Best PS1 Fighting Games: Tried, Tested and Rated in 2024

The wonderous delights the little white PS1 had for kids, and big kids alike, is still talked about and experienced to this day.

Playstation took the home gaming experiences to a whole different level when the PS1 launched.

Other consoles had matched the quality of graphics, and in some cases exceeded them, such as the Panasonic 3DO or Sega Saturn, but the PS1 took a standard game and extended it into a whole different immersive world of entertainment.

It had such an impact that the PS1 has grown in size and ability up to now the most wanted PS5, the most sought after gaming console this year.

Once the popularity of the PS1 was established, the developers flocked in their many to create some of the most incredible and playable games seen in the home.

With the increasing number of homes owning a PS1, the arcades became either token win machines for kids, or retro corners of an era long ago where the sights and sounds of Pacman, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Final Fight and Bubble Bobble once took our attention.

Competitive fighting games had already established a huge presence in arcade malls, with the likes of Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat, Tekken and Virtua Fighter, and developers were keen to bring this into the home market.

This is why there are a number of great fighting games launched on the PS1.

Some better than others of course, and some amazing fighting games that have to be experienced at least once.

Having owned a PS1 since the late 1990s, and a library of games (thanks to flea markets, Facebook Marketplace, and eBay) it was time to remember and reminisce over those thrilling combos, and knockouts that kept us coming back for more again and again.

Here are the best PS1 fighting games, tried, tested, and rated.

Knockout Kings 2000

EA Sports put a huge amount of passion and advancing digital technology into many of their sport games, and Knockout Kings 2000 is of no exception.

From the opening sequence heavily portraying the great Muhammed Ali, Evander Holyfield, and Lennox Lewis amongst others, it really builds the adrenalin to want to jump straight into a game.

Boxing games are of no stranger to home consoles, which started with the imaginatively titled Boxing on the Atari 2600 back in 1980, but here we see the very start of digital created players based of real fighters.

As a fighter you can jump straight into a Slugfest of 1, 2 or 3 rounds or train your fighter in Career mode, just like Rocky did to Tommy in the long forgotten Rocky V, and nurture him up the ranks to heavyweight champion of the world!

There are a number of top fighters you can play as including (as already mentioned), Muhammed Ali, Evander Holyfield, Lennox Lewis, Larry Holmes, Butterbean and even Rocky Marciano!

Of course, the graphics can’t come close to those experienced in PS3 or above, but considering this is the first incarnation it is an incredible achievement by the EA Sports team.

My first game, after dusting off the case, was as Muhammed Ali against Rocky Marciano in a one round bout. I was surprised I won the game after just a couple of punches by way of a K.O.

I don’t remember it being this easy before. Maybe I got in a fortunate punch.

I then lost the next game as Big John, although in my defence I was half typing this review during the game. Nothing like fresh off the press.

The controls take a little getting used to, instead of trying to land random knock outs and fast jabs.

The ability to move the player around the ring in a 3D environment does an incredibly decent job of adding more realism to the gameplay.

The graphics are good for a PS1 effort, although some of the Slugfest games were a little easy.

Power Move Pro Wrestling

Back in the late 1990s there were a few professional wrestling companies doing the circuits across the U.S. and Asia including the WWF (later renamed WWE) and WCW.

Although the WWE put out a great game (that is included a little later in this article) there were independent developers keen to jump on to the wrestling bandwagon.

Power Move Pro Wrestling by Activision is one such title.

Of course, you’re not going to find famous wrestling names from the 1990s such as Hulk Hogan, Randy ‘Macho Man’ Savage, Triple H, Stone Cold Steve Austin or The Rock in such a title, but with wrestlers such as Area 51, The Egyptian and Commandment, who can go wrong!

Power Move Pro Wrestling focuses on wrestling moves like arm bar take downs, and suplexes rather than storylines and character creation.

It would have been nice to see the ability to bounce the opponent off the ropes to a clothesline, or be able to jump from the top rope, although it is possible to go outside the ring in the 3D environment.

It’s a decent effort and the graphics have been tailored made to a high standard, even down to the crowd effect, although the gameplay is sightly lacking over its WWE competitor.

Street Fighter Alpha 3

The Street Fighter franchise has no shortage of titles to its name.

Starting in the arcades it grew an incredibly strong presence in the video game and console market thanks to the amazing Street Fighter 2 on the SNES / Famicom.

Capcom’s Street Fighter Alpha 3 is a different beast altogether.

Featuring all the fighters we’ve come to know and love this version puts anime graphics and a cartoon effect with surprisingly good effect.

Even Vega has decided to unmask!

For those ardent fans of the SNES / Famicom version you will feel, like I, that nothing can topple its crown.

Although to those born in the late 80s and early 90s, it may be that Street Fighter Alpha 3 was the first experience of the Street Fighter saga, and the one they hold most dear.

It is without question the graphics on the PS1 outrival the SNES / Famicom version by a considerable margin, and the gameplay is fast and slick, especially in turbo mode.

