Fighting games typically pits two combatants in a test of skill and will with their unique fighting styles. But having to rely on fighting styles can make gameplay too samey, which is why some titles include monsters that rely on unconventional and fun tactics to keep battles fresh.
Playing as monsters in fighting games gives players cool options to lay the smack down on their opponents: how does one even prepare to fight against monsters to begin with? Whether the game plan is to confuse or abuse opponents, or even bring the fear with unique attacks, here are the best monsters in fighting games.
10 Merkava: Under Night In-Birth
Once a human who got warped into a Void because of his pursuit to achieve a Re-Birth, Merkava is one of the standout monsters in Under Night In-Birth. His transformation into a Void was not successful, since he still regained his consciousness and the ability to speak, but lost his memory: creatures of the Void tend to lose their minds and have an insatiable urge to consume Existence.
This insatiable hunger makes him relentless and ruthless when he is facing enemies. He can extend his limbs to give him significant range, and he can transform his limbs into wings and tentacles that are covered with malignant energy to rip and tear into his targets.
9 Sabrewulf: Killer Instinct
Saberwulf is the iconic werewolf in the Killer Instinct games. Once a German aristocrat, Baron Konrad Von Sabrewulf entered the tournament set by Ultratech since he was promised a cure for his lycanthropy if he won.
He is an infamous rushdown character who relies on fast claw swipes and vicious bites to maim his opponents. In the hands of a seasoned player, Saberwulf imbues the fear of being cornered by a rabid wolf on their enemies. Once he pounces, expect his onslaught to be ferocious and unrelenting.
8 Kusaregedo: Samurai Shodown 5 & 6
Kusaregedo was a former human whose desire to eat has transformed him into a grotesque yokai whose main purpose is to devour anything and everything in his way. Essentially a cannibal, Kusaregedo’s hulking physique and protruding bones enable him to overwhelm opponents in the two Samurai Shodown games he was on.
He relies on stabbing his enemies with his gnarly bony protrusions to inflict grievous damage. Though his gargantuan size often hinders his movement, he more than makes up for it when he manages to hit his targets with his massive strikes.
7 Astaroth: Soul Calibur
Astaroth is the hulking golem in the Soul Calibur games. He was created originally by Ares to get the infamous Soul Edge, and has proven to be a formidable champion who stops at nothing to gather souls as a crucible of chaos.
He wields a massive maul that he hurls and swings with reckless abandon against his victims. If he encounters troublesome fighters, he is more than willing to get up close and grapple them into oblivion with his high-damaging throws. Astaroth hits like a truck, and his brutality knows no bounds.
6 Arakune: BlazBlue
When it comes to monsters in fighting games, Arakune from BlazBlue is the perfect fit as one of the scary characters in games. He is an amorphous blob who holds unspeakable horrors within his body that he uses to attack his opponents with.
He has a complex game mechanic where he curses opponents throughout the match. Once his curse gauge is full, Arakune’s attacks suddenly become stronger and more erratic. This can lead to exceptionally damaging combos. He is known to be difficult to master, but once a player gets his unique combos, Arakune is a living nightmare to overcome.
5 Shuma-Gorath: Marvel Superheroes, Marvel VS Capcom
A powerful ancient demon, Shuma-Gorath is the tentacled menace from the Marvel Superheroes and Marvel vs Capcom titles. He resembles an octopus with a huge eyeball, and possesses immense supernatural powers. This includes spawning living balls of spikes, shapeshifting, and malevolent laser beams that he shoots to incapacitate enemies.
Handling Shuma-Gorath is tricky, since he is a charge character who also thrives in rushing down opponents. But once players unlock his potential, Shuma-Gorath can slither about and dominate his enemies with his shapeshifting attacks and chaos magic.
4 Goro: Mortal Kombat
As one of Shang Tsung’s generals, Goro brings brute strength and Shokan ferocity in the Mortal Kombat games he is in. In the early titles, Goro is the sub-boss players have to overcome, and that task is a difficult one to do.
Goro hits hard with each of his four arms, spews fireballs, and can leap onto enemies to close the distance. Once he gets his hands on his enemies, he pummels them into a bloody pulp, or he could tear their limbs apart without much trouble.
3 True Ogre: Tekken
Ogre was the final boss in Tekken 3 who has the stature of a battle-hardened Aztec warrior. Once he has been pushed to his limit, he unveils his true form: True Ogre, the God of Fighting. This version is more bestial and monstrous that will be the final test for the finalist of the King of Iron Fist.
True Ogre has large horns, huge wings, and an arm that’s transformed into a huge snake. In Tekken Tag Tournament 2, the same arm becomes a mass entanglement of vicious snakes. He also spews torrents of fire to char his enemies before absorbing their souls and devouring whatever remains.
2 Morrigan Aensland: Darkstalkers, Marvel VS Capcom
Not all monsters in fighting games have to look hideous or grotesque. Morrigan from the Darkstalkers and Marvel vs Capcom games is a succubus with a Noble bloodline who uses her attractiveness to get her way in most battles.
If her seduction doesn’t work, she is still a capable fighter who is effective at keeping her targets away with her Soul Fist attack until they are primed to take the decisive blow. Unlike most monsters, Morrigan isn’t malevolent, even when she indulges in hedonistic ventures, she usually sides with the good guys.
1 Kirby: Super Smash Bros
Kirby is a long-standing character in the Super Smash Bros games. Going against the trope of what monsters are supposed to look like, Kirby is a small, round, and pink creature with stubby arms and feet.
But make no mistake, despite his diminutive stature, Kirby is no pushover. He can shapeshift into a heavy rock that can knock out opponents, he can float away from attacks, and he can inhale and swallow his enemies, spit them out, and copy a part of their moveset. These allow him to wreak havoc on whatever stage he is in and whoever he’s fighting against.