History DuelingWorks / FightingGame

|| ''VideoGame/SoulcaliburVI'' (2018) || ''VideoGame/DeadOrAlive6'' (2019) || 3D fighting games from series that are ''very'' well-known for {{fanservice}}, coming off a SequelGap with both having their last mainline installment in 2012, and set to be the big comeback for both franchises. || Both games feature new graphics, new gameplay mechanics, and are the sixth numbered sequel of their respective series, but a major difference in terms of execution is how they go about their trademark fanservice -- Whereas ''Dead or Alive 6'' is choosing to [[TamerAndChaster severely cut back on the sex appeal in hopes of being taken more seriously]], ''Soulcalibur VI'' has decided to [[HotterAndSexier fully embrace it as a core part of its identity]]. || To be decided, though ''Soulcalibur VI'' has attracted more good will and has been received positively as a return to form, whereas ''Dead or Alive 6'' has often been OvershadowedByControversy for its polarizing creative decisions (like the aforementioned toning down of fanservice).

|| ''VideoGame/TheOutfoxies'' (1994) || ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' (1999) || 4-player arena fighting games. || The former is an arcade game with original characters, while the latter is a console game featuring characters from Nintendo's franchises, released 5 years apart from each other. || ''Smash'' wins this one easily. It is the more well-known of the two and the series is still living on to this very day, whereas ''The Outfoxies'' has faded into obscurity. ||

|| ''VideoGame/SoulcaliburVI'' (2018) || ''VideoGame/DeadOrAlive6'' (2019) || 3D fighting games from series that are ''very'' well-known for {{fanservice}}, coming off a SequelGap with both having their last mainline installment in 2012, and set to be the big comeback for both franchises. || Both games feature new graphics, new gameplay mechanics, and are the sixth numbered sequel of their respective series, but a major difference in terms of execution is how they go about their trademark fanservice -- Whereas ''Dead or Alive 6'' is choosing to [[TamerAndChaster severely cut back on the sex appeal in hopes of being taken more seriously]], ''Soulcalibur VI'' had decided to [[HotterAndSexier fully embrace it as a core part of its identity]]. || To be decided, though ''Soulcalibur VI'' has attracted more good will and has been received positively as a return to form, whereas ''Dead or Alive 6'' has often been OvershadowedByControversy for its polarizing creative decisions (like the aforementioned toning down of fanservice).

|| ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcomInfinite'' (2017) || ''VideoGame/BlazblueCrossTagBattle'' (2018) || 2v2 tag-team tournament-competitive fighting games featuring ensemble casts of super-powered characters from multiple different properties || Coming onto the scene a month before EVO 2018 is due and with ''[=FighterZ=]'' is still hugely popular, ''BBTAG'' is the second Creator/ArcSystemWorks game to be competing with ''[=MvCI=]''. ''BBTAG'' is also a 2v2 crossover fighter featuring an ensemble cast from four popular anime franchises: ''Blazblue'', ''VideoGame/{{Persona 4}}'', ''VideoGame/UnderNightInBirth'' and the highly popular Creator/RoosterTeeth anime-styled web animation series ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}''[[note]](''RWBY's'' [[Creator/MontyOum sadly now late creator]] and ''Blazblue'''s creator Toshimichi Mori were big fans of each others' work and the two planned for an eventual crossover, and here the four heroines of ''RWBY'' make their fighting game debut)[[/note]]. || The announcement that ''BBTAG'' would be present at Evo 2018 and ''MvCI'' would not when the former hadn't even been released came as a massive shock to the [=FGC=]. Though early hype for ''BBTAG'' was damaged by a controversy surrounding [=DLC=] practices, reception to early release builds and demos has been highly positive with players praising the new ''RWBY'' characters, the netcode and online play, the combat system (which is said to be very easy to pick up for new players but offers a surprising degree of depth to veterans due to character interplay) and the voice acting[[note]]with the casts of ''Blazblue'', ''Persona 4'' and ''RWBY'' reprising their roles and a slew of recognized anime and video game voice actors lending their talents to the ''[=UNIEL=]'' cast who have never before had English voices[[/note]]. In the end though, while both series underperformed, the fact that ''Cross Tag Battle'' got better reception a having a bit more sales than ''Infinite'' makes it the clear winner, even if it was an AcclaimedFlop.||

|| ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcomInfinite'' (2017) || ''VideoGame/BlazblueCrossTagBattle'' (2018) || 2v2 tag-team tournament-competitive fighting games featuring ensemble casts of super-powered characters from multiple different properties || Coming onto the scene a month before EVO 2018 is due and with ''[=FighterZ=]'' is still hugely popular, ''BBTAG'' is the second Creator/ArcSystemWorks game to be competing with ''[=MvCI=]''. ''BBTAG'' is also a 2v2 crossover fighter featuring an ensemble cast from four popular anime franchises: ''Blazblue'', ''VideoGame/{{Persona 4}}'', ''VideoGame/UnderNightInBirth'' and the highly popular Creator/RoosterTeeth anime-styled web animation series ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}''[[note]](''RWBY's'' [[Creator/MontyOum sadly now late creator]] and ''Blazblue'''s creator Toshimichi Mori were big fans of each others' work and the two planned for an eventual crossover, and here the four heroines of ''RWBY'' make their fighting game debut)[[/note]]. || The announcement that ''BBTAG'' would be present at Evo 2018 and ''MvCI'' would not when the former hadn't even been released came as a massive shock to the [=FGC=]. Though early hype for ''BBTAG'' was damaged by a controversy surrounding [=DLC=] practices, reception to early release builds and demos has been highly positive with players praising the new ''RWBY'' characters, the netcode and online play, the combat system (which is said to be very easy to pick up for new players but offers a surprising degree of depth to veterans due to character interplay) and the voice acting[[note]]with the casts of ''Blazblue'', ''Persona 4'' and ''RWBY'' reprising their roles and a slew of recognized anime and video game voice actors lending their talents to the ''[=UNIEL=]'' cast who have never before had English voices[[/note]]. ||

|| ''VideoGame/Injustice2'' (2017) || ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcomInfinite'' (2017) || Sequels to TwoAndAHalfD Fighting games with rosters featuring comic book superheroes and supervillains for UsefulNotes/TheEighthGenerationOfConsoleVideoGames. || The sequel (no pun intended) to the squabble between these two same franchises from last generation. This time, both games are coming out within 12 months of each other. Additionally both are trying to be more casual friendly compared to other games in their developers stable. Injustice 2 introduces the gear system that allows casual players to customize their characters, however it is banned in TournamentPlay, Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite goes back to the 2 on 2 format of earlier games, while ditching a lot of old mechanics in favor of a new freeform tag system while bringing back the Infinity Gems from ''VideoGame/MarvelSuperHeroes''. || ''Injustice 2'' was lauded for its graphics, roster, and content, all of which were major criticisms of ''Infinite'', but ''Infinite'' has been called a good follow-up to ''[=UMvC3=]'' in terms of gameplay, if not outright superior, in contrast to the ''Injustice'' games' lack of following in the FGC. In terms of immediate sales and reception, though, it was an outright squash, with ''Infinite'' currently sitting at a quarter of its rival's sales and averaging around 10-15 points lower on Metacritic. ||

|| ''VideoGame/StreetFighterII'' (1987) || ''VideoGame/MortalKombat'' (1992) || The Samurai vs. Knight of fighting games. ''Mortal Kombat'' brought a BloodierAndGorier style, [[FinishingMove Fatalities]], and a much more brutal combat system. During their heyday in the early 90s, "SF vs. MK" was the equivalent of "WRPG vs JRPG" nowadays, with the same amount of prevalent (and annoying) topics devoted to it. || ''Mortal Kombat'' had more unique games churned out for it than ''Street Fighter''. || ''VideoGame/MortalKombat'' did well initially, and ''VideoGame/MortalKombat2'' saw it briefly take the lead in the fighters' market. In the long term though, ''Street Fighter'' was the winner by a long shot as most of the ''Mortal Kombat'' games after the second proved to be the laughing stock for competitive fighting game players and the series was later fed to the PolygonCeiling, further destroying its reputation with casual gamers. However, ''VideoGame/MortalKombat9'' not only cleared that reputation away but also proved to be ''not'' a laughing stock for competitive fighting game players, effectively bringing the bloodbath back to square one. ||

|| ''VideoGame/EternalChampions'' (1993) || ''VideoGame/KillerInstinct'' (1994) || [[DarkerAndEdgier Dark]], [[BloodierAndGorier violent]] fighting games made by the leading console manufacturers at the time as a FollowTheLeader answer to ''VideoGame/MortalKombat'', with outlandish character designs and gallons of RuleOfCool. || Though spearheaded by Creator/{{Sega}} and Creator/{{Nintendo}}, respectively, each game was actually made by a western developer (''Eternal Champions'' was developed by Sega's America-based Interactive Development Division, whereas ''Killer Instinct'' was made by Nintendo's newly-acquired second-party developer Rare.) ''Eternal Champions'' was developed specifically for the Mega Drive/Genesis, while ''Killer Instinct'' was released in arcades first, and later ported to the SNES (rather ironic, since Sega's primary market have always been arcades, whereas Nintendo had otherwise stopped making arcade games by that point). Gameplay-wise, ''Killer Instinct'' relied heavily on {{combo}}s, while ''Eternal Champions'' played more similar to ''VideoGame/StreetFighterII'' with the addition of a "special attack meter" to prevent players from abusing special attacks. In lieu of Mortal Kombat, both games also had violent {{Finishing Move}}s, though the ones in ''Killer Instict'', while featuring large amounts of blood, had relatively little gore compared to both ''Mortal Kombat'' and ''Eternal Champions''. || ''Killer Instinct''. Both games followed a similar curve after release (a highly successful original game, a single sequel that wasn't as well recieved, and then promptly disappearing off the face of the Earth). In terms of legacy, ''Killer Instinct'' is much better remembered and retains a cult following, while ''Eternal Champions'' is largely forgotten and is usually only brought up in "AnyoneRememberPogs" kind of conversations. ''Killer Instinct'' was also successfully revived in 2013, further cementing this. ||

