Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

The best fighting games for PC

While everyone has their preferred platform for fighting games — usually whatever is most comfortable for their fingers — playing on PC is a particularly versatile experience. PCs have the broadest compatibility with control options, from mice and keyboards to Bluetooth controls to retro gamepads and joysticks. Also, depending on your internet setup, your PC may have the most reliable internet connection for playing online, too.

PCs have also been helped by the growing number of desktop-friendly releases. Where it was once hit-or-miss if a fighting game would show up on PC, it’s been quite reliable for the past several years, so there’s an excellent collection built up. Let’s take a look at the top contenders!

Mortal Kombat 1

Mortal Kombat 1
77 %
3.5/5
M
Platforms PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre Fighting, Adventure
Developer NetherRealm Studios
Publisher WB Games
Release September 19, 2023
Mortal Kombat 1 does so much right that it may be easier to list what it does wrong, which comes down to monetization really. You have excellent, high-res graphics and fully detailed environments that make every fight fun to watch, a surprisingly good story involving a messy multiverse clash, and an incredible roster of returning characters and guest characters to experiment with. Combat has found an excellent balance, allowing it to be both technical and easier to pick up. We especially like the ability to call in Kameo support characters to add new depth and customization to each fight.
Read our full Mortal Kombat 1 review
Mortal Kombat 1 - Official Announcement Trailer

Killer Instinct

Killer Instinct
81 %
T
Platforms PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox One
Genre Fighting
Developer Iron Galaxy Studios, Double Helix Games
Publisher Microsoft Studios
Release November 22, 2013
The latest version of Killer Instinct was built with Xbox and PC gameplay in mind, so it’s more than ready for your PC — and frankly, we prefer it with PC’s broader control options, since the Xbox controller mapping feels a little odd. It’s both a beautiful game that retains its ability to build up huge combos with terrifying characters (yes, even the Battletoad) and an incredibly smooth online experience thanks to some stellar netcode. If you are looking for a new fighting experience and haven’t tried Killer Instinct before, make sure it’s on your list. The definitive edition with all available characters is a must-have.
Killer Instinct Season 3 Launch Trailer

The King of Fighters XV

The King of Fighters XV
T
Platforms PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre Fighting
Developer SNK Corporation
Publisher Koch Media, SNK Corporation
Release February 17, 2022
This edition combines many of the best parts of King of Fighters that came before, creating an excellent experience that any fighting fan should try at least once. The roster is packed, the 3v3 team-based fighting is tight, and the stages are wild. We also like the creative mode options, from spectator modes and Party Mode to visiting the DJ station to pick out your favorite songs from a large catalog. With ray tracing, it can also look incredible on a dedicated gaming PC.
KOF XV|TERRY BOGARD|Trailer #10【TEAM FATAL FURY】

SoulCalibur VI

SoulCalibur VI
82 %
T
Platforms PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Genre Fighting
Developer Project Soul
Publisher Bandai Namco Entertainment
Release October 18, 2018
The sixth SoulCalibur was a revival of the series, both in terms of popularity and how it rebooted the entire Soul story, bringing back everyone’s favorite characters at the start of their journeys with a sprawling retelling. But it’s not just returning fans who will find a lot to love. SoulCalibur has always been about clashing increasingly crazy weapons in 3D environments with huge moveset options, and that’s true here, too. With so many weapons and styles available, it’s a blast for newbies just as much as a challenge for experienced players deep in the competitive mode. The game received multiple seasons that expanded the roster and added more storylines, so it’s well worth picking up the complete game.
SOULCALIBUR VI PSX Gameplay Trailer

Guilty Gear: Strive

Guilty Gear: Strive
92 %
T
Platforms PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Arcade, PlayStation 5
Genre Fighting
Developer Arc System Works
Publisher Bandai Namco Studios, Arc System Works America, Arc System Works
Release June 11, 2021
If you’ve played or watched Dragon Ball FighterZ or other Arc System Works games, you already have an idea about their style. But Guilty Gear has always been a more unique — and in some ways, more meaningful — experience for fighting fans. This version acted as a minor reboot to the series, reinventing mechanics and adding in-demand features like area transitions. However, the innate 2D/3D combat looks far better than ever and continues to be one of the best things about this flashy, innovative game (paired with the pounding soundtrack, of course).
GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE- Trailer#1 - ARCREVO America 2019

Tekken 7

Tekken 7
78 %
T
Platforms PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Arcade
Genre Fighting
Developer Bandai Namco Studios
Publisher Bandai Namco Entertainment
Release February 18, 2015
If you love stringing complex combos together, Tekken has always been a series that caters to those players. Tekken 7 elevates the combat to the best it’s ever been, combining the highly technical gameplay with new options like Rage Arts and Power Crushes. It also looks better than ever, with visuals that consistently making fighting an intense, vivid experience.
Tekken 7 - Announcement Trailer (Official)

