Fighting games aren’t exactly all that common in the current gaming landscape, but the coming weeks and months are filled with releases that will serve fans of such games well for the foreseeable future. With this feature, we take a look at 15 new fighting games of 2024 and beyond.
Die by the Blade
Currently in development at Triple Hill Interactive, Die by the Blade is a fighting game that operates on an interesting principle which is that a single hit is the difference between victory and defeat. The fighting mechanics are extremely realistic, and players will have to be mindful of each move during battle to ensure their chances of success. The character designs and visuals might not be too great, but Die by the Blade’s set of gameplay ideas is what helps it stand out from the rest of the crowd. It releases for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S on 16 May, 2024.
Gladiators Manager
Gladiators Manager thrusts you into ancient Rome where you must take charge of a crumbling school of gladiators and build it up to be a prestigious institution for the best fighters of the nation. Developed by Ancient Games, Gladiators Manager is more of a management sim than a real-time fighter since you need to keep tabs on resources and consistently upgrade buildings to expand your school. There are fighting sequences as well, but those are of turn-based nature where you have to make good use of the gladiator’s skills to win in battle. It comes out for PC sometime in Q4 2024.
UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys: Celes
Arc System Works is a master of creating nuanced fighting games with a compelling set of mechanics and a signature anime-esque art style, and its latest UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH 2 Sys: Celes is no different. With a vast roster of 24 distinct characters and mechanics that are easy to pick but difficult to master, UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH 2 is a game that should serve fighting fans well for dozens of hours. It’s available now on PC, PS4, PS5, and Nintendo Switch.
First Cut: Samurai Duel
Clearly inspired by classics like Ninja Gaiden and Double Dragon, First Cut: Samurai Duel puts you on a warrior’s path where enemies lie in wait for a fight to the death. The fighting mechanics might look simple on the surface, but there’s a surprising amount of depth to the actual affair as you need to parry attacks and strike only when there’s an opening – and mastering that careful dance is the true essence of First Cut. It’s available now on PC.
Bam Boom Blade
Bam Boom Blade is all about dueling against opponents whilst riding on top of a meter-long bamboo, and it’s just as weird as it sounds. Developed by Blaer Zhang, Bam Boom Blade is a physics-based fighter where you have to smartly take control of the bamboo and use that momentum to slash away at your opponent for a shot at victory. It is now available for PC.
Orbitals
Orbitals describes itself as a bullet-brawling game, and there’s perhaps no more fitting description for this kind of gameplay. Players have to duke it out against one another in closed arenas and shoot each other off by using a wide variety of weapons ranging from laser beams to shotguns and much more. It looks like a really fun experience and there’s plenty of potential in this formula, so we are definitely excited to experience Orbitals in full when it releases for PC sometime in the near future.
Rivals 2
Rivals 2 is a platform fighter where players have the singular objective of fighting their opponent and pushing them out of the arena. Much like the original game, Rivals 2 features a bunch of elemental fighters that both look and play differently – and players can spend dozens of hours mastering each character and their playstyles. It comes out for PC sometime this year.
Blazing Worldstars
Speaking of throwbacks to the glory days of fighting games, we have Blazing Worldstars from developer Bloodrune Entertainment. The game makes a strong first impression with its retro aesthetics, but Blazing Worldstars also features gameplay elements of its inspirations like Street Fighter 5’s parry system while also introducing its own mechanics like the Enhance system that should make it a game worth sinking your teeth into. It comes out for PC sometime in the near future.
Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves
Developer SNK of The King of Fighters game is hard at work on Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, which is set to take the series to new heights. Due to release sometime in 2025, City of the Wolves will feature updated visuals that are inspired by Marvel Comics and improved gameplay that also includes easy control options – which should make the fighting experience a lot more polished and inclusive than ever before.
Umbral Core
Umbral Core takes place in a dark fantasy world brimming with fierce warriors capable of using dark magic to completely and utterly decimate opposing forces. As one of eight such warriors, you get to take part in fierce fights to the death where you must utilize your moves and skills judiciously to trickle down the opponent’s health bar and eventually win fights. The developer also promises convenient online play with rollback netcode, so Umbral Core might be a game that’s worth looking into when it comes out sometime in the near future.
Shattered
Team 18k’s upcoming Shattered is a glorious tribute to the fighting games of the 90s. The game presents itself in a gorgeous 16-bit aesthetic with impressive sprite work and smoothed-out animations, and it also adds a few new touches to the gameplay loop while remaining faithful to its inspirations. The character roster is both visually and functionally different, which makes Shattered feel like the perfect nostalgia trip complete with rose-tinted glasses. It comes out for PC sometime in the near future.
WWE 2K24
The WWE 2K series has been pumping out great games for the last couple of years, and WWE 2K24 is a game that definitely belongs to the upper echelon of entries in the franchise. With its solid wrestling mechanics and a bevy of different game modes, WWE 2K24 is a game that will keep fans of the entertainment sport occupied for dozens upon dozens of hours. Whether you are taking part in a Royal Rumble or building a business through the MyGM mode or duking it out against friends in co-op, WWE 2K24 wouldn’t disappoint you. It’s available for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Xbox One.
Project: The Outcast
Based on the popular Donghua Hitori No Shita, Project: The Outcast is a game that manages to translate the best parts of the series into a mobile game. Project: The Outcast combines bone-chilling horror with fighting sequences that are simply spectacular. The animation work here is especially noteworthy, and the game looks extremely gorgeous with its art style. It will be released for mobile platforms at some point in the near future.
Coreupt
Set against the backdrop of a dystopian future, Coreupt is a fighting game that tasks players to take part in deadly duels against the most fierce warriors of the galaxy in an effort to save the universe from the clutches of a dark warlord. The Mortal Kombat and Tekken influences are pretty clear here, but Coreupt does manage to impress with its assortment of moves and smooth animations. It comes out for PC sometime this year.
Tekken 8
The latest entry in the long-running fighting franchise, Tekken 8 takes the fight to the next level with its innovations and refinements over past franchises. The new Heat system promotes aggressive play, and the Arcade Quest lets you embark on a grand fighting adventure with your own custom character. The visual presentation is a massive step up from what we saw in Tekken 7, and that combined with the aforementioned gameplay enhancements makes Tekken 8 a worthy entry that is unmissable for fighting games fans. Tekken 8 is available for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
