The 12 Best Fighting Games on Switch and Switch 2

During the fighting game heyday of the 1990s, there were loads of options available on the Super Nintendo, with classics such as Street Fighter 2, Mortal Kombat, and Killer Instinct being household names. However, as time passed and Nintendo experimented with unconventional hardware compared to Sony or Microsoft, the chances you’d find a fighting game on that system that wasn’t developed by Nintendo diminished. That’s not to say there weren’t options, but things were a bit barren for quite a while.

Thankfully, we now live in happier times where, thanks to the Switch’s hybrid console and handheld approach, the genre has seen a resurgence. Here you’ll find a diverse list ranging from competitive arcade brawlers and platform fighters to retro collections and some less conventional picks. A few of these are also console exclusive, meaning you won’t find them anywhere else.

All of the listed games will work on Nintendo Switch 2, and in some cases, it’s recommended that you only play them on the newer handheld. You’ll mostly see better load times across the board, but there’s occasionally added visual clarity and improved frame rates that make specific titles that are available on other platforms a bit more comparable. Silky smooth gameplay is mandatory to play fighting games well, as players need time to react to incoming blows, and thankfully, in the cases where the Switch 1 doesn’t achieve these requirements, the Switch 2 picks up the slack.

Super Smash Bros Ultimate

• Developer: Sora Ltd., Bandai Namco Studios
• Release Date: December 7, 2018
• Switch 2 upgrade: N/A

Only one of these fighting games is mandatory for any Switch library, and that’s Super Smash Bros Ultimate. This platform fighter boasts a massive roster featuring some of the most popular video game characters. We’re not just talking about the Nintendo-owned ones, as characters originally made by Konami, Capcom, Sega, Bandai Namco, and many more are part of the 69 fighters with unique moves, with several more acting as ‘Echo’ skins that function the same, but may have subtle animation movements; for example, Samus runs while Dark Samus floats. The DLC takes this base roster number up to 82, and it’s honestly essential to get the most out of this ambitious game.

Smash Ultimate isn’t just a bloated game with a huge roster of fighters to unlock. Every character has its own Classic mode that features a bespoke lineup of opponents, including one of several boss fights based on key franchises. This even includes newcomers Simon and Richter Belmont, who do fight Dracula at the end of their Classic mode. You also have local multiplayer with different rules and support for up to eight players, including wider levels to support the boosted player count. There’s also The World of Light, a lengthy campaign where you move around several board game-like areas and, with the help of spirits you equip to boost your stats, fight augmented clones of fighters created by a reality-ending cosmic deity to unlock the path ahead.

On Switch 2, the load times are lightning fast, giving you quicker win screens and making modes like Squad Strike instantly load in new characters instead of stuttering for a short time. It’s very minor and likely due to the hardware rather than a specific Switch 2 update, but it’s welcome nonetheless. You’ll likely already have Super Smash Bros Ultimate, as it’s essential for anyone who has or had the Nintendo Switch. If you don’t, though, it’s probably the most feature-rich fighting game on the platform and well worth picking up.

Street Fighter 6

• Developer: Capcom
• Release Date: June 5, 2025
• Switch 2 upgrade: N/A (Not available for Switch 1)

The only Nintendo console Street Fighter 6 is playable on is the Switch 2, but it’s a fantastic return to form for Capcom’s premier fighting game. Its roster is the best in the series so far, ranging from the classic World Warriors from Street Fighter 2 to newcomers with a variety of different fighting styles. It’s also got the most diverse base mechanics in a Street Fighter game to date, adding a Drive gauge that enables you to parry, counter, and dash with a few different button combinations, letting you press the advantage or weather a particularly destructive combo.

Street Fighter 6 is split into three different rooms. Arcade, Training, and local Versus modes are all part of the offline branch, while World Tour has you create a custom character’s appearance, fighting against the world’s best fighters to gain stats and learn new moves via the main cast who act as mentors. You also have online lobbies, which allow players to match up against each other with conventional characters, as well as use their World Tour fighter in special battles, and even play a rotating selection of classic Capcom Arcade games.

