It may have been a long time coming. Still, fighting games are finally transitioning to eSports, and the history of this illustrious genre is getting recorded and observed by newcomers and veterans alike. And looking back, not every series was Street Fighter or Mortal Kombat, some having just one release before fading away in time.
Resurrections like 2019's Samurai Shodown prove that holding out for a past classic to make a comeback isn't always a lost cause. From genre-defining mainstays to legitimate oddities, it's time to dust off the arcade sticks and make some noise to bring these lost classics out of the past and into the modern spotlight.
Updated December 27, 2022, by Chris Sanfilippo: After almost twenty years of arcade exclusivity, The Rumble Fish 2, one of the fighting genre's cult classics, had its first-ever console launch! In our latest update, we decided to give attention to this long-forgotten series, along with two other hidden gems. Additionally, we listed each home console these series are available on.
16 Rival Schools
Even though the last entry of the Rival Schools series launched over twenty years ago, there remains plenty of interest in a revival of the high-octane fighter that resembles a toned-down version of Marvel vs. Capcom.
Outside of Kyosuke being a playable character in Capcom vs. SNK 2, the series has remained dormant, with fans clamoring for its return. Luckily, Akira Kazama's addition to Street Fighter 5 may indicate a series resurgence in the future, whether it's a new title or more crossover appearances in Street Fighter 6.
Platforms: PlayStation, Dreamcast
15 Power Stone
To those who remember it, Power Stone was a memorable foray into carnage on the Sega Dreamcast. Players could compete in a complete 3D environment, use weapons and stage obstacles, and even transform into their powerful alter egos after collecting three fabled power stones.
After Power Stone 2, the franchise seems to have fallen by the wayside, as there has been no word from Capcom that they will bring the series back. Until then, fans of the game will never forget, and those unfortunate enough to have never played the series will continue to miss out.
Platforms: Dreamcast, PSP
14 Cyberbots
Mecha fighters are not new by today's standards. Consider, for instance, the slew of Gundam titles, like Gundam Versus and Mobile Suit Gundam Extreme Vs. Maxiboost. Still, Cyberbots: Full Metal Madness was a unique fighting game of its time, even by Capcom's standards. The title was a spin-off of the successful beat-em-up game Armored Warriors (Powered Gear in Japan).
Cyberbots stood out from its peers for several reasons. For instance, it was one of few 90s Capcom fighters that did not feature a six-button layout. Plus, the pilot characters did not affect gameplay. Instead, mechs called VAs (Variant Armor) were the primary means of combat. While Cyberbots never experienced a console launch outside Japan, its legacy continued with guest characters in several Capcom Versus games and a spiritual 3D successor, Tech Romancer.
Platforms:
- Sega Saturn (Japan Only), PlayStation (Japan Only)
- PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC [Capcom Fighting Collection]
13 Eternal Champions
When Street Fighter 2 and Mortal Kombat dominated arcades in the 1990s, one fighting game was an absolute must-play on the Sega Genesis, and that game was Eternal Champions. What made Eternal Champions unique was that it incorporated elements of the titles mentioned above while still feeling original all on its own.
If Killer Instinct can be brought back and succeed in today's fighting game landscape, why can't a game that allows players to fight as an actual Shih Tzu?
Platforms: Sega Genesis, Sega Genesis Mini, Wii (Virtual Console)
12 Bloody Roar
One of the best fighting game franchises that thrived on the Sony Playstation, Bloody Roar and its sequels were among the best 3D fighters ever made. Though the gimmick of changing into a raging beast mid-battle was neat enough, the game's combat was as fluid as any Tekken or Virtua Fighter game at the time.
When the series made it to the PlayStation 2, it was clear that the novelty had worn off as the quality of the last two games failed to match its predecessors. As a result, the series has been dormant since 2003's Bloody Roar 4.
Platforms: PlayStation, PS2, Gamecube, Xbox
11 Fighter's History
Remember Data East? The discontinued game company produced several arcade staples, including the Magical Drop and Burger Time series. But did you know they also developed a 2D Fighting game series? Fighter's History was Data East's answer to Street Fighter. Furthermore, Capcom noticed and took Data East to court for copyright infringement (although the court ruled in DE's favor).
While Street Fighter's influence on Fighter's History is undeniable, one mechanic set the two series apart. In Fighter's History, players could temporarily stun their opponent by repeatedly attacking a weak spot on their body.
Platforms: SNES, Neo Geo, Neo Geo CD, Sega Saturn, Nintendo Switch Online (SNES Virtual Console)
10 Primal Rage
Nothing turns the eye quite like an old fashion monster mash, and therein lies the appeal of Primal Rage. Trading punches and kicks for teeth and tails, players assume the roles of titanic beasts as they bite, claw, and even vomit their way to victory.
Primal Rage was a massive hit on arcades and home consoles, with a sequel in the works. Then, unfortunately, Atari pulled the plug, leaving all hopes for more dinosaur carnage dashed forever. Though Primal Rage 2 never saw the light of day, its story received a comic book adaptation in 1997.
Platforms: 3DO Interactive Multiplayer, 32X, Amiga, Atari Jaguar CD, Game Boy, Game Gear, MS-DOS, PlayStation, Sega Genesis, Sega Saturn, SNES
9 Virtua Fighter
With the runaway success of the Tekken series, it's shocking that the granddaddy of all 3D fighters, Virtua Fighter, was put to pasture. Sega's 3D fighting series revolutionized the genre and was well-loved from its early days as a polygonal mess to its refined later titles.