|| ''VideoGame/MarvelSuperHeroes'' (1995) || ''VideoGame/AvengersInGalacticStorm'' (1995) || Arcade fighting games based on Creator/MarvelComics. || Something so unusual as dueling titles made by rivaling companies (Creator/{{Capcom}} and Creator/DataEast, respectively) based around the same license. Both games featured ComicBook/CaptainAmerica and ComicBook/IronMan as playable characters, but otherwise had very little in common. ''Marvel Super Heroes'' was a sequel to ''VideoGame/XMenChildrenOfTheAtom'', was loosely based on the "Infinity Gauntlet" storyline from the comics, had traditional sprite-based 2D-graphics, and a special "gem" system that gave your character temporary perks by fulfilling certain criteria during the match. ''Avengers in Galactic Storm'' was based on the "Operation: Galactic Storm" storyline, had pre-rendered CG characters and backgrounds on a two-dimensional playing field and was the first fighting game to feature {{Assist Character}}s. || ''Marvel Super Heroes'' by far: its success eventually led to the beloved ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom'' games. ''Avengers in Galactic Storm'' slipped by almost unnoticed, and didn't even recieve a home port. ||
|| ''VideoGame/BattleArenaToshinden'' (1995) || ''VideoGame/SoulEdge'' (1995) || Early 3D weapons-based fighting games. || Both were released in 1995; ''Toshinden'' for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation, ''Soul'' for arcades (and ported to Playstation the following year). Although not obvious at first, ''Toshinden'' actually takes place in the (then-) present, while ''Soul'' takes place in the 16th century. ''Toshinden'' also has a clear anime-based style while ''Soul'' went with more stylised realism (similar to its sibling series ''VideoGame/{{Tekken}}''). || ''Soul Edge'', without a doubt. ''Battle Arena Toshinden'' gained a lot of acclaim and sales at first, thanks to novel features like sidestepping, lots of promotion by Sony and being one of the only fighting games for the Playstation at launch. It became the official pack-in game with the Playstation for a while, was ported to {{PC}}, UsefulNotes/SegaSaturn and GameBoy and had three sequels, the first of which even got an arcade release. Despite all this, the game was quickly forgotten. There weree many internal issues regarding its development, as Takara screwed itself over by having the series developed by an umbrella of smaller developers who were severely underpaid, and that they focused more on merchandise than the actual game. As newer, better and more refined fighting games came out, the series became [[DeaderThanDisco/VideoGames Deader Than Disco]]. Among nostalgic early Playstation owners, the series has gotten a bit of a CultClassic status though. ''Soul Edge'', on the other hand, was very successful both in arcades and on the Playstation, and thanks to the [[EvenBetterSequel awesome]] sequel ''VideoGame/SoulCalibur'', managed to keep the momentum going and has become one of the most popular and beloved fighting game series around. ||

|| ''VideoGame/StreetFighterIII'' (1997) || ''VideoGame/MortalKombat4'' (1997) || After playing it safe for several years, in the brave new year of 1997 the premier fighting game series were ready to take their next installment in bold new directions. || ''Mortal Kombat 4'' took the step into the third dimension, while ''Street Fighter III'' stayed in and perfected 2D (it was one of the best-looking 2D-games ever at the time of its release). Both games did away with a substantial part of their established cast in favor of new faces, but ''Street Fighter III'' especially so (only Ryu and Ken returned, although later updates reintroduced Akuma and Chun-Li). While ''Mortal Kombat 4'' was now 3D, the gameplay still largely took place on a two-dimensional playing field and with the exception of a sidestep maneuver and the introduction of a weapon-system, the gameplay was largely unchanged. ''Street Fighter III'' on the other hand had substantially altered gameplay with the introduction of dashing, "super arts" and the new parry-system. || At the time of release, ''Mortal Kombat 4'' was the winner, performing well in arcades and being a financial success for Midway. ''Street Fighter III'' on the other hand was met with widespread apathy, with factors including it coming out too late after the Street Fighter-craze had largely died off, being a 2D-game at the height of the VideoGame3DLeap, having a really expensive arcade board meaning few arcade operators could afford it, being too inaccessable for beginners, and players finding it too different and with almost no familiar characters ([[UnpleasableFanbase ironically the very things people had complained about with the countless updates for]] ''VideoGame/StreetFighterII''). It also didn't help matters that ''Mortal Kombat 4'' was ported to every system available at the time but ''Street Fighter III'' was originally only ported to the ill-fated Dreamcast more than two years after its release. In the long run, the situation has reversed. ''Mortal Kombat 4'' did not age well and is now regarded as the weakest entry in the series, while ''Street Fighter III'' has become VindicatedByHistory is now an incredibly well-regarded game, a TournamentPlay staple and a CultClassic. It goes to tell when ''Mortal Kombat 4'' was excluded from the digital compilation ''Mortal Kombat Arcade Kollection'' whereas ''Street Fighter III'' is one of the consistently best-selling digital download-titles around. In the end, ''Street Fighter III'' is the winner. ||

|| ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcomInfinite'' (2017) || ''VideoGame/{{Dragon Ball FighterZ}}'' (2018) || Tag-team tournament-viable fighting games featuring super-powered combatants from immensely popular long-running franchises. || After ''Infinite'' suffered from several controversies, PR messups, and severe issues regarding presentation, ''[=FighterZ=]'' got the attention of many who were soured on the latest ''Marvel vs. Capcom'' by boasting 3v3 gameplay (''Infinite'' dropped down to 2v2 in contrast with the two previous ''[=MvC=]'' games) and phenomenal presentation, as is expected from Creator/ArcSystemWorks. However, ''[=FighterZ=]'' did eventually suffer from controversy of its own regarding its DLC practices. || ''[=FighterZ=]''. ''Infinite'' received mixed reviews and flopped in sales. By contrast, critical and audience reception for ''[=FighterZ=]'' was overwhelmingly positive, and it became the fastest-selling ''Dragon Ball'' video game in history, shifting 2 million copies in just five days. In addition, the lineup for EVO 2018 was confirmed to include ''[=FighterZ=]'', but not ''Infinite'', marking the first time in 17 years that EVO has not had a ''Marvel Vs Capcom'' game as one of its main events. ||
|| ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcomInfinite'' (2017) || ''VideoGame/BlazblueCrossTagBattle'' (2018) || 2v2 tag-team tournament-competitive fighting games featuring ensemble casts of super-powered characters from multiple different properties || Coming onto the scene a month before EVO 2018 is due and with ''[=FighterZ=]'' is still hugely popular, ''BBTAG'' is the second Creator/ArcSystemWorks game to be competing with ''[=MvCI=]''. ''BBTAG'' is also a 2v2 crossover fighter featuring an ensemble cast from four popular anime franchises: ''Blazblue'', ''VideoGame/{{Persona 4}}'', ''VideoGame/UnderNightInBirth'' and the highly popular Creator/RoosterTeeth anime-styled web animation series ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}''[[note]](''RWBY's'' [[Creator/MontyOum sadly now late creator]] and ''Blazblue'''s creator Toshimichi Mori were big fans of each others' work and the two planned for an eventual crossover, and here the four heroines of ''RWBY'' make their fighting game debut)[[/note]]. || The announcement that ''BBTAG'' would be present at Evo 2018 and ''MvCI'' would not when the former hadn't even been released came as a massive shock to the [=FGC=]. Though early hype for ''BBTAG'' was damaged by a controversy surrounding [=DLC=] practices, reception to early release builds and demos has been highly positive with players praising the new ''RWBY'' characters, the netcode and online play, the combat system (which is said to be very easy to pick up for new players but offers a surprising degree of depth to veterans due to character interplay) and the voice acting[[note]]with the casts of ''Blazblue'', ''Persona 4'' and ''RWBY'' reprising their roles and a slew of recognised anime and video game voice actors lending their talents to the ''[=UNIEL=]'' cast who have never before had English voices[[/note]]. ||

|| ''VideoGame/SuperSmashFlash 2'' (Began 2007) || ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosCrusade'' (Began 2014) || Fan-made ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' games. || ''VideoGame/SuperSmashFlash 2'' is a sequel to ''VideoGame/SuperSmashFlash'', which [[SeinfeldIsUnfunny hasn't aged well]] and [[CanonDiscontinuity is best forgotten]]. || Both games are [[GeniusProgramming very impressive replications of]] ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' game-play, especially in the case of ''Super Smash Flash 2'', which runs UsefulNotes/AdobeFlash. Overall, ''[=SSF2=]'' has more polished graphics, well-balanced game-play, and is more well known. ''Super Smash Bros. Crusade'' has a stronger GameEngine, having a larger roster that includes gimmicky, memory-intensive fighters such as the VideoGame/{{Ice Climber}}s and [[VideoGame/{{Pikmin}} Capt. Olimar]]. ||

|| ''VideoGame/{{Dragon Ball FighterZ}}'' (2018) || ''VideoGame/BlazblueCrossTagBattle'' (2018) || Creator/ArcSystemWorks produced anime-styled tag-team fighting game featuring superpowered combatants from popular franchises || Coming onto the scene a month before EVO 2018 is due and ''[=FighterZ=]'' is still hugely popular, ''BBTAG'' is a 2v2 crossover fighter featuring an ensemble cast from four popular anime franchises: ''Blazblue'', ''VideoGame/{{Persona 4}}'', ''VideoGame/UnderNightInBirth'' and ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'' (who make their fighting game debut here - ''RWBY's'' [[Creator/MontyOum sadly late creator]] was a huge fan of the ''Blazblue'' games and friend of Mori's and the two planned for an eventual crossover). Though mired by an early controversy surrounding [=DLC=] practices, fan expectations and initial feedback from demos remain highly positive. || A bit early to tell truly, but it is unlikely that ''BBTAG'' will have the same mainstream appeal as ''[=FighterZ=]'', and reports from EVO 2018 show ''[=FighterZ=]'' is still drawing far and away the most registrants; ''BBTAG'' is currently sixth place ahead of ''[[VideoGame/GuiltyGear Guilty Gear Xrd Revelator II]]'' and ''VideoGame/{{Injustice 2}}'' - a very impressive placing for a game that hasn't even been released yet. ||

