Best Fighting Game of 2023

2023 was quite a year for gaming, with a lot of new classics and some fantastic remakes hitting on a monthly cadence. As great as the year has been, it was a feast for fighting game fans regardless of which style of brawl you preferred. From fighting on the street to outworld invasions, this year had a bit of something for everyone. Here are the best fighting games of 2023.

Honorable Mention: All Star Brawl 2

Freelancer Writer Giovanna La Pine: Fighting games had a huge comeback this year. We had some of the biggest franchises launching their newest titles and a few small ones looking to make a name against the giants of the genre, such as Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2. This is another mascot brawler that takes inspiration from many elements of the Smash Bros. franchise and still remains original.

Our favorite thing about this game is the campaign. While other similar titles focus on the multiplayer element, the developers knocked it out of the park with the campaign and made it pretty fun to play.

We would’ve liked to see all characters from the first entry make it to the roster of this one, but that’s our only caveat for the All-Star Brawl 2. While it might not be the best fighter of 2023, it’s still a fantastic title to play, especially with others.

Fourth Place: UFC 5

Reviews Editor David Rodriguez: UFC 5 was EA’s latest attempt and bringing the mixed martial art to the small screen, and you know the classic saying, fifth times the charm. It takes care of plenty of issues the previous games ran into, while also using the Frostbite engine to give the brawls a much-needed face lift.

Online was also revamped significantly, with a set of rankings by weight class and online champions that can change hands. It’s innovative and offers something meaningful to chase for hardcore players or newcomers alike.

The visuals all come together for the violence on hand. UFC 5 is an M-rated game, and for good measure. It features very brutal and realistic blood, bruising and cuts. When you knock somebody out, a fancy Fight Night style replay shows each attack in excruciating detail. It may not be the best fighter of 2023, but it’s certainly worth checking out.

Third Place: Granblue Fantasy: Rising

Senior Editor Ethan Webb: At a glance, it might seem like Cygames is pulling a “2K or EA re-release special” with Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising. However, that’s anything but the case, as Rising is a massive improvement from its 2020 predecessor.

While we do have the same cast of lovable and strikingly memorable characters from prior, this sequel introduces new characters and special moves, a novel partner system with fully voiced commentary from your favorite fighters, and much more. Not only will Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising offer new gameplay mechanics for more satisfying combos and an updated UI for the menus, but players finally get their much-requested rollback netcode.

On the other hand, let’s say you’re new to the Granblue Fantasy series. Versus: Rising is still a great spot to start without the prequel, as it’s an overall much-improved version of the fighting experience. The characters and their fighting combo animations are visually grandiose spectacles that will have you cheering every time you pull them off in combat. Not to mention, Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising offers simplified input options, making the experience more accessible than ever for newcomers and returning fighting fans.

Runner-up: Mortal Kombat 1

Freelance Writer Amir Naseri: Keeping a franchise going after releasing more than 11 main titles is not an easy task. Game after game fans become pickier on the next installment, and the developers need to bring innovation in their sequels to keep the tale going. That’s exactly what Mortal Kombat 1 delivers, by introducing new gameplay mechanics and keeping the story fresh, while still using the characters we’ve seen in three reboots.

In terms of story, MK1 succeeds in developing a unique arc in the MK‘s new era. Characters are the same, but their paths are different. Replacing Liu Kang with Raiden in a new story is very well written, and the way that the narrative expands is beyond exception.

The graphics couldn’t show us the realms better, and the way each bout feels has never been better. If you’ve finished the story and got bored playing ranked matches for days, you can always visit the Invasion mode for more story content. This new mode is the combination of MK fighting style with the RPG elements and many new mini-games that’ll keep you motivated to continue the combat for years to come.

Winner: Street Fighter 6

Freelance Writer Julio LaPine: One of the fighting games that had a fantastic comeback this year was undoubtedly Street Fighter 6. After the fifth installment fell flat, players didn’t have such high hopes for the latest entry. However, once we saw the stylish gameplay trailers and character introductions, Capcom lifted our doubts and made this game reach the #1 spot as the winner of Best Fighting Game here at The Nerd Stash.

What made this game shine for us so much was the fun fighting mechanics that catered to new and veteran players. Whether you want to play casually or hardcore, there’s a fighting style for everyone. The ease of swapping between Modern, Classic, and Dynamic is perfect for people who were too afraid of trying their luck at a fighting title. Besides, the new Overdrive mechanics and flashy moves make this a must-play for any genre fan.

Even if there are other fighting games out there, we can’t put Street Fighter 6 down. New characters are coming steadily, and some fun collaborations are even planned for next year. While we would like Capcom to take it down a notch with its microtransactions, the base game and multiplayer components don’t need you to spend a dime and will give you hours of butt-kicking fun.