The best Xbox fighting games to play in January 2025

If you fancy mastering some combos, or just want to button-mash your way to victory, here are 10 of the best fighting games on Xbox.

The best Xbox fighting games to play in January 2025
Tom West

Tom West

Published

Looking to put your skills to the test? We've ranked 10 of the best Xbox fighting games on Xbox Series X|S to help you find a new arena. Whether you're looking to master combos with a plethora of weapons, or want to get your hand-to-hand skills nailed down, there should be something here for everyone.

Tom

Best fighting games on Xbox for button-mashing supremacy

When it comes to one-on-one competition, the fighting genre has always ruled supreme as the ultimate way to show off your skills in an arcade or settle a sibling rivalry at home on the sofa.

While many of the best fighting games on Xbox are practically household names now, there are still some that might slip past your radar, so we've put together a list to highlight some golden games.

Using a combination of site review scores, community ratings, and our own opinions, news editor Sean, features editor Heidi, and staff writer Tom have fought through the many games on offer to find the best of the bunch. See you in the ring!

10. Soulcalibur VI

Kicking off this list is Soulcalibur VI with all its weapon-wielding action, made even better by its crossover content with The Witcher. Although it launched in 2018, we're yet to see a follow-up from Bandai Namco, but there is plenty of content in this entry to keep you busy.

Packed with a robust character creation tool, you can fight your way through the campaign, arcade, and RPG-esque Libra of Soul modes with your own fighter or one from the huge roster of characters. As a bonus, the game's Soul Chronicle mode recounts the events of the first game, offering newcomers a chance to see where this awesome series started.

9. Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2

Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 only just pips its predecessor for a spot on this list, but with its hoard of DLC, which include over 40 new characters from across the Dragon Ball universe, this absolute bundle of joy deserves a highlight.

If you're a fan of the franchise, this is a one-stop shop for skill-based fighting, exploring Conton City for yourself, and experiencing stories and epic fights from a host of Dragon Ball timelines. It's been out for a while now, so its multiplayer modes aren't as bustling as they once were, but for players who just want to live out their own Dragon Ball fantasy, Xenoverse 2 is still a fantastic option.

8. Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4

Rocking a revamped battle system and some of the best fights of the series, Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 is a treat or fighting fans, and a great entry for testing the fighting genre's waters.

This latest game takes you on a ninja-filled adventure to master the use of kunai and shuriken as you fight through a colorful vibrant campaign that brings the Naruto Shippuden story to a close. Meanwhile, the versus mode gives you the tools to outfit your own teams for battles with AI and other players — and even recreate teams from older titles in the series, if you fancy soaking in some nostalgia.

7. Killer Instinct

  • Here are the Killer Instinct achievements
  • Release Date: November 22, 2013
  • Developer: Iron Galaxy Studios / Double Helix
  • On Game Pass? Yes, via Game Pass Standard, Ultimate, and PC
And now we come to Killer Instinct, a great first-party fighting game from Microsoft that showed a ton of promise as the company's entry into the fighting genre, but which still hasn't got a sequel. It's by no means been left in the dust, however, as developer Iron Galaxy released the Killer Instinct Anniversary Edition as a free update for all current Definitive Edition owners not long ago.

It's a great fighter featuring the series' own characters alongside crossover characters from other first-party games like Gears of War and Halo — it's also available on Xbox Game Pass, making it super easy to dive in for some fun without splashing any cash. While we don't have a sequel to look forward to yet, the 464 Killer Instinct achievements should keep you fairly busy.

6. Injustice 2

  • Here are the Injustice 2 achievements
  • Release Date: May 19, 2017
  • Developer: NetherRealm Studios
  • On Game Pass? Yes, via Game Pass Standard, Ultimate, and PC
In between developing new fatalities for Mortal Kombat, NetherRealm Studios has dabbled with superheroes from the DC universe in the Injustice games. While the first game is a great experience, it's showing its age a bit now and takes a seat behind Injustice 2.

While Injustice 2 focuses on Batman's fight with Superman, continuing the story that started with its predecessor, it also features a massive roster of DC characters, both heroes and villains — which has grown even larger thanks to plenty of DLC. Unlike the Mortal Kombat games, Injustice 2 also rewards you with new gear for your characters as you progress through the game, offering a level of customization that gives you the tools to make your favorite heroes and villains even more badass.

