Highlights
- PlayStation has several games, like Rubber Bandits and Sportsfriends, that can fill the gap for Super Smash Bros. fans who want similar party and platform fighting experiences.
- Mortal Kombat 11 offers a gory and intense fighting game experience with new gameplay elements and a mix of single-player campaign and multiplayer modes.
- Other games like Soulcalibur 6, WWE 2K22, and Guilty Gear Strive provide unique fighting experiences with weapon-based combat, wrestling, and updated gameplay mechanics.
Super Smash Bros. has long been a beloved franchise on the Nintendo family of systems. The classic platform fighter pits characters from different Nintendo properties and others from around the video game world against each other in an ultimate battle on stages that are themed and sometimes multi-tiered.
Unfortunately, it has been hard for other consoles to come up with a great equivalent to Super Smash Bros. PlayStation released PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale on the PlayStation 3, but it failed to reach the heights of its clear inspiration. Fortunately, the PlayStation 4 and its successor have a handful of games that players can try if they like the idea of or have played Super Smash Bros.
Updated August 26, 2023, by Chris Birsner: It has been nearly 11 years since PlayStation tried its hand at its own version of Super Smash Bros. To this day, there has been no sign that the publisher will take another crack at it. Luckily, it doesn't necessarily need to make its own Super Smash Bros since there are so many PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 games that can fill that gap in the consoles' libraries quite well. Even though not all of them are crossover platform fighters, many of them are perfect for everyone to come together and have fun duking it out in some sort of unique battle. There are so many fun action-packed party games to choose from if players want a PS4 or PS5 game like Super Smash Bros.
18 Rubber Bandits
The more elaborate stages may not be a preference for those who play Super Smash Bros, but they are an iconic part of what makes the franchise so fun. Games like Rubber Bandits put a lot of thought into its level design, especially since the game is all about messing with other players in creative ways.
This physics-based beat 'em up invites one to four players to collect as much money as they can while attempting to take out their opponents. There are numerous modes to choose from, from Dodge Bomb to Pork Pursuit, that players can spend hours of time running around and wreaking havoc.
17 Mortal Kombat 11
Fighting games are split into many sub-genres, from platform fighters to arcade fighting games. One of the most iconic of the latter is Mortal Kombat, a game that has continued to be released since 1992 and is known for being excessively gory. Arguably, the best installment of the franchise is also the series' latest: Mortal Kombat 11.
There are two major elements of Mortal Kombat 11: the main campaign and casual multiplayer play. The campaign picks up after Shinnok's defeat, which happens at the end of Mortal Kombat 10. New gameplay elements include Fatal Blows and Krushing Blows, both of which add new moves and cinematics to a fight.
16 Soulcalibur 6
Most games in the fighting genre focus on characters using their fists or built-in powers to take on enemies. However, the Soulcalibur games have always been about their fighters using weapons to battle against their foes. The latest entry in the franchise, Soulcalibur 6, continues to embrace this idea and also ushers in some recognizable faces from other franchises.
Soulcalibur 6's gameplay revolves around two characters moving around a 3D space and beating each other up using the weapons in hand. While there are a lot of returning characters from the previous entries in the franchise, new characters are introduced including Geralt of Rivia, the protagonist of The Witcher series.
15 Sportsfriends
There have been some indie attempts to replicate the feeling of playing Super Smash Bros. on other consoles. One of the recent releases to try this is Sportsfriends, a party game developed by Die Gute Fabrik. This was a collection of different sports games, but the one segment that may be familiar to Super Smash Bros. fans is BaraBariBall.
Games could be played with up to four players. The object of each match is to get a ball into another team's water to score points. One player will have the ball at a time and opposing players will have to use direct combat to knock the ball out of their hands. It is a platform fighter and the game allows the player to jump up to eight times while still in the air.
14 Gang Beasts
Physics-based games can be absolutely hilarious, especially if players are trying to go after each other in them. Gang Beasts is an iconic indie known for its absurd situations that they put players into, tasking everyone to take each other out and be the last one standing.
Reminiscent of playing a one-stock match in Super Smash Bros, the primary gameplay of Gang Beasts involves players being put into a level and having to knock each other out until one person remains standing. After several levels, the person who is the last one standing the most wins.
13 WWE 2K22
While it is more of a simulation than a normal fighting game, WWE 2K22 is all about capturing what makes professional wrestling so special to so many fans out there. And, with the latest Super Smash Bros. game embracing the idea of "Everyone Is Here," so too does WWE 2K22 with both its normal roster and its community creations.
On top of making the game a sandbox for creating fake events and pitting wrestlers against each other, there is also a revamped career mode that allows players to carve their path on how their storylines evolve over time. Those who love wrestling will also enjoy playing through the Showcase mode, which brings to life previous moments in WWE history.
WWE 2K23 builds upon its predecessor well. While the gameplay is largely the same, the sequel is arguably a superior overall package.
12 Guilty Gear Strive
Arc System Works is known for making some of the best fighting games out there. One of their more recent entries was Guilty Gear Strive, the seventh main entry in the franchise's history and the 25th one ever made. It's also considered one of the franchise's strongest installments.
With Guilty Gear Strive, Arc System Works decided to build the game differently from the ground up. While the game still preserves its classic Instant Kills, many of the core mechanics have been changed for the better. There is also a story to the game, with the campaign picking up after the events of Guilty Gear Xrd.
11 Move Or Die
When thinking about games like Super Smash Bros., players may be looking for a party experience that is both competitive and hilarious as well. Move Or Die is a great example of a game that does both of these things, and also incorporates platforming like Super Smash Bros. does.
