Best Martial Arts Games

Martial arts have been a significant influence on all kinds of media for years, including, of course, video games. And, although the latter is still far away from the cult films about martial arts, you can find a half or two dozen worthy representatives of game development able to please the most demanding fans of hand-to-hand combat.

Now, any game discipline has a themed game. It even applies to cricket. You can find out about such games on the Cricket 360 website. If you are more interested in games based on martial arts, then our top will be interesting for you. We did not limit ourselves to any period or platform, gathering everything we could and choosing the best of them, like:

■ Shenmue;

■ Sleeping Dogs;

■ Sify and others.

Shenmue

It’s been years since Shenmue first appeared on the Sega Dreamcast, but the fan love for the series hasn’t faded. The first installment shone with gameplay well ahead of its time. Even if combat wasn’t the center of it, learning new combinations and trying them out on opponents was a joy. And it was doubly enjoyable to do so in the remaster of the original games Sega released on PC and seventh-generation consoles.

The battles in the first Shenmue, while pretty damn entertaining, were at times very frustrating. Fortunately, things have improved considerably in the second installment. There are more combinations, the mechanics have been licked, and the game is much more enjoyable.

Sleeping Dogs.

Perhaps this is one of the most underrated games of the last generation. It has a lot of positive sides, from a fascinating narrative to the colorful open world of Hong Kong. Still, the brightest aspect of the game became, of course, the fights. Brutal, scathing, and stylish fights with local gangsters can hardly bore anyone.

Absolver

Absolver is not without flaws, but as anyone who has played, it will tell you, the combat in this game is unparalleled. The melee-focused action boasts a rare style and complexity, and its mechanics have impressive depth. Few things compare to the sense of satisfaction that arises here during the precise sequence of one perfectly executed technique after another.

Sify

Sloclap has worked on the flaws of Absolver and released Sify in 2022, a twisted action thriller about a martial arts master who has been on a path of revenge since childhood and seeks revenge on the men who robbed him of his family.

Like Absolver, this game has a complex but spectacular combat system based on Eastern martial arts. If you choose not to play by its rules, not to learn the techniques, and forget about blocks and parry, each defeat will age your hero until he becomes an older man. Beneath Sify’s unique aging mechanics is a roguelike component that throws gamers back to the beginning if they make too many mistakes.

Naraka: Bladepoint

Naraka: Bladepoint is a successful experiment in fusing royal combat with the legends and myths of the Far East. In Naraka: Bladepoint, you have 60 players to learn the techniques, tricks, and unique abilities of the heroes to fight for the title of the best in the picturesque arena.

In Naraka: Bladepoint, the battles are like a dance that’s impossible to tear away. Brilliant animation, an abundance of moves, unprecedented freedom of movement thanks to the cat hook – all this makes the game unique among the royal battles and quickly gained popularity.

Jade Empire

Much less well-known than other BioWare hits developed in recent years, Jade Empire still boasts an impressive fanbase. It’s arguably the studio’s most unique game, evident in everything from the visual style and setting to the gameplay. Jade Empire’s combat system is much more action-packed than in other BioWare projects (at least, it was back then) but relatively simple yet carefully crafted.

Enter The Matrix

While Enter the Matrix didn’t live up to all the hype surrounding it years ago, it was a game that allowed gamers to scatter vast crowds of enemies while still looking very cool. Unfortunately, it had a lot of issues that ended up reducing the overall quality of the game to abysmal. Still, the fighting, at least in EtM, looked great.

One Finger Death Punch.

The game that is the most different from all the others on our list, and for one reason only. As the name implies, you have to play this game with one finger. But don’t be fooled by this apparent simplicity because this game is a living hell. It is only on paper the idea of watching how the stick man stabs the same foes in the style of Chinese action movies looks bleak. It’s extraordinarily entertaining.

True Crime: Streets of LA

This game comes from when the “GTA clones” were literally proliferating by the dozens. But as an action game, True Crime was one of the best. It combined an exciting open world with an interesting story. In addition, the combat system (in which the shooting, we must admit, was not so good) could boast some beautiful and intense hand-to-hand combat. Not the most original game ever, but anyone who has played True Crime: Streets of LA will tell you it’s worth it.

Overgrowth

The game, at first glance, is unique. It is because you play a humanoid rabbit fighting for the liberation of relatives from the power of an evil lord, using ancient martial arts techniques. What could be more bizarre? But you must admit that Overgrowth is a lot of fun, too.

Shaolin vs. Wutang

This fighting game doesn’t hide its love for classic martial arts movies. And fortunately, the game passes the test of quality, not only in aesthetics (a lot of references!) but also in the gameplay. As a result, it is a bit different from other games in its genre. It is casual and relies more on visuals than combat mechanics, but Shaolin vs. Wutang works beautifully.

Shuyan Saga.

Part visual novel, part action, Shuyan Saga stands apart from the other titles in our selection, where it is solely due to its combat part. The game’s mechanics may not be too deep, but it’s a great homage to kung fu movies, and it’s also simple and accessible, which is excellent.

Biomutant

Biomutant is an action/RPG that the developers describe as a “kung fu tale.” You will go to a post-apocalyptic world and play the role of not a happy survivor but a specific creature resembling a raccoon. He will embark on an adventure in which he masters the different styles of Wushu and gets a unique ability through various mutations. So, naturally, to survive in such unusual conditions.

Blade and Soul

Blade and Soul is a fantasy MMORPG by South Korean developers. It is not accidentally included in our selection because there are a lot of classes, among which there is a place for “Kung Fu Master” and other melee fighters. The non-target combat system involves the use of combo attacks, as well as the selection of “timing.”

Otherwise, it is an excellent game for its genre, which offers to explore the open world, go to dangerous dungeons, find like-minded people or take part in PvP, as well as engage in many other activities that can captivate seriously.

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