|| ''VideoGame/BlazblueCrossTagBattle'' (2018) || ''VideoGame/{{Dragon Ball FighterZ}}'' (2018) || Creator/ArcSystemWorks produced anime-styled tag-team fighting game featuring superpowered combatants from popular franchises || Coming onto the scene a month before EVO 2018 is due and ''[=FighterZ=]'' is still hugely popular, ''BBTAG'' is a 2v2 crossover fighter featuring an ensemble cast from four popular anime franchises: ''Blazblue'', ''VideoGame/{{Persona 4}}'', ''VideoGame/UnderNightInBirth'' and ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'' (who make their fighting game debut here - ''RWBY's'' [[Creator/MontyOum sadly late creator]] was a huge fan of the ''Blazblue'' games and friend of Mori's and the two planned for an eventual crossover). Though mired by an early controversy surrounding [=DLC=] practices, fan expectations and initial feedback from demos remain highly positive. || A bit early to tell truly, but it is unlikely that ''BBTAG'' will have the same mainstream appeal as ''[=FighterZ=]'', and reports from EVO 2018 show ''[=FighterZ=]'' is still drawing far and away the most registrants; ''BBTAG'' is currently sixth place ahead of ''[[VideoGame/GuiltyGear Guilty Gear Xrd Revelator II]]'' and ''VideoGame/{{Injustice 2}}'' - a very impressive placing for a game that hasn't even been released yet. ||

|| ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcomInfinite'' (2017) || ''VideoGame/{{Dragon Ball FighterZ}}'' (2018) || Tag-team tournament-viable fighting games featuring super-powered combatants from immensely popular long-running franchises. || After ''Infinite'' suffered from several controversies, PR messups, and severe issues regarding presentation, ''[=FighterZ=]'' got the attention of many who were soured on the latest ''Marvel vs. Capcom'' by boasting 3v3 gameplay (''Infinite'' dropped down to 2v2 in contrast with the two previous ''[=MvC=]'' games) and phenomenal presentation, as is expected from Creator/ArcSystemWorks. However, ''[=FighterZ=]'' did eventually suffer from controversy of its own regarding its DLC practices. || ''[=FighterZ=]''. ''Infinite'' received mixed reviews and flopped in sales. By contrast, critical and audience reception for ''[=FighterZ=]'' was overwhelmingly positive, and it became the fastest-selling ''Dragon Ball'' video game in history, shifting 2 million copies in just five days. In addition, the lineup for EVO 2018 was confirmed to include ''[=FighterZ=]'', but not ''Infinite'', marking the first time in 17 years that EVO has not had a ''Marvel Vs Capcom'' game as one of its main events. ||

''VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters'' (1994) || 2D {{Fighting Game}}s with a heavy emphasis on mystical and impossible special moves. Later installments of both ''Street Fighter'' and ''KOF'' involve worldwide conspiracies. || ''StreetFighter'' the TropeMaker of {{Fighting Game}}s in the early 90s, and AOF and FF were created to ride the wave of its success. Realizing that neither series had the staying power to compete with Capcom's flagship, {{SNK}} combined the rosters of these two titles to create ''KOF''. Both ''SF'' and ''KOF'' liberally crib ideas from one another, and [[SNKVsCapcom have even joined forces on some occasions]]. || ''StreetFighter'' is well known around the world, whereas outside of Japan ''KOF'' is a cult hit at best, with [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff a surprising following in places like Mexico]], where the low-priced UsefulNotes/NeoGeo cabinets proved to be appealing to store owners and players. ||

|| ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcomInfinite'' (2017) || ''VideoGame/{{Dragon Ball FighterZ}}'' (2018) || Tag-team tournament-viable fighting games featuring super-powered combatants from immensely popular long-running franchises. || After ''Infinite'' suffered from several controversies, PR messups, and severe issues regarding presentation, ''[=FighterZ=]'' got the attention of many who were soured on the latest ''Marvel vs. Capcom'' by boasting 3v3 gameplay (''Infinite'' dropped down to 2v2 in contrast with the two previous ''[=MvC=]'' games) and phenomenal presentation, as is expected from Creator/ArcSystemWorks. However, ''[=FighterZ=]'' did eventually suffer from controversy of its own regarding its DLC practices. || ''[=FighterZ=]''. ''Infinite'' received mixed reviews and flopped in sales. By contrast, critical and audience reception for ''[=FighterZ=]'' was overwhelmingly positive, and it became the fastest-selling ''Dragon Ball'' video game in history, shifting 2 million copies in one week. In addition, the lineup for EVO 2018 was confirmed to include ''[=FighterZ=]'', but not ''Infinite'', marking the first time in eight years that EVO has not had a ''Marvel Vs Capcom'' game as one of its main events. ||

|| ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcomInfinite'' (2017) || ''VideoGame/{{Dragon Ball FighterZ}}'' (2018) || Tag-team tournament-viable fighting games featuring super-powered combatants from immensely popular long-running franchises. || After ''Infinite'' suffered from several controversies, PR messups, and severe issues regarding presentation, ''[=FighterZ=]'' got the attention of many who were soured on the latest ''Marvel vs. Capcom'' by boasting 3v3 gameplay (''Infinite'' dropped down to 2v2 in contrast with the two previous ''[=MvC=]'' games) and phenomenal presentation, as is expected from Creator/ArcSystemWorks. However, ''[=FighterZ=]'' did eventually suffer from controversy of its own regarding its DLC practices. || TBD on account of ''[=FighterZ=]'' releasing several months after ''Infinite''. ||

|| ''VideoGame/{{Dragon Ball FighterZ}}'' (2018) || ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcomInfinite'' (2017) || Team-switching tournament-viable fighting games featuring super-powered combatants from immensely popular long-running franchises. || After ''Infinite'' suffered from several controversies, PR messups, and severe issues regarding presentation, ''[=FighterZ=]'' got the attention of many who were soured on the latest ''Marvel vs. Capcom'' by boasting 3v3 gameplay (''Infinite'' dropped down to 2v2 in contrast with the two previous ''[=MvC=]'' games) and phenomenal presentation, as is expected from Creator/ArcSystemWorks. However, ''[=FighterZ=]'' did eventually suffer from controversy of its own regarding its DLC practices. || TBD on account of ''[=FighterZ=]'' releasing several months after ''Infinite''. ||

|| ''VideoGame/Injustice2'' (2017) || ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcomInfinite'' (2017) || Sequels to TwoAndAHalfD Fighting games with rosters featuring comic book superheroes and supervillains for UsefulNotes/TheEighthGenerationOfConsoleVideoGames. || The sequel (no pun intended) to the squabble between these two same franchises from last generation. This time, both games are coming out within 12 months of each other. Additionally both are trying to be mroe casual friendly compared to other games in their developers stable. Injustice 2 introduces the gear system that allows casual players to customize their characters, however it is banned in TournamentPlay, Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite goes back to the 2 on 2 format of earlier games, while ditching a lot of old mechanics in favor of a new freeform tag system while bringing back the Infinity Gems from ''VideoGame/MarvelSuperHeroes''. || Too early to call, but early impressions have led to a tie. ''Injustice 2'' was lauded for its graphics, roster, and content, all of which were major criticisms of ''Infinite'', but ''Infinite'' has been called a good follow-up to ''[=UMvC3=]'' in terms of gameplay, if not outright superior, in contrast to the ''Injustice'' games' lack of following in the FGC. ||
|| ''VideoGame/PokkenTournament DX'' (2017) || ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcomInfinite'' (2017) || 2017 released fighting games released on the week of September 22nd 2017, featuring popular characters from outside the regular fighting genre (Marvel heroes and Pokemon) fighting on mutually exclusive hardware. || Pokken DX was not significantly hyped but maintained a steady amount of attention, while Marvel vs Capcom suffered significant controversies in a number of areas including animations, roster choices, and developer commentaries || Too early to call, but in the first weeks of sale in several markets including Japan and the United Kingdom Pokken's re-release outsold Marvel vs Capcom Infinite. ||

|| ''VideoGame/SuperSmashFlash 2'' (Began 2007) || ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosCrusade'' (Began 2014) || Fan-made ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' games. || ''SuperSmashFlash 2'' is a sequel to ''VideoGame/SuperSmashFlash'', which [[SeinfeldIsUnfunny hasn't aged well]] and [[CanonDiscontinuity is best forgotten]]. || Both games are [[GeniusProgramming very impressive replications of]] ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' game-play, especially in the case of ''Super Smash Flash 2'', which runs UsefulNotes/AdobeFlash. Overall, ''[=SSF2=]'' has more polished graphics, well-balanced game-play, and is more well known. ''Super Smash Bros. Crusade'' has a stronger GameEngine, having a larger roster that includes gimmicky, memory-intensive fighters such as the VideoGame/{{Ice Climber}}s and [[VideoGame/{{Pikmin}} Capt. Olimar]]. ||

|| ''VideoGame/InternationalKarate'' (1985) || ''VideoGame/TheWayOfTheExplodingFist'' (1985) || SerialNumbersFiledOff ports of ''VideoGame/KarateChamp'' released for the Commodore64 in 1985. || They're pretty much indistinguishable gameplay-wise, but ''VideoGame/InternationalKarate'' is notable for featuring one of the most popular SID tunes ever written, courtesy of Rob Hubbard. || ''VideoGame/InternationalKarate'' sold more and is now more famous thanks largely to its music. ||

|| ''VideoGame/{{Dragon Ball FighterZ}}'' (2018) || ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcomInfinite'' (2017) || Team-switching tournament-viable fighting games featuring super-powered combatants from immensely popular long-running franchises. || After ''Infinite'' suffered from several controversies, PR messups, and severe issues regarding presentation, ''[=FighterZ=]'' got the attention of many who were soured on the latest ''Marvel vs. Capcom'' by boasting 3v3 gameplay (''Infinite'' dropped down to 2v2 in contrast with the two previous ''[=MvC=]'' games) and phenomenal presentation, as is expected from Creator/ArcSystemWorks. || TBD on account of ''[=FighterZ=]'' releasing several months after ''Infinite''. ||

