Best Fighting Games for PC in 2022

Arcade games dominated the 70s and 80s until consoles forced a tectonic shift forward. At-home gaming became convenient and possible. We could easily play fighting games at home with more controllers to play amongst friends. 

PC gaming picked up the pace when Windows simplified the platform in the late 90s, but fighter games still hadn’t found their place. Something was lacking, like a missing piece in a puzzle. Microsoft decided to go all out in the veteran gaming genre. 

First, it opened the floodgates of third-party gaming peripherals, extending gamepad support to any manufacturer with Bluetooth or USB connectivity. It then worked on making console ports for popular games reality on PC. 

Now, gamers can play all the best online fighting games on PC without worrying about platform compatibility. All platform-exclusive games have made their way to Windows PCs. In this article, we’ll explore 10 of the best fighting games for PC. 

• Best fighting games for PC in 2022
• Conclusion

We’ve picked some of the best fighting game franchises and some new entrants that have taken the gaming world by storm. All the games mentioned here are available on Steam. 

Continuing the 28-year legacy, Mortal Kombat makes a comeback with its eleventh main game, a sequel to Mortal Kombat X. It is a 2.5D game where the gamer fights against computers by selecting a character. The popular fighting game franchise also features local co-op, offline playing with friends, and online multiplayer. 

Two new game features, “Fatal Blows” and “Krushing Blows,” have been added to the six regular fighting gameplays. Mercy makes a comeback, last seen in Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3, allowing winning players to revive opponents, giving them a little amount of life.  

The plot continues with Dark Raiden, who returns after defeating Shinnok, committing to protecting Earthrealms (Earth). A special force team consisting of Soniya Cafe, Cassie Cage, and Jacqui Briggs wage war against the Netherrealm, another realm in the same reality. Raiden aids them by providing a vital distraction. 

Injustice 2 is created by NetherRealm studios, the same team behind the Mortal Kombat series. It is developed in collaboration with DC Comics, meaning you have all the popular DC universe characters, from Superman to Aquaman to Flash, as playable fighting characters in the game. 

The game’s original plot starts with a fight between Superman and Joker, which results in the superhero losing his moral compass. He forms a group, “Earth One Regime,” to maintain peace on Earth but becomes a ruthless dictator. Batman fights back to put an end to the injustice. 

Two years later, in the present game, Batman and his insurgency are fighting to rebuild society. A new villainous faction, Society, headed by Gorilla Grodd, with the motive of world domination, makes his presence known. The Dark Knight forms a force with Black Canary and a reformed Harley Quinn.

The game has 28 playable characters on its base roster, consisting of heroes, villains with new entrants, as well as the return of a few veterans. An additional 10 characters are available through DLCs (downloadable content).

Naraka: Bladepoint is an action-adventure theme game for fighting genre fans. The game’s fighting mechanism is inspired by martial-arts melee combat. It also features a rock-paper-scissor combat system. The game is set on a Morus island, a fictional place where heroes gather for battle. 

We get 10 different playable characters, heroes in the game with the battle-royale gameplay style. Match with enough players (up to 60), and the game starts on the island. Players can go solo or team up in a trio with two other players. Find weapons, health, or armour on the map as the bubble gets shorter.

Unlike other games in the genre, even if the player dies after teammates fail to revive them, they can turn into a spirit and run to Soul Alter for reviving with standard equipment.

Anime fans will love DRAGON BALL FighterZ, as universally famous characters like Goku, Gohan, and others come up as playable characters. Select three players to form a team and switch between them anytime. Players can call other characters from the team to assist in a special move. 

Every character has a unique set of moves, apart from some universal elements shared across the board. Execute a “Vanish Attack,” which uses Ki to teleport the player behind the opponent and strike from the back. The game features a ranking system in the arcade and online mode. 

The game has 21 playable characters in the base roster and 3 additional characters unlockable through the journey. Add 20 more through a paid DLC with the “FighterZ Passes.”

