For decades, Capcom maintained a steady presence in the global arcade scene with its numerous popular games. Whether it was through shoot’em ups like “1942” and “Vulgus” or platformers like “Ghosts ‘n Goblins” or “Strider,” Capcom remained a prominent mover and shaker in the industry. But it was through its fighting games and beat’em ups that Capcom really cemented its place in the arcade market, which it then parlayed into success on home gaming platforms. Now, we’re looking back and celebrating the best arcade titles that Capcom released across its distinguished output for the medium spanning multiple decades.
Everyone has their own favorite Capcom fighting game and beat’em up title, but these are the ones that stand out for us. Many of these games are still available to play on modern platforms today and are each well worth checking out. There was a time when Capcom seemed to carry the entire fighting game genre, and its excellence in this arena has only grown better over time. Here are the five best Capcom arcade games ranked, each enduring classics in their own right.
5. Hyper Street Fighter II
“Street Fighter II” is a retro game that everyone needs to play at least once, revamping the foundation set by its 1987 predecessor and defining the modern fighting game. There were many games that tried to copy “Street Fighter,” with Capcom itself putting out several updated versions of its own game in arcades. The pinnacle of these titles was “Hyper Street Fighter II,” which started as a PlayStation 2 game before receiving an arcade release in 2004. The game uses 1994’s “Super Street Fighter II Turbo” as its foundation while letting players choose the different version of each character from prior “Street Fighter II” titles.
It’s through this mechanic of letting players choose characters from the entire breadth of “Street Fighter II” that places “Hyper Street Fighter II” above its predecessors. If you prefer the slower gameplay speed of “The World Warrior” or faster combat in “Turbo,” the game has got you covered. The game was included in “Street Fighter Anniversary Collection” and has since been remastered for modern platforms through “Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium” and “Capcom Fighting Collection.” The definitive version of the fighting game classic, “Hyper Street Fighter II” provides an all-in-one experience.
4. Alien vs. Predator (1994)
One of the best beat’em up arcade games of all time is also one that’s currently unavailable to play on modern platforms. 1994’s “Alien vs. Predator” is one of the greatest games based on either of the titular cinematic sci-fi franchises, boasting plenty of side-scrolling beat’em up action. The game has Weyland-Yutani bring the Xenomorphs to Earth. There, they overrun a California town, prompting two human soldiers to try to contain the situation. This pair is joined by two Predators, with each of the quartet possessing their own unique moves while being able to pick up weapons they encounter along the way.
“Alien vs. Predator” was one of Capcom’s few arcade beat’em ups that allowed for four-person multiplayer, and the differences between the playable characters made that distinction a striking one. The gameplay was fluidly handled, while the art style suited the sci-fi properties and technical presentation well. But outside of its inclusion on the Capcom Home Arcade in 2019, the game has gone unreleased on home platforms, at least through official means. An arcade title that we’re personally hoping gets resurrected someday, “Alien vs. Predator” is a hard-hitting joy to play.
3. Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes
Among the best arcade fighting games ever made is “Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes,” which was released in 2000. The culmination of Capcom’s partnership with Marvel that started with “The Punisher” in 1993, the game features a truly exhaustive roster of playable characters. The game features 56 playable characters in all, and they’re split evenly between Marvel and Capcom characters for 3v3 tag-team combat. More than just heavy hitters like the X-Men and Avengers squaring up with the “Street Fighter” cast, the game even brings in obscure figures like Captain Commando and Silver Samurai.
“Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes” feels like the end of an era for Capcom’s fighting games and one that closes out its run in style. The combat is fast, furious, and gloriously chaotic, especially given how delightfully zany some of the characters handle. The tag mechanics compared to similar fighting games are significantly refined, adding a new layer of depth to the gameplay. The ultimate tag-team fighting game and still arguably Capcom’s best crossover fighting game, “Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes” is an ambitious masterpiece.
2. Final Fight
While Capcom produced plenty of more sophisticated beat’em up games after 1989’s “Final Fight,” there’s still something undeniable about its enduring fun factor. The game takes the foundation laid by “Double Dragon” several years prior and significantly improves both the gameplay and the technical presentation for its side-scrolling brawler. The story follows best friends Cody Travers and Guy as they set out to rescue Cody’s girlfriend Jessica from a street gang, along with Jessica’s pro wrestler father Mike Haggar. Allowing for up to two-person co-op gameplay, each of these three playable characters handle considerably differently from each other.
“Final Fight” is an arcade game from 1989 that still holds up today, epitomizing the appeal of the beat’em up genre. A big part of that is that the combat mechanics are developed with fighting game sensibilities, giving the playable characters distinct attacks and combos to carry out. A lot of the DNA, right down to the art style, that would later be found in “Street Fighter II” can be seen in “Final Fight.” But beyond its legacy, “Final Fight” just remains a tremendously fun arcade beat’em up to play, earning it a place here.
1. Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike
Of course it was always going to be a “Street Fighter” title that topped this list, it was just a matter of which one specifically. While 1997’s “Street Fighter III: New Generation” was a video game that didn’t live up to the hype, its updates fared much better. This culminated in the title’s final update, 1999’s “Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike,” the best arcade fighting game ever made. The game expanded the playable roster with five additional characters, including the return of Chun-Li, while giving every character new endings after beating the final boss.
Everything about “Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike” feels like the ultimate payoff of the franchise’s classic era before transitioning to 3D animation. The characters and backgrounds are at their most detailed and vibrantly animated, while the score is among the property’s most dynamic and rousing. But the gameplay feels more fluid, engaging, and balanced than it had in prior Capcom fighting games, in no small part thanks to its refined parry mechanic. Still an absolute joy to play and the culmination of everything Capcom had done with its prior entries in the series, “Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike” is a full-on magnum opus.
