Summary
Tekken 8is a loaded game with a hefty roster, several offline game modes, a treasure trove of customization items, and a competitive online scene. So, it’s safe to assume that Tekken fans will continue to play this title for a long time. But what if you want to expand your horizons beyond the eighth King Of Iron Fists Tournament?
We compiled a unique list of games that any Tekken 8 player will love. Some of our picks represent the best of Bandai Namco’s fighting games. Others feature fun Tekken collabs and DLC. Lastly, we’ve included some of Tekken’s rival series that heavily influenced its development. Most importantly, all of these games are playable now on modern consoles!
If Tekken 8 was your first foray into The King Of Iron Fists Tournament, then we recommend you play the game’s hit predecessor,Tekken 7. Several fighting mechanics from Tekken 7,including Rage Arts, carried over to its sequel. So, you’ll feel at home with this entry’s familiar gameplay.
New and returning players will find plenty to do in Tekken 7. The cast of fighters is 51 with DLC, includingsurprising guest characterslike Akuma from Street Fighter and Noctis from Final Fantasy 16. Plus, there area variety of gameplay modes, including arcade battle, story mode, and treasure battle.
Tekken 7 also has anUltimate Tekken Bowl DLC mode. It’s one of the best bowling games you’ll ever play!
Publisher(s):Bandai Namco Entertainment
ESRB:T for Teen - Suggestive Themes, Violence
Retro gaming is challenging, especially for Tekken fans. Besides their original launches in arcades and the PS1, the first three Tekken games are only available on Tekken 5 (another retro game lost to time). You’re out of luck unless you have an original PlayStation or the hardware necessary to emulate one.
Fortunately, the PSN is slowly re-releasing its retro game catalog, which you can buy cart blanche or play via a PS Plus Premium subscription. One of the initiative’s first launches wasTekken 2, the game where Bandai Namco’s fighting series found its footing. If you want to see where it all began, check out this port!
ESRB:T for Teen - Blood, Mild Language, Partial Nudity, Violence
If 3D fighting is your jam, then Bandai Namco has you covered. While Tekken may be the company’s flagship fighter, its weapons-based fighting series, Soul Calibur, is a heavy-hitter in its own right. This series includes the revolutionaryeight-way run mechanic, allowing its fighters to move freely in a three-dimensional space.
Soul Calibur 6offers the technical complexity and feature-rich content that any Tekken fan would love. Each cast member has a distinct fighting style with plenty of moves to learn. The game’s single-player options include anexpansive Mission Mode (Libra Of Soul)and adetailed Story Mode (Soul Chronicle).
Developer(s):CyberConnect2
ESRB:T for Teen - Language, Mild Blood, Suggestive Themes, Use of Tobacco, Violence
CyberConnect2 has collaborated with Bandai Namco on several anime fighting games based on IPs like Naruto and Demon Slayer. But those games play like arena fighters. However,JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle Ruses a traditional 2.5D format that Tekken fans will quickly acclimate to.
You can jump into JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: ASBR without knowledge of the manga and still have a fantastic time. There is a gigantic cast ofmemorable characters, beautifully rendered stages withbizarre environmental traps, and aneasy-to-learn battle systemwith plenty of nuances.
Publisher(s):Koei Tecmo Games
ESRB:T for Teen - Alcohol Reference, Suggestive Themes, Violence
If your first thought is,“What is a Musou game doing in this list?“please hear us out! Remember theOperation Rebellion minigame in Tekken 8’s Story Mode? Imagine if it was an entire full-length game. Warriors Orochi 4 Ultimate will give you an Operation Rebellion-like experience and much more.
Warriors Orochi is a crossover series between Dynasty Warriors and Samurai Warriors. Each game has aconvolutedstoryline, but that’s not the focus. The real focus isbeating up monstrous crowds of enemies and tallying up massive comboswhile playing as one of the game’s177 characters!
InSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate, when they say, “Everyone is here,” they mean it. While the Smash Bros. series began as a Nintendo-exclusive affair, each sequel has invited newcomers from throughout the video game universe. For instance, one of Ultimate’s DLC characters isTekken’s Kazuya Mishima!
You must take Kazuya out for a spin if you’re a Tekken fan who loves Smash. So many of his techniques from Tekken are included in his move list, including aRage Art and a 10-hit combo. His translation into Smash Bros.’s bananas gameplay is both faithful and effective.
Publisher(s):Nintendo Switch
ESRB:E10+ for Ages 10 or Older - Fantasy Violence
“A Pokemon Tekken game?” Yes,Pokken Tournament DXis the Pokemon-Tekken crossover we never knew we needed. In this slugfest, you can directly controlsome of your favorite Pokemon, includingPikachu, Charizard, Lucario, and Mewtwo.
Pokken Tournament’s gameplay has a compellingmix of mechanics that make the game approachable. Matches are divided into aField Phaseand aDuel Phase. Field Phase allows Pokemon to move freely at the expense of weaker attacks (similar to an arena fighter). Duel Phase lets Pokemon fight head to head with more potent attacks, similar to Tekken.
Publisher(s):Sega
ESRB:T for Teen - Suggestive Themes, Violence, Use of Alcohol
Tekken may be the reigning champion of 3D fighting games. But the series would not exist without the influence ofSega’s Virtua Fighter, the first 3D fighting gamein history. Any fighting game connoisseur should play a Virtua Fighter game at least once, andVirtua Fighter 5: Ultimate Showdownis a stellar choice to try.
Unlike its peers, Virtua Fighter does not dabble in super moves like Rage Arts and other flashy adornments. Instead, the game putsrealistic martial arts (with some creative liberties) at the forefront. This simplicity makes VF5 easy to pick up but hard to disengage from. If you enjoy digging into the technical details of a fighting game, VF5:US is for you.
Virtua Fighter 5: Ultimate Showdown has aTekken 7 Collaboration DLC packthat includes the following goodies from The King Of Iron Fists Tournament:
Koei Tecmo’s Dead Or Alive series is arguably undervalued in the FGC. We’ll admit DOA’ssex appeal is a significant draw. However, so much more is going on besides the infamous’jiggle physics.‘DOA’ssimple yet effective Triangle Systemwill keep you guessing your foe’s next move in a high-stakes game of ‘Rock, Paper, Scissors.’
Dead Or Alive 6makes a noticeable effort to put its mechanics front and center, making for a solid 3D fighting experience. For instance, itsDOA Questmission mode providesplenty of tasks to teach you the fighting system(including how to nail those pesky reversals!). A complete training suite and cinematic story mode round out the experience.
Did you knowDead Or Alive introduced environmental hazards, like wall breaks, falls, and explosions, long before Tekken? If you enjoy the chaos in Tekken 8’s stages, wait until you play Dead Or Alive!
Street Fighter and Tekken have enjoyed a competitive rivalry since the days of the original PlayStation. The two fighting game giants even launched a crossover title. And one of Street Fighter’s main baddies, Akuma, plays an instrumental role in Tekken 7’s storyline. What we’re saying is you don’t need to pick a side.You’ll have fun playing both TekkenandStreet Fighter!
If you’re ready to give 2D fighting games a shot, we recommend picking up a copy ofStreet Fighter 6. This title has everything you could want from a next-gen fighter: adiverse cast, anopen-world story mode, anin-depth training suite, and theincredibly cool online Battle Hub. Who knows, playing some Street Fighter may sharpen your Tekken skills.
