The 10 Best Games Like 'Tekken'

• Developers: Sega AM2, Genki, Aspect, Tiger Electronics, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
• Rating: T for Teen

Longtime Tekken series producer is an admitted fanboy of Sega's Virtua Fighter franchise. As evidenced by some of the ways Tekken has evolved over the years, it's clear that Harada has taken plenty of inspiration from one of the biggest innovators in the 3D fighting game space. Virtua Fighter is deceptively simple as it has two punch buttons, one kick button, and a guard button. But as you learn the ins and outs of your favorite character, you'll have your mind blown by just how deep the series' combat mechanics are and the rewarding flow of the action happening onscreen. The most recent entry in the series is Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown, which freshens up the original version's graphics and retains all the freeform 3D combat fans have come to adore.

• Developer: Sega AM2
• Rating: E10+ for Everyone 10+

Virtua Fighter wasn't the only 3D brawler it made its name on during the Sega Saturn run. The lauded Japanese publisher/developer cooked up Fighting Vipers, a fighter similar in feel and scope to Virtua Fighter and Tekken. It differentiated itself by featuring a roster of armored warriors who relied on extreme weaponry such as a skateboard, rollerblades, and even a guitar. We can't lie - we always lose our minds every time we manage to knock someone through the arena barricades with a devastating final blow. So here's the deal - you can play the first game in the series via backward compatibility on the Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S while the only way to play Fighting Vipers on American consoles is by playing it through Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name.

• Developer: Sega AM2
• Rating: T for Teen

The Tekken Tag Tournament games acted like an all-star edition of the series as a whole since it featured a who's who of characters from the franchise's long history. Fighters Megamix followed that same path back in the day - the only difference is there are no tag mechanics to be found here. 1V1 battles commence here as you're able to choose your favorites from a roster mainly composed of characters hailing from Virtua Fighter and Fighting Vipers. There are even some off-the-wall roster inclusions from Sega IPs such as Daytona USA, Sonic the Fighters (more on that one later...), and Virtua Fighter Kids. Fighters Megamix is another one of the best games like Tekken that caters to Sega diehards who need a quick jolt of nostalgia in the form of a fighting game.

• Developer: Team Ninja
• Rating: T for Teen - M for Mature

The Dead or Alive series is one of the most graphically impressive 3D fighters anyone has ever laid eyes on. Once Dead or Alive 2 launched on the Sega Dreamcast, that sentiment was felt throughout the fighting game community. Over the years, DOA has only gotten better in the visual fidelity department. On the gameplay side of things, this 3D fighting game series employs a rock-paper-scissors mechanic where punches, kicks, throws and counters play a huge part in how you'll deliver the most damaging maneuvers to your opponent. Counters are capable of depleting your foe's life bar to 0 in mere seconds, so you'll need to strategize mid-fight more than you think with this series. The most recent series entry (Dead or Alive 6) features slow-motion zoom-ins when you land a major blow, visible damage on every character, and the climactic "Fatal Rush" mechanic that leads to some exciting moments.

• Developer: Bandai Namco Studios
• Rating: T for Teen

Bandai Namco Entertainment's other celebrated 3D fighter is the most iconic weapons-based fighting game of all time, Soulcalibur. What originally got its start on the PS1 as Soul Blade/Edge landed on the Sega Dreamcast as Soulcalibur, which blew everyone's minds back in the day since it looked so much better than its original arcade counterpart. In the years since that game's release, Soulcalibur has added cool guest characters (Link from Soulcalibur II is the best!), an incredible character creation system, and unique battle mechanics such as the "Reversal Edge" & breakable armor. The intense sidestepping and impactful gameplay make the Soulcalibur franchise one of the best options for gamers searching for the best games like Tekken. The inclusion of ring-outs and cool characters such as Mitsurugi & Nightmare should keep you captivated as you master Soulcalibur VI.

• Developer: DreamFactory
• Rating: T for Teen

If you weren't around during the age of the first PlayStation, then we know missed out on the super obscure 3D fighter Tobal No. 1. Right off the bat, you'll vibe with its anime art style since it is done by the famed Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama. Upon playing it for a bit, you'll marvel at how smooth it plays and its signature grappling system. Dashing, jumping, and pulling off a variety of high/medium/low blows will empower you to master each character's most lethal combos. If you can get your hand on a PS1 that can play Japanese games, then we highly recommend finding a copy of Tobal No. 2 (which features 200 playable characters!).

• Developer: Capcom
• Rating: T for Teen

During Capcom's more experimental days, it threw its name into the 3D fighting game space to present a weapons-based fighter that feels like a better version of the hated Star Wars: Masters of Teräs Käsi. Both Star Gladiator and Plasma Sword: Nightmare of Bilstein present a galactic adventure where its eccentric roster enters combat with plasma-infused weapons. You'll get a bit of fun out of mastering Hayato's "Lightsaber"-inspired moveset and using June's agile combat style to trip up your rivals. Star Gladiator has sidestepping while Plasma Sword keeps all the action on one straight lane. Check out both games to see which one you prefer!

• Developers: Eighting, Hudson Soft
• Rating: T for Teen

Yeah, you remember this one! The Bloody Roar games not only rely on recognizable 3D fighting game mechanics, but it employ one of the coolest gimmicks we've ever witnessed in a fighter - the ability to switch your character into their beast form at will and tear into the opposition with some brutal animalistic attacks. Pulling off nasty combos in your human form and immediately transforming into their beast form to keep their combo meter here never gets old. Some of the most memorable members of this game's roster include characters that can transform into a wolf, a bunny, a mole, a leopard, a tiger, and so much more. The fast pace and special character abilities of Bloody Roar make it play like the latter sequels in the Tekken timeline. Bloody Roar 2 is our fave!

• Developer: Sega AM2
• Rating: E for Everyone

HEY, NO LAUGHING! Now we have to admit to snickering ourselves when we first heard about the concept of a 3D fighting game starring Sega's "Blue Blur" and a a host of assorted series characters. But after giving it a few tries, we came around to it and acknowledged it as a fun little curiosity that everyone has to play at least once. Sonic the Fighters lets you punch, kick, and bring up a defensive barrier - the game's complexities shine through when you figure out your character's special moves and how to activate "Hyper Mode" to do some big damage. Any game that lets you pit the likes of Sonic the Hedgehog and Knuckles the Echidna against the super obscure Fang the Chameleon and Espio the Sniper gets a huge nod from us! Sonic the Fighters is backward compatible on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, by the way.

• Developer: Bandai Namco Studios
• Rating: E10+ for Everyone 10+

We never knew we wanted a Pokémon fighting game that badly until we became aware of Pokkén Tournament! It should come as no surprise that this final selection ended up on our list of the best games like Tekken since its name is a clever portmanteau of Pokémon and Tekken. What's so cool about this "Pocket Monster" brawler is how it transitions from a Tekken-like "Duel Phase" into an open arena phase with a playstyle comparable to the Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm series. Fan-favorite creatures such as Pikachu, Blastoise, and Lucario are playable members of the roster here alongside lesser-known monster types like Decidueye, Chandelure, and Braixen. Pokkén Tournament DX is the best version of this game and it's one of the finest Nintendo Switch exclusives worth picking up.