Fighting and racing games may not be the system sellers in the gaming world that compete with the likes of Call of Duty or Grand Theft Auto, but they do have an important place in the industry.
They represent niches of the audience who love to compete, and get lost in the details of both cars and the intricacies of fighting game combos and strategies. Both see their hits and misses, but which are the best of the last half-decade? Let’s now take a look at the best fighting and racing games of the last five years, according to Metacritic.
Updated April 27th, 2022 by Jerrad Wyche: Every year sees a new slate of fantastic and critically-acclaimed video games released, coming from any and all genres the medium offers. Though racing and fighting games may be more niche in comparison to shooters and sports titles, they still manage to be some of the industry’s best games. Fans of those genres commit to their favorite series, and with each passing year, there’s hope that a new entry can take their breath away through either hand-to-hand combat or the thrill of the open road.
15 The King Of Fighters XV (85)
After a long time waiting, fans finally got their hands on The King Of Fighters XV in 2022. Its predecessor was released in 2016, with the critical response floating around a Metacritic score of 79. The sequel, however, improved on a lot of the weaknesses and, as a result, was rewarded with a score of 85 on Metacritic.
The robust lineup of characters provides a base for players to find their own combination of fighters, that fit both their playstyle and preferred team composition. Its graphics are divisive, but the combat system developers SNK delivered is the most universally appreciated thing about The King Of Fighters XV.
14 Killer Instinct: Definitive Edition (86)
We’re now living in a world where games can launch in a troubled place, but then be polished and completely different products in a year’s time. Killer Instinct may have been one of the first to do this in the modern era, as the 2015 release of its Definitive Edition completely rewrote the fighting game community’s opinion on the 2014 Xbox One console exclusive.
The release of Killer Instinct: Definitive Edition saw the game’s Metacritic score jump from a lousy 73 to a well-respected aggregate of 86.
13 Street Fighter V: Arcade Edition (87)
Humans love underdog stories, and with Street Fighter V it’s nice to see the turnaround the game has seen since its initial release. After years of community feedback and professional criticism, Capcom managed to mold Street Fighter V into a product people actually wanted to play.
The Metacritic score of 87, a 10-point jump from the original release’s score of 77, is reflective of a game that was finally in a place where it felt like a finished product. At launch, it was criticized for feeling like an unfinished cash grab by Capcom.
12 Injustice 2 (87)
It doesn’t get talked about enough, but Injustice 2 has done a lot for the fighting game genre in terms of making it accessible to casual fans. It not only delivers the solid gameplay associated with the Mortal Kombat series NetherRealm Studios is known for, but also adds an engaging story experience that ties in fighting genre gameplay pretty nicely.
A Metacritic score of 87 doesn’t only make it one of the best fighting games of the last five years, but it’s good enough to also make it one of the best superhero games of all-time in terms of Metacritic reception.
11 Guilty Gear -Strive- (87)
Arc System Works are considered some of the best fighting game developers in the world. They are experts in their craft, and deliver fighting systems that shine and add a level of detail and preciseness the FGC yearns for in their games.
Guilty Gear -Strive- is the studio’s most recent high-quality release, and despite it releasing in mid-2021 it still sits at a Metacritic aggregate score of 87. Fans and critics alike also believe this is a great starting place for those new to the Guilty Gear series, which is also a welcome surprise as every year sees new fighting game fans enter the space.
10 Gran Turismo 7 (87)
Gran Turismo 7, the long-awaited next entry in Polyphony Digital’s beloved simulation racing series, was finally released in 2022. This game currently sits at a Metacritic aggregate score of 87, and could end up being the best critically-received racing title of the entire year.
Reviewers praised the game for its accessibility in a gaming space that can be tough for new users, and its dedication to the history of the automobile industry was also something that was lauded as one of its strengths.
9 Dragon Ball FighterZ (87)
Despite anime being one of the faster-growing sections of entertainment globally, the video game space has been riddled with low-quality licensed projects that never meet expectations. That was until Dragon Ball FighterZ was released in 2018, to universal critical acclaim.
