When it comes to fighting games, only a few franchises have stood the test of time. These games didn’t just push buttons—they pushed culture. Arcades, consoles, esports, memes, movies—you name it. But after all the dust, blood, and controller sweat settles, only one champion is left standing. Spoiler alert: it’s Mortal f**king Kombat.
Let’s break it down.
1. Street Fighter: The OG That Taught Us Combos
No cap, Street Fighter laid the foundation. Without Ryu and Ken throwing hadoukens in the ‘90s, most of your favorite fighters wouldn’t exist. The series is iconic—frame data, zoning, EVO moments, and Chun-Li’s thighs that practically have their own fanbase.
But Street Fighter is also the nerd’s favorite. You gotta be deep in the lab with inputs tighter than your grandma’s braids. That’s fun for some, frustrating for others.
Respect to the GOAT, but it ain’t exactly dripping in savage.
2. Tekken: The 3D King of Juggles
If Street Fighter is chess, Tekken is drunken kung-fu. It’s the king of 3D fighters, and yes, it’s got one of the deepest combat systems ever coded into a controller. You want Korean backdashes? You want wall carries that last longer than your last relationship? Tekken got that.
Plus, the Mishima drama is a whole soap opera with roundhouse kicks. But even with all that, Tekken can feel… sterile. It’s competitive as hell but missing that raw edge, that disrespect.
3. Smash Bros: The Party That Accidentally Became an Esport
Yeah, we said it. Smash started as a party game and accidentally blew up into the most-watched fighting game on Twitch. Nintendo characters throwing hands in a Final Destination grudge match? Beautiful chaos.
Smash has one thing nobody else does: accessibility. Your 7-year-old cousin and that dude who mains Jigglypuff both think they’re elite. That’s magic. But if we’re being real—there’s no health bars, no fatalities, no spine-ripping. Smash is fun… but it ain’t savage.
4. Dragon Ball FighterZ: Anime on Steroids
DBFZ is fast, flashy, and faithful to the source material. You wanna Kamehameha your opponent into another timeline? You can. You wanna pull off a 200-hit combo while screaming? Do it.
It’s a banger. But let’s be honest—it’s a Dragon Ball game at its core. If you don’t care about Goku, you’re not sticking around. And that means limited shelf life for anyone who didn’t grow up on Toonami.
And Finally…
5. Mortal Fucking Kombat: The Blood-Soaked GOAT
Let’s f**king go. Mortal Kombat is the franchise that walked into the room, uppercutted the competition into spikes, and flipped them off while doing it.
- Iconic characters? Scorpion, Sub-Zero, Liu Kang. Name a fighting game roster more instantly recognizable.
- Story mode? Best in the genre. You’re basically playing an action movie every time.
- Gore? Fatalities made your mama cover your eyes in 1992—and they still slap in 2025.
- Cultural relevance? MK made it to movies, memes, music videos, and lawsuits. They tried to ban it and it just got stronger.
Mortal Kombat isn’t just a game. It’s a damn lifestyle. And unlike the other franchises, it never shies away from what it is: brutal, fun, ridiculous, and UNAPOLOGETICALLY BADASS.
Final Round: Why Mortal Kombat Wins
While the other franchises excel in different areas—be it mechanics, legacy, or accessibility—none of them match MK’s total package. It’s got violence, lore, fun, fashion (don’t play, Mileena stays in her bag), and more global recognition than half the fighting game lineup combined.
MK is the main event. And if you disagree, we got two words for you: “Finish Him.”
