There aren’t many platform-based fighting games, despite the genre existing for decades. Besides Playstation All-Stars Battle Royale and a few fan projects, there has been few notable releases besides Nintendo’s wildly successful Super Smash Bros. series. With one major property holding up the concept, there hasn’t been much competition to mix up the formula—until now. More than two decades into Smash’s life, several Smash competitors have appeared, and many of them exist as PC games. None quite compare to Nintendo’s titles in terms of scope or provenance, but they’re far more than mere cash-ins on a fad.
The platform-fighter genre is as vague and nebulous as any other, but most have a few key traits in common. For starters, there’s a blend of Mario-style precision hops and Street Fighter slug outs. Simplified controls and an extensive cast of popular characters aren’t essential genre elements, but they’re vital in cementing a game’s status as a party-friendly brawler (many releases follow that template). Most also opt for sumo-inspired rules; instead of lowering your opponents’ health bars via beat downs, you knock them off stages. Beyond that, anything goes.
The indie game explosion, especially on PC, means an all-inclusive list of platform-fighters is impractical, if not impossible. So, we’ve gathered the most popular, prominent, and well-designed titles in the category, so you can explore combat games that aren’t traditional fighting games. You won’t find fan projects like Project M or Super Flash Bros.; these picks are testaments to the passion and drive fans have had for this style of play. You also won’t find Fraymakers or MultiVersus, because those games haven’t dropped. Still, if you’re ready to rumble, these games will serve you well.
