Best Fighting Games on PS5 1
Image: Push Square

What are the best fighting games on PS5? If you're looking for some challenging battles that'll really test your limits, fighting games take that to the extreme. It's a genre that has a reputation for being difficult to penetrate, with a hardcore community and large esports scene making these titles seem quite intimidating. However, as with all types of games, there's something for everyone, whether you just want to swing a few punches or really go deep.

Fighting games have been around for a very long time, and while they've improved and taken different forms over the years, the fundamentals are surprisingly unchanged. What that means is that most people can hop into any fighting game and have a basic grasp on what to do. Obviously there are some gameplay differences, but ultimately, you're throwing punches, swinging kicks, and performing special moves in basically all of them.

That can apply to more technical fighters like Guilty Gear: Strive as well as more casual titles, such as MultiVersus or even something like WWE 2K22. Again, there's a flavour of fighting game for players of all tastes and abilities.

So, which are the best fighting games on PS5, then? Well, that's really down to you. The Push Square community's user ratings are what fuel these lists, so what makes it onto this page is driven by you and your fellow readers. If you want to contribute, use the search box below to find some fighting games, then rate them accordingly. Your ratings will directly influence this list, so make your voices heard and watch it change and expand over time!

A game will need at least 20 ratings before appearing on this page, so if you’re confused by a particular title's absence, that could be why.

5. King of Fighters XV (PS5)

King of Fighters XV is very much a return to form for the long-running SNK series. The three-on-three fighter boasts a sizeable character roster and a respectable suite of gameplay modes, complete with smooth rollback netcode, should you decide to test your skills online. A pleasingly robust fighting game package.

4. Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate (PS5)

There’s a snobbery among enthusiasts that suggests Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate, without tightly animated sprites and mind-boggling button combos, is a lesser fighting title. Be that as it may, few brawlers have the sheer scope and scale of what’s on display here. With an ever-rotating ladder of inventive towers to tackle, a sprawling single player campaign, and an RPG-inspired loot system that lets you tailor all of the title’s characters to your tastes, NetherRealm Studios may not have produced an audience-attracting e-sport here, but it has delivered a damn good time.

3. Guilty Gear Strive (PS5)

The PS5's first native fighting game has set the bar very, very high. Guilty Gear Strive is a superb brawler, bolstered by jaw-dropping visuals and the best online netcode that we've ever experienced in a fighting game. A relatively small but brilliantly diverse character roster allows for a deep and hugely rewarding experience, while accessible gameplay mechanics on a base level pave the way for new players. A stunning beat-'em-up backed by an incredible heavy rock soundtrack.

2. Street Fighter 6 (PS5)

Street Fighter 6 puts the series back on the map. Following the comparably dismal launch of Street Fighter V, this iteration of Capcom's fighter is the most robust package yet, catering to both competitive and casual players brilliantly. New mechanics add more strategy to fights, different control schemes level the playing field for newcomers, and the online play is seriously smooth. Add to that the incredibly high-effort single-player World Tour mode, in-depth tutorials, a multitude of fun ways to fight, and a vibrant roster of familiar and new characters, and you have one of the best fighting games in recent memory.

1. Tekken 8 (PS5)

Arguably the most explosive Tekken game yet, Tekken 8 is a truly bombastic fighter. Fundamentally, it builds on the already fantastic foundations of Tekken 7, but the new Heat system brings so much aggression to the series' trademark 3D gameplay. Featuring a healthy list of modes — both online and offline — a rock solid character roster, and the promise of many memorable battles, Tekken 8 is probably the franchise at its peak.

So, there you go — the best fighting games on PS5, as chosen by you. As mentioned, our list is determined by the Push Square community, so if you feel something is out of place, then you still have the opportunity to do something about it. You can either return to the top of this article and use the search box to submit your ratings, or hit the star next to any game name. And, if you think a release is missing from our PlayStation Games Database, then be sure to let us know.

With all that said, we’d love to hear your thoughts on the best fighting games on PS5. Do you agree with this list, and if not, why not? Be sure to share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Best PS5 Games