For a fighting game to be considered fun and engaging, it needs to first-and-foremost have rock solid combat which feels satisfying to play, and which also hasa formidable skill ceiling for players to aim for. The truth is though, while the core gameplay is the most important aspect of these games, the other smaller details go a very long way in encouraging players to come back for more, and this can include the music selection, character variety, and the art style.
In an effort to stand out from the crowd, many developers have tried to play around with unique art styles in their fighting games to help each match look a little more vibrant and exciting than what fans might be used to. Not all of these attempts stuck the landing, but thankfully, there have been plenty of fighters which have blown players away with their visual aesthetic.
TheKing of Fightersseries is one of the longest-running fighting game franchises ever made, and though the fast-paced 2D gameplay has remained largely intact since the early entries, the same can’t be said for the art style. SNK are always tinkering around with the visuals of these games to make them as bright and beautiful as possible, and for the thirteenth installment, they decided to go for a verysharp and eye-catching style which has aged like fine wine.
To pull this off, SNK actually had to model the characters in 3D, before then rotoscoping them with pixel art to give the impression of them as being almost pixelated in their animations and movements. This is an incredibly long and expensive process, so it makes sense why it was abandoned for future games, but it really worked wonders to bring this specific title to life through its presentation.
From the perspective of the art direction alone,Mortal Kombat Xfeels like the culmination of what the series had been building up to, before it decided to become more colorful and bright inMortal Kombat 1and 11. In stark contrast,Mortal Kombat Xis a dark, grimy, and at times, pretty scary game where every character is shrouded in darkness, and the stages feel like they belong to aResident EvilorSilent Hillgame. This perfectly suited the grim reality ofMortal Kombat’sworld, while also making each and every fighter look that much more intimidating and badass.
It also helped in making theX-Ray moves and Fatalitieslook even more gruesome, which is somethingMortal Kombatfans will always be happy about. Many have been disappointed NetherRealm didn’t decide to continue on with this particular aesthetic, so hopefully it can make a re-appearance in a new title later down the line.
ThoughStreet Fighter’suniverse is meant to be grounded in reality, the games have always had a charming and almost cartoonish style to them, which has helped separate them from other popular fighters likeMortal KombatandTekken. WhileStreet Fighter 5was more centered around its gameplay as opposed to visuals, Capcom went all in with the next game to verify it was as appealing and vibrant as possible.
The bright paint strokes that flash across the screen during a Drive attack, mixed with the gorgeous splashes of color seen in the backgrounds of the stages, all come together to create a game that is hard not to admire from a visual standpoint. Capcom have managed to successfully incorporate elements from neon and even cyberpunk aesthetics into a modern day fighting game, which must have been a difficult task, but one that most definitely paid off in the end.
Samurai Shodownis a legendary fighting game series which was immensely popular among fans of the genre back in the day, but after a long hiatus, some were worried it would never see the light of day ever again. Thankfully, SNK revived the franchise with 2019’sSamurai Shodownreboot, and it’s fair to say, they couldn’t have done a better job at modernizing the classic art style that so many people look back fondly on.
The dark black outlines of each character make it look as though they’ve been ripped out of a sketchbook and brought to life, which adds an extremely fun and creative quality to the overall presentation of the game. This particular art style also makes it easy to see the fighters at all times, especially on the busier stages, and of course, it also makes every slash of a sword that much more impactful and satisfying to look at.
Skullgirlsis one of the many indie fighting games which began cropping up in the early to late 2010s, but while a lot of them faded into obscurity, this game has managed to retain an active playerbase even to this very day. This isn’t only thanks to the complex mechanics and jazzy music, but also the visual aesthetic of the game, which is absolutely stunning to watch in motion.
The developers ofSkullgirlsclearly took a lot of inspiration from art deco which can often be seen used in western comic bookssuch asBatman. It’s a simple and minimalistic, yet jaw-dropping art style which allows the characters to feel that extra bit more energetic and bubbly thanks to their over-the-top movements and attacks. The fighting style should definitely be a big factor when choosing a character inSkullgirls, but in all honesty, the visual design and style of a fighter are arguably just as important.
Often touted as the greatest fighting game of all time,Street Fighter Third Strikecame out not long after the emergence of 3D fighters, but before 3D graphics had actually been properly refined or used effectively. As a result, Capcom made the bold decision to keepThird Strikeas a 2D game, while also pushing the animations and visuals as far as they could go, to the point where the characters seemed as though they were fully 3D models because of how fluid their attacks and movements were.Third Strikeis without a doubt the pinnacle of 1990s spritework, and many games, even today, are still trying to capture the stylish aesthetic that this iconic title managed to use for its battles.
This not only applied to the fighters, but also the stages, all of which are packed full of detail and feel truly alive thanks to the dynamic backgrounds and gorgeous lighting effects. Despite its age,Street Fighter Third Strike’sart style still looks as good as it did back in 1999, and that’s a testament to just how much care and attention was dedicated tomaking the game as much of a visual marvel as it could possibly be.
TheGuilty Geargames have always been known for theiranime-inspired art stylesand characters, butStrivetakes this to a whole new level entirely. This 2.5D fighting game uses colors and shadows to amazing effect, allowing each and every stage to have a visible effect on the characters and how they look. Speaking of the characters, though all of them look hand-drawn, they move with such fluidity that it honestly feels a little surreal to see them in action, but jaw-dropping nonetheless.
It also needs to be mentioned just how full of expression these fighters are. Whether it’s the giant behemoth known as Potemkin, or the naive yet excitable Ephraim, the choice of art style allows these characters to show exactly who they are through their movements and appearances alone, and whileStrivealready features incredibly addictive combat, the astonishingly beautiful art style is another reason why it’s amassed such a large fanbase.