Switch 2 owners also get the first couple of seasons of DLC characters at no extra cost, featuring eight bonus fighters to play as in the various arcade and versus modes, as well as become your mentor in World Tour. Online also feels really good, featuring rollback netcode and crossplay with the other versions. In comparison to the PC or other console versions, Street Fighter 6 on Switch 2 doesn’t have quite as detailed visuals. However, it has decent performance, as long as you set the console to 120Hz, which gives you tighter button inputs for snappier reaction times. Even though the exclusive gyro modes are gimmicky at best, you’re not getting a significantly nerfed version if you can only get the Switch 2 version.

Dragon Ball FighterZ

• Developer: Arc System Works
• Release Date: September 28, 2018
• Switch 2 upgrade: N/A

Dragon Ball FighterZ is the best anime fighter available, and also one of the best team fighters. With a roster that includes favorites from the mainline Dragon Ball Z and Super shows, as well as DLC that adds Dragon Ball GT and the DBZ movie villains, it’s clear that Arc System Works loves the late Akira Toriyama’s most famous work. The moves for each feel like a natural fit, with supers capable of an explosive Destructive Finish if you hit an opponent with low health, while show-referencing Dramatic Finishes require specific stages and a button or special move. Thanks to Arc System Works’ stunning cell-shading techniques, FighterZ also closely resembles the look of the anime itself, occasionally surpassing it when reenacting key moments from the show, such as the end of Goku vs Frieza on Namek or Teen Gohan vs. Perfect Cell.

Compared to other 3v3 fighters, there are several mechanics to learn. Auto-combos allow new players to hit their opponent with entire strings, ending in a devastating super move. This makes it accessible to just about anyone, but Dragon Ball FighterZ also rewards timing with its other mechanics. Deflection of basic projectiles is possible with a button press, and the Dragon Rush closes the gap between you in an instant, catching your rival off guard. There’s also a story mode featuring three distinct arcs and a brand new fighter, Android 21, whose design was approved by Toriyama.

While there’s no specific Switch 2 upgrade, Dragon Ball FighterZ did get a significant balance patch in October 2025 that introduces a brand new Z-Reflect mechanic. We also got confirmation that SSJ4 Goku (Daima) will be a new character added to the roster in 2026. Unfortunately, there’s still no word on whether we’ll ever see crossplay support in the future. However, since Arc System Works is still actively updating it outside of minor balance patches, there’s a slim chance.

Guilty Gear Strive

• Developer: Arc Systemworks
• Release Date: January 23, 2025
• Switch 2 upgrade: N/A

Arc System Works also has its own fighting game series on the Switch family of consoles, and it’s also the most accessible one in the series. Guilty Gear Strive is a reboot of sorts, slimming down the mechanics of this anime fighter to make it more forgiving for newcomers while also keeping just enough depth for veterans. Key mechanics include ways to defend yourself from oncoming attacks, such as Faultless Defense, which is handy for negating and pushing away an attacker. That said, it also features four different types of Roman Cancel, a universal technique that lets players cancel moves to extend combos at the cost of some of the Tension gauge (this game’s version of a super meter).

In addition to the many arcade, training, and online modes, all of which run buttery smooth on the Switch, there are also two full-length story modes. Despite being non-playable in-engine Original Video Animations (OVAs), similar to those released directly to home video in the 1990s, they look stunning, do a decent job of expanding the universe, and give vital context to character rivalries and motivations. The soundtrack also stands out as each song has lyrics that are meaningful to the characters it’s associated with.

This recommendation does come with a caveat. While it was a little behind the other versions for a good few months, Guilty Gear Strive on the Switch now has ranked matches and all of the Season 4 characters, which include, among others, Kushinada from Cyberpunk: Edgerunners. Unfortunately, the sole sticking point is that the Switch version cannot link to Xbox, PlayStation, or PC fighters, severely limiting the online fighting pool. Hopefully, this is next on the list of changes, but until then, Strive is perfectly playable and handles very well on the Nintendo console.

