What are the Best Fighting Games on Nintendo Switch?

Despite the Nintendo Switch being marketed as a family console, it has plenty of fighting games on offer. It can be a fun genre as you master your character’s moves in games likeSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate, fight in elaborate stages and win against opponents in a thrilling fashion.

10 Best Fighting Games for Beginners

The fighting game genre is one of the most vast in gaming. Because of this, however, it can be intimidating to decide which one to start with.

The fighting game genre is incredibly broad. You have platform fighters like Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate that hardcore fans may discount, but you also have the deeper fighting games like Dragon Ball FighterZ and Guilty Gear Strive. This list, however, includes a mix of both casual and hardcore. Here are the best fighting games you’re able to get on the immensely popular Nintendo Switch.

10Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2

Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2

Many tie-in games fail to live up to expectations, but Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 is one of the exceptions. Yes, it doesn’t look as polished as Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, but the overall game is fun to play. Each character is designed in an immaculate fashion, taking notes from the original Nickelodeon shows they are from. SpongeBob SquarePants, for example, uses his red karate glove from the show to chop his foes, while Garfield throws a pie as a projectile. The stages are also quite elaborate with beautiful recreations of Jellyfish Fields and the Air Temple from Avatar: The Last Airbender. There’s also depth in Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 as it features a faster Melee-like feel and combos galore. Go give it a try if you haven’t already; you might be surprised.

9Mortal Kombat 11

Mortal Kombat 11

Despite a great pedigree in the fighting game landscape, NetherRealm Studios gave the Switch port of Mortal Kombat 11 a mediocre release. Sure, it has everything you want in a great fighting game: a stellar character lineup with impactful moves at your disposal, an engaging storyline and gorgeous graphics. Unfortunately, the Switch version of Mortal Kombat 11 is the worst way to play this triple-A fighting game entry. If the Switch is your only option, the game is still worthy of your time, just expect a lower-quality resolution and blurry visuals. At least it runs mostly at 60 frames per second.

8Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection

Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection

You can’t beat the classics and the Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection proves that. This set includes twelve different titles from the legendary franchise’s history. You can play online through rollback netcode with four different entries in the series, including Street Fighter 2 Hyper Fighting, Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo, Street Fighter Alpha 3 and the beloved Street Fighter 3: Third Strike. Most of these classics have stunning pixel art that can’t be experienced much in today’s landscape. Additionally, the characters have stellar movesets for you to master. If you’re a Street Fighter fan, there’s also the Museum, which shows plenty of behind-the-scenes pictures, gorgeous artwork, key animation sprites and design documents.

One of the first fighting games to launch on the Nintendo Switch is ARMS. From the Mario Kart development team comes a game that focuses on stretchy limbs that can pummel your opponents. It’s fun to switch different arms for alternate effects. One shoots a laser, while another fires flames into your foe’s keister. The customization is compelling as you progress through the game and unlock new arms. The motion controls are responsive, but you can also check out ARMS with a regular controller, using the analog sticks. It’s up to you. It’s a shame we never got a sequel to ARMS as there’s plenty of potential, but hopefully, a sequel comes to the NintendoSwitch 2.

6UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH Exe:Late[cl-r]

Under Night In-Birth Exe:Late[cl-r]

We’ll never understand the weirdly named titles for this series, but Under Night In-Birth Exe:Late[cl-r] is one of the best fighting games you’re able to play on the Nintendo Switch. This is a unique fighter from FRENCH-BREAD that has interesting characters from blade-wielding teenagers like Hyde to a beefy old man with huge fists like Waldstein. The modern magical setting of this game is stellar and truly grips you into its storyline. “While it has a really steep learning curve that may turn casual fighting game players off, it is incredibly satisfying if you put the time in,” said our sister siteDualShockers. The music is also stellar, especially with Linne’s theme.

5Pokken Tournament DX

Pokkén Tournament DX

While there hasn’t yet been a Tekken game on the Nintendo Switch, we at least got a Pokemon-take on the beloved fighting game series. This fascinating game takes the movesets from various Pokemon in the franchise like Pikachu and Mewtwo and turns them into a fighting character. The action is intense, albeit simple, as you strike your foes with basic combos and stunning attacks. For Nintendo Switch, the graphics are impressive and makes you wonder how Bandai Namco would handle a mainline Pokemon game with the graphics as their disposal. It’s also cool how the camera shifts to demonstrate different phases of the battle. Pokkén Tournament DX is a no brainer for fans of the pocket monster series.

4MARVEL vs. CAPCOM Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics

Marvel Vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics

The Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection takes many fans for a ride if they decide to purchase and play it. The combos are electric on-screen as you shift between three different Marvel or Capcom heroes. The stages are still stellar to this day with exciting backgrounds to gaze at and phenomenal tracks that anyone would bob their head to. This game also supports rollback netcode like the prior Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection. This time, however, all the games are supported. Additionally, you’re able to switch between the Japanese and English arcade releases.

3Guilty Gear Strive

Guilty Gear Strive

Are you ready for the “Smell of the Game?” Expect epic battles with beautiful anime visuals, distinct characters and a cracking metal soundtrack that will pump you up. The stages are also phenomenal and have taken many breaths away. If you’re new to fighters,Guilty Gear Striveis a decent game to get into as it has plenty of tutorials to follow that are easy to follow. There’s also an epic visual novel story to follow if you’re so interested.

2Dragon Ball FighterZ

Dragon Ball FighterZ

The same developer of Guilty Gear Strive, Arc System Works, is also behindDragon Ball FighterZ. It takes the essence of the beloved anime series and takes it into high gear. The visuals look like they were ripped from the anime and the Kamehameha has never looked so beautiful in a game before. Like Marvel vs. Capcom, the combos between different characters in your team are energetic, and as an onlooker, it’s always exciting to watch. The soundtrack also deserves a shout, especially for the West City’s track, which hits with epic dubstep beats, soaring strings and powerful percussion.

1Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Are you surprised that Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is No. 1? Probably not. It has a cacophony of characters to choose from, such as Mario, Joker, Link, Cloud and Sonic, among many others. The platform fighting is easy to get into, but hard to master. The level of polish is insane, with immaculately designed stages. It feels so good to knock out opponents with powerful attacks and the number of references to the original source material is wonderful.

There areso many modes to choose from, like Classic and the World of Light. It can be a casual experience with plenty of fun items at your disposal, but you can also take it serious with no items and select forms of stages like Battlefield and Final Destination. It all comes together to be the perfect package. Whenever a new Super Smash Bros. gets announced, Ultimate will certainly be hard to top. It’s an almost perfect game.

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