The talented developers at Arc System Works not only delivered an expertly designed fighting game set in the Dragon Ball universe, but managed to make the game look like a still frame from the anime itself. Its Metacritic scoreof 87 is one of the highest scores an anime-licensed game has ever received.
8 F1 2021 (88)
F1 2021 might be considered to be the most niche racing game on the entirety of this list, but the sport, in general, is blowing up in both viewership and interest, as well as the collectible trading card game space.
At a score of 88 on Metacritic, the 2021 edition of this series, developed by Codemasters, delivered the F1 experience fans wanted. It is the most in-depth in the series so far, and players have plenty of customization options that make the experience fit what they specifically want out of it. Simulation racing can be a bit intimidating, and F1 2021 sits near the top when it comes to places that are best to hop into it for the first time.
7 Inertial Drift (89)
Inertial Drift is an arcade racing game that was released in 2020, and turns the genre on its head thanks to a focus on twin-stick controls. Its score of 89 on Metacritic is based on a PC release that scored significantly higher than the console version, which landed in the low 70s.
The game was developed by Level 91 Entertainment, and most of its praise is based on it delivering an energetic arcade experience focused on fun rather than realism — something the genre seemed to lack. Critics described it as a shot of caffeine to a genre in cruise control.
6 F1 2020 (91)
As the F1 series is an annual racing franchise expertly developed by Codemasters, three of the last five releases technically belong on this list. F1 2020 is the best of the bunch, critically.
The other titles that would make the cut alongside F1 2020’s score of 91 on Metacritic are F1 2017, with a score of 86 and F1 2019, which received a score of 89. It may be niche, but it delivers almost every year.
5 Forza Horizon 3 (91)
The first of two Forza Horizon titles to make the list, Forza Horizon 3 may not have innovated on the series’ formula but it definitely helped it reach the broader casual audience. It took the series to the vast outback of Australia, where players got to experience the beauty and jaw-dropping landscape of the land down under.
The only games in the entire Forza series to score higher than this 2016 hit are Forza Motorsport 3 (92) in 2009 and its follow-up Forza Horizon 4 (92) in 2018. There’s nothing quite like seeing a kangaroo in the wild while driving at 100mph plus speeds.
4 Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (92)
Mario Kart as a series gets the same disrespect from the greater racing game community as Super Smash Bros. does from the fighting game community. At its core it is a racing franchise, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the crown jewel of Nintendo’s family favorite arcade racer.
Though it’s technically a port of the Wii U release with added features, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’s Metacritic score of 92 is warranted considering the Wii U was a failure in terms of sales. The Nintendo Switch port added enough to make it feel new and refreshing.
3 Forza Horizon 4 (92)
Forza Horizon 4 isn’t only one of the best racing games of the last five years, but it’s likely why Playground Games was purchased by Microsoft. Unlike the Forza Motorsport series, aimed at car enthusiasts and self-proclaimed gearheads, Forza Horizon is made for casual car fans who desire a high-quality racing game with arcade elements.
Forza Horizon 4’s Metacritic score of 92 wasn’t surprising to anyone, and it’s nice to see a studio rewarded for its level of innovation and craftsmanship in a niche gaming genre.
2 Forza Horizon 5 (92)
Forza Horizon 5 launched in 2021 as a premier Xbox exclusive title and followed in Playground Games’ legacy of delivering genre-leading and defining experiences to the arcade racing scene.
The game still holds an aggregate score of 92 on Metacritic, which is unreal for most video games regardless of the genre — but is especially jaw-dropping in the world of racing games. It took the series to a beautiful Mexican landscape that showed off the sights, culture, and weather of an underrated part of the world.
1 Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (93)
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate ranking at the top might upset a good chunk of people. Despite this series’ focus on combat, there’s a contingent who believe that Super Smash Bros. titles aren’t fighting games.
Thankfully, the critics don’t agree, recognizing the series’ magnum opus as an expertly crafted fighting game. It sits as the best in its genre over the last five years with a Metacritic score of 93.
NEXT: The Best Western Role-Playing Games Of All-Time, According To Metacritic