Mortal Kombat 1

• Developer: NetherRealm Studios
• Release Date: September 19, 2023
• Switch 2 upgrade: Free (Do not play on Switch 1)

Mortal Kombat 1 is a big departure from NetherRealm Studios’ long-running fighting series, in that you now fight with a partner by your side. In many ways, it takes inspiration from Capcom’s original Marvel vs. Capcom. By summoning what MK1 calls a Kameo character, you can extend your combos with one of three different moves. This adds to the core mechanics that remain unchanged from Mortal Kombat 9, which give you powered-up special moves, combo breakers, and powerful X-Ray attacks. Of course, there are also a huge number of gory fatalities, including ones performed by Kameo characters and even the long-awaited return of Animalities, where your character turns into a giant animal to kill your opponent’s dazed fighter.

Where NetherRealm’s games are great to play with friends or online, and generally Mortal Kombat 1 is great at this too, the single-player offerings are substantial enough to recommend them even if you don’t care about multiplayer. The campaign is a reboot of sorts to the established Mortal Kombat canon, redefining relationships between its cast, along with big twists that make it a thoroughly enjoyable romp and unlock a playable fighter for finishing it. There are also seasonal Krypt modes, giving players unlockable goodies as a reward for overcoming fights with conditions that are more often than not stacked against you, as well as Tower modes for a more arcade-like experience.

With all of this said, we only recommend Mortal Kombat 1 if you own a Switch 2. While it has seen many patches since the day one launch, even now on the base Switch, it looks as if someone’s smeared vaseline all over your screen. Its frequent frame rate stuttering, particularly when calling in Kameo characters, means you’ll drop combos and experience a lack of responsiveness throughout. The Switch 2 stabilizes the frame rate to a constant 60fps, and while it still doesn’t hit the visual highs of the PC version, it is now of decent enough quality that we can recommend it.

Soulcalibur 2

• Developer: Bandai Namco Studios
• Release Date: August 26, 2003
• Switch 2 upgrade: Exclusive (Free with Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack)

If you have a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription, Soulcalibur 2 is one of the backwards-compatible GameCube games on offer at launch, and it’s the best version. It’s not just because it features Link from The Legend of Zelda as a guest character; the performance is a little tighter compared to the PS2 version, which was subject to frame hitching. While the Xbox did have 720p visuals, it lacked widescreen support. With modern upscaling options available via the Switch 2’s GameCube emulation, the improved resolution means significantly less these days.

So aside from Link and the fairly sizable roster, what makes Soulcalibur 2 so special? Much like the Dreamcast port of the previous game, which was actually better in every way compared to the arcade version, with some excellent mechanics that became series staples, such as revisions to the Guard Impact system to simplify what’s effective against each type of attack. Other defensive options include the Guard Break, which counters attacks and leaves the opponent open to blows of your own. It also feels faster than previous games in the series, and thanks to the improvements in GameCube emulation over the years, this version feels as good, if not better, than the original did.

Soulcalibur 2 includes multiple game modes that were popular at the time, such as robust training, a survival gauntlet, and even some that are unlockable via the exclusive Weapon Master campaign. This single-player mode has players travel the world in search of challenges, such as fighting while a gale blows you towards the edge of the arena, or entire dungeons filled with enemies and traps. It’s how you unlock all the bonus characters and just about everything else that Soulcalibur 2 has to offer. While a bit primitive compared to Mortal Kombat 1’s Krypt, it’s still a fantastic addition.

Pokkén Tournament DX

• Developer: Bandai Namco Studios
• Release Date: September 22, 2017
• Switch 2 upgrade: N/A

While Tekken hasn’t graced the Switch family of consoles as of yet, the closest you’ll get for now is Pokkén Tournament DX. This upgraded port of the Wii U spinoff includes 21 Pokémon to choose from in battle, with two more added as DLC. Each one has two different movesets; the Field Phase uses projectiles, and the Duel Phase is more like a conventional Tekken game. Landing a certain number of blows will shift the phases, keeping both players on their toes and opening up new strategies. Players can also use Support Pokémon to aid them with one-time effects, while the Burst Mode allows for temporary buffs and Mega Evolution.

