With the long-anticipated release of Street Fighter 6 right around the corner, many long-time and new fans are thinking back on the previous games in the franchise. As a result, there have been many discussions about which Street Fighter is the best and how each game ranks when compared with the others.
- New game modes, including Fighting Ground, World Tour, and Battle Hub
- Choose one of 18 playable characters, including both new and legendary World Warriors
- Features Real-Time Commentary in 13 languages, just like a real match
- Core gameplay enhanced by Capcom’s proprietary RE Engine
- Classic controls plus two new options, Modern and Dynamic controls for greater accessibility for players of all skill levels
The Street Fighter series has five core games, each with expanded and improved editions. In addition to the five core games, fans will remember the two standalone series, aptly named Street Fighter Alpha and Street Fighter EX, respectively.
We should also mention many more spin-offs and crossovers, but we will leave those rankings for another day. Instead, this article will focus on ranking the main games in the Street Fighter challenge. Also, we will focus on the original release of each game and only touch on the re-releases for some. For example, we’ll rank the original Street Fighter arcade version, but not the resurrection we saw in 2001 with its inclusion in the PS2 and Xbox release of Capcom Classics Collection Vol. 2.
We rank each Street Fighter game in order from best to worst. Let’s find out how your favorite stacks up against the rest.
1. Street Fighter III
Like its original predecessor, Capcom released Street Fighter III for the arcade. It was also a direct sequel to Street Fighter II. The release saw the removal of all the previously known characters except for Ken and Ryu.
This installation of the Street Fighter series introduced the ability to parry or block an opponent’s attack and new special moves. In addition, fans got Super Arts, which are similar to Super Combos. Players can select from one of the Arts to use in battle, which allows them to fill their Super Art Guage as characters perform both regular and super moves while fighting.
- A tribute to Street Fighter's arcade legacy
- An anthology of 12 classic Street Fighter titles, including the original Street Fighter and the fan-favorite Street Fighter III
- Play against friends or the CPU
- Includes character bios, a Museum Mode with never before seen art
- Listen to your favorite Street Fighter tracks on the Music Player
2. Street Fighter IV
Street Fighter IV came on the scene in 2008. This long-awaited sequel occurs between the Street Fighter II and Street Fighter V series. The installment features two new characters, more balanced characters, and new Ultra moves for every playable character. Often considered one of the better Street Fighter games, Street Fighter IV holds up under the test of time as one of the best fighting games.
- 3D environments and characters
- Traditional 2D Street Fighter six-button gameplay
- New locations never seen before
- Classic characters re-imagined, including the original cast of Street Fighter II
- New brawlers: female super-spy Crimson Viper, lucha libre wrestler El Fuerte, mixed martial artist Abel and more!
- New special moves including Focus Attacks, Super Combos, and the Ultra Combo system
3. Street Fighter Alpha Series
If you are old enough to remember the early 90s, you may remember Capcom’s original attempts to merge similar fighting games with Street Fighter. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out as well as they’d hoped. Also, their attempt at marketing Final Fight as a Street Fighter sequel could have been more successful. While all that didn’t work out, Final Fight characters started appearing in Street Fighter games. The Alpha Series was the first to feature Final Fight characters.
While Final Fight wasn’t a successful Street Fighter sequel, the Alpha Series sought to bridge the gap between Street Fighter and Street Fighter II.
Games included in the Alpha Series:
Street Fighter Alpha: Warriors’ Dreams
Released in 1995, this is the first game in the Alpha Series. Believe it or not, this game was inspired by the film, “Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie.” The game featured anime-style art, ten playable characters, three bosses to defeat, and new fighting moves such as Darkstalkers.