Each player comes with their signature move pulled off in the usual fashion.

Some Street Fighter franchise games are poor and dire, but Street Fighter Alpha 3 is a surprisingly good effort.

Dead or Alive

Dead or Alive, by Tecmo, on first glance appears to be a better and smoother adaptation of Virtua Fighter but with more thought out characters and storyline.

In terms of visual gameplay you could be forgiven in thinking you were playing Tekken. It really is very similar.

Combo moves are good, and gameplay is well thought out.

Even nice background touches are added, like sunsets.

In some ways the graphics could be considered superior to many of the PS1 fighting games, and for this alone it is worth trying out Dead or Alive.

The controls are good. It doesn’t take too long to learn your players fighting style and combo set of moves.

Players can start in an individual bout or straight off into a tournament, and can play as different characters such as Kasumi who has a Ninjutsu fighting style and is a ninja by trade – or how about Gen-Fu who has a Shini-Rokugo-Ken fighting style and owns a bookstore!

It is so comparable to Tekken that judging it individually or by any other game seems unnecessary and pointless.

Dead or Alive perhaps doesn’t have the full control and playability as Tekken does, it but does come in a very good second.

Rival Schools Evolution

The Capcom title Rival Schools Evolution has a great intro sequence, even for a PS1, and really sets the scene for the start of the game.

Then again Capcom was a leading developer of games in the 1990s and 2000s, and as a result ensured their games were worthy of the Capcom name.

The storyline really is about a group of teenagers wanting to protect their school at all costs – which is ironic as many school films in the 80s and 90s where about tearing their place down!

The game is incredibly Japanese inspired which can be seen instantly with the sprights and characters.

Surprisingly for a Capcom title, Rival Schools Evolution doesn’t have the best graphics of a fighting game seen on the PS1, but the gameplay is fun.

Many players have hidden powers that can conjure up all sorts of weapons and counters, and the combos are pretty brutal too.

It is a game that someone can jump in and out of very quickly without there needing to be a steep learning curve.

The controls are well thought out, and even randomly button hitting will pull off a few combos, unlike titles like Street Fighter that need an exact sequence hard to hit at random.

Not the best fighting game there is, but one to add to the collection.

Tekken 3

Tekken 3 on the PS1 has been long considered the fightinggame to base all other fighting games from.

The sprightly graphics, character definition and storylines and of course the all-important background scenery.

Combos are well thought out, and brutal, and who doesn’t love to get a few after K.O. kicks in!

I have no idea why I am always drawn to Yoshimitsu, perhaps it’s because he yields a weapon too, but the level of detail within each and every character is something to be applauded, and wouldn’t look out of place on a PS2.

In standard mode the opponents are a little easy to defeat, a harder mode may have to be selected to really test yourself.

The 3D revolving arena is evident in the game, as it was in many of the similarly created one on one fighting combo games such as Tekken.

For all Tekken, and Tekken inspired games, it can be a challenge to decipher the real differences between them, and grade them appropriately.

Is it the characters, the graphics, the immersive storyline or simply how addictive the game is.

I think the addictiveness of the game, and how often someone wants to pick it up and play are true differentiators.

Tekken 3 isn’t the best looking, doesn’t always have the greatest of character definition but it is probably the most played fighting game on the PS1, that many still speak of to this day.

Tobal No.1

The interestingly titled Tobal No.1 by Dream Factory was one of the first PS1 fighting games which launched back in 1996, opens with an intro sequence of a toad like emperor aloft his tower speaking to his people.

Fighters then fight out the chance to walk away victorious from the competition.

No change there then.

Eight different characters are available to be chosen to fight including Chuji, Oliems, Epon, Hom, Fei, Mary, Illgoga, and Gren.

The one main thing that strikes me when playing Tobal No.1 is that the sequence of moves and fighting is quite meticulous.

Sure, in some fighting games a player can get away with randomly striking buttons in the chance of a winning combo, but Tobal No.1 requires a little more finesse.

Being one of the early fighting games it looks as Dream Factory didn’t quite get the 3D revolution of the gameplay 100% right, but that said the graphics are cool and decent for a game over 25 years old.

Tobal No.1 is a real hidden gem of how fighting games transitioned between blocky Virtua Fighter at the arcade to a smoother more detailed fighting game before multi-10 combos were introduced with flying backflips.

Controls are good, but the best way to play Tobal No.1 is to master one characters moves, as this mastering will serve you well for each opponent – although if playing against Illgogo, watch his tail!

Smackdown 2

The WWE, or WWF at the time before the World Wildlife Fund made them change their name, had just started to become the most dominant force in wrestling entertainment in the late 1990s after a fierce fought out battle with WCW.

Wrestling names such as Tripe H, The Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Kane, and The Undertaker had begun to take centre stage – and with the genius creativity putting together immersive storylines, and groups such as Degeneration X, it wasn’t long before WCW was no more.