Skullgirls 2nd Encore’s gameplay is modelled after Marvel vs Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes. The adaptation ranges from retro arcade graphics to game mechanics such as delayed hyper combos, team-based combat, character assists, and snapbacks. Players create a team consisting of up to three characters for 1-on-1 battles. 

The fighting game started with eight playable characters styled with anime characteristics. A crowdfunding initiative brought five additional downloadable characters. The game takes place in the fictional Canopy Kingdom, set in the post-war America of the late 1940s. Skullgirls has 6 modes: story, arcade, versus training room, tutorial, and online. 

Street Fighter does not need an introduction to the online fighting games genre. It features a side-scrolling gameplay system, carrying the 2D design like its predecessors. Here the story of Street Fighter III and Street Fighter IV continues to go forward with Charlie Nash, who awakens from the tomb for a special mission.

He is instructed by a young woman named Helen, who instructs him to retrieve an old item from a friend. It introduces 4 new characters, taking the tally to 16 for the base roster. Several new characters were added later through updates and different seasons. 

Attack enemies and fill the EX gauge, recently introduced in the game. A new V-Guage is also introduced, which builds as players can then use it for a super combo or power up the current moves. 

This fighting game allows cross-play across all platforms. Whether it’s a PC player against an opponent on a console or iPhone against a computer, they can all play together. The graphics are cartoonish, and they feel inspired by Super Mario.

Brawlhalla has 56 characters, called legends, each with unique stats, cosmetic skins, and load-outs. The game has local and online play, with competitive 1-on-1 modes. There are several casual game modes: Free-For-All, Experimental 1v1, 1v1 Strikeout. A new featured mode is added every week. Free-For-All is a fun mode where four players are pitted against each other. 

Soulcalibur VI is from the makers of Dragon Ball FighterZ. This fighting game is a sequel and a reboot to the original series. Set in the 16th century, we discover hidden truths as the game progresses. Players get two-weapon yielding combats against opponents. The game relies on the familiar gameplay mechanics apart from the “Reversal Edge.”

The new addition lets players block the opponent’s attack and immediately strike back with no room for a breather. A slow-motion mode is also included, providing a cinematic touch to the gameplay and more time to plan the attack. 

There are 21 playable characters apart from the paid DLCs that add up to 8 more to the roster. Soulcalibur brings custom characters this time around. Players can create their characters and add them to the 100-slot custom roster. Play using the customer characters in the second story mode, Libra of Soul, where we occasionally encounter the main story characters.

The King of Fighters brings its latest offering, created using Unreal Engine 4. We see the return of Shun'ei and Isla in the multiverse of supernatural powers, which is central to the story. The story evolves as a new fighting tournament erupts after the defeat of Verse. Notable fighters make a comeback through the invitation of the tournament commissioner. 

Create a team of three fighters with the availability of Shatter strike, which lets players use brutal techniques once the energy bar is filled. The fighting game franchise offers 39 playable characters, divided into 13 teams with 3 members. Players can spend money on DLC to unlock 4 more teams. 

other features. Enjoy the electronic music in the game with stunning background visuals. It raises the bar for other 2D fighters out there with its impeccable netcode, inventive characters, and balanced depth of gameplay. 

Guilty Gear Strive has a comprehensive storyline, events timeline, and the segment's densest lore. The narration, polished characters with their history, and overall story depth can make a great five-hour anime series. There are 15 playable characters in the base roster. Add 5 more to the team by purchasing the Season 1 pass. 

Street Fighter V and Mortal Kombat 11 are the best fighter games to play for casual gamers. Plug in controllers and start playing with friends. Gamers who dwell on good stories and well-rounded characters will love Guilty Gear Strive.

Some games offer realistic graphics coupled with state-of-the-art gameplay powered by powerful gaming engines. These require dependable computers; enjoy smooth gaming on the  HP OMEN or Envy that can handle heavy-duty fighting games easily.