- First game in the Alpha Series
- Inspired by "Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie"
- Anime-style art
- Ten playable characters and three bosses to defeat
- new fighting moves such as Darkstalkers
Street Fighter Alpha 2
Alpha 2 came just one year after Warriors’ Dreams. New characters included fan favorites Dhalsim and Zangief, as well as Sakura, Rolento, and Gen. With five new characters added to the roster, and the removal of Chain Combos for each character, it was more than just a sequel; it was a complete overhaul of the game.
- Features 5 new characters, including fan favorites Dhalsim and Zangief, as well as Sakura, Rolento, and Gen
- Reveal new hidden moves and reversals for each character
- Execute Custom Combos to create your own attacks
- Improved graphics and sound
Street Fighter Alpha 3
The third and final installment of the Alpha series, Street Fighter Alpha 3, ranks as one of the best Street Fighter games today. Alpha 3 gave fans more fighting arenas, more characters, and new fighting styles, A-ISM, V-ISM, and X-ISM. Each ISM denotes the fighting style; standard, simple, and varied.
- New world tour mode
- Unlock the following additional modes: team battle, survival, dramatic battle plus, and final battle
- Arcade mode takes players through each character's storyline
- Choose from 34 playable characters
- Each character has 3 fighting styles and a unique ending
4. Street Fighter II
Released in 1991, Street Fighter II is the first official sequel in the Street Fighter series. It was the first player vs. player fighting game where you could choose your characters from a decent lineup. Each player had their own list of moves, and each one had hidden attack moves. In addition, Street Fighter II saw the introduction of new attacks, such as grappling moves. Like the original Street Fighter, players can play against one another, competing in matches. These matches were more immersive than before due to the addition of multiple characters.
Street Fighter II helped propel the popularity of Street Fighter and fighting games in general. The game saw many updates and also spurred the first Street Fighter movie.
- The first official sequel in the Street Fighter series
- First player vs. player game where you could choose your characters from a lineup
- New attacks, such as grappling moves
- Play in matches against your friends
5. Street Fighter EX Series
Street Fighter EX was the first game of the series to be in 3D. While it played like the previous 2D games, the plane in which the characters fight often was in 3D. Fans of the series liked the special super combos that were similar to the other games in the Street Fighter series. This game ranks lower on our list because of its rough, unpolished look and because the controls could be frustratingly way off.
Games included in the EX series:
Street Fighter EX
Capcom released Street Fighter EX in 1996 as a spin-off of the original game. Yes, the arcade game isn’t canon to the events in the main storyline. However, it was the first Street Fighter game to be released with 3D graphics.
Street Fighter EX2
The sequel to Street Fighter EX, released in 1998, was initially published for the arcade. For some unknown reason, the game included the now well-known Street Fighter characters, minus Hayate.
Street Fighter EX3
Capcom’s third installment of the EX series was for the PlayStation and was released in 2000. Much of this game is like the previous two but features the addition of Character Edit mode. Character Edit lets players buy Special Moves for Ace after completing a few missions as him. Completing each mission earns EXP, which in turn can be used to buy one of Ace’s special moves.
- Final installment of the EX Series
- Released in 2000
- Features the addition of Character Edit mode
- Complete each mission to earn EXP
- Use EXP to buy Special Moves for Ace after completing a few missions
6. Street Fighter V
At its launch in 2016, Street Fighter V mainly felt unfinished. Capcom launched Street Fighter V without the single-player arcade mode for some reason. With a lack of content and a plethora of bugs, fans wondered why they needed the release at all.
Aside from Street Fighter V surpassing Street Fighter II in sales, there really isn’t much to celebrate about the 2D sidescroller. Today, many feel Street Fighter V is one of the most underappreciated games. It is often considered to have great graphics but is otherwise forgotten amongst the other titles in the franchise.
- 2D sidescroller
- Features new and returning characters
- New battle mechanics
- PS4 and PC cross-platform gameplay
7. Street Fighter
If you’re old enough to remember the days of shoving quarters into arcade machines, you may remember the original Street Fighter. Street Fighter I, also known as Fighting Street, was released in 1987. The arcade game release also marked Campcom’s first fighting game.
