Combat tournaments are one of the oldest parts of human history. Hence, it’s not a big surprise that a whole gaming genre is dedicated to it. In fact, fighting games are probably some of the most enjoyable experiences a player can have while playing with their friends. After all, they're easy to play, quick to pick up, and feature dozens of amazing characters.
However, fighting games aren’t just limited to straightforward 1v1 action. In fact, they carry some of the best storylines in video game history and deep lore. Here's a look at a few such titles that are not only good fighting games, but also carry an interesting detailed world full of carefully crafted backstories.
10 WWE 2K22
WWE 2K22 is the latest entry in the long-running WWE game franchise, which came out in March 2022. It’s a triple-A tier fighting game from developer Visual Concepts, published by none other than sports game enthusiasts, 2K sports. The popular pro-wrestling simulator is one of the highest-rated WWE games available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
WWE 2K22 is the game that features the biggest wrestling company in the world. Hence, it showcases the sport's history through the 2K Showcase mode, full of real-life wrestling lore that every fan must experience.
9 Skullgirls
Skullgirls is one of the most popular fighting games out there, and features deeper lore than more players initially realize. The title showcases the story of a 1940s-style country named Canopy Kingdom, where players are tasked to claim the Skull Heart by beating their opponents in a tournament-type contest.
Skullgirls has a rich and deep backstory, which makes it one of the most intriguing fighting games on the list. The game initially came out in 2012 on seventh-generation consoles, and was later repackaged for 8th gen, Arcade, PlayStation Vita, Nintendo Switch, Android, and iOS.
8 BlazBlue
BlazBlue is a long-running series of fighting games that began in 2008 with BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger. The 2D title featured a story of a post-war world where the players have the task of beating an SS-class rebel named Grim Reaper and acquiring the bounty.
Each game in the BlazBlue series features deep lore based on the mystical world that was once on the verge of extinction at the hands of a deadly creature called the “Black Beast.” It’s full of fantastical details and a combat system that’s fun and visually stunning.
7 Street Fighter
Street Fighter is an iconic fighting game series that began in the late 80s on Arcade, and soon after came out on Atari and other home consoles. It’s a game full of rich history, in-game lore, and 30 years of backstory development that is unmatched by every title on this list.
The latest entry in the Street Fighter series, Street Fighter 6, is currently under development for PC and consoles. The Capcom game uses the brilliant RE Engine that has helped bring titles like Resident Evil Village and Devil May Cry 5 to life. The sixth game is set to expand on the lore that the older games have established.
6 Tekken
It’s not hard to argue that Tekken is one of the best story-driven fighting games ever. The first game in the series came out in 1994 and instantly became known for its fast-paced three-dimensional gameplay design and mindblowing moves. The game features a roster of over 18 playable fighters, who all have their own lore-based reason for existing in the game.
Like Street Fighter, Tekken also aims to expand its lore with the upcoming title in the series, Tekken 8. While not much is known about the game, it’s set to expand on the longest-running story in fighting games and take it to another level with next-gen visuals and gameplay mechanics.
5 The King of Fighters
The King of Fighters is another fighting game series that does not get the credit it deserves. Not only is the game full of unique fighters, but it is also based on well-crafted lore that has only expanded since 1994.
Like Street Fighter and Tekken, The King of Fighters has evolved into a fully 3D fighting game with the classic 2.5D camera angle. It features a plot around the world-class fighting King of Fighters tournament that has fascinating lore behind it.
4 Guilty Gear
Guilty Gear is one of the most underrated fighting game series of all time, mostly because it began as a niche title by publisher Arc System Works. Hence, it never reached the popularity level of other games like Street Fighter or Tekken in the fighting game genre.
Regardless, Guilty Gear features one of the best stories in fighting game history, and comes from the same minds who built the fantastical lore-driven world of BlazBlue. Hence, it also has a deep lore and isn’t just another tournament fighter like PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale and Smash Bros.
3 Fatal Fury
Legend of the Hungry Wolf, aka Fatal Fury, is a fighting game series by legendary developers at SNK. The game launched in 1991 as an Arcade exclusive and soon appeared on Super Nintendo, X68000, Neo Geo CD, and Sega Genesis. The classic 2D fighting game featured a story of Terry and his brother Andy, the adopted sons of a legendary martial artist.
Fatal Fury is the groundwork for the King of Fighters games. Not only does it feature the backstory of one of the main characters of the spiritual spin-off, but it also expands on the lore behind the tournament.
2 Injustice
Injustice: Gods Among Us is a fighting game that features its own universe of iconic DC characters pitched against each other in a brilliant story-driven campaign. However, the game also has specific lore-based reasons behind each superhero and supervillain's motives. It also has detailed backstories of what pushed them to fight against each other.
Injustice: Gods Among Us is a three-dimensional fighting title by Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment that came out in 2013 on seventh-generation consoles. However, it has spawned a brilliant sequel, offering another unique universe of superheroes, full of interesting details and new lore.
1 Mortal Kombat
The first Mortal Kombat came out in 1992 and stunned every player around the globe by featuring gore-filled gameplay full of brutal fatalities. Fast-forward to Mortal Kombat 11, and the series is still as wicked as ever. It features some of the best visuals, voice-acting, action, moves, and finishers in any fighting game on the list.
That said, Mortal Kombat isn’t just about gore or moves. It’s a massive collection of unique tales, where each character has their own backstory. Moreover, the game’s deep lore is one of the biggest reasons it has expanded into animated series, live-action shows, movies, gambling games, card games, music albums, novels, comics, and more.