The fighting game roster has grown quite a bit over the years, and one of the most exciting ways to expand the list of characters is by bringing in fighters from other games. Crossover characters are expected from most franchises at the moment, but some are more memorable than others. We’ve put together a list of some of our favorites here.
Note that we limited ourselves to a single character, even if multiples from the same franchise made the jump. You won’t find the likes of Super Smash Bros., Capcom’s Versus Games, or even the indie title Blade Strangers, as they mash up all manner of characters by game design.
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Akuma (Tekken 7)
Image via Bandai Namco
Akuma not only appeared in Tekken 7, but the Street Fighter staple is one of the best characters you can choose from in that game. Despite the completely different button input in Tekken, the goal was to play him the same way he does in Street Fighter. That experiment proved to be quite successful.
Badal (Ehrgeis: God Bless the Ring)
Image via Square Enix
Of all the games on this list, Ehrgeys is probably the least known. The 3D arcade fighter took a lot of cues from the sport of wrestling, so adding a character who’s known for swinging a big honkin sword was an odd choice. Still, it’s memorable, and thanks to the presence of Claude and Tifa in the game, it was eventually ported to PlayStation 1, where Sephiroth, Yefi, Vincent, and Jack were also added to the roster.
Cody (Street Fighter V)
Image via Capcom
Final Fight and Street Fighter may both be Capcom franchises in the same universe, but bringing one character to another still pretty much qualifies as a crossover — especially when it’s the furthest Street Fighter ever to be considered. gone along. Final Fight’s two protagonists, Cody and Guy, have both surpassed each other, but Cody gets bonus points for his backstory. He has a checkered past with time spent in prison, which has led to a very nostalgic jailbird costume in Street Fighter V (as seen at the top of this page).
Kratos (Mortal Kombat 9)
Image via NetherRealm
Mortal Kombat features characters who tear each other to pieces with plagues; In God of War, Kratos kills the gods of Mount Olympus in cold blood. It’s a match made in heaven – or hell, if you prefer. Mortal Kombat, the 2011 reboot of Mortal Kombat 9 also known as Mortal Kombat 9, has a lot of gods on its roster. The god of war Kratos battling with the god of thunder Raiden is a sight to behold.
Link (Soulcalibur II)
Image via Bandai Namco
Crossover characters weren’t a new concept when Soulcalibur II was launched in 2002, but it did make for something special by offering different guests on each platform. PlayStation 2 got Heihachi from Tekken, Xbox got Spawn from Todd McFarlane series, and GameCube got Link from The Legend of Zelda. In a game about fighting weapons, Link is the clear winner thanks to his classic Master Sword and Hylian Shield.
Rash (killer instinct)
Image via Iron Galaxy
Many fighting game fans have envisioned the Xbox equivalent of Super Smash Bros., and while that hasn’t happened yet, Killer Instinct would be the perfect platformer. The fighting game took on Gears of War’s General Ram, Halo’s Arbiter, and our pick for this list, Rash. A crossover fighter should stand out with a different style, and this Battletoad certainly delivers by swinging across the screen as a wrecking ball and slamming enemies with a giant pointy cleat.
Ryu (Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid)
Image via Lionsgate Games
In the form of a well-constructed fighting game starring Sendai characters from the children’s show, Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid is already a pleasant surprise in its own right. Even more surprising was a Street Fighter crossover DLC featuring Ryu and Chun-Li. Ryu is our pick as the face of the franchise, but developer Lionsgate Games gets bonus points for turning the pair into Power Rangers instead of porting over the same character model.
Shovel Knight (Ather’s rival)
Image via Dan Fornes
Shovel Knight is crossed out with more games than the other characters on this list – that’s the indie game scene for you. Aether’s rivals have arguably his best appearance, as the platform fighter incorporates his pogo stick-like shovel-jumps quite well. The fundamental similarities to the game’s original characters also coincide well with Shovel Knight’s similar themed rivals, Order of No Quarter.
Spartan-458 (Dead or Alive 4)
Image via Koi Tecmo
The Dead or Alive series has always tread the line between serious fighting game and ‘fan service,’ so it’s good that this guest character has proper, full-body protective armor. Notably, it’s not the Master Chief – it’s an original character named Nicole who also happens to be a Spartan soldier. Halo equipment like active camo and plasma grenades are part of his bag of tricks.
Warden (Samurai Shodown)
Image via SNK
Many fighting games are about trading war, but Samurai Shodown stands out by allowing one-hit kills from its blade-wielding warriors. Ubisoft’s For Honor is also about doubles, as armored opponents always switch between offense and defense. Warden is a great choice to cross in that sense, as their systematic, precise attacks match perfectly with Showdown’s design.
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