The Street Fighter series has entertained fans ever since the first title arrived back in 1987. While there have been several installments since then, the fighting game franchise is notorious for long gaps between releases. As a result, fans generally look for alternatives to keep them busy, especially now that Street Fighter 6 has been announced, but without a release date.
The fighting genre has many other franchises comparable to Street Fighter that provide a similar experience, but with their own twist. Certain series like Super Smash Bros. even have crossovers with Street Fighter characters, so it’s worth looking into the many options fans have to pick from.
The King of Fighters XV (2022)
It has been so long since a new entry in the series that some fans had characters, which is why the latest release introduced new heroes. The fifteenth installment revolves around a multiverse where two fighters have to stop a massive threat.
Street Fighter’s similarities with The King of Fighters XV are primarily through the hard-hitting fighting styles of the characters. The roster here comprises fighters who have unique moves that focus on power, which Street Fighter fans will love because there’s no holding back here.
Street Fighter X Tekken (2012)
Combining the apex characters from Tekken games ’s powerful villains and protagonists, this crossover title caters to fans of two franchises. It’s not technically a Street Fighter game because the events aren’t canon, but the general style sticks to the series.
It’s essentially a team-up game that incorporates Tekken fighters as if they were in the Street Fighter universe. Players who love the latter series will have no issues getting into the game since the controls are very similar and they can pick strong Tekken characters as part of the playthrough.
Mortal Kombat 11 (2019)
There’s nothing quite like the feeling of scoring Mortal Kombat 11 takes the series’ brutal gameplay to new levels, as more gruesome but exhilarating fighting styles are present.
The unique presentation of the backdrops and the overall fighters’ aesthetic can be addictive, and the large roster does well enough to keep players satisfied. As in Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat 11 provides the characters with powers to incorporate within their battles, only with a lot of brutality in its execution.
BlazBlue: Central Fiction (2015)
The primary similarity between Street Fighter and Blazblue: Central Fiction is the 2D fighting format, which makes them appear along the same lines. While there’s definitely going to be time needed to understand how each character’s controls work, players will get a lot of value out of their purchase.
Blazblue: Central Fiction plays close to fighting games from classic days where keeping a steady momentum without being defensive is the best way to gain victory. It’s an overall aggressive game that ardent Street Fighter fans will enjoy because they’re accustomed to playing with an attacking mindset.
Soulcalibur VI (2018)
The Soulcalibur titles are usually considered among the best fighting games ever made, with the latest entry also receiving praise. Although the characters’ weapon-wielding will feel different to some Street Fighter enthusiasts, they will connect with Soulcalibur VI’s Soul Charge, which empowers fighters to dole out power moves.
Street Fighter fans will have no problem getting into the plot, as it’s essentially a reboot divided into two modes that tell a new story. A great aspect of Soulcalibur VI is that a certain level of strategic skill is needed to understand opponents’ weaknesses, so there’s challenging combat to overcome.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (2018)
This crossover title is the most ambitious fighting game yet, featuring characters from a multitude of other franchises. Street Fighter’s Ken also makes an appearance here, where the battle locations make use of platforming techniques, as the environments can be interacted with to allow players to access elevated positions.
With the likes Mario, Mega Man, Ken, Pikachu, and many more available to choose from, there are a whole lot of fighting styles to engage in. Street Fighter fans will enjoy the aspect of up to eight players being able to share the stage, as it ushers in a solid backdrop to try out different combos on multiple enemies.
Marvel Vs. Capcom: Infinite (2017)
Much like Super Smash Bros., this title also has a wide variety of fighters as part of the action. Tag team gameplay is what the game is built around, as players can choose two characters to work in tandem against an opponent pair, with a roster including A-list Marvel heroes and Capcom characters.
The incorporation of character-assist moves is the most striking feature of Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite because it allows players to keep a sequence running where two characters can attack at once. Street Fighter fans will enjoy the tag team aspect of things but will also get a kick out of the different types of powers the heroes and villains have here. Not to mention the presence of many Street Fighter characters as well.
Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown (2021)
Sega’s fighting series has been on an extended hiatus for a while, but a remaster of the fifth entry recently arrived. Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown emphasizes creativity over spamming attacks, as environments are dynamic so that they can be used by players to tactically take down their opponents.
The simplistic mannerisms and designs of the characters is what Street Fighter fans will relate to, with this game choosing to make the action the main selling point. Like in Street Fighter, players can negate their opponent’s attacks with well-timed moves of their own, and the most experienced fighters will see experience this satisfaction the most.
Injustice 2 (2017)
The Justice League and their rogue’s gallery make up the roster in this fighting game take on the DC Universe. As in the first installment, the story is about an evil version of Superman, with the other superheroes either ing his cause or opposing him.
Street Fighter fans will appreciate the powerful nature of the characters here, as well as the option of using ranged attacks. There are certain power-up moves that tie into the fighters’ inherent abilities and these are a treat to watch when successfully executed, which is another aspect that's in line with the Street Fighter games.
Tekken 7 (2017)
For a long time, Street Fighter and Tekken were the premier fighting franchises to choose from. As a result, the Tekken games are usually seen as the next best alternative for Street Fighter fans. Tekken 7 will feel closer to home because of the rage feature that is reminiscent of Street Fighter.
On its own, Tekken 7 is a worthy title, as it has a dedicated move set for each fighter, of which there are more than 50 to choose from. Whether it’s a hard-hitting karate fighter like Jin Kazama or Street Fighter’s own Akuma using his dark master abilities, each fight delivers explosive entertainment.