Smackdown 2 launched in 2000 by THQ, who created many of the WWF and WWE games during this period sets a truly exciting scene with its opening sequence.

For those who truly missed this period of wrestling between 1997 and 2005 really missed out on something truly special.

Players can choose an exhibition bout of a single game, tag team, hardcore match, King of the Ring or the Royal Rumble, or embark on a career mode with underlying story to go with it.

The original Smackdown on the PS1 was good, but Smackdown 2 certainly has an edge over its predecessor.

I remember playing this way back in 2000 and thinking how amazingly lifelike the characters were!

That said, the original WWF Superstars on the arcade four player game featuring legends such as Big Boss Man, Mr Perfect and Hulk Hogan did a pretty decent job of character replica too back in the 1980s – and still one considered one of the best WWF/WWE games ever made.

The controls are good, and throwing your opponent in to the turnbuckle, grappling and pinning are relatively straight forward to figure out, although finishers require a special combo, and done at the right time when the word ‘Smackdown’ appears across the screen.

It can be a little frustrating on each new entrant into the Royal Rumble for the game to have to pause and load, but this was back in the days of PS1, so can be slightly forgiven – unlike a tombstone from the Undertaker!

Suggested Reading: If you love PS1 games, we have our best PS1 soccer games, tried and tested feature covering some of the most influential soccer games that have inspired the versions we know and love today!

Bloody Roar 2

There’s no denying that although the intro sequence for Bloody Roar 2 isn’t exactly the best quality, and appears to be gameplay video captured and digitally played back, no other fighting game could offer such an air of excitement as to what was about to follow than Bloody Roar 2!

The combos here are brutal!

The original excitement of the intro sequence isn’t quite as matched with the over gameplay, but it stands head and shoulders above some of the fighting games released, even if Bloody Roar 2 by Hudson Soft never quite made in terms of the franchise war.

The graphics aren’t the best for the PS1, especially considering the game wasn’t released until 1999, but the superior gameplay can in someway compensate for the graphic quality, and lack of detail to the characters.

Although the characters are a little lacklustre, there is a Story mode alongside general exhibition, tournament and vs mode.

Overall the fighting sequences are some of the best I’ve seen on the PS1.

If Hudsen Soft had put as much detail in to character defining, a storyline and the overall reason for the game I think it would have performed much better and gone on to create a successful franchise.

Street Fighter did because each of the characters became almost household names, with their own unique setting and fighting ability.

Bloody Roar 2 was a franchise in the making, and worthy of a play now.

The controls are easy to get along with. It’s easy to jump straight into a game, even after not playing in a while.

Gekido: Urban Fighters

The Gekido opening sequence was masterfully thought out.

It has everything from drama, suspense, great fighting sequence, a back-pinning story and well presented.

It’s a surprise that Gekido remains a rarely talked about hidden gem and didn’t get the notoriety perhaps it was due.

Despite the amazing lengths the developers went to with the opening sequence, there were a few things that in hindsight perhaps did underpin the potential response rate this could have achieved.

The game starts in Downtown at 1:20am.

Now, let’s be clear, Gekido isn’t the usual run of the mill fighter game.

It borders on a platform game not out of category with the likes of Final Fight or Double Dragon.

What does separate Gekido though is its fight sequence against each flurry of opponents, combos and similarity to games such as Tekken.

I guess you could see it’s a fighting game and platform hybrid of sorts, and hence inclusion in this list.

Not all fighting games need to have a one on one attribute, but this sits better as a fighting game than a platformer.

Unlike most 2D platformers, the fighting sequences within Gekido are 3D by nature – just like Tekken.

The graphics are superb. The controls aren’t the easiest to get along with, especially with the moving camera angle creating a 3D environmental fighting platformer, but learn kick and punch and the rest follows.

The gameplay though is quite addictive, and considering the unique way Gekido has been developed it really does make you want to play again and again.

Soul Blade

The opening sequence for Soul Blade is nothing short of incredible, creative, and imaginative.

An entire backstory told without a single word being spoken.

If the intro sequence doesn’t make you want to go grab your controller and throw in the CD, nothing will!

There are a range of modes to try as well from survival, to team mode, battle mode and straight one on one.

Namco really did pull out no stops with the thinking behind this one.

A choice of 10 characters is available for the player to choose from including Hwang, Taki, Mitsurugi, and Voldo.

Regardless of opening intro sequence, characters and storyline, a fighting game is based solely on gameplay.

Unfortunately, this is where Soul Blade falls down a little.

The dramatic start is let down with graphics that could have been better developed, and controls that were easier to master.

More moves and combos would have added to the gameplay too.

It is a shame as it appears 80% of the budget for the game went on the opening sequence and introduction with a realisation only 20% was left for the actual game.

It isn’t a poor game by any means and well worth picking up to try and get lost within, but it wasn’t able to reach the lofty gameplay heights of Tekken 3 and Bloody Roar 2.

It still is a hidden gem, even if for the opening.