Since the critically acclaimed Virtua Fighter 5: Final Showdown, the landmark franchise has been uncharacteristically dormant save for being a playable mini-game in Yakuza 6. However, there were some noticeable resurgences over the years. For instance, EVO 2019 featured Final Showdown in a side tournament. And a remastered version, Virtua Fighter 5: Ultimate Shodown, launched in 2021 on PS4.
Platforms: Sega Saturn, Sega 32X, Microsoft Windows, Sega Mega Drive, Sega Game Gear, Sega Master System, Game.com, R-Zone, Dreamcast, PS2, GameCube, PS3, Wii (Virtual Console), Xbox 360, mobile, PS4
8 Fighting Vipers
Did you know that Virtua Fighter had a lesser-known sister series? Fighting Vipers was a game series that utilized the same engine as Virtua Fighter 2. However, this title was intended to draw more players from the Western audience. Fighting Vipers received warm critical reception, but didn't last past its sequel, Fighting Vipers 2.
So what sets Fighting Vipers's gameplay apart from Virtua Fighter's? Both games use a three-button system. However, Fighting Vipers features enclosed arenas (meaning no ring-outs) and a destructible armor mechanic.
Platforms: Sega Saturn, Dreamcast, PS2, PS3 (PSN), Xbox 360 (XBLA)
7 Bushido Blade
Bushido Blade's brilliance was simple: No life bars or time limits and death in a single blow. The samurai-themed fighter was as close to an actual sword fight as gaming could get, and the sheer scale and depth of the game were well before its time.
While the series never continued beyond the second entry, its spirit lived on in the poorly received Kengo series for the PS2 and Xbox 360.
Platforms: PlayStation
6 Clayfighter
While parodies are satirical and not meant to improve their medium, there are instances where they are just too good to be ignored. Clayfighter was one such instance, as it combined all the best aspects of 2D fighters with a healthy dose of humor and a lot of clay.
A hallmark of the 16-bit era, Clayfighter's faced a doomed fate when Interplay Studios shut down shortly after the release of the heavily delayed Clayfighter 63 ⅓.
Platforms: SNES, Sega Genesis, Nintendo 64, Wii (Virtual Console)
5 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tournament Fighters
While there is a debate surrounding if this game stands alone or acts as the final game of the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series, Tournament Fighters was a well-received title that still sees tournament play today.
Praised for being on par with Street Fighter 2 in terms of presentation and great utilization of the property, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tournament Fighters was great to play alone or with friends. Players can soon revisit this classic in the Ninja Turtles Cowabunga Collection.
Platforms:
- NES, SNES, Sega Genesis
- Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S [TMNT: The Cowabunga Collection]
4 The Rumble Fish
The Rumble Fish series is a cult classic fighting game with a dedicated following since its debut in 2003. Its development studio, Dimps, would later work on Street Fighter 4, a pivotal title responsible for the fighting game revival of the late aughts. Yet, outside of a PS2 console port in Japan, The Rumble Fish series lived on arcade boards for almost twenty years.
One of The Rumble Fish's defining features is its dual super meter, which dedicates one gauge to offensive skills and another to defensive skills. When both gauges fill, players can execute a detrimental critical art that can turn the tide of battle!
Platforms: PS2 (Japan only), Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
3 Fatal Fury
Though SNK's King of Fighters series became the chief rival to Capcom's Street Fighter and its variants, Fatal Fury was the original contender for the throne. With a colorful cast of characters and fighting mechanics that gradually improved with each entry, Fatal Fury is one of the great forgotten fighting games.
Perhaps most frustrating was that the last standalone title in the series, Garou: Mark of the Wolves, is considered one of the greatest fighting games ever made. However, with the resurgence of King of Fightersand Samurai Shodown, there is no reason for Fatal Fury to remain forgotten.
Platforms: Dreamcast, Game Boy, Microsoft Windows, Neo Geo, Neo Geo CD, Neo Geo Pocket Color, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, PS2, PS4, PS Vita, Sega CD, Sega Game Gear, Sega Genesis, Sega Saturn, SNES, Wii (Virtual Console), Xbox Live Arcade, Xbox One
2 Red Earth
RPGs translate well into fighting games. For example, consider successes like Dissidia: Final Fantasy, Granblue Fantasy Versus, and DNF Duel. However, the concept of combining the two genres existed well before the launch of these titles. One early example of the Fighting Game RPG experiment was Capcom's Red Earth, launched in arcades in 1996.
Red Earth was a versus fighter designed for a single-player experience. Instead of relying on a sizeable playable roster, the game allowed players to choose one of four unique characters and pit them in a series of boss battles against mythical creatures, dastardly knights, and scheming wizards. As players fought through the campaign, their character would level up, unlocking new weapons, resistances, and special attacks.
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC [Capcom Fighting Collection]
1 Darkstalkers
Darkstalkers retains a legacy as the most beloved forgotten fighting game series. In fact, "overlooked" feels like a more appropriate word to describe Darkstalkers since Capcom has all but abandoned the series despite a dedicated fan following. Moreover, while the original trilogy of games (and its two Japan-exclusive sequels) have been re-launched several times in the last twenty years, an official sequel has yet to see the light of the moon.
The Darkstalkers series was well-known for a cast that included zombies, vampires, aliens, ghosts, and the beloved Morrigan Aensland. Still, its last entry, Vampire Savior, was one of Capcom's fastest, fiercest, and most competitive, forever distinguishing the series from its more popular forebearer, Street Fighter. Luckily, modern gamers can revisit this classic in Capcom Fighting Collection.
Platforms:
- Sega Saturn, PlayStation, PSP, PS2 (Japan only), Dreamcast (Japan only),
- PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC [Capcom Fighting Collection]
- PS3, Xbox 360 [Darkstalkers Ressurection]