The 15 Best Nintendo Switch Fighting Games

While "Super Smash Bros." was one the only real platform fighter in the market for a long time, there have been numerous competitors emerging over the last few years. One of the more notable is the free-to-play platform fighter "Brawlhalla." Created by Blue Mammoth Games and published by Ubisoft, the title is available on almost every platform but has a strong following on the Nintendo Switch thanks to the fact that there is already a steady fanbase for this type of game.

The gameplay is much the same as you'd expect from this type of game. The goal is to knock opponents off the stage and into a blast zone, with the damage taken by a fighter determining how far they'll fly when attacked. There's a wide range of modes available, from 1v1 matches to chaotic free-for-all contests and even co-op 2v2 rounds. In terms of fighters, players can pay extra to unlock special crossover fighters from series such as "Adventure Time," "Rayman," and "The Walking Dead."

"Brawlhalla" certainly has a lot going for it and is a great place to start if you are unfamiliar with fighting games. That's because it features universal movesets and a control system that is easy to get to grips with. There's also the obvious upside of "Brawlhalla" being free-to-play, meaning you can download and jump straight into the action without spending a penny.

Developed by Sirlin Games for every major platform outside of Xbox, "Fantasy Strike" is a 2019 fighting game that was purposely designed to be as simple and easy to understand as possible. To that end, there are no complicated combos or moves that require multiple button presses, with even special abilities able to be utilized with a single click. Set in the fictional world of Fantasy Strike, the combatants have met up to take part in a martial arts competition to determine exactly who is the best fighter.

With 12 playable characters to choose from, multiplayer and single-player action, and a good selection of stages, "Fantasy Strike" has a good amount of content for a free-to-play game. Matches are usually made up of seven rounds with players winning by being the first to reach the four-round mark by getting their opponents down to zero health. Throw in an extensive tutorial and a good AI system that allows players to get used to how everything works and the fighting game not only offers a great experience but gives less experienced gamers an opportunity to compete alongside those with more skills.

"SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy" is another fighting game from the team at SNK, although this is a far more modern entry than the Neo Geo port of "The King of Fighters '98." Created for the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5 in 2018, it is a fighter that requires a little more strategic thinking. That's because matches are fought with multiple characters on each team that take on separate roles. One will be the attacker who is tasked with battling, while the other plays a supportive role and will help finish off enemies with a special Dream Finish move.

Featuring many of the cast of previous SNK games, the story sees the fighters all suddenly finding themselves in a mysterious mansion where everyone, including the previously male characters, are now women. The unique story and quirky gameplay make it a rather distinctive fighting game and one that is worth checking out. It might not be suitable for younger players, due to the graphic violence and sexualized imagery that it portrays, but might appeal to fans of the genre who enjoy fast-paced gameplay and the chaos of tag-team combat.

"Pokkén Tournament DX" offers players the chance to experience Pokémon battles in a very different way. Rather than the traditional turn-based battle system in the mainline RPGs where players select an attack and watch it unfold, this game plays out more like a conventional arcade fighter. It is developed by Bandai Namco Studios and based on the mechanics of the "Tekken" series. That means the battles play out in real-time, with players controlling the Pokémon as they duke it out in arenas.

Several mechanics from the "Pokémon" series are present, including mega evolutions and special movies, and "Pokkén Tournament DX" boasts a roster of 23 different Pokémon — including an adorable version of Pikachu in a luchador outfit. The focus on action rather than complicated combos and technical gameplay means that this is a more appealing fighting game for casual players who might not have the necessary skills to play a series such as "Tekken" competitively. Originally launched on the Wii U, this enhanced Switch port included a number of improvements and has additional Pokémon in the form of two DLC packs to add extra content.

Arc System Works is well known for its library of fighting games. It has previously worked on a number of important series, such as "Guilty Gear" and "BlazBlue," and has adapted other franchises to the genre with "Persona 4 Arena." That made the developer a good choice when it came to creating a fighting game based on the immensely popular "Dragon Ball" anime. "Dragon Ball FighterZ" was the end result of that hard work and it has gone down as one of the better fighting games of recent years.

Featuring a huge cast, players choose three characters to form their team before battling against an opponent. These characters can be switched out at any time and even perform assist moves together in a similar way to the "Marvel vs. Capcom" games. Available since 2018, the game has seen a number of DLC packs launch and has won praise for everything from its story mode to its faithful art design, with critics particularly impressed by the versatility offered by the combat system.

A sequel to Messhof's indie 2014 game, "Nidhogg 2" is a very different type of fighting game compared to the rest of the titles discussed previously. Essentially a fencing game at its heart, players have to battle it out against a single opponent on a large arena made up of different sections. The aim is not to kill the enemy but rather reach their side of the stage by continually defeating the opponent and forcing them to respawn further back.

"Nidhogg 2" takes the basic gameplay of "Nidhogg" and updates it in a number of ways. The most notable of these is in the look of the game, with the sequel having a more sophisticated visual style compared to the rather basic pixelated graphics of its predecessor. But there are also lots of new weapons, levels, and items to add extra depth to the gameplay.

Critics have praised the unique approach taken in "Nidhogg 2" to combat and it is undoubtedly one of the best examples of a two-player fighting game. The brilliant soundtrack, grotesquely compelling artwork, and lightning-fast gameplay make this an appealing package that is perfect as a party game.

"ARMS" is another fighting game for the Nintendo Switch that takes a very different approach to most other games in the genre. Most fighters focus on up close and personal combat, with melee attacks or throws and grapples being the method used to defeat an opponent. This Nintendo-developed title goes in the opposite direction, with the fighting relying on long-range attacks. Players take control of one of several characters — all with unique abilities and special attacks — as they face off against opponents with long extendable arms. These can be used to do everything from attacking other players to blocking incoming damage.

A very unique experience, "ARMS" has been compared to "Splatoon" in the way it alters the basic components of the fighting genre as that game did with online shooters. Although it does take some getting used to, the Nintendo game is worth the effort, comes with a variety of modes, and has been well-supported with new content since launching on the system in 2017. Fortunately, it offers a great deal of fun either online or in local multiplayer but isn't a game that is best enjoyed as a single-player title.

While there are now a number of great platform fighting games on the Nintendo Switch, the undisputed champion is still "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate." Not only does it have the pedigree of the series' extensive history but it boasts an unrivaled roster of characters from basically every major Nintendo franchise. The game, which was first released in 2018, now has a roster with 89 playable characters, ranging from individuals from the "Mario" and "The Legend of Zelda" series to "Final Fantasy" and "Minecraft" figures.

As with all platform fighters, the main goal in "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate" is to remove opponents from the arena by knocking them out of one of the more than 100 available stages. Gameplay can soon become frantic, though, with up to eight players able to battle it out at the same time. Met with universal acclaim upon its release, it is widely considered to be the best entry in the series and a game that offers tremendous value for money. Simply put, no self-respecting fighting game fan could possibly own a Nintendo Switch and not have a copy of "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate" on hand.