If you haven't grown tired of superheroes in games and other media just yet, Injustice 2 is well worth your time — more so if you have an Xbox Game Pass subscription!

5. Guilty Gear -Strive-

Guilty Gear -Strive- was a bit of a latecomer when it was released on Xbox and Game Pass in 2023, arriving a couple of years after its launch on PlayStation and PC. Nevertheless, it's a great game, and with its inclusion in the Xbox Game Pass library, it's super easy to jump into this mashup of cel-shaded fighting fury gameplay with a soundtrack of metal madness.

Much like some of the other games on this list, Strive brings the series' story to a close with a crashing finale, but doesn't miss the opportunity to throw in some new mechanics for you to master along the way.

4. The King of Fighters XV

The latest entry and highest rated of the series with a TrueAchievements user rating of 4.2/5, The King of Fighter XV is a game for players that would much rather test their mettle in online tournaments, as there isn't a huge amount of single-player content to be had after you finish the climatic main story.

King of Fighters is part of the niche subset of fighting games that sees you fighting battles with a team of three, which you can mix and match from the roster of 39 fighters waiting to get stuck in. This entry acts much like an explosive culmination of everything that the series has been built on over the years, so expect to find yourself scrolling through the myriad of songs available in the DJ Station or getting lost in the movies archived in the Gallery when not battling it out online.

3. Mortal Kombat 11

It was a tough choice between Mortal Kombat 11 and 2023's restart to the series, Mortal Kombat 1, especially when they both have such high user ratings here on TrueAchievements. Ultimately, we've decided to go with the slightly older Mortal Kombat 11 due to its inclusion in Xbox Game Pass and its gargantuan amount of content if you decide to invest in its DLC.

Mortal Kombat 11 is a fatality-filled bloodfest, brought to life in fantastic detail as you smash your way through the cinematic campaign, versus, and Tower modes with its huge roster of characters. What's more, Mortal Kombat 11 offers a new custom character system that gives you the tools to truly make each fighter your own. If you fancy enjoying some epic brutality with your fighting, Mortal Kombat 11 is a no-brainer — especially since it's in Xbox Game Pass!

2. Street Fighter 6

Street Fighter 6 is the latest entry in the series and holds an impressive TrueAchievements user rating of 4.4/5, and for good reason; it's a beast. Its release was heralded by numerous glistening reviews in 2023, which praised its new World Tour mode.

Alongside wielding the power of 18 fan-favorite characters in the main story and online, World Tour allows you to create your own fighter to explore a single-player world almost like a mini Yakuza game. As you explore Metro City, you meet Masters who teach you the new styles you can use to whoop the many opponents waiting for you on the streets. It's a great mode, and you can use your custom avatar in the Battle Hub when not fighting online.

Capcom has also added Real-Time Commentary to this installment, giving your fights a more realistic vibe as you battle for a win. Street Fighter 6 showcases everything that makes the series great, so you can't go wrong diving in for some fun!

1. Tekken 8

Rounding out this list is the latest game in the Tekken series, Tekken 8, which has earned a whopping TA user rating of 4.5/5, and for good reason. As we highlighted in our Tekken 8 review, this latest entry is fantastic for players just dipping their toes into the fighting genre, thanks to a myriad of newbie-friendly features.

Alongside the stunning main story, Tekken 8 throws in a similar avatar-focused mode called Arcade Quest, which acts as a training story for new players, teaching you the very fundamentals of fighting games and gradually increasing the difficulty so you're ready to take on the remainder of the game with good foundations. Its use of Mii-style avatars isn't as aesthetically pleasing as Street Fighter 6's World Tour mode, but it makes for a great entry point for new players.

Thanks to its modes catering to new players, gorgeous graphics, and robust character creator, Tekken 8 takes its place on this list as the top best fighting game on Xbox.

Do you agree with our list? Or do you think any other fighting games deserve a spot? Do you think any should nab a spot on our list of the best Xbox games as well? Drop a comment below and let us know!
Written by Tom West
Tom has been playing video games since he was old enough to hold a controller, experimenting with a number of systems until he eventually fell in love with Xbox. With a passion for the platform, he decided to make a career out of it, and now happily spends his days writing about that which he loves. If he’s not hunting for Xbox achievements, you’ll likely find him somewhere in The Elder Scrolls Online or fighting for survival in Battlefield.
View discussion...