We love fighting games, but the PS5 still doesn’t have the biggest library of titles that truly make use of the hardware just yet. Never fear, however, because thanks to backwards compatibility, all of those great fighting games previously available on PS4 are also playable on PS5. Even better, they generally look and play better than ever. With so many fighting games playable on PS5 though, you might be wondering which ones are the best. Which are the ones that are actually worth your valuable time and hard-earned money.
Hopefully we can help you with that. We assembled a short list of the best fighting games you can play on PS5. Whether you prefer fighting with weapons rather than fists, or prefer anime-inspired visuals over a more realistic look, there’s something for you here. And of course, we’ll keep it updated over time so you can be sure that the games on this list are always the best that you can get.
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1. Street Fighter 6
We obviously couldn’t have a list of the best fighting games on PS5 without kicking things off with Street Fighter 6. This latest entry into the long-running series might just be the best yet. Not only does it look fantastic and bring back our favourite characters in a new light, it also introduces a roster of brand new, capable fighters that we’re absolutely loving. It’s one of the most accessible fighting games ever made, thanks to new control schemes making it easy for newcomers to go toe-to-toe with more competent players.
Whether you’re playing by yourself or wanting to fight others online, you’ll find a mode in Street Fighter 6 to suit. The online action is excellent, but so is the single-player campaign. There, you can even walk around the streets, starting a fight with anyone you come across. There’s so much fun to be had here, and if you’re a fighting game fan, you’re going to love it just as much as we do.
Read our review of Street Fighter 6
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2. Guilty Gear -Strive-
The latest entry in the Guilty Gear series launched straight onto PS5, and wowed us not only with its graphics but also its gameplay. Developer Arc System Works has taken steps to make Guilty Gear -Strive- the most accessible entry in the series yet. It results in a fighting game that’s easy to pick up but hard to master, welcoming newcomers while also offering depth for those who want to take it seriously. What’s most notable about Guilty Gear -Strive-, however, is its sumptuous art style. Combined with slick animation, it’s perhaps the most eye-catching fighting game currently available.
It’s just a shame that unless you like fighting online, Guilty Gear -Strive- doesn’t have much to offer. Its story mode is nothing more than an animated movie using in-game visuals, so for those who like fighting against the CPU there’s only really arcade and survival mode. It does have Rollback netcode though, so playing online is as good as can be.
Read our review of Guilty Gear -Strive-
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3. The King of Fighters XV
It’s crazy to think that The King of Fighters is on its 15th mainline instalment, but here we are. And as long as SNK keep delivering fighting games as good as this, they can keep them coming. Focusing on team-based battles, The King of Fighters XV offers a whopping 39 characters at launch, with more to be added as DLC. Needless to say, you’ll spend hours just trying them all, putting together your favourite team. It’s just a shame that, like so many other fighting games, those who like to play against the CPU aren’t particularly catered for. There’s an arcade mode that you’re likely to play through multiple times, but that’s about it.
For those prepared to take the action online, however, The King of Fighters XV will provide them countless hours of fun. Especially considering it looks rather nice and has rock-steady performance on PS5. Anyone familiar with the series will be in their element here. And so will fans of Street Fighter keen on something fresh but familiar to play. It is undoubtedly one of the best fighting games on PS5.
Read our review of The King of Fighters XV
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4. Mortal Kombat 11
If you want a fighting game that looks like it’s actually making use of the PS5 hardware, Mortal Kombat 11 does the job rather nicely. Enhanced for PS5, it benefits from increased resolution and improved special effects, making every frame of its a spectacle. Even better, loading times are fast, and performance is rock solid. It’s undoubtedly the best way to play the game.
Single-player content is where Mortal Kombat 11 most noticeably shines. It has a wonderfully cinematic story mode to play through, and after that there’s an ever-changing assortment of towers to complete, each with a range of rewards to enhance your playing experience. You can use the Koins you earn while playing to unlock additional goodies within an explorable Krypt, too. Mortal Kombat 11’s online offerings are solid if you want to battle against other human players, however. And of course it has fatalities, which are more brutal than ever. Be sure to pick up the Ultimate version of the game if you want access to a solid range of additional characters and yet another story to play through.
Read our review of Mortal Kombat 11
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5. Tekken 7
Released way back in 2017 on PS4, Tekken 7 isn’t the best-looking fighting game you can play on PS5. In fact, with PS4 Pro support only bringing its resolution up to 1080p, it’s the ugliest game on this list. Get past the dated visuals, however, and you’ll find the best playing fighting game currently available.
Invest in all four of the game’s season passes and you’ll find there are over 50 fighters to get to grips with, with the majority of them being truly unique to play. They each have a wealth of moves, bolstered by the latest free update to the game, giving the combat more depth than perhaps any other fighting game out there. It’s not short on content, either; after beating Tekken 7’s story mode, Treasure Battle is a fun place to waste some time fighting against CPU opponents, while solid online offerings offer lasting appeal. Needless to say, if you’re after the best fighting games on PS5, Tekken 7 is a must-have even though it doesn’t really make use of the next-gen hardware.
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6. Soul Calibur VI
Fancy fighting with weapons rather than your fists? You need to add Soul Calibur VI to your PS5 games library. This latest entry in the long-running fighting games series is one of the best, and features a character creation system that is unrivalled.
Like Soul Calibur games of old, Soul Calibur VI features an enjoyable RPG-like mode for players to entertain themselves with. On top of that, it has all the usual offline and online modes you’d expect, too. Throw into the mix a thrilling combat system, and eye-popping visuals thanks to PS4 Pro support, and you have one of the best fighting games to grace the PS4, and also therefore the PS5. Just be aware that if you want to have all of the game’s characters and customisation options available to you, you’re going to need to buy some season passes. There’s no doubt going to be a bundle with them all included eventually, but until then, the full Soul Calibur VI experience can be rather costly. It’s worth it though if you’re really into fighting games, as there’s just nothing else available quite like it.
Read our review of Soul Calibur VI
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7. Under Night In-Birth Exe: Late(cl-r)
![Under Night In-Birth Exe: Late[cl-r] 1](https://www.gamespew.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/UNICLR-3.jpg)
If you love anime aesthetics and don’t mind veering away from the fighting game genre heavy-hitters, you should really check out Under Night In-Birth Exe: Late(cl-r). Yes, its name is a mouthful, but it’s definitely one of the best fighting games playable on PS5 right now, thanks largely to years of refinement and balancing.
Pick up Under Night In-Birth Exe: Late(cl-r), and chances are you won’t be wowed by its small range of fighters. On the plus side though, each and every one of those fighters is totally unique, both in visual design and move set. It’s the combat itself that makes Under Night In-Birth Exe: Late(cl-r) truly special: it’s accessible but has considerable depth, and it’s wonderfully fast-paced. To play Under Night In-Birth Exe: Late(cl-r) is to love it, the only caveat being that it doesn’t have much of an online community. Still, if you have friends to play it with, or are content with playing offline, be sure to give it some consideration.