|| ''VideoGame/DragonBallFighterZ'' (2018) || ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcomInfinite'' (2017) || Team-switching tournament-viable fighting games featuring super-powered combatants from immensely popular long-running franchises. || After ''Infinite'' suffered from several controversies, PR messups, and severe issues regarding presentation, ''[=FighterZ=]'' got the attention of many who were soured on the latest ''Marvel vs. Capcom'' by boasting 3v3 gameplay (''Infinite'' dropped down to 2v2 in contrast with the two previous ''[=MvC=]'' games) and phenomenal presentation, as is expected from Creator/ArcSystemWorks. || Too early to call. ||

|| ''VideoGame/PokkenTournament DX'' (2017) || ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcomInfinite'' (2017) || 2017 released fighting games released on the week of September 22nd 2017, featuring popular characters from outside the regular fighting genre (Marvel heroes and Pokemon) fighting on mutually exclusive hardware. Pokken DX was not significantly hyped but maintained a steady amount of attention, while Marvel vs Capcom suffered significant controversies in a number of areas including animations, roster choices, and developer commentaries || Too early to call, but in the first weeks of sale in several markets including Japan and the United Kingdom Pokken's re-release outsold Marvel vs Capcom Infinite. ||

''VideoGame/DeadOrAlive'' (1996) || 3D {{Fighting Game}}s with an emphasis on realistic martial arts styles || ''Virtua Fighter'', like ''StreetFighter'', is considered the UrExample of 3D fighters and most games made after it deliberately ape it. ''Tekken'' combined VF's realistic gameplay with a ''Street Fighter''-like cast of misfits. ''VideoGame/DeadOrAlive'' took VF's gameplay, added a dopey exploding arena gimmick, and utilized some [[JigglePhysics very]] fascinating [[{{Stripperiffic}} character]] [[FanService concepts]]. || ''Tekken'' has remained as the top selling 3D fighting game series. ''Virtua Fighter'' is lauded by tournament players but only has a very small competitive scene in the west. ''DOA'' has slowly mounted a comeback a steadily growing competitive scene since its fifth installment came out. ||

|| ''VideoGame/Injustice2'' (2017) || ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcomInfinite'' (2017) || Sequels to TwoAndAHalfD Fighting games with rosters featuring comic book superheroes and supervillains for UsefulNotes/TheEighthGenerationOfConsoleVideoGames. || The sequel (no pun intended) to the squabble between these two same franchises from last generation. This time, both games are coming out within 12 months of each other. Additionally both are trying to be mroe casual friendly compared to other games in their developers stable. Injustice 2 introduces the gear system that allows casual players to customize their characters, however it is banned in TournamentPlay, Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite goes back to the 2 on 2 format of earlier games, while ditching a lot of old mechanics in favor of a new freeform tag system while bringing back the Infinity Gems from ''VideoGame/MarvelSuperHeroes''. || Too early to call, but early impressions have led to a tie. ''Injustice 2'' was lauded for its graphics, roster, and content, all of which were major criticisms of ''Infinite'', but ''Infinite'' has been called a good follow-up to ''[=UMvC3=]'' in terms of gameplay, if not outright superior, in contrast to the ''Injustice'' games' lack of following in the FGC. ||

|| ''VideoGame/VirtuaFighter'' (1993) || ''VideoGame/{{Tekken}}'', (1994) ''VideoGame/DeadOrAlive'' (1996) || 3D {{Fighting Game}}s with an emphasis on realistic martial arts styles || ''Virtua Fighter'', like ''StreetFighter'', is considered the UrExample of 3D fighters and most games made after it deliberately ape it. ''Tekken'' combined VF's realistic gameplay with a ''Street Fighter''-like cast of misfits. ''VideoGame/DeadOrAlive'' took VF's gameplay, added a dopey exploding arena gimmick, and utilized some [[JigglePhysics very]] fascinating [[{{Stripperiffic}} character]] [[FanService concepts]]. || ''Tekken'' has remained as the top selling 3D fighting game series. ''Virtua Fighter'' is lauded by tournament players but only has a very small competitive scene in the west. ''DOA'' has slowly mounted a comeback a steadily growing competitive scene since its fifth installment came out. ||

