We're About to Enter the Golden Age of Fighting Games

A Friendly Reminder...

We're about to enter the golden age of fighting games. These games have long been considered a niche genre, but their ability to transcend culture, as Street Fighter II did in the early 90s, is evident. The iconic "hadouken" fireball move and references to Street Fighter are prevalent in popular culture, from rap songs to graphic t-shirts at Walmart. Even artist Kanye West has sampled the Dhalsim's "Yoga Flame" sound in some of his raps.

Despite their mainstream recognition, fighting games are still challenging to play and arguably not as popular as other genres. However, this is about to change. The upcoming release of Project L by Riot Games, Street Fighter VI, and Tekken 8 have the potential to make fighting games more popular than ever before.

Project L, being based on one of the biggest esports of all time, League of Legends, has the potential to shake up the industry and bring more players and prize money to the scene. With the right timing, fun gameplay and proper marketing, it could completely change the industry.

Street Fighter VI is taking its decades-long history and knowledge to create one of the best fighting games of all time. The beta version is already visually appealing, with some of the best new characters we’ve ever seen in the franchise. Emphasizing on hip hop culture and street style, similar to Street Fighter III: Third Strike, the game already has a ton of single-player modes and options and even features customization. This return to form for the Street Fighter series and its emphasis on cross-cultural themes will surely bring in so many new players.

Tekken 8 is one of the most anticipated titles among fighting game enthusiasts. You know i’m hype for it but lets be honest, much is still not known about the game yet. Fans trust the Tekken team and expect it to be one of the most fun and clean Tekken games yet. With Tekken 7 selling millions of copies and even outselling Tekken 3, the franchise is more popular than ever. With the lack of new 3D fighting games to compete with it, Tekken 8 has the potential to push the genre to new heights.

Yes. Now is the time to play more fighting games, meet new people, and have fun. Don't be afraid to lose, as losing can be fun too. Practice your combos and go to tournaments, play online and just have fun. Buy a fightstick or hitbox, and make friends from all around the world. Push more buttons and this is the year you play more fighting games.

Shadow-@Patto_Sand via (@fightstickart)