Street Fighter 6

Street Fighter 6
RP
Platforms PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre Fighting, Arcade
Developer Capcom
Publisher Capcom
Release December 31, 2023
If you’ve love Street Fighter or are looking for a new fighting game to have fun with and a competitive pool that’s certain to be huge, make sure Street Fighter 6 is on your calendar. The game has an incredible, updated visual style, complete with paint flourishes and fluid animation, plus lots of updated mechanics including Drive moves and two control schemes to make it easier than ever for beginners to learn the ropes.
Street Fighter 6 - Announce Trailer

Divekick

Divekick
66 %
T
Platforms PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Genre Fighting, Indie
Developer Iron Galaxy Studios, One True Game Studios
Publisher Iron Galaxy Studios
Release August 20, 2013
Divekick is an indie fighting game for people who hate fighting games and would rather make fun of them instead. It’s also surprisingly addictive, considering you only have two primary options — jumping or kicking. The game is laced with mocking references to other fighting franchises and delights in reminding you that your fighting skills don’t mean much when you walk away from your PC. That being said, it’s an excellent game to play with friends who’ve never picked up a fighter before (and similar social scenarios). Just keep in mind that it’s not really supposed to be competitive.
Divekick Gameplay Trailer

Them's Fightin' Herds

Them's Fightin' Herds
80 %
E10
Platforms Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre Fighting, Indie, Arcade
Developer Mane6, Mane6
Publisher Humble Games, Modus Games
Release February 22, 2018
Wait, don’t leave! OK, yes, this game’s visual style and character design are … questionable at first glance, but stick with us. This My Little Pony knockoff-looking fighter is actually incredible. Not only does it have rollback netcode, but the devs really know how to make a fair and fun fighter. Each character has unique combos, supers, and is very well-balanced. Despite the game already getting its last content update, there’s never been a better time to put your hoofs up and join the herd!
Them's Fightin' Herds Crowdfund Video

Editors' Recommendations

Jesse Lennox
Jesse Lennox loves writing, games, and complaining about not having time to write and play games. He knows the names of more…
The 13 best gaming laptop deals in March 2024
An Alienware m16 gaming laptop in use on a desk, playing Baldur's Gate III.

There are loads of fantastic laptop deals out there right now, but not all of them will be able to meet the specific needs of gamers who want to play the best PC games. Fortunately, there's no shortage of gaming laptop deals in the market so that you can enjoy savings on these machines. Brands like HP, Alienware, Acer, and Lenovo are all available in the offers that we've gathered below, so read on to find more details on these gaming laptops and determine which one you should buy. Hurry up though, as the discounts may not last long.
HP Victus 15 gaming laptop -- $580, was $800

Ideally designed for someone looking for one of the best budget gaming laptops, the HP Victus 15 might mean you’ll need to tweak some detail levels with certain games but it’s a great starting point. It has an Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of memory, and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050. There’s also 512GB of SSD storage so you’ll be able to install a few games at once without a problem. The 15.6-inch screen has a refresh rate of 144Hz so you won’t need to worry about motion blur while other useful features include HP Fast Charge support and speakers tuned by B&O. A backlit keyboard looks great while there’s an integrated numeric keypad.

Read more
The best armor in Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth
Cloud from Final Fantasy VII Rebirth.

Just like in Remake, you only have one valuable armor slot per character in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. Deciding on what you want to put there is more complicated than you think, since each piece of armor has multiple factors that determine how effective it will be, and you may want to prioritize different things for different characters. New armor will become available as you go deeper into the world of Gaia, and you can even make some yourself with the new Transmutation system, so comparing and contrasting them all can be a major chore. We get it, you're just a merc looking to get the job done, so let us worry about figuring out the best armors so you can just put them on and get back to the action.
The best armor in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
Armor in Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth have three major factors to consider when you're equipping some: the physical defense rating, magic defense rating, and Materia slots. The best armor will either focus heavily on one of these or have a strong balance of them all. Here are our picks.
Garm Bangle

The Garm Bangle is an amazing piece of physical-focused armor that becomes available once you hit the Nibel region. It has a fantastic 59 rating for regular defense, aplus a decent 28 for magic defense to keep you from being totally vulnerable to spells. Offensively, it has two pairs of linked Materia slots plus a spare, so you can still make plenty of killer magic combos for your mages.
Hades Armlet

Read more
10 best graphics cards of 2024: finding the best GPU for gaming
RTX 3080 graphics cards among other GPUs.

If you want peak performance out of your PC, you need one of the best graphics cards. We've combed through all our reviews of GPUs from AMD, Nvidia, and Intel that were released over the last several generations to bring you a definitive ranking of the best GPUs for gaming, all of which can deliver great gaming performance at different budgets.

The competitiveness between AMD and Nvidia is hotter than it has been in years, and we have several options from both brands. If you're new to building PCs, make sure to read our answers to common GPU questions. We also have a full guide on how to install a graphics card so you can upgrade your PC.

Read more