Street Fighter 6 features 16 unique stages, all of which are, to some degree, visually interesting, however, some are better than others. In the fighting game genre, the quality of arenas and stages is almost as important as the design of combatants - and can be just as contentious. Stages such as the Pit in Mortal Kombat (1992), Kaminoi Castle in SoulCalibur 2, and Moonlit Wilderness in Tekken 5 are all examples of some of the best-designed stages in fighting game history. Although the Street Fighter franchise isn't necessarily renowned for its stage design, Street Fighter 6 may soon change that.
With 16 stages set in 12 independent nations, there is a huge variety to experience. From an aircraft carrier to a coliseum, from a beach at sunset to a gloomy street in London, and from Mexico to , Street Fighter 6 has an abundance of unique arenas to fight in. Although each stage is excellently designed, some stages are far better than others.
16 Training Room
Originally introduced in Street Fighter 4, the Training Room stage has become a staple of the Street Fighter series; however, it has always been the least visually interesting stage in any game it has appeared in. The barren Training Room stage is designed to eliminate distractions, such as elaborate backgrounds and other interactive stage features to help the player to learn attack spacing, distances, and combos. The stage is, therefore, a white, flat, and mostly featureless, room, with a grid of evenly marked dark lines. The Training Room stage is undoubtedly the worst in the game, and thankfully it is only ever forced upon the player in the Training Mode.
15 Carrier Byron Taylor
Set on the deck of the military's most advanced aircraft carrier, the Carrier Byron Taylor stage is the Air Force Pilot Guile's stage. The stage is stunning and elaborate, but it is a little too visually busy. It is, for the most part, dominated by impressive and imposing jets, the enormous and visually interesting integrated island, as well as military personnel and boxes of cargo - all of which afford the stage an appropriate military aesthetic.
14 The Macho Ring
With an MMA-esque cage aesthetic, the Macho Ring stage is an appropriate choice for a fighting game, however, its execution in Street Fighter 6, unfortunately, leaves a lot to be desired. The stage is typified by its bright color pallet, huge screens, and a vast crowd of very vocal fans - all of which give the Macho Ring stage a great fighting arena atmosphere. The main issue with the stage is that it is a little too boring and far too homogenous - nothing stands out, and after several rounds fighting in the Macho Ring stage, it all begins to blend together.
13 Thunderfoot Settlement
The Thunderfoot Settlement stage is set in Mexico on the reservation of the Thunderfoot Tribe and is home to Street Fighter 6's Lily, a franchise newcomer. Although the Thunderfoot Settlement stage is perhaps not the most accurate depiction of Mexico or indigenous Mexican tribes, it is visually and sonically vibrant, and ultimately, one of the better excessively colorful and cartoonish stages in the latest Street Fighter game.
12 Bathers Beach
Set in Jamaica, Bathers Beach stage, although only a relatively simple beach stage is one of the most visually beautiful fighting stages in Street Fighter 6 - primarily as a result of the beautiful sunset in the background, as well as the stage's energized crowd and the lively and fun atmosphere. The Bathers Beach stage is, however, let down by its simplicity - other than the beautiful nature, the only visually interesting set piece is the Maximum bar, a fairly nondescript-looking beach bar.
11 Metro City Downtown
Although not beautiful, Street Fighter 6's Metro City Downtown stage is deeply detailed, with neon lights illuminating the darkness of a rather decrepit-looking downtown area street. With tall brick residential buildings on either side of the stage, a wrecked car in the mid-ground, and building debris nearly everywhere, Metro City Downtown exudes a rugged almost dangerous atmosphere, a perfect venue for a street fight.
10 Ranger's Hut
The turf of franchise mainstay Blanka, the Ranger's Hut stage, is set on a small dock in Brazil, surrounded by rudimentary huts, a moderate crowd of spectators, and a troublingly large snake. It is a great SF6 stage to fight in being colorful, but not overwhelmingly so, with the predominant color palette of green, blue, and brown working perfectly together to create a visually interesting, yet not distracting stage.
9 Suval'hal Arena
The Suval'hal Arena is one of the most visually beautiful stages in Street Fighter 6. Although the floor of the stage is itself an impressive and ornate mosaic of colored tiles, the most memorable aspect of the Suval'hal Arena comes in the background - The imposing tower, the looming mist, and the backdrop of mountain peaks give the arena a peaceful atmosphere and afford it enough visual stimuli to remain interesting without overwhelming or distracting the player.
8 Genbu Temple
The Genbu Temple is situated deep in the mountains of Japan, surrounded by cherry blossoms and a peaceful stream. The Genbu Temple stage has an excellent color design, with very subdued colors dominating the environment, mostly various shades of gray and dark blue. However, the pink of cherry blossoms, and the red Torri gates and temple provide a beautiful accent to the otherwise drab stage.
7 Fête Foraine
The Fête Foraine stage takes place in Paris, in a carnival set up on the Rue de l'Université. Clearly visible in the background of the SF6 stage is the iconic Eiffel Tower, however, it is the foreground of the stage that is the most visually interesting. A large crowd of carnival-goers, a carnival tent, and several food and activity stands provide the stage with a busy and visually interesting backdrop, while the nighttime setting, soft yellow lighting, and the stage's subdued color palette ensures that it does not become overwhelming to the player.
