We’re already more than halfway through 2026, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have any new releases left to hope for. This year still has a bunch of interesting fighting game titles slated for release, from major franchise tie-ins to a raft of unique indie fighters.
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What’s left of 2026 has a great mix of titles with something for every part of the fighting game community. The fighting game genre is surprisingly diverse, with innovative titles offering a range of gameplay types across solo, PVP, and co-op modes. These ten upcoming games, featuring classic 2D fighters, 3D fighters, and 3D-voxel-based physics fighters, are definitely worth keeping an eye on throughout the rest of this year.
10
The Grand Slamboree
Every Hit Counts
- Release date: August 26 2026
The Grand Slamboree is an indie 2D platform fighter whose solo developer, Alex Jackson, says on Reddit that “every hit is lethal”. This is a reference to its one-hit-kill mechanic, in which every attack can potentially end a fight.
It’s slated for a late-August (26th) Steam release and features six unique playable characters, each with its own ability, and more than 120 stages across six worlds. Each stage has its own interactive elements and hazards, and it looks pretty fun — if a little chaotic. With PVP and local multiplayer — with full online multiplayer in the works — The Grand Slamboree is a cute, fun, and unusual upcoming fighting game well worth a look.
9
Koto 琴
A Samurai Fighter With a Musical Twist
Koto 琴 is billed as a fast-paced, top-down arena fighter by developer Oh No Pono Games, with combat heavily focused around samurai swords. It’s got local split-screen multiplayer and PVP functionality, but the cool thing about Koto 琴 is that when you pick up the titular “koto,” it changes your moveset, and you get to unleash ranged attacks.
Koto 琴 doesn’t have a specific release window yet, being planned for 2026. Its system requirements mean you could probably run it on a potato, and its charming pixel art graphics and split-screen co-op mean this could be a fantastic little friendslop fighter. Some will take the competition more seriously than others, of course.
8
Battlecore Robots
Build Your Own Battle Bots
Battlecore Robots from developer Yellowfall Games has a pretty cool premise: you can build customizable mechs and then deploy them into battle arenas. Featuring traps, different weapon types, and bombs, Battlecore Robots allows up to four players to compete locally or online. It’s even got a single-player mode so you can experiment with different builds and play through a story.
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Slated for a full Q4 2026 release, Battlecore Robots has already had a limited Patreon release, which was positive. This futuristic, highly stylized game looks great, and its customization is a big part of the appeal. This is definitely one to watch if you’re interested in arena fighters.
7
Beetle Battle Bros
A Physics-Based Beetle Battler
Beetle Battle Bros, by developer Zoidburgh, is a little weird. It’s got an interesting visual style that might not be for everyone, and full disclosure, its Steam page has an AI disclaimer stating portions of its code were AI-generated. That said, the game takes the fighter concept somewhere you don’t really see very often, and it’s definitely worth a look.
Beetle Battle Bros is a 1v1 physics-based fighter with combat relying on posturing, timing, and physics instead of button-mashy combos. Instead of traditional fighters, you use beetles. It’s got a roster of unique beetles (and spiders and scorpions), uses a custom 3D voxel engine, and looks janky but full of character. If you’re looking for something different, this one is probably worth a go.
6
Thumps & Blows
A Stickman Brawler
- Release date: August 26 2026
Originally scheduled for a July release, developer Widijou pushed Thumps & Blows back to August 26. Thumps & Blows isn’t a graphically ambitious game in the sense we usually think of — its cast features stickmen in a stickman world. Thumps & Blows has ten unique stickmen, features combos, and has local multiplayer and a story mode.
It’s even got a demo you can download on Steam, and it looks pretty engaging for what it is. It’s got a kind of old-school arcadey feel with a specific focus on classic 1v1 PVP. If you’re looking for something unusual, Thumps & Blows could be a good option when it releases at the end of August.
5
Perk-Up!
You Get Beat Down, You Beat Back Harder
- Release date: August 14 2026
Perk-Up! by developer Sphereka is a unique deck-building fighting game where defeat is part of the intended progression. After being defeated, you can learn new powers, gradually changing your loadouts and allowing for new strategies. It’s an interesting concept. Its Steam page claims there are 31,569,011,603,496,215,106,480 possible builds thanks to its deck-building system, which is a truly ridiculous number.
It’s graphically clean and simple, featuring 3D graphics and a cast of stylized rabbit-like fighters in a variety of colors. Its August 14 release date means you won’t have to wait long to play it, either. For fans of fighting games who want something a little more flexible than mastering fixed movesets and button combos, Perk-Up! looks set to be a winner.
4
Infinite Soul
An Elemental Fighter With Avatar Vibes
Infinite Soul is a 3D competitive fighter with PVP and PVE, and elemental combat built around the elements of Water, Earth, Fire, and Air. Its exact release date is still unknown, but its Steam page lists it for 2026. Graphically, it looks pretty nice, with a realistic art style across a variety of environments.
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Let’s get this out of the way — it’s very clearly heavily reminiscent of the world of Avatar (of Airbending fame rather than the one with gigantic blue cat people), and you can see that influence everywhere, from its power system to its visual design. That said, it isn’t an official Avatar fighting game with actual Avatar characters. It looks pretty cool, though, and if you’re interested in a photorealistic fighting game clearly influenced by Avatar, you should check it out.
3
HYPERFIGHT 2
Your Health Bar Is Your Weapon
HYPERFIGHT 2 by developer studio joh is an upcoming 2D fighting game built around a pretty cool resource management system: your life bar also fuels your special moves. It’s a sequel to the original HYPERFIGHT, so it uses a lot of the same systems, but expands it with additional moves, options, and improved online features. It has a range of solo modes alongside online PVP, so there’s a little bit of something for everyone.
HYPERFIGHT 2 has charming pixel art graphics, fun gameplay, and a roster of new and returning characters from the original. It’s even got a gameplay demo, so if you’re itching to try it out and get a head start, you can.
2
Underground: World War
A Def Jam-Inspired Underground Brawl
Underworld Interactive’s Underground: World War is a 3D fighting game inspired by the Def Jam series. You can create your own fighter or, if you’re that way inclined, play as one of a roster of underground rappers with unique styles and strengths. It’s got 1v1, 2v2, and Free-for-All modes, along with shared-screen PVP and co-op. Its Steam Early Access release is set for 2026, but it’s also coming to Xbox, PlayStation, and Switch for the full release.
It’s got clean graphics, multiple fighting styles, and even a story you can uncover as you kick and punch your way through the titular Underground World War. It has a pretty fun premise, and the gameplay looks engaging, so it’s definitely one to watch for 2026.
1
Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee Remastered
The King of All Kaiju Fighters Returns
- Release date: November 3 2026
Developed by Pipeworks Studios and published by Atari, Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee Remastered is a remaster of the classic kaiju arena fighter. This cult classic is reimagined for modern platforms, and it looks pretty slick. Featuring 12 iconic playable monsters, eight arenas, and a mixture of melee attacks, ranged abilities, and special Rage Mode attacks, it’s fair to say Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee Remastered looks like a good time.
It’s got destructible environments too, alongside local multiplayer and all-new online multiplayer. You’ve got to wait until November for this classic to return, but it should be well worth the wait — especially if you enjoyed the original.
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