 (PS4)
For our money, one of the most licensed anime fighters for PS4, Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 is the pinnacle of CyberConnect2's long-running series. Extracting detail and polish, this is an incredibly fun and content-packed team-based fighting game. Its story mode covers the final act of Naruto Shippuden and its bombastic boss fights do real justice to the source material. A fantastic and beautiful global package, even if its massive character roster has some competitive balance issues.
13. Mobile Suit Gundam Extreme VS. Maxiboost ON (PS4)
Definitely not in line with most other games on this list, Mobile Suit Gundam Extreme VS. Maxiboost ON (phew!) It's not what you'd call a traditional beat-'em-up, but it has all the hallmarks of a great competitive experience. Combining deadly melee combos with tense long-range firefights, this is a primarily team-based arena fighter. A strong emphasis on movement is what gives this title its depth, and a gigantic roster of playable mobile suit should give enthusiasts more than enough toys to play with. What's more, Maxiboost ON offers a wide range of single player, co-op and multiplayer modes, making it an impressively robust Gundam package.
12. The King of Fighters XIV (PS4)
Boasting a huge roster of characters and some of the best team-based battles on the platform, The King of Fighters XIV is a well-crafted release with plenty of depth. It might leave something to be desired in terms of presentation - even after its post-launch graphical overhaul - but it's still worth a look if you're a fan of technical 2D fighters. Experimenting with team composition and open combos is the essence of this well-executed title.
11. Under Night In-Birth Exe: Late [cl-r]
Don't let the unforgivable name put you off: Under Night In-Birth Exe: Late [cl-r] is a great 2D fighter, complete with a diverse and interesting cast of playable characters. [cl-r] is the most recent installment – an extremely updated version of the previous version, [st]. Revised mechanics make this edition the best yet, and while the game lacks the prestige of other heavy combo fighters like Guilty Gear or BlazBlue, Under Night In-Birth still has plenty to offer and master.
10. Injustice 2 (PS4)
Injustice 2 doesn't measure up to the other heavyweights of the genre in terms of gameplay design, but it makes up for it by providing one of the best fighting game packages on PS4. Incredibly polished and apt to explode with things to do, it's an easy recommendation whether you're a casual combatant or a veteran aggressor. Of course, DC's characters aren't to everyone's taste, but the roster is packed with personality and variety, and the effort that went into making each fighter feel true to the source material is impressive.
9. BlazBlue: Central Fiction (PS4)
An adorable 2D fighter, BlazBlue: Central Fiction supposedly ends the series' mental plot. As expected from an Arc System Works title, the combo-based combat is fierce, fast-paced, and as complex as you want it to be. Central Fiction refines a lot of the franchise's core mechanics, and with a large and varied roster of characters to wrap your head around, there's a lot of room for experimentation and a lot of strategic depth to dig into. A true delight of a fighting game.
8. Mortal Kombat 11 (PS4)
Mortal Kombat has never looked as good as this one, and some intriguing gameplay twists add a welcome touch to this latest episode. While Mortal Kombat 11 struggles with some iffy design choices in its various single-player modes, the, er, kombat itself is still bloody fun. The ridiculous story mode is solid too, and if you're a fan of totally over-the-top violence, you won't find more outrageous deaths anywhere else.
7. SoulCalibur VI (PS4)
A franchise that had long teetered on the brink of obscurity, Bandai Namco has done an excellent job of bringing SoulCalibur back from the brink with SoulCalibur VI. The best entry since the beloved SoulCalibur II, this is a skilled and satisfying weapon-based fighter. Its single player modes are extensive and its character creation system gives it an often comical edge. More importantly, though, SoulCalibur VI is simply great to play, and the series' trademark eight-way racing system makes it easy to pick up.
6. Samurai Shodown (PS4)
Skillfully paced and incredibly tense, Samurai Shodown is a glorious love letter to more retro fighting games. One wrong move and you can say goodbye to a third of your health bar, and it's this extreme level of risk versus reward that makes SNK's latest experience an electric one. Immensely satisfying, satisfying and thrilling in equal measure, there's no other fighter like Samurai Shodown on PS4.
5. Guilty Gear Xrd: Rev 2 (PS4)
The third and best iteration of Guilty Gear Xrd: Rev 2 is a totally gorgeous fighting game that's drowning in style and polish. An open combo system guarantees a great deal of depth, and the crazy damage that nearly every combatant is capable of dealing makes every duel a brilliantly intense affair. With one of the coolest character rosters in any fighting game today, Rev 2 is a treat to witness, explore and obsess over.
4. Granblue Fantasy Versus (PS4)
As a new fighting game property, Granblue Fantasy Versus gets it right. It's possibly the most accessible competition-proven title on this list, with simple entries and clear, easy-to-read correspondences. What's more, it's fantastic to play and it's absolutely beautiful. Our only criticism is directed at the character roster, which is disappointingly small at launch, but overall, Arc System Works has undoubtedly delivered once again.
3. Street Fighter V: Arcade Edition (PS4)
Street Fighter V has finally grown into a top notch 2D fighting game thanks to Arcade Edition. Capcom knows far better than most how to make satisfyingly crispy combat, and that's the crux of this polished, highly competitive version. An ongoing hit with the hardcore community, the developer is still adding to the title with new fighters and stages. Street Fighter V is now in a much better state than when it first launched, standing strong as one of the most talented beat-'em-ups on the PS4.
2. Dragon Ball FighterZ (PS4)
Dragon Ball FighterZ stands out in its ability to provide an extremely fun fighting game for players of all skill levels. It's brilliantly balanced in terms of affordability and looks utterly stunning to boot. What's more, its dedication to Akira Toriyama's source material is unparalleled - it's probably the best adaptation of Dragon Ball the media has ever seen. Stack a long original story mode alongside a seriously robust online multiplayer offering and you've got yourself one of the best fighters on PS4 - whether you're an anime fan or not.
1. Tekken 7 (PS4)
Tekken 7 may be a little lacking in single-player content, but its glorious combat system and masterful fighting mechanics simply cannot be beaten. This is the best Tekken has been since the legendary Tekken 3, serving up a super satisfying mix of sizzling combos, deadly concoctions and brutal rage arts. There are certainly more affordable titles on this list, but when it comes to crunch, Tekken 7 is unrivaled in its ability to bring out the hype thanks to the sheer depth of its brawl and its deftly balanced cast. For pure fighting game excellence, it's unrivaled on PS4.
What do you think are the best PS4 fighting games? Do you agree with our list of heavyweights? Trade blows in the comments section below and be sure to check out our complete guide to the best PS4 RPGs.