Modes include the Ferrum League, where you compete in battles to increase your rankings in the various Leagues, as well as single and local battles against a friend for shorter bouts that you can customize the rules to add special items or even fight in teams of three. You can also take part in daily challenges that give you skill points for completing each objective. Skill points earned this way increase that Pokémon’s stats, while Poké Gold earned can be used to alter your avatar’s appearance.

It runs well on the original Switch, and while there are no noticeable performance upgrades on the Switch 2, outside of faster loading times, it’s perfectly playable on the system. It’s worth noting that some Pokémon in the roster received new Mega Evolutions in Pokémon Legends ZA, so it’s unlikely that Mega Chandelure and any new forms from the Mega Dimension DLC will appear in the future.

Samurai Shodown

• Developer: KOF Studio
• Release Date: February 25, 2020
• Switch 2 upgrade: N/A

Not many of SNK’s fighting games are available on the Switch family of consoles just yet, but we’d imagine that more will be coming now that the Switch 2 is more widely available. However, the Switch did at least get Samurai Shodown, the revival of SNK’s historical weapon-based four-button fighter, which is less focused on combos and more on spacing (or footsies, as the fighting game community commonly defines it). Counters are especially painful, especially if you manage to land a heavy attack. Your opponent will certainly feel it as a chunk of their health bar suddenly disappears.

Samurai Shodown’s simple controls make it more accessible by default, and by emphasizing deliberate strikes over combos, you have less complexity overall. But it’s still a game that punishes carelessness, as disarming an opponent is possible and can be devastating. Meanwhile, the Rage Gauge allows you to perform one-time super moves that will almost certainly end the round. Blood splatters and violence aside, Samurai Shodown’s visuals are breathtakingly beautiful, with its striking character designs and gorgeous, scenic stage designs.

Of all the games on this list, Samurai Shodown feels the most barren. Its lack of game modes means that you’re getting a more arcade-like experience. However, this streamlined approach does make it more affordable than a bigger-budget title. Though there are no upgrades with the Switch 2, the base game did get several DLC characters, including Baiken from the Guilty Gear series as the first-ever crossover character.

Arms

• Developer: Nintendo EPD
• Release Date: June 16, 2017
• Switch 2 upgrade: Free

Arms is unique compared to the rest of the fighting games on this list. Its motion-based controls and modular hand combinations give its roster of pugilists a tad more flexibility. While all the moves are technically shared across every character, meaning you don’t need to memorize all sorts of different combinations, how each brawler or even each hand choice executes a move gives the game much-needed complexity. Fighters begin with access to just three hand types. However, you can unlock more via the Arms Getter mode, where you spend coins to participate in a minigame for a chance to win new hand types for that character.

Getting coins means conquering the arcade-like Grand Prix, as well as playing some of the more unusual sports-like modes like V-Ball or Hoops, or challenging a gauntlet of 100 enemies. You can also play online in ranked matches, experience the chaotic party mode that bundles up to 20 players in one lobby, or connect Switch systems wirelessly for a party-style match for up to eight devices at once.

Arms is another one of those fighting games that’s improved significantly when played on the Switch 2, boasting faster loading times, improved image quality, and a boost to the frame rate. It also features HDR support, taking full advantage of the Switch 2’s LCD screen, which is capable of displaying those vibrant colors. Taking full advantage of all the game’s multiplayer modes years after launch might be a hard sell, especially the local wireless mode, but with the new upgrades to the base game, it may still be worth a look for a fun game night.

