10 Fighting Games With the MOST Re-releases

10 Fighting Games With the Most Re-releases

Welcome to MojoPlays, and today, we’re taking a look at 10 fighting games that have an absurd amount of re-releases. Keep in mind that we’re looking at specific games, not franchises as a whole.

“Dead Or Alive 2” (1999)

Most of the “Dead Or Alive” franchise has stuck to one release per generation, whether that was on Xbox, Xbox 360, or just a couple of different platforms. But DOA 2 was one of two games that got an egregious number of re-releases. For starters, the arcade version got two different versions: the initial launch version and the refined “Millenium” version. As for home console, you could just get “Dead Or Alive 2” for Dreamcast…or you could get the “limited edition”. Or maybe you want the even more refined version on PS2, “Dead Or Alive 2: Hardcore”, which was also released on PS3 via backwards compatibility? But Xbox players know the best version of DOA 2 was the remake, “Dead Or Alive Ultimate”.

“Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes” (2000)

For a time, it felt impossible to get a legitimate copy of MVC2 whether it be in physical or digital form. But once upon a time, it felt like you could get the game on just about any platform you wanted. First, there was the initial arcade version that got a nearly-perfect port to Dreamcast shortly after launch. A couple years later, you could play a slightly botched version on PlayStation 2 and Xbox. A handful of years after that, in 2009, you had to then buy “Marvel vs. Capcom Origins” to play MVC2 on Xbox 360 and PS3. You could even play it on iOS devices in 2012! Now, you’re better off just getting “Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection”, which is on PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and even PC.

“Darkstalkers” series (1994-97)

Unlike MVC2, which went through an extensive period of time in not being commercially available, the “Darkstalkers” games have been forever preserved across legions of platforms. Funny given that we haven’t had a new game since 1997. Whether they were direct ports or a part of some collection, all three “Darkstalkers” games have been available across Dreamcast, Nintendo Switch, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and just about every single PlayStation console excluding Vita. Perhaps the time and effort in porting these games are cheap enough to give Capcom short-term boosts in revenue, but man, you’d think “Darkstalkers” was this mega-popular IP that should have gotten a fourth mainline game already!

“Dead Or Alive 5” (2012)

If you thought the re-releases of “Dead Or Alive 2” were a bit excessive, you may have forgotten all about “Dead Or Alive 5”. When that game launched in 2012, everyone was kind of assuming that this was it. This was a great fighting game to close off the seventh console generation. And then, we got “Dead Or Alive Plus” for PS Vita, which had a bunch of new Training Mode options and different controls. Then, there was “Dead Or Alive 5 Ultimate” in 2013, the version that added Rachel and Momiji from “Ninja Gaiden” as playable characters on top of Jacky from “Virtua Fighter”, Ein, Leon, Marie Rose, Nyotengu, and Phase 4. And that version got a free-to-play version. But why buy that game when you could get “Dead Or Alive 5: Last Round” in 2015, made for PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and PC? And even that iteration got a free-to-play version! We get it, Koei Tecmo - you want us to play DOA 5! Please…stop! Stop before you think about bringing “Dead Or Alive 5 Infinite” over from the mobile markets in China!

“Virtua Fighter 5” (2006)

Perhaps SEGA wasn’t as crazy with VF5 as Koei Tecmo was with DOA5, but even then, it is crazy how long the franchise has been stuck on this particular installment. Don’t get us wrong, VF5 is an excellent fighting game, the best in the series! But, guys, this is a game from 2006 that was barely any different in its “Final Showdown” form that was released in 2010. And even then, that was a revision to a revision that came before called “Virtua Fighter 5 R”. Fast forward to 2021, where it was kind of cool seeing VF5 get remade for PS4 and Xbox One. But then, in 2025, we get “Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O.” on PC, which was then ported to console later in the year with “R.E.V.O. World Stage”, and it’s like…dudes, are you even working on VF6?

“Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3” (1995)

To its credit, “Mortal Kombat” has done a pretty good job at staying true to each of its games. Tweaks and refinements are usually saved for the next game where they can innovate, experiment, and really try to get MK in the best state possible. UMK3 is the worst it ever got when it came to re-releases. Granted, the ports made for Saturn, Genesis, and SNES were all decent. The same could not be said for the GBA and Nintendo DS iterations. Since then, the game has only been shoved into a couple of MK-centric collections, those being “Mortal Kombat: Arcade Kollection” and 2025’s “Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection”. And lest we forget about that second arcade iteration that had online play, “UMK3 WaveNet”!

“Samurai Shodown V” (2003)

One could make a very strong case for how much SNK rests on its laurels by re-releasing almost every game in its portfolio. “Samurai Shodown V” is no different. Though the original game was released in 2003, most fans are likely familiar with the “Samurai Shodown V Special”, which launched the following year. Whether you played it on the Neo Geo AES, an arcade cabinet, PC, Linux, PS Vita, or the port made for PS4, Xbox One, and Switch, there is a reason why this installment in particular gets more attention from SNK. This is truly the best “Samurai Shodown” game in the series as it features a wide number of characters from almost all of the games at that point and features some insanely refined controls and mechanics.

“King of Fighters” series (1994-)

Just about every single “King of Fighters” game has been forever preserved. Take your pick of whichever game is your favorite, it’s more than likely been made available on every single platform. “King of Fighters ‘94” and all of its annual sequels have been playable on almost any and all hardware. Some even went under completely different names such as the “EX” games on Game Boy Advance, which were just “King of Fighters ‘99” and “2000”. Obviously, there may be a couple of spin-offs or hyper specific versions that have been forgotten like the RPG centered around Kyo and the dozens of mobile spin-offs. But overall, you can pretty much access any game in the franchise on modern hardware.

“Virtua Fighter 2” (1994)

Yes, SEGA and “Virtua Fighter” make yet another appearance because history. “Virtua Fighter 2” was a really important game for the company and the franchise because this was the one that allowed them to go toe-to-toe with Namco’s “Tekken” games. Although being made available on a bunch of different hardware did not help SEGA in the long run. You could play VF2 on a Saturn, a Genesis, a PS2, PS3, Xbox 360, and even the forgotten console made by Tiger Electronics, the R-Zone. This game used to be on almost everything. Now, you just gotta own a copy of “Yakuza Kiwami 2”...which is also available on almost every modern platform.

“Street Fighter II: The World Warrior” (1991)

“Street Fighter II” is the most notorious when it comes to re-releases. No joke, Capcom milked this particular entry in the series beyond the brink of death and did so even when it was making new “Street Fighter” games! In addition to the original game, you have “Street Fighter II: Champion Edition”, “Street Fighter II: Hyper Fighting”, “Super Street Fighter II: The New Challengers”, “Super Street Fighter II Turbo”, “Hyper Street Fighter II: The Anniversary Edition”, “Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers”, and of course, “Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix”. And cumulatively, this series of games alone has spread across multitudes of different platforms since 1991, to the point where “Street Fighter II” specifically is forever in the pop culture zeitgeist.

Have you played any of these games for yourself? If so, which version? Let us know down in the comments, and don’t forget to subscribe to MojoPlays.