Fighting games require precision, concentration, and lots of training, ideally with a group. And if there’s anything that mobile gaming isn’t great at, is precision, concentration, and playing in groups. Gamepads and solo playing solved the first two issues, while online play nowadays is often just as good as local multiplayer.
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Mobile fighting games have accepted that Mortal Kombat Mobile game nights just aren’t going to happen, so it’s no surprise if the entire genre supports online play. Most also have native controller support, and sometimes they even have great touch controls. And while a phone’s specs aren’t those of a modern console, fighting games aren’t usually very demanding and look great on mobile.
Updated on May 6, 2024, by Rie Takumi:Mobile fighting games are a great way to pass the time on commutes. Hitting the right combos or triggering abilities at the right moment in short matches hits the sweet spot between engaging and droppable on transfers. A healthy mix of franchise hits and indie games with different mechanics means gamers won’t run out of titles to try on the way to work or school. The best mobile fighting games also often have PvP and tournament modes to incentivize players to sharpen their skills. But standalone games can still be played years after their release from the strength of their gameplay.
17 Samurai Shodown 2
Classic Fighting Game With Faithfully Difficult AI
Released |
June 28, 2013 |
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Platform(s) |
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Developer(s) |
SNK |
Cost |
$2.99 |
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Although there was a 2019 reboot of the franchise, Samurai Shodown II was popular enough to still have updates up to 2022. That’s partly thanks to nostalgia, and half due to SNK’s faithful port of the cult classic. Specifically, Samurai Shodown’s difficulty is as brutal as it was on arcade cabinets.
Fans are split on this in the reviews. Yet those who appreciate the difficulty are quick to point out that it has a great training mode to offset the touchscreen controls. The samurai fighting game is a solid choice for fans looking for something to chew on while commuting.
16 Mortal Kombat: Onslaught
Team-Focused Mortal Kombat Title With Gruesome Fatalities
Released |
October 17, 2023 |
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Platform(s) |
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Developer(s) |
NetherRealm Studios |
Cost |
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Mortal Kombat: Onslaught offers a team-based experience instead of a straightforward one-on-one fighter. Players assemble teams of Kombatants who unleash skills via tactical RPG-like mechanics. Kombatants have Body, Mind, or Spirit Affinities that work in a rock-paper-scissor system that would give them a leg up on the enemy.
Minions work as cannon fodder for four- to five-star characters that have natural stat advantages. Kombatants are also split among classes and can equip gear and relics to improve their chances against enemy waves.
15 One Punch Man World
Great Animation And Fun Mechanics
Released |
January 26, 2024 |
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Developer(s) |
Perfect World Games |
Cost |
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Unlike One Punch Man: A Hero Nobody Knows, One Punch Man World lets players fight as Saitama—at least, in the dream world, and as his non-bald, job-hunting version. His attacks, and that of the cast, are in character and gorgeously animated even on mobile. The button layout, clear UI, and wide movement range also make combos easy to string together.
The characters and animation definitely steal the show for this One Punch fighting game. King’s fight sequence in particular is often cited because of how it interpreted his lack of abilities, fighting power, and Saitama’s intervention.
14 Tough Love Arena
Web-Based Indie Fighting Game With Rollback Netcode
Released |
January 1st, 2021 |
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Platform(s) |
Web Browser |
Developer(s) |
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Cost |
Free |
Tough Love Arena is a 2D indie fighting game with a unique art style and a passionate community. The game has simple art and few characters, but development is ongoing and content is growing rapidly.
Characters in Tough Love Arena are made of simple lines and single colors that make them easy to read even on small devices. Meanwhile, the streamlined controls help level the playing field between those with and without a controller. What’s more, Tough Love Arena is a web game and not an app, making it playable both on PC and mobile.
13 The King Of Fighters ‘98
Classic KoF Action On Mobile Platforms
Released |
Jul 23, 2014 |
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Platform(s) |
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Developer(s) |
SNK |
Cost |
Free |
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Thanks to SNK’s strategy of dumping their entire library on mobile stores, The King of Fighters ’98 is now sold for dirt cheap on Android and iOS. The historic fighting game is broadly considered the best of the original run, a consolidation of everything that worked in pre‑2000 SNK fighting games.
