Street Fighter
Street Fighter’s first game is a bit of a mess. It’s notoriously difficult and lacks balance, but it is still an important game in the series that paved the way for Street Fighter 2.
Street Fighter 2: The World Warriors
The World Warriors is an iconic entry in the series that revolutionized the VS Fighting genre and had a massive cultural impact. Street Fighter 2: The World Warriors is still regarded as one of the best versions of Street Fighter 2, but it’s not without its flaws. Blanka and Dhalsim are nearly unplayable, and the roster is too small.
Super Street Fighter 2
However, the games that followed Street Fighter 2 improved upon the original. Super Street Fighter 2 improved upon the original with some new features, but some were not well received by fans. Guile, for example, was given a new move that was not well received.
Street Fighter 2: Hyper Fighting
Street Fighter 2: Hyper Fighting picked up the pace, with much faster combat and the addition of several characters and stages. It’s still a fantastic version of SF2 that is worth checking out.
Street Fighter 5
Street Fighter 5 had a rocky start with a small roster and lack of content, but its gameplay is solid. Super Street Fighter 4 introduced the concept of DLC and continued support, and Street Fighter 5 is the ultimate version of SF5 with all DLC and continued support.
Street Fighter Alpha
Street Fighter Alpha explored the events between Street Fighter 1 and 2, integrating Final Fight into the series. The Alpha series introduced several fan-favorite characters including Maki and R. Mika.
Street Fighter Alpha 2
Street Fighter Alpha 2 is a fan-favorite due to its custom combo system and the introduction of Sakura. The Alpha series had a divisive ISM system that allowed players to use special moves more often by chaining combos together. While this system was dropped in later games, it remains popular in Japan.
Street Fighter Alpha 3
Street Fighter Alpha 3 is arguably the best Alpha game in the series. It has a divisive ISM system, but the rest of the game is solid. The introduction of Hugo, Viper, and the female grappler Julia were well received by fans, and the soundtrack is among the best in the series.
Street Fighter 3
Street Fighter 3 is divisive. Some of its mechanics, like parries and dashes, are still present in the series, but others, like the Super Art meter and the Critical Arts, felt unnecessary. Beautiful sprite work and the introduction of several fan-favorite characters made this game a worthwhile addition to the series.
Street Fighter Alpha 2
The second Alpha game is a fan-favorite thanks to its custom combo system and the introduction of Sakura. The roster was reduced to sixteen, but the gameplay and character balance were improved in this second Alpha game.
Street Fighter 3: 3rd Strike
The third Alpha game is a fan-favorite due to its parries and dashes. The Super Art meter and Critical Arts are gone, but the roster is bigger than Alpha 2.
Street Fighter 4
Street Fighter 4 revitalized the series with 3D graphics and a return to the classic world warriors. Many believe this to be the gold standard of competitive fighting games.
New mechanics were added, like the super meter, which gives players access to new moves and special attacks once it is charged. Super Street Fighter 4 added more content, new characters, and gave each character two Ultra Combos.
Street Fighter 5
Street Fighter 5 is the latest entry in the series, and it has its flaws, but it’s also the most accessible game in the series. It added cinematic story modes to each of the mainline games, a cinematic story mode for Street Fighter 5: Arcade Edition, and an arcade mode with distinct ladders for each mainline game.
Ultra Street Fighter 2
Ultra Street Fighter 2: The Final Challengers is a great remaster that is worth picking up if you own a Nintendo Switch. Some of the changes are strange, like the addition of EX moves and the removal of parries, but the core gameplay is solid. It’s also the only way to play as Evil Ryu.
Street Fighter Alpha 2
Street Fighter Alpha 2 is another fan favorite in the series. It has a massive roster of twenty-three characters and a custom combo system that allows players to use different moves to create unique combos. The introduction of Sakura to the roster was a welcome addition.
Street Fighter 5: Ultimate
Street Fighter 5: Ultimate is the perfect Street Fighter 5 experience.
