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Best Fighting games of 1996

The 9 best Fighting games released in 1996, ranked from 594 critic and player ratings.

The best Fighting game of 1996 is Street Fighter Alpha 2, with a critic score of 85/100 — updated October 2026.

How this ranking is built
  • Games are ranked on the aggregated critic score out of 100 imported from IGDB and Metacritic, never on Tier's own grades.
  • A game only enters the ranking with at least 30 external ratings, so a single enthusiastic review never outranks a proven classic.
  • Each game is ranked in one genre only, the one that defines it best, so the same title never tops two different genre charts.
  • Community grades from F to S are shown next to every game, and only stated as a fact above 5 Tier ratings.
  • Release window covered: 1996.
  • 9 games are listed on this page, carrying 594 ratings between them.
  • Rankings are recomputed hourly; this one was last rebuilt on 11 October 2026.

Top 9

01 Street Fighter Alpha 2 Street Fighter Alpha 2 1996 · 80 ratings Street Fighter Alpha 2 is both a sequel and a remake to the previous year's Street Fighter Alpha: Warriors' Dreams. The game features a number of improvements over the original, such as new attacks, stages, endings, and gameplay features. New characters in this version include Gen, Rolento and Sakura. Dhalsim and Zangief also return to the fight with some new moves. 85 /100
02 Soul Edge Soul Edge 1996 · 77 ratings Soul Edge is a 3D arcade fighting game and the first in the Soul series, it is one of the first 3D fighting game in history that place a particular emphasis on the story of the fighters. Each character have their own weapon, allowing for a wide range of play styles. The slower, longer ranged characters try to deliver their heavy blows from a distance whereas the quicker, faster characters try to get in as close as possible and deliver quick-hitting attacks. 83 /100
03 Tekken 2 Tekken 2 1996 · 35 ratings The console version of Tekken 2, which adds more content to the original arcade game, such as new characters and additional game modes. 80 /100
04 X-Men vs. Street Fighter X-Men vs. Street Fighter 1996 · 61 ratings X-Men vs. Street Fighter is a fighting game originally released as a coin-operated arcade game in 1996. It is Capcom's third fighting game to feature Marvel Comics characters and the first game to match them against their own, with characters from Marvel's X-Men franchise being matched against the cast from the Street Fighter series. It was the first game to blend a tag team style of combat with the Street Fighter gameplay, as well as incorporating elements from Capcom's previous Marvel-themed fighting games, X-Men: Children of the Atom and Marvel Super Heroes. 75 /100
05 Twisted Metal 2 Twisted Metal 2 1996 · 103 ratings Twisted Metal 2 is a vehicular combat game released in 1996 for the PlayStation and PC. Players choose from a roster of armed vehicles to battle in destructive arenas across global locations. Each character has a unique backstory and special weapon. The gameplay emphasizes fast-paced action and environmental hazards. It is the second installment in the Twisted Metal series and is built on the formula of its predecessor with expanded content, such as vehicle-common advanced moves. These moves allow players to press button combinations in order to perform special rechargeable maneuvers such as cloak, shield, and a napalm blast. 73 /100
06 The King of Fighters '96 The King of Fighters '96 1996 · 50 ratings The King of Fighters '96 is a 1996 fighting game. It is the third game in The King of Fighters series, following The King of Fighters '95. SNK's flagship series returns for another year. Many of the changes in this year's KOF release come in the form of improved graphics, sound effects, music and totally redone character sprites. The gameplay of the system has been altered with the addition of "Rush" multi-hit combos and new moves for practically every character. The storyline of the series receives heavy focus in this release with the Orochi Saga swinging into high-gear. The King of Fighters '96 has 27 regular characters plus 2 boss characters (who can be unlocked with the use of a code). Newcomers to the tournament include Mr. Big from the Art of Fighting series, the bosses from Fatal Fury (Wolfgang Krauser and Geese Howard), and completely original characters like Leona Heidern, Mature and Vice. Other features carried over from the previous year include the ability to choose between the default "Team Fighting" mode or the traditional "Single Fighter" style of gameplay, plus the "Versus" and "Survival" gameplay modes. 72 /100
07 Dragon Ball Z: Idainaru Dragon Ball Densetsu Dragon Ball Z: Idainaru Dragon Ball Densetsu 1996 · 32 ratings Dragon Ball Z: Legends is a fighting game which utilizes a unique system of play that is different from most other fighters. The graphics feature 2-D sprites in a three dimensional world. Although each battle begins on the ground, the majority of the action is featured skyward. The story mode of the game is divided into episodes, and it encompasses all of Dragon Ball Z, featuring the most important battles of the series. 68 /100
08 Dead or Alive Dead or Alive 1996 · 32 ratings Dead or Alive is a 1996 arcade fighting game by Tecmo for the Sega Model 2 (2A CRX and 2B CRX) arcade hardware and the first game in their Dead or Alive franchise. It was ported to the Sega Saturn in 1997. A limited edition was also released for the Saturn which came with an art book. An enhanced port including new characters was released for PlayStation, and later backported for arcade under the title "Dead or Alive++". 61 /100
09 Mortal Kombat Trilogy Mortal Kombat Trilogy 1996 · 124 ratings Mortal Kombat Trilogy features the same gameplay and story as Mortal Kombat 3, but adds characters and stages from the other three arcade games, including Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3. Some completely new characters were also introduced. New additions to the game included the "Aggressor" bar, a meter that fills during the course of the match and temporarily makes a player character faster and stronger. It also features the Brutality, a long combination of attacks that ends with the opponent exploding. 50 /100
Browse all Fighting games

Other years

Best Fighting games of 2021Best Fighting games of 2019Best Fighting games of 2018Best Fighting games of 2017Best Fighting games of 2016Best Fighting games of 2015Best Fighting games of 2014Best Fighting games of 2013Best Fighting games of 2012Best Fighting games of 2011Best Fighting games of 2010Best Fighting games of 2008

Same year, other platforms

Best Sega Saturn games of 1996Best PC games of 1996Best PlayStation 1 games of 1996Best Arcade games of 1996Best Mac games of 1996Best SNES games of 1996Best Nintendo 64 games of 1996

Nearby rankings

Best Fighting games of 1995Best Fighting games of 1997Best Platformer games of 1996Best Racing games of 1996Best RPG games of 1996

Catalog statistics

Most abandoned gamesMost completed games

Frequently asked questions

What is the best Fighting game of 1996?

Street Fighter Alpha 2 currently tops the ranking with a score of 85/100 across 80 ratings. Ranking updated October 2026.

How is this ranking built?

Games are ranked on their aggregated critic score out of 100, with a minimum vote threshold so a single glowing review never outranks a proven classic; the Tier community's own F-to-S grades are shown alongside each game.