There is just one issue: playing The King of Fighters ’98 with touch controls is a nightmare. That also goes for every other SNK fighting game in the store. While a controller does fix the issue, this still highlights the work that goes behind making modern adaptations like Skullgirls or Street Fighter IV CE work perfectly on mobile.
12 BlazBlue RR
Freemium But Solid Translation Of BlazBlue Mechanics To Mobile
Released |
June 8, 2016 |
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Platform(s) |
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Developer(s) |
91Act Inc. |
Cost |
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Many games on mobile follow a freemium route, which can be pretty disappointing for players who don’t have either the time or money to invest in these titles and see a decent payoff. When BlazBlue RR rolled out, many people hated this game outright for being way too intrusive with its in-app purchases, something that it deserves flack for.
However, people who managed to look past this roadblock would find a fighting game with solid mechanics that can keep players entertained for hours on end. The grind can be unreal at times, but the fighting mechanics are solid and the art style is a thing of beauty.
11 Garou: Mark of the Wolves
New Mechanics From The 90’s Still Fresh And Intuitive
Released |
February 19, 2015 (Mobile) |
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Platform(s) |
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Developer(s) |
SNK |
Cost |
$3.99 |
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An oldie but goodie, Garou: Mark of the Wolves is still played enough to have events and even rollback netcode. It has the same nostalgic SNK look on mobile as it had in the late 90s, though its controls have been mercifully minimized to suit phones.
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Aside from being a Fatal Fury title, Garou introduces the T.O.P. System, JUST DEFENSE, and BREAKING mechanics. These mechanics aim to refresh gameplay and introduce more complexity to the Fatal Fury formula. The mobile port also has SP and FM special buttons, which give access to Special and Desperation Moves.
10 Brawlhalla
Platform Brawler Hosts Up To 8 Players
Released |
August 6, 2020 (Mobile) |
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Platform(s) |
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Developer(s) |
Blue Mammoth Games |
Cost |
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Brawlhalla is a free-to-play fighting game that’s part platformer and part Super Smash Bros. Up to 8 players can play in the same match, using over 50 different characters in many different game modes. Unlike most other fighting games, the mobile version is a straight port of the original and not a simplified adaptation.
Even if the mobile version of Brawlhalla is excellent, its weak points explain why other studios don’t just port their fighting games over to phones. Brawlhalla with touch controls is functional, but players who don’t use a gamepad are at an extreme disadvantage over others. The mandatory cross‑play with PC and console obviously makes things worse.
9 Street Fighter 4 CE
One Of The Best Mobile Fighting Game Adaptation
Released |
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Platform(s) |
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Developer(s) |
Capcom |
Cost |
$2.99 |
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Street Fighter 4 Championship Edition is one of the best mobile fighting game adaptations. Just like Skullgirls mobile, Street Fighter 4 CE streamlines the classic fighter just enough to make touchscreen play possible and even competitive. At its core, that is what makes this 2018 port of the 2008 game the best mobile fighting game to date.
Players should know that the Android and iOS versions of Street Fighter 4 CE are slightly different, with iOS coming out on top as Android lacks the single-player mode. Still, 1v1 battles are what matters most, and they are the same across platforms.
8 The King Of Fighters ALLSTAR
Brawler-Style Fighting Game With 3D Graphics
Released |
July 26, 2018 |
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Platform(s) |
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Developer(s) |
Netmarble NEO |
Cost |
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The King of Fighters AllStar is the made-for-mobile adaptation of SNK’s historic fighting game series. The game is a treat for any fan of the series, as it includes every fighter since the originalKing of Fighters ’94 and up to 2016’s fourteenth installment.
The gameplay of The King of Fighters AllStar is inevitably simplistic, at least when compared to mainline King of Fighters games. Still, the 1v1 matches as well as the beat’ em sections are some of the most polished in the mobile market. Taking out combos in favor of single buttons is one particularly brilliant change in porting the series to mobile.
7 Mortal Kombat Mobile
Mobile Fighting Game With Gacha Mechanics
Released |
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Platform(s) |
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Developer(s) |
NetherRealm Studios |
Cost |
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Mortal Kombat is one of the biggest names in fighting games. And like other big names in fighting games, Mortal Kombat Mobile didn’t enter the mobile market with great success. Some fans still enjoy Mortal Kombat Mobile for its presentation, the style of the animations, or as the easiest way to play some MK on the go. Whichever it is, the magic doesn’t usually last long.