This local and online multiplayer experience can pit up to four players against each other in a round filled with 20-second challenges. While the theme of the challenges differs greatly from one another, the most important part is that players must move at all times. Otherwise, they will perish, just like the title of Move Or Die says.
10 Dragon Ball FighterZ
One of the many things Super Smash Bros. has done well is capitalizing on using multiple properties in an impressive way. However, that doesn't devalue the greatness of a game that embraces a single IP and immerses fans into its world. Dragon Ball FighterZ may be one of the best to do that.
Another game developed by Arc System Works, Dragon Ball FighterZ puts a unique twist on the arcade fighter format. Instead of a normal 1-on-1 battle, players create a team of three characters and pit them against another team of 3. While players can only use one fighter at a time, they can switch between fighters at any point in the battle.
9 Injustice 2
Anyone who loves comic books and superheroes knows how cool it is when all the best superheroes under one brand come together and fight back against the evil in the world. But what if players had the ability to have two heroes fight tooth and nail against each other? That's the loose premise of Injustice 2.
Based in the DC Universe, Injustice 2 is another 2.5D fighting game with settings that are pulled directly out of the comics. Fighters include both heroes and villains of the DC Universe, with a campaign that revolves around Batman. In addition to the DC characters, there are also appearances from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Hellboy.
8 Duck Game
The gameplay for Super Smash Bros. sometimes includes picking up items on a stage and using them to beat up or hopefully kill an opponent that is attacking. A game that uses a similar premise as its core gameplay mechanic is Duck Game. This hilarious four-player multiplayer party game has players pose as angry ducks.
Instead of just one battle, each round of Duck Game is a series of battles on different stages. While on each stage, players can pick up rifles, laser guns, katanas, and various other weapons to beat up other ducks with. The winner is the person who is the last person standing the most times.
7 Ultimate Chicken Horse
There are a couple of ways to win a battle in Super Smash Bros. One is to completely run down the opponent until they are naturally knocked out, while another is to have them fall victim to obstacles on the stage, or simply fall off a stage in general. Those who want a game that focuses on the latter should check out Ultimate Chicken Horse.
The party platformer is all about reaching the end of a level over and over again and racking up the points each time. However, before each run, players will have the ability to place down obstacles to mess with their opponent. Successfully taking out opponents will lead to extra points won, giving players a better shot at winning.
6 Nidhogg
There is a joy in just having a silly game where two characters are fighting against each other, even without any major names or backstories to go along with it. One of the best indie games on the PlayStation 4 that launched early on its life cycle is Nidhogg.
The game plays out with two pixilated characters with swords in the middle of the stage. Players can duel with the swords or throw the weapons to fist fight. When a player is killed, the opponent has a bit of time to run to the other side of the stage. The first person to do so wins the match. Nidhogg also has a sequel on the PS4 as well.
5 Tekken 7
Bandai Namco also has a history of developing and publishing fighting games. In fact, the company is responsible for developing the last two entries of the Super Smash Bros. series alongside Sora Ltd. One of the company's most famous fighting games is Tekken, with their latest entry being one of the series' best in Tekken 7.
The game was originally released solely for arcades but eventually made its way to the PS4 in 2017. Just like previous entries, battles are 1-on-1 and feature a deep catalog of moves to use while fighting. Story-wise, Tekken 7 shows the build-up of the father-son confrontation between Heihachi Mishima and Kazuya.
4 Street Fight 6
After seven years of Street Fighter 5, fans of the franchise finally got the taste of something new with the release of Street Fighter 6 on PS5. The game features 18 playable characters, customizable controls, and three modes depending on what players are looking for.
Players can get practice in or battle with friends locally in the Fighting Grounds. They can also take their talents online in Street Fighter 6's Battle Hub. Finally, there is the World Tour mode, a story mode that helps teach players the basics of fighting while also interacting with the series' most iconic characters.
3 Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl
Nintendo has so many iconic characters that it makes sense that it would want to create a game where they could have all of them star in their own game. Nickelodeon has done the same a handful of times. However, its first step into the platform fighting genre was Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl.
The game plays very similarly to Super Smash Bros. as it has characters from across the network's history and also various stages that are each dedicated to a specific Nickelodeon property. While Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl has been criticized for its lack of voice acting and overall content, it is still a solid game that is a love letter to Nickelodeon fans.
2 Ultimate Marvel Vs Capcom 3
A big aspect of Super Smash Bros is the crossover between various Nintendo characters and those beyond Nintendo. It is just as exciting seeing characters from iconic brands like Marvel and Capcom come together for an epic fighting experience. One of the modern entries in this iconic mash-up is Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3.
An updated version of a game that came out just months prior, Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 features 36 characters across both universes facing off in 2D-fighting gameplay. Notable new names in this entry include Doctor Strange, Hawkeye, Nova, Frank West, Phoenix Wright, and Strider Hiryu.
1 Brawlhalla
For those looking for a good PS4 game like Super Smash Bros., there is no better platform fighter to try than Brawlhalla. Debuting as an indie title developed by Blue Mammoth Games, the studio was later acquired by Ubisoft, turning the game into one of the biggest competitors Super Smash Bros. currently has.
Brawlhalla has multiple modes, but most follow a similar premise of trying to knock a fighter off the stage after they take enough damage. There are 55 characters in the game, including platforming mascot Rayman. There have also been crossovers with other video games and various media where skins of famous characters have been added as well.