The 10 Greatest Martial Arts Video Games of All Time, Ranked
Lucas Kloberdanz-Dyck is a writer for Collider. He grew up creating lists, stories, and worlds, which led to his love of anime and video games. He attended Sheridan College where he earned an Honours Bachelor of Game Design. Lucas and his group won 1st place for technical innovation at LevelUp Toronto 2023, and he was also an intern for the Oakville Film Festival of Arts.
Conflict is the driving force of pretty much every story, and it's especially true for video games: in order to have fun, players need to be doing something, and the easiest way to achieve that is with combat. From modern masterpieces like Red Dead Redemption 2 to influential classics such as The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, combat is the main selling point.
Fighting isn’t as prominent in real life, but martial arts is still a respected and dedicated craft, and it translates perfectly to the video game medium. That is why this list will rank the ten greatest martial arts video games based on aspects such as combat, gameplay, originality, design, fan opinion, critical acclaim, and overall quality.
10 ‘Mad Max’ (2015)
Martial arts movies are some of the most entertaining, so the obvious progression is to have video games based on movies, like Mad Max. After the titular character is robbed of his car, he teams up with a crazed mechanic to build the ultimate death machine in order to traverse the wasteland and enact his revenge on those who took everything from him.
Mad Max isn’t inherently a martial arts video game, but the melee combat is so smooth and satisfying that this list made an exception, even if it had to rank lower. The brutal combat takes heavy inspiration from professional wrestling and blends it with desperate brawling, creating a no-rules martial arts masterpiece set in the wild post-apocalyptic world. The punches have weight behind them and satisfying momentum, helping the combat feel perfect.
9 ‘Batman: Arkham City’ (2011)
The superhero genre of video games has a lot of overlap with martial arts, and that is especially true for one of the best fictional combatants, Batman, who stars in Batman: Arkham City. Bruce Wayne is thrown into a super-prison that is just a sectioned-off part of Gotham City, and when in there, he must uncover the secret of Protocol 10 while surviving this hellhole filled with his worst nightmares.
This may also be a bit of a stretch for the best martial arts game since it is actually from the superhero genre, but Batman: Arkham City has some of the best combat in video game history. Batman is an expert martial artist, and this game perfectly reflects that with the rhythmic gameplay and explosive punches that can string together to create fluid combos. Gadgets are also abundant, but Batman: Arkham City became the greatest superhero video game because of its authentic brawling gameplay.
8 ‘Shenmue’ (1999)
There are plenty of Shenmue games, and they all deserve a spot on this list, but the best is arguably the one that started it all. Shenmue follows Ryo, a teenage martial artist who sets out on an adventure across 1980s Japan to find who murdered his father. When it involves the Chinese cartel and its leader, things become more complicated, but the easy solution is to beat everyone up!
Fans can take the pick of their favorite Shenmue game, but the first one establishes the excellent combat and complex gameplay. This game doesn’t just have good combat; it respects the craft of martial arts by weaving it into the narrative and forcing players to practice specific moves, learn from masters, and do drills to improve. Shenmue is an authentic martial arts experience that adds the thrill of adventure on top of its excellent gameplay.
7 ‘Midnight Fight Express’ (2022)
Martial arts isn’t the most popular genre, but there are more modern titles than ever before, including the lesser-known masterpiece Midnight Fight Express. Babyface is a former criminal who is forced back into the underworld after a drone brings him back. It is now up to him to stop the city-wide gang takeover; the only catch is that he has to do it before sunrise.
Midnight Fight Express is probably one of the lesser-known games on this list despite being the most recent title featured. Still, it is already regarded as one of the best martial arts video games because of its rapid-fire combat. Using motion capture animations by real martial artists, it creates an authentic feeling that is a constant hallway fight scene. This adds a vicious pace that will leave gamers breathless by the end, but that intensity is exactly why it is so good.
6 ‘Jade Empire’ (2005)
BioWare is mainly known for Mass Effect and other popular franchises, and after the sad news that EA is shutting the studio down, they should remember one of its underrated classics, Jade Empire. As the last surviving Spirit Monk, players need to save their save and the ancient titular city from the corrupted Empire threatening the peace of the world.
BioWare was always excellent at worldbuilding, and Jade Empire is another example of their excellence. However, it also boasts real-time martial arts combat where players can seamlessly switch between styles. The variety and selection presented by Jade Empire make it a must-play martial arts video game that highlights the wuxia genre with jaw-dropping combat.
5 ‘God Hand’ (2006)
Some of these games were always popular, but one title, God Hand, was critically panned on release and only became a cult classic years after its initial launch. Gene is an arrogant martial artist with a legendary magical arm, and with his companion Olivia, they fight off hordes of demons who want to use his power to resurrect the demon lord.
God Hand is an incredibly punishing game, and it features an awful camera with lowbrow humor. While that harmed its reputation years ago, the customizable combat system speaks for itself. Gamers can map out their buttons to create their own style of fighting, with the game rewarding those who master its system. Mechanically deep and complex, it is no wonder that God Hand was an ignored video game that aged well.
4 ‘Lost Judgment’ (2021)
Judgment is a fantastic game that would have earned a spot on this list if not for its sequel, which is arguably better and takes its spot. Lost Judgment follows private detective Takayuki, who spirals into a conspiracy involving bullying, the justice system, and the underworld to create a massively complex, yet intriguing story.
Like some other games, Lost Judgment allows players to switch between different stances, from Crane to Tiger, Snake, and Boxer. Each discipline has a different mechanical purpose that is better or worse against certain characters, meaning players not only need to master the system, but know when to use it, helping Lost Judgment become a technical masterpiece.
3 ‘Yakuza 0’ (2015)
Martial arts is supposed to be serious, but that doesn’t mean fans can’t have fun with it, and this feeling is what results in games such as Yakuza 0. Kiryu is a junior yakuza member who is framed for a murder he didn’t commit, and Majima is a disgraced yakuza who chooses to protect a civilian instead of killing her to get back into the family.
Yakuza 0 is a magnificent game that manages to flawlessly switch tones between a serious crime drama and a silly comedy, which has made it one of the funniest video games. The combat is raw and captures the essence of a street brawl, but not without the elegance of martial arts. From the boxing style to the breakdancing style, Yakuza 0 has impressive choreography that evolves throughout the story, as if the character is learning more.
2 ‘Sleeping Dogs’ (2012)
All the entries on this list are among the best martial arts games, but the top two are on a different level, starting with Sleeping Dogs. Wei Shen is an undercover cop who infiltrates the triad in Hong Kong, but as he rises through the ranks, the line between his duty to the badge and his loyalty to the gang starts to blur.
Sleeping Dogs is essentially an interactive Hong Kong action movie, embodying everything great about the genre and turning it into a riveting video game. It takes the mechanics from the Arkham franchise but injects it with Muay Thai and Wing Chun authenticity that makes the martial arts feel more alive. The strikes are powerful, and the grapples are satisfying, blending together to build a cinematic masterpiece.
1 ‘Sifu’ (2022)
The best martial arts video game is between the top two, with both being great choices, but this list ultimately opted for Sifu. Gamers control a young martial artist who is hungry for revenge after five elite assassins murdered his master. Equipped with a talisman that revives him, he ages every time he dies, needing to kill them all before he dies of old age.
Sifu is a video game that demands spatial awareness, parrying skills, and improvisation, making it the most authentic martial arts video game. It isn't just a game about recognizing patterns; players need to embody their inner fighter and use their skills and luck to win. Mastery is key, and to achieve that, players need to practice and learn through discipline, which it rewards, proving why Sifu is one of the best action video games ever.
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