Although Street Fighter wasn’t the first fighting video game in history, it revolutionized and popularized the genre.

Today, we can see its many successors sharing similar solutions.

Thinking about the fighting genre, everyone associates it with the Street Fighter series. The truth is the franchise doesn’t sell best, but it has the oldest competitive scene in gaming and requires more input to grasp its mechanics.

While smashing buttons in other titles is fun, nothing compares to the satisfaction of defeating an opponent in such a challenging game. Fortunately, some alternatives offer a similar experience, and you can find them all on our list of the best recommendations like Street Fighter!

GameReleaseGenreDeveloper
Guilty Gear Xrd Rev 2 2016-12-14 Action Arc System Works
The King Of Fighters XIV 2017-06-15 Action Abstraction Games
Tekken 7 2017-06-01 Fighting Bandai Namco Studios
Tekken 8 2024-01-26 Fighting Bandai Namco Studios
Ultimate Marvel Vs Capcom 3 2016-12-03 Fighting Eighting
Melty Blood Actress Again Current Code 2016-04-19 Action & Shooter French Bread
Injustice 2 Legendary Edition 2017-11-30 Action NetherRealm Studios
Dragon Ball FighterZ 2018-01-26 Action Arc System Works
Street Fighter X Tekken 2012-05-11 Fighting DIMPS
Killer Instinct Anniversary Edition 2017-09-27 Action Iron Galaxy Studios
Mortal Kombat X 2015-07-22 Fighting NetherRealm Studios
Mortal Kombat 1 Premium Edition 2023-09-14 Fighting NetherRealm Studios
Granblue Fantasy Versus 2020-03-13 Fighting Arc System Works
Streets Of Rage 4 2020-04-30 Action DotEmu
Sifu 2023-03-28 Fighting Sloclap
River City Girls 2 2022-12-15 Fighting WayForward
Thems Fightin Herds 2018-02-22 Indie Mane6

Dragon Ball FighterZ

Release date:2018-01-26
Genre:Action
Developer:Arc System Works

Fans of the Dragon Ball series will be thrilled with the flashy combat of this recommendation. Like the SF series, it features your favorite easy-to-learn yet hard-to-master fighting mechanics.

DBFZ features all fan-favorite characters fighting in spectacular tag battles. No other game offers such anime-like visuals, so each confrontation looks the same as the franchise’s fans know it. Moreover, there is a story mode about a brand-new character created under Akira Toriyama’s supervision, so prepare for lots of fun – solo or in multiplayer!

Key features
  • Fight in the most epic Dragon Ball game
  • Create teams to compete in tag battles
  • Discover a brand-new character’s story
  • Play solo or in multiplayer

Mortal Kombat 1

Release date:2023-09-14
Genre:Fighting
Developer:NetherRealm Studios

This greatest Street Fighter rival is perfect for players seeking less complicated mechanics within surprisingly gore visuals.

If you crave fun and flashy combat, go for Mortal Kombat 1. This most recent title in the series offers a brand-new universe featuring familiar fighters competing for different goals. Prepare for a fresh combat system, more fatality moves, enhanced character designs, and exciting Kameo Fighters. This title is much simpler at its gameplay core than previous installations, so it’s best for players enjoying the uncomplicated gaming style of the 90s.

Key features
  • Play the most recent installation in the legendary Mortal Kombat series
  • Discover brand-new fatality moves and combat system
  • See redesigned versions of your favorite characters
  • Play solo or in multiplayer

River City Girls 2

Release date:2022-12-15
Genre:Fighting
Developer:WayForward

It’s a beat ‘em up alternative to the classic Street Fighter experience, featuring six unique heroes confronting a new threat endangering their beloved city.

Meet Misako, Riki, Kunio, Kyoko, Provie, and Marian – six playable characters with unique movesets, personalities, and fighting styles. Explore the city, level up, recruit newcomers, shop, and enjoy the day-night cycle in this unpredictable adventure! Like Street Fighter, River City Girls offers a satisfying and flashy combat that will make you want to crush all your enemies!

Key features
  • Play beat ‘em up alternative to Street Fighter
  • Explore the city and engage in a multitude of available activities
  • Fight in the refined combat system
  • Play solo or in multiplayer

Sifu

Release date:2023-03-28
Genre:Indie
Developer:Sloclap

If you crave the slow-paced combat of Street Fighter but set within story-driven and action-fueled mechanics, play Sifu!

Sifu is a unique action game following the story of a young kung fu fighter taking revenge on his family’s assassin. What makes this game so special? Well, your hero ages with each death and another revival may lead to his ultimate demise. Therefore, practice your skills, beat as many enemies as possible, and become the master of challenging kung fu fighting style.

Key features
  • Take revenge on your family’s assassins
  • Witness how your character ages with each death
  • Use your surroundings to win
  • Practice your skills and learn from each loss

Streets Of Rage 4

Release date:2020-04-30
Genre:Action
Developer:DotEmu

It’s a side-scrolling beat ‘em up game equipped with characters who strongly resemble those of Street Fighter, so if you want a similar design with different mechanics, Streets of Rage 4 has you covered.

The most recent installation in this legendary series comes back in style, offering hand-drawn graphics, online and local multiplayer, brand-new mechanics, and an iconic soundtrack. Unlock 21 playable characters, including 13 retro ones to clean up city streets in 8 game modes featuring 12 unique stages. This game has a Pegi 12 rating – therefore it’s perfect for teens and older players.

Key features
  • Play the fourth installation in the legendary beat ‘em up series
  • Unlock 21 playable characters
  • Enjoy beautiful, hand-drawn graphics
  • Play solo or in multiplayer

Granblue Fantasy Versus

Release date:2020-03-13
Genre:Fighting
Developer:Arc System Works

According to players on Reddit, Granblue Fantasy Versus is more beginner-friendly and visually beautiful than Street Fighter, so choose it if you seek an overall pleasant fighting experience.

Granblue Fantasy Versus is a classic 1v1 fighting game set in a gorgeous fantasy world. Choose from 25 unique characters to embark on an epic adventure in RPG mode or enjoy your time battling in Versus mode. It’s an ideal game for those enjoying immersive single-player sessions!

Key features
  • Play a beginner-friendly alternative to Street Fighter
  • Choose from two engaging game modes
  • Pick from 25 diverse characters
  • Play solo or in multiplayer for 2 players

Them's Fightin' Herds

Release date:2018-02-22
Genre:Indie
Developer:Mane6

If you think fighting titles are about mighty characters, muscles, and violence, look at this game. Cute!

Choose from seven adorable characters to save the land of Foenum and enjoy your time fighting in diverse game modes. Them’s Fightin’ Herds features classic 4-button fighting mechanics, training mode, tutorial, and diverse multiplayer options. There is definitely what to do in this game! Plus, it’s incredibly dynamic, visually stunning, and ideal for players aged 7 and more.

Key features
  • Choose from cute anthropomorphic characters to save Foenum
  • Discover fun story mode about Arizona
  • Enjoy well-balanced fighting mechanics
  • Play solo or in multiplayer

Conclusion

Games like Street Fighter prove challenging mechanics and fun themes provide endless entertainment. Choose these recommendations if you seek uncomplicated yet rewarding gameplay, as the fighting genre is all about gaming’s core – pure competition to see who’s better.

Enjoy, and let us know which recommendations proved the most alike or better than Street Fighter!