\\''VideoGame/ArtOfFighting'' (1992)\\
\\''VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters'' (1994) || 2D {{Fighting Game}}s with a heavy emphasis on mystical and impossible special moves. Later installments of both ''Street Fighter'' and ''KOF'' involve worldwide conspiracies. || ''StreetFighter'' the TropeMaker of {{Fighting Game}}s in the early 90s, and AOF and FF were created to ride the wave of its success. Realizing that neither series had the staying power to compete with Capcom's flagship, {{SNK}} combined the rosters of these two titles to create ''KOF''. Both ''SF'' and ''KOF'' liberally crib ideas from one another, and [[SNKVsCapcom have even joined forces on some occasions]]. || ''StreetFighter'' is well known around the world, whereas outside of Japan ''KOF'' is a cult hit at best, with [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff a surprising following in places like Mexico]], where the low-priced UsefulNotes/NeoGeo cabinets proved to be appealing to store owners and players. ||

|| ''StreetFighter'' (1987) || ''VideoGame/FatalFury'', (1991) ''VideoGame/ArtOfFighting,'' (1992) ''VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters'' (1994) || 2D {{Fighting Game}}s with a heavy emphasis on mystical and impossible special moves. Later installments of both ''Street Fighter'' and ''KOF'' involve worldwide conspiracies. || ''StreetFighter'' the TropeMaker of {{Fighting Game}}s in the early 90s, and AOF and FF were created to ride the wave of its success. Realizing that neither series had the staying power to compete with Capcom's flagship, {{SNK}} combined the rosters of these two titles to create ''KOF''. Both ''SF'' and ''KOF'' liberally crib ideas from one another, and [[SNKVsCapcom have even joined forces on some occasions]]. || ''StreetFighter'' is well known around the world, whereas outside of Japan ''KOF'' is a cult hit at best, with [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff a surprising following in places like Mexico]], where the low-priced UsefulNotes/NeoGeo cabinets proved to be appealing to store owners and players. ||

|| ''VideoGame/Injustice2'' (2017) || ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcomInfinite'' (2017) || Sequels to TwoAndAHalfD Fighting games with rosters featuring comic book superheroes and supervillains for TheEighthGenerationOfConsoleVideoGames. || The sequel (no pun intended) to the squabble between these two same franchises from last generation. This time, both games are coming out within 12 months of each other. Additionally both are trying to be mroe casual friendly compared to other games in their developers stable. Injustice 2 introduces the gear system that allows casual players to customize their characters, however it is banned in TournamentPlay, Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite goes back to the 2 on 2 format of earlier games, while ditching a lot of old mechanics in favor of a new freeform tag system while bringing back the Infinity Gems from ''VideoGame/MarvelSuperHeroes''. || Too early to call, but early impressions have led to a tie. ''Injustice 2'' was lauded for its graphics, roster, and content, all of which were major criticisms of ''Infinite'', but ''Infinite'' has been called a good follow-up to ''[=UMvC3=]'' in terms of gameplay, if not outright superior, in contrast to the ''Injustice'' games' lack of following in the FGC. ||

|| ''VideoGame/Injustice2'' (2017) || ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcomInfinite'' (2017) || Sequels to TwoAndAHalfD Fighting games with rosters featuring comic book superheroes and supervillains for TheEighthGenerationOfConsoleVideoGames. || The sequel (no pun intended) to the squabble between these two same franchises from last generation. This time, both games are coming out within 12 months of each other. Additionally both are trying to be mroe casual friendly compared to other games in their developers stable. Injustice 2 introduces the gear system that allows casual players to customize their characters, however it is banned in TournamentPlay, Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite goes back to the 2 on 2 format of earlier games, while ditching a lot of old mechanics in favor of a new freeform tag system while bringing back the Infinity Gems from ''VideoGame/MarvelSuperHeroes''. || Too early to call. Both games have yet to be released. That said, Marvel is coming off a still strong tournament showing, while Injustice hasn't really had a major tournament presence ever since the community moved on to ''VideoGame/MortalKombatX''. ||

|| ''VideoGame/SuperSmashFlash 2'' (Began 2007) || ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosCrusade'' (Began 2014) || Fan-made ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' games. || ''SuperSmashFlash 2'' is a sequel to ''VideoGame/SuperSmashFlash'', which [[SeinfeldIsUnfunny hasn't aged well]] and [[CanonDiscontinuity is best forgotten]]. || Both games are nearing completion, and [[GeniusProgramming what they have now are very impressive replications of]] ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' game-play, especially in the case of ''[=SSF2=]'', which runs UsefulNotes/AdobeFlash. Overall, ''[=SSF2=]'' has more polished graphics, well-balanced game-play, and is more well known. ''SSBC'' has a stronger GameEngine, having a larger roster that includes gimmicky, memory-intensive fighters such as the VideoGame/{{Ice Climber}}s and [[VideoGame/{{Pikmin}} Capt. Olimar]]. ||

|| ''VideoGame/SuperSmashFlash 2'' (2007) || ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosCrusade'' (2014) || Fan-made ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' games. || ''SuperSmashFlash 2'' is a sequel to ''VideoGame/SuperSmashFlash'', which [[SeinfeldIsUnfunny hasn't aged well]] and [[CanonDiscontinuity is best forgotten]]. || Both games are nearing completion, and [[GeniusProgramming what they have now are very impressive replications of]] ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' game-play, especially in the case of ''[=SSF2=]'', which runs UsefulNotes/AdobeFlash. Overall, ''[=SSF2=]'' has more polished graphics, well-balanced game-play, and is more well known. ''SSBC'' has a stronger GameEngine, having a larger roster that includes gimmicky, memory-intensive fighters such as the VideoGame/{{Ice Climber}}s and [[VideoGame/{{Pikmin}} Capt. Olimar]]. ||