Mortal Kombat Mobile is pretty much a gacha game with a fighting game theme. It’s certainly an enjoyable button masher, but it goes no further than that. What’s worse, it takes on this unenviable task with some wonky monetization and a community that seems to have jumped ship right around the release date.
6 EA Sports UFC Mobile 2
Updates Still Active For Classic MMA Mobile Game
Released |
July 20, 2021 |
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Developer(s) |
Electronic Arts |
Cost |
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Still updated years after its launch, EA Sports UFC Mobile 2 brings MMA to smaller screens. The game plays more like an arcade MMA fighter than a technical fighter, which is great news for a quick MMA fix. Striking is as easy as tapping and swiping. On the other hand, the same movements put players on defense.
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Using a Showstopper unleashes an unblockable move on the other fighter. While waiting for the Showstopper meter to fill up, players can use the same kind of strike to create combos. Players can even weave Showstoppers at the end of their combo for ultimate damage.
5 Vita Fighters
Mobile Fighting Game Best Experienced With Bluetooth Controller
Released |
September 19, 2020 |
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Platform(s) |
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Developer(s) |
Ranida Labs |
Cost |
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Vita Fighters is a low-poly, mobile-first fighting game that’s chock-full of video game references. Even if it’s hardly the most original game in stores, this is a solid 2D fighting game. It’s also completely free, offering over 20 characters and both single-player and multiplayer modes.
Vita Fighters has intuitive controls that emulate a traditional gamepad. Still, players interested in this fighting game would do well to invest in a Bluetooth controller compatible with their phones. Like most games in the genre, Vita Fighters supports Bluetooth controls natively.
Released |
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Platform(s) |
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Developer(s) |
HiFight |
Cost |
$3.99 (Full Version) |
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As the name implies, Footsies is all about footsies. Invading the opponent’s space, getting a full move in or chip damage, blocking or punishing whiff damage are all a part of Footsies. Its CPU is even designed to teach these concepts to fighting game beginners.
Although it looks simplistic, the fact that it revolves around footsies means advanced players find joy in it. After all, mastering footsies is essential for getting better at fighting games. Footsies also has rollback netcode, which makes it work better online than some triple-A fighting games.
3 Injustice: Gods Among Us
Casual Free-To-Play Game For DC Fans
Released |
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Platform(s) |
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Developer(s) |
NetherRealm Studios |
Cost |
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Make no mistake, Injustice: Gods Among Us is not the same game sold on PC and consoles. The truth is, this is not even a real fighting game. Still, chances are that fans of fighting games will like this casual free-to-play button masher. As far as mindless fighting goes, this mobile version of Injustice is great fun.
Injustice: Gods Among Us is transparently a DC fan’s game. If nothing else, the price of some of those characters makes it abundantly clear. Even if unlocks are mostly paid, playing without spending any money is completely doable.
2 Shadow Fight 4: Arena
Quick 3v3 Battles With Tag System
Released |
November 3, 2020 |
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Platform(s) |
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Developer(s) |
NEKKI |
Cost |
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Even if it’s the fourth in a line of free-to-play games, Shadow Fight 4: Arena is aimed at new and old players alike. There isn’t much in the way of a story anyway, as the game focuses on quick 3v3 battles over all else. Even the character progression, the prerogative of an otherwise free game, takes a back seat to the fights themselves.
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Shadow Fight 4: Arena implements a tag system, its main innovation over the rest of the series. Like many free-to-play games, offline matches are locked behind a fee, while online play is free and gives some money in case of victory. While this attempt at monetizing the arcade is nothing extreme for mobile, it is a rarity among fighting games.
1 Skullgirls: Fighting RPG
Released |
January 17, 2018 |
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Platform(s) |
Action RPG |
Developer(s) |
Autumn Games, LLC |
Cost |
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Google Play Store & Apple App Store Ratings |
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The mobile adaptation of the indie fighting game phenomenon Skullgirls is one of the most expansive free-to-play options in the genre. With many unlockable fighters, each customizable in its own way, Skullgirls: Fighting RPG promises unending content for as long as updates keep coming.
Skullgirls: Fighting RPG has a large and active community, and special events are very frequent. Even the free-to-play drawbacks are toned down, though building a strong fighter does require some time investment. Above all else, success relies on practicing a fighter’s moveset and playing well in battle.
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