Fighting games are arguably ever-popular, always ready to receive the hordes of adoring, wannabe badasses that just want to take some names and kick some ass. Crossover fight games fall into a very specific niche within that legion of fans, appealing to anime lovers from One Piece to Bleach. Here’s 10 crossover fighting games that we think would benefit from one of youse mashing the buttons on your DualShock to queendom come.
1. Super Gem Fighter Mini Mix
One of the best crossover fighting games of all time, this game was released in 1997 for the PS1, PS2 and the Sega Saturn. Including characters from Street Fighter, Darkstalker and Red Earth, Super Gem mini-mes all of them! So now you got fan favourites rendered with cutesy pixels and squeaky voices. Complex even ranked it the 42nd best fighting game of all time! That’s Mini Mix for ya.
2. Battle Stadium D.O.N.
How’d you feel when you first heard the news about Jump Force? A new, bold move forward into the future for Japanese crossover fighting games? Or doomed to sink to the bottom of the Marianas Trench? There was news that characters from the three legendary animes One Piece, Naruto and Dragon Ball were brought together for the first time for it, but you’d be wrong! Battle Stadium D.O.N, released in 2006 for the GameCube and PS2 by Eighting, has had 20 characters amalgamated from the series since its release. Graphics-wise, of course, it’s not Jump Force, but it’ll do.
3. Capcom vs SNK 2
In the world of crossover fighting, you will encounter Capcom and SNK over and over again. One of the most cutting-edge Capcom-SNK crossover fighters of its day was Capcom vs SNK 2, released in 2001 for the PS2, Xbox One, Arcade, Dreamcast and the GameCube. With reviews varying from fresh to rotten, the game is certainly polarizing, yet still good enough to land it a spot on UGO.com’s list of the 25 top fighitng games of all time.
4. the SoulCalibur series
SoulCalibur is the very definition of a fighting game. But unlike any other. This nifty series likes to present guest stars from franchises like Tekken, Zelda, Tales of Symphonia, Assassin’s Creed, The Witcher, and other, not-even-tangentially-related universes. With more than five titles, with a sixth one rumoured to come out later this year, what’s not to like?
5. Street Fighter x Tekken
A harmonious-cum-kick-ass interblending of the two legendary games Tekken and Street Fighter, do battle as any character from the two franchises you want, as well as guest stars from other games out the yin-yang. Available for the Vita, PS3, Xbox 360 and PC, this game has earned rave reviews, consistently scoring 9 out of 10s, as well as passing the one million sales threshold in its second month!
6. Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe
It’s Mortal Kombat. With DC characters. Can. You. Imagine. The. Awesomeness!? In November 2008, this game transcended mortal existence and entered the realm of legend. With 22 characters, half from DC and half from the franchise, unfortunately, if you’re part of the PC Master Race, you’re out of luck (PS3 and Xbox 360 only, pls)
7. Super Smash Bros Brawl
Made by Sora Limited and Game Arts exclusively for the Wii, this installment of the Super Smash Bros. franchise is little-to-unheard of, because it’s a Wii exclusive (lol). With 37 characters to choose from, including but not limited to: Link, Fox, Dr. Mario, Roy, Young Link, Mewtwo, Picho, Diddy Kong, Wario, Sonic and Solid Snake, this game pulls its weight as evinced by its rave reviews, even earning a perfect 40/40 from Famitsu!
8. Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars
From the gaming powerhouses Capcom and Eighting comes the long-awaited to Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds! Released for the PS3 and Xbox 360 in November 2011, and for the Vita the following year, and more recently, a remastered version for the PS4, Xbox One, and PC (FINALLY!!!!!1), the game lets you take control of and/or fight such characters as Doctor Strange, Ghost Rider, Hawkeye, Iron Fist, Nova, Rocket Raccoon, Firebrand, Frank West, the T-Type Nemesis, Phoenix Wright (OBJECTIO- oh wait no nvm), Strider Hiryu, and Devil May Cry’s Vergil.
10. Marvel vs Capcom: Infinite
The newest entry on this list, Marvel and Capcom’s collab definitely does NOT disappoint. With Unreal Engine 4 powering the entire set-up, play spit-and-polish-given fan favourites such as Black Panther, the Hulk, Captain Marvel, Ryu, and many more, in HDeeeeeeeeee… It looks like the age of the crossover fighting game has passed though, as not a single review rated it a 9 or above. Oh well, maybe I’m just being hella nostalgic =P