Fans of Street Fighter regard this game as the grandfather of modern fighting games. Before Street Fighter, most fighting games consisted of the player character fighting with enemies or obstacles in their way. There was no depth, no story. Takashi Nishiyama, the creator of Street Fighter, aimed to change that. He wanted to create a game with more depth, where gamers could understand not only a character’s backstory but other things about them, like their favorite foods and who they had a crush on.
While many of us fondly look back on the original Street Fighter, not many would rank it as better than any other game in the franchise. With stiff controls and a lack of real competition with the other player, Street Fighter fell short of today’s modern games.
Ranking Every Street Fighter Game
Ranking games that are part of such an iconic franchise can be challenging. Especially when so many of them helped break the mold for video games and set the stage for future fighting games.
Everyone has their own opinion about which game or series, as the case may be, they like the best. Of course, those opinions are also correct. So you’re free to agree or disagree with this list. We just want you to have fun playing some of the best fighting games in existence today.
When it comes to a game franchise like Street Fighter, it’s easy to overlook some of the older and less talked about games. This list may have inspired you to dust off some of your old games, or maybe it just left you yearning for the release of a new Street Fighter. With the release of Street Fighter 6 on the horizon, many fans are taking this time to play through some of their favorite Street Fighter games. Will you?
- Street Fighter 6 Deluxe Edition - PS5
- New game modes, including Fighting Ground, World Tour, and Battle Hub
- Choose one of 18 playable characters, including both new and legendary World Warriors
- Features Real-Time Commentary in 13 languages, just like a real match
- Core gameplay enhanced by Capcom’s proprietary RE Engine
- Classic controls plus two new options, Modern and Dynamic controls for greater accessibility for players of all skill levels
- Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection (PS4)
- A tribute to Street Fighter's arcade legacy
- An anthology of 12 classic Street Fighter titles, including the original Street Fighter and the fan-favorite Street Fighter III
- Play against friends or the CPU
- Includes character bios, a Museum Mode with never before seen art
- Listen to your favorite Street Fighter tracks on the Music Player
- Street Fighter IV – Playstation 3
- 3D environments and characters
- Traditional 2D Street Fighter six-button gameplay
- New locations never seen before
- Classic characters re-imagined, including the original cast of Street Fighter II
- New brawlers: female super-spy Crimson Viper, lucha libre wrestler El Fuerte, mixed martial artist Abel and more!
- New special moves including Focus Attacks, Super Combos, and the Ultra Combo system
- Street Fighter II
- The first official sequel in the Street Fighter series
- First player vs. player game where you could choose your characters from a lineup
- New attacks, such as grappling moves
- Play in matches against your friends
- Street Fighter V - PlayStation 4 Standard Edition
- 2D sidescroller
- Features new and returning characters
- New battle mechanics
- PS4 and PC cross-platform gameplay
- Street Fighter Alpha: Warriors' Dreams
- First game in the Alpha Series
- Inspired by "Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie"
- Anime-style art
- Ten playable characters and three bosses to defeat
- new fighting moves such as Darkstalkers
- Street Fighter Alpha 3
- New world tour mode
- Unlock the following additional modes: team battle, survival, dramatic battle plus, and final battle
- Arcade mode takes players through each character's storyline
- Choose from 34 playable characters
- Each character has 3 fighting styles and a unique ending
- Street Fighter Alpha 2
- Features 5 new characters, including fan favorites Dhalsim and Zangief, as well as Sakura, Rolento, and Gen
- Reveal new hidden moves and reversals for each character
- Execute Custom Combos to create your own attacks
- Improved graphics and sound
- Street Fighter EX3 (Renewed)
- Final installment of the EX Series
- Released in 2000
- Features the addition of Character Edit mode
- Complete each mission to earn EXP
- Use EXP to buy Special Moves for Ace after completing a few missions
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