UPDATE: MultiVersus won Best Fighting Game at The Game Awards 2022!
The Game Awards 2022 is just around the corner, and like the other shows, it will likely bring about some big reveals and celebrate the best gaming has had to offer this year. 2022 has been a strong year for gaming, with a lot of great titles coming out of every genre. While much of the discussion surrounding gaming awards shows this year has been centered on whether Elden Ring or God of War: Ragnarok will take home the most trophies, there are plenty of categories that don't concern either of those games that are worth talking about.
One such category is Best Fighting Game, which celebrates titles designed primarily around head-to-head combat. There have been a lot of great fighting games released this year, with some marking another strong release from a well-known developer, while others have made a big debut and drawn the eyes of a lot of gamers in a very short amount of time. Up for the Best Fighting Game award this year are: DNF Duel, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle R, The King of Fighters 15, MultiVersus, and Sifu.
DNF Duel
Coming from prominent fighting game developer Arc System Works, known for its work on Guilty Gear Strive, DNF Duel is a2.5d fighter spin-off of the Dungeon & Fighter RPG series. Allowing the player to choose from 15 initial characters with a final fighter being unlocked as the final boss, DNF Duel is packed with chaotic action, a unique roster, and a lot of training menus that give fans the chance to learn as much as they please.
DNF Duel is also welcoming to beginners, even for those who might pick it up as their first fighting game, as certain characters can be incredibly easy to learn. This doesn't mean that veterans of the genre won't find any interesting gameplay in DNF Duel though, as the title is packed with complex combos to master and great online play. The only thing holding DNF Duel back to a lot of reviewers is in its story mode, but in terms of the fighting mechanics it proved to be a hit.
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle R
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle R is a remake of a 2013 title released for the PS3, in which players could pick their favorite characters from the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure anime and manga and battle it out in 1-on-1, 2-on-2, and 3-on-3 fights. The remake brings the original game of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle to multiple new systems, including the Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch, but it also adds a whole host of additional features.
These include new battles from the manga that didn't appear in the original game and new "what if" battles that have the player partake in a fight that never happened in the series. For fans of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, All Star Battle R isn't a title they'll likely want to miss out on, and for fans of fighting games in general the title is stacked with a big roster full of unique moves and fighting styles. There will even be new characters on the way to JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle R soon in upcoming free DLC.
The King of Fighters 15
The first King of Fighters game created using Unreal Engine 4, The King of Fighters 15 follows the example set by past games, mostly focusing on combat revolving around teams of three. The Parry system also returns, though it is now known by the name Shatter Strike. Featuring 39 characters to pick from at launch, King of Fighters 15 sees the return of some iconic faces, including Mai and Terry Bogard.
The game is welcoming both to long time fans of the franchise and newcomers as well, having a one-button rush mode that allows those unfamiliar with the characters and combos to get a gist of how combat works. However, there are also plenty of hidden details in King of Fighters 15 that can give those willing to put in the extra hours an edge in a fight. King of Fighters 15 is also working on post-launch content as it moves into 2023, with a new trailer revealing its plans for Season Two.
MultiVersus
From a game that's looking to launch its second season to one that's just seen the release of it, MultiVersus proved to be incredibly popular even at the release of its open beta. Combining a bunch of characters from various Warner Bros. IPs, the roster for MultiVersus continues to be a wacky and fun blend of vastly different fighters. While its intriguing roster was enough to get many interested, the game has since proven it has more than a fun lot of characters.
MultiVersus has managed to stand out among other platform fighters in its gameplay as Player First Games has worked consistently to improve how combat works within its popular title. From nerfing overpowered characters to changing how hitboxes work in MultiVersus, it's clear to see there's a dedication from Player First Games to ensure that the platform fighter isn't just a flash in the pan.
Sifu
To some, Sifu may not be considered a traditional fighting game since it doesn't allow players to battle each other. There are no online elements in Sifu, but the game is based primarily on a great hand-to-hand combat system. Sifu's combat is incredibly deep and difficult, with the nature of it changing each time a player dies. Rather than play through the game as the same person, Sifu makes its main character age each time they die, trading out health for extra damage.
Sifu's roguelike gameplay keeps it interesting for a player as they try and run through the game's story, as they can attempt to beat it as young or as old as they'd like. For those who might not want the more difficult experience of Sifu, the game did add difficulty options this year, making it more accessible for those who'd just like to run through the game's short but compelling story of revenge.
Final Prediction
Bringing a breath of fresh air to the platform fighting subgenre, MultiVersus stands out this year as the game most likely to win the Best Fighting category at this year's Game Awards. There is some strong competition in the list of nominees, and any fighting game fan should probably check out the majority of the titles nominated. However, MultiVersus burst onto the scene with immense popularity, giving fans a comparable experience to Super Smash Bros.
MultiVersus' vibrant visuals, unique characters, and tight gameplay keeps fans coming back. While MultiVersus might not be enjoying the impressive player count it had at launch, those who want to delve deep into an engaging platform fighter have stuck around and cannot wait to see what comes next from one of the more surprising hits of 2022.