There are dozens of iconic rivalries in fighting games, dating back to the genre’s boom in the 1990s. During the inception of the fighting game genre, it was all about tournaments. The King of the Iron Fist, Street Fighter, the Mortal Kombat tournament – the list goes on. So naturally, long-standing characters have storylines that have gone back years.
We wanted to look back at some of the most memorable and iconic rivalries in fighting games. Depending on your experience with the genre, some might even be new to you. However, when we think back on the most memorable, character-driven moments, these are our favorites.
The 7 best Fighting Games rivalries of all time
7) Ky Kiske vs. Sol Badguy (Guilty Gear)
If there’s anything that Guilty Gear can do, it’s being incredibly confusing. The two characters were on the same side earlier in the game’s storyline, fighting in the Crusades – a 100-year battle between Gears and humanity.
They disagreed on the methodology of dealing with the threat despite respecting each other and the other’s strengths. However, when Sol Badguy re-acquired the Fireseal – as he created it – the rivalry really began in earnest.
Theirs is interesting because it all more or less began because of a misunderstanding. The two respected each other but disagreed, and thus began a long-time rivalry. In the more modern era, it’s closer to a Ken and Ryu rivalry, built on respect and maturity.
6) Kazuya vs. Heihachi (Tekken)
Kazuya Mishima and Heihachi Mishima in the Tekken franchise had a strained relationship, to say the least. It is a tragic but nonetheless iconic fighting game rivalry. This one was built on callousness and vengeance. After all, Heihachi killed Kazuya’s mother and then threw him off a cliff, hoping to find the boy had the Devil Gene in him.
If that wasn’t enough, Heihachi adopted Lee Chaolan and treated him like a son instead of Kazuya. This ultimately led Kazuya Mishima to enter the King of the Iron Fist tournament, winning and, in retribution, hurling his own father off a cliff.
Naturally, Heihachi would survive, being the toughest old man in fighting games. When Kazuya Mishima ran his own King of the Iron Fist, Heihachi would return and throw his son into a volcano. Their story went on for many years after, featuring brief team-ups. It ended when Kazuya defeated his father on a volcanic island and dropped the beaten old man into the roiling lava below.
5) Terry Bogard vs. Andy Bogard (King of Fighters)
Terry and Andy Bogard from the King of Fighters franchise have a simple but iconic rivalry that dates back to the beginning of the popular SNK franchise.
There’s something satisfying about watching a sibling rivalry unfold. Terry Bogard is the older, more powerful, and more successful brother.
That leads Andy Bogard to strive to overcome him and push himself farther and farther. Andy sees Terry as his greatest rival, and this, in turn, pushes Terry to keep growing. That way, Andy Bogard always has something a goal: surpass Terry Bogard.
4) Guile vs. Ken (Street Fighter)
When thinking of iconic fighting game rivalries, there are so many we could pick from Street Fighter. Ryu vs. Akuma or Dan vs. Everyone. But we also wanted something modern.
Guile and Ken have an understated but fascinating rivalry in Street Fighter 6. After all, the two are in-laws. This rivalry has existed largely in the background until now.
In Street Fighter 6, JP and Shadaloo ruined the life of Ken, forcing him to leave his family behind to try and rebuild himself. Guile remembers all too well the dangers of this lifestyle, as he did this once before -when Charlie Nash died.
Their relationship is more like the Veteran Cop and the Rookie Cop that don’t play by the rules.
In Street Fighter 6, Guile realizes the only way he will talk Ken out of this self-destructive path is with his fists – leading to an interesting rivalry for future Street Fighter games to tackle if they wish.
3) Kyo Kusanagi vs. Iori Yagami (King of Fighters)
Sometimes, the most iconic fighting game rivalries are built on hatred and violence. That brings us to the King of Fighters franchise. When the Orochi saga began, one of the primary antagonists was Iori Yagami. Brainwashed and conditioned to hate the Kusanagi heir, this led the brooding Yagami to loathe and stalk Kyo Kusanagi.
It doesn’t appear that Kyo particularly minds the attention from Iori, either. It’s arguably the most memorable and tragic rivalry in the King of Fighters series. Even now, Iori likely wants to end the life of Kyo Kusanagi due to his upbringing.
2) Amuro Ray vs. Char Aznable (Mobile Suit Gundam: Battle Assault)
When it comes to iconic fighting game rivalries, sometimes, we step out of the bounds of franchises that are just fighting games. The Mobile Suit Gundam franchise has dipped its toes into the fighting game genre a few times, with games like Mobile Suit Gundam: Battle Assault.
Amuro Ray and Char Aznable’s rivalry began in the One Year War of Mobile Suit Gundam, where the two fought on opposite sides, with seemingly opposite ideals.
They would fight together in the sequel series, Zeta Gundam, and once again found themselves at loggerheads in the Char’s Counterattack film.
Both want the best for humanity and the Earth, but the how differs wildly.
Char Aznable feels that people do not belong on Earth so that it can heal. That means destroying all of humanity if they refuse to go into space. Amuro Ray doesn’t have the answer, but he knows that one is incorrect. It’s led to several iconic clashes between the two in anime and manga, and through rivalries in fighting games.
1) Ken vs. Ryu (Street Fighter)
Out of any fighting game, is there any rivalry more iconic than Ryu and Ken? They’ve been around since the first Street Fighter. Though they didn’t have a story yet, that would come later.
The two combatants both trained under the mighty Gouken and bring the absolute best out of each other every time they clash.
It’s always a friendly rivalry, even though occasionally Ken has to battle the dark energy that lurks within Ryu – the Satsui no Hadou. Nonetheless, it’s never about anything other than the fight itself and pushing each other to grow stronger.
It’s important to be able to measure your growth and improvement in a fighting game – that’s what makes some of these rivalries so satisfying to learn about. As fighting game players ourselves, we know that having someone to play against, someone who pushes you to get better is one of the best ways to improve. Seeing these storylines play out in a digital space just makes the genre that much more immersive.