Marvel vs Capcom: Fighting Collection

• Developer: Capcom
• Release Date: September 12, 2024
• Switch 2 upgrade: N/A

For years, there was no way to play the games in this collection without resorting to emulation, but Marvel vs. Capcom: Fighting Collection brings the entire classic arcade series in one bundle. These are perfect ports of all 7 Capcom-developed Marvel games, from X-Men: Children of the Atom to Marvel vs Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes, and even The Punisher as a bonus beat-em-up option. Some of the included games have features that you can toggle between to add secret fighters, tinker with the light intensity so it’s not as disruptive, and even reactivate a glitch that was patched out of one game in the collection.

Each one of the emulated fighting games has its merit. You can see how the series evolved from a rather basic fighter in X-Men: Children of the Atom, how the divisive Infinity Stones affect Marvel Super Heroes gameplay, when the series began to focus on multi-fighter teams with X-Men vs. Street Fighter, the assists that appear in Marvel vs. Capcom, and finally, the 3v3 fights that define Marvel vs. Capcom 2. These games inspired the development of the more modern games on this list, such as Dragon Ball FighterZ and Mortal Kombat 1.

Included in the collection is a Museum where you can see the key art, pamphlets, and instruction cards for every game. You also get to view scans of the character design drawings and stage concepts, preserving a little bit of history in a convenient place, and listen to both the original soundtracks (we still have Marvel vs Capcom 2’s music on loop), and remixes especially created for the collection. While there are a handful of Capcom arcade compilations available for the Switch, this is the only one that feels somewhat essential to own, just in case it disappears once more.

Rivals of Aether

• Developer: Aether Studios
• Release Date: September 24, 2020
• Switch 2 upgrade: N/A

While we’re still waiting for the sequel to grace the Switch 2, hopefully in the not-too-distant future, Rivals of Aether is the best platform fighter not officially made by Nintendo. Created as a spiritual sequel to a fan-made demake of the original Super Smash Bros running on the Game Boy, this 2D fighter takes lots of inspiration from the team’s previous project. Your chosen champion conjures the elements to knock the competition off the stage, while also affecting the stage in some way.

Characters are mostly original animal-based designs that represent one of the four elements. Bugs that throw massive rocks, fire-breathing lions, and even an orca-bear hybrid that throws puddles to teleport out of are just some of the weird and wonderful designs available. Rivals of Aether also features a few guest characters from well-known indie games, namely Ori and Shovel Knight, who fit in surprisingly well with the rest of the cast.

Compared to the latest Super Smash Bros, Rivals of Aether doesn’t quite have the staying power due to a lack of modes. However, the available ones are well worth playing, such as the single-player Story mode that has you hop around each of the citadels for the base roster, where you must battle set characters to progress. You can also opt to fight in the co-op wave-based Abyss Endless mode, or challenge each of your buddies to a round of tetherball where you hit a ball tied to a string from your side to wrap it around a column to win points. Rivals of Aether may not be the most original game mechanically, but that doesn’t stop it from being a fun platform fighter alternative.

SpiderHeck

• Developer: Neverjam
• Release Date: September 22, 2022
• Switch 2 upgrade: N/A

In SpiderHeck, you play as arachnids with laser swords and blasters. You and your opponents will hop around one of the many maps on offer in a first-to-eight-wins contest, where one false move could spell certain doom. Striking a rival’s weapon will make you bounce a fair distance, and each one has a limited number of uses, meaning you’ll frequently be scrambling for a new one.

It’s not just your rivals that you need to worry about, as spring pads will propel you and ordinance, such as bombs and rockets, in the direction they’re facing. There’s also the lava surrounding the battlefield that will fry you. While relatively simple to control as far as platform fighters are concerned, it’s tough to master the controls, particularly if you’re not used to similar rope-swinging mechanics such as any of the Worms games.

Neverjam has, since launch, added more maps to scuttle your way across, as well as parkour challenges that become fiendishly difficult as you swing around using your webs. There are also tons of cool hats you can unlock to make your slick spider stand out from the crowd. There’s also the Tower of Heck, a cooperative mode that limits the weapon types on offer and can be played single-player. This chaotic creepy-crawly combat simulator is best played with three other players around a sofa, Joy-Cons in hand, with no prior experience and a bunch of drinks and snacks to whittle away an evening.