Getting invested in fighting games can be difficult if you may’t affordStreet Fighter,Mortal Kombat, orSuper Smash Bros. Free-to-play fighters can be hit-or-miss and often aren’t what the average player looks for. Fortunately, there are a handful of fully realized 2D, 3D, and platform fighters.
Related:The Best Fighting Games Of 2022
Even though the Xbox Game Pass has some fighters, it goes against the spirit of this list as you’d have to spend money. While you won’t be able to play characters from beloved IPs, for the most part, you’ll still get a rewarding experience trying these games out without any cost to your wallet.
6Fantasy Strike
Fantasy Strike is a free-to-play fighting game that is accessible to all newcomers. It’s straightforward enough that most players will understand what they’re doing. However, Fantasy Strike has a relatively small community, especially by fighting game standards.
The biggest catch is that lobbies are a paid feature, so you can’t play with friends or randoms unless you’re comfortable dropping $20. Another drawback is that gameplay can feel limited once you’ve reached a specific skill level. Nevertheless, it’s a great place to dip your toes into the fighting game community. Simplicity can help you realize what you’re looking for.
5Vita Fighters
Vita Fighters started as a homebrew game for the PlayStation Vita filled with an array of characters from beloved franchises. Nowadays, its roster has on-the-nose homages. You can even play Vita Fighters on iOS, Android, and Steam.
Related:Fighting Game Characters Who Look Alike
Vita Fighters has a charming low-poly art style reminiscent of old-school PSX and Nintendo 64 games. While the Steam version is a demo, you can play the full game on mobile devices. Touch controls can be tricky at first, but once you get the hang of it, you’re in for a great time. And if it’s still a pressing concern,controllers will suffice.
4Multiversus
Multiversusis the Warner Brothers' equivalent of Super Smash Bros. However, unlike Smash Bros., you cancustomize your favorite heroeswith new abilities, power-ups, and skins. Warner has a surprisingly large collection of properties, meaning you’ll recognize most of their rooster: from Rick Sanchez to Velma Dinkley and Wonder Woman.
Most importantly, they’re both mechanically similar: barrage your opponents until they’ve been knocked off the stage. Multiversus’s greatest leg up has to be that character abilities can help their partner. It creates more flexibility in cooperative matches, which means you and your friends can bail each other out in risky engagements.
3Killer Instinct (Microsoft Store Version)
Killer Instinct may come as a surprise, but it has a free-to-play version on the Microsoft Store. There is a big catch, as you may only play Jago and Sabrewulf. You’ll have to buy other characters. On the upside,there’s also crossplay, unlike the Steam version.
Related:Fighting Games With The Best Alternate Costumes
Even though Killer Instinct isn’t as well known, it’s an impressive fighter that holds its own compared to the genre’s juggernauts. Another awesome feature is its combo breaker system. While most fighters utilize bursts, Killer Instinct’s combo breaker works by inputting an attack of similar strength. KI thrives on mind games and steadfast improvement.
2Ultra Fight Da ! Kyanta 2
Ultra Fight Da ! Kyanta 2 may be one of the most disarming fighters out there. To some readers, Ultra Fight looks like a flash game ripped from the early 2000s, yet it was released in 2019. It’s a love letter to a bygone era as well as early fighting games.
Charactersrange from incredibly powerfulto impractically hilarious. And that’s not a bad thing. Harama Self, the creator, made everything from the music to character designs. For a one-person effort, it’s an incredible game that only gets better as you play. And it even has rollback netcode!
1Brawlhalla
Brawlhallais the go-to free fighter, and it’s no wonder why. It has a large cast of characters and stages. There are even crossover skins from a multitude of franchises like Avatar, WWE, and Kung Fu Panda. Brawlhalla is a work of love, as gameplay is rewarding.
Along with a reasonable progression system, you’ll find yourself coming back again and again. One caveat is that you’ll have to unlock characters as you go, and the time sink can be quite overwhelming. However, if you get invested, it’ll seem like new characters are unlocking like no tomorrow.
Next:Best Fighting Games On Android And iOS
