The Super Smash Bros. games have been beloved by a wide variety of gamers since the first installment was released in 1999 for the Nintendo 64. Since then, every major console has had its own version of the game, and it has increased in popularity with every release. The combination of everyone's favorite Nintendo characters, exciting stages, and well-executed game mechanics makes Smash Bros. the benchmark for fighter games of its kind.
As of 2022, Nintendo has announced that Super Smash Bros. Ultimate will no longer be releasing DLCs with new characters for the title. That means that the game will stay as it currently stands until a new Smash title comes around, likely for a future Nintendo console. However, if fans of the classic Nintendo fighter game can't wait any longer for new fighter action, there are a variety of games in a similar style that might satisfy them.
Roof Rage
Roof Rage is a martial arts platform fighter game that will take gamers across 13 different stages, all focused on the rooftops of beautiful buildings and sceneries. The game is available for PC platforms and the Nintendo Switch and can have up to eight local players, with online play only available on the PC. Overall, this game has very similar moves and attacks to Smash. Players can experiment with combos and dodges while enjoying the beautifully designed stages like in Super Smash Bros.
Brawlout
Brawlout is a game designed by Angry Mob Games in 2017 for Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. The game plays two to four players, with a large roster of 25 playable characters to choose from. Like Smash, a player's damage percentage will increase as they are struck, and as that percentage gets higher, they will fly farther with hits. Unlike Smash, however, there is no blocking or grabbing in this game, which can become the worst player habit in Smash Bros., so fighters can focus on perfecting combos instead of depending on those moves.
TowerFall
This title was the first released from Maddy Makes Games, an Indie company that found great success with Towerfall's release. It is available for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Windows. This game is an archery combat game, with the last player standing winning the match. Players shoot their opponents and can either gather ammo from the ground after another player shoots or catch arrows in mid-air (which gains added perks). Similar to Smash, the game also has "break the target" stages, which require a player to shoot at every target on the stage in order to win. With so many unique options, this may be the title to give gamers a reason to get into fighting games.
PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royal
Sony came out with its own version of Smash Bros in 2012, but it never reached the success of the Nintendo title. This game is a stage fighter that incorporates characters from various PlayStation games.
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This game can play up to four players at a time and includes characters from God of War, PaRappa the Rapper, Infamous, Sly Cooper, and more. When players attack their opponents, they can gather AP orbs, filling a meter that, once full, allows the player to use special movies.
Power Stone 2
Power Stone 2 is the sequel to Power Stone, which started as a Capcom arcade game. The sequel included new character voices, as well as different game modes for players to choose from. 1-on-1 mode allows a two-character storyline game, Arcade mode is a four-character storyline game, Original is a multiplayer mode with free choice of characters and stages, and Adventure mode is another storyline mode, but where players can collect items, cards, and money. In the matches themselves, players can take advantage of items on the stage, like tables and chairs, in order to cause damage to their opponents.
Rocket Arena
Rocket Arena is a third-person online shooter game that was released in 2020. It is available for Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. The game starts out with 10 playable characters and 10 maps, but there is potential for unlocking new and exciting features as players go. Unlike the melee style in Smash, in this game, players fly around and shoot each other with rockets until their "blast meter" fills up from damage taken themselves. This creates a high-energy game with lots of satisfying explosions.
Brawlhalla
Brawlhalla is a fast-paced 2D fighter game with an adorable selection of characters known as "legends." The game is available on Steam, and also for PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, and also on mobile. The stages have a very Smash Bros. feel, with a huge variety of different options with platforms and obstacles. What's even better is that there are frequently more characters added, like the Super Smash Bros. characters, with some crossover characters from franchises like Adventure Time, Marvel, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Rivals Of The Aether
Rivals of the Aether is an Indie game developed by Dan Fornace. It was first released for Windows but later became available for the Xbox One as well as the Nintendo Switch. The game is based on a fan-made remake of Super Smash Bros., so it has a lot of similar game mechanics.
Players use combos to deal damage and throw their opponents off the stage, but they also have a variety of elemental attacks that they can use. Another difference from Smash is that players can not grab onto the stage edges in an attempt to save themselves, which adds a challenging quality to the game.
Lethal League Blaze
Lethal League Blaze is an Indie game developed by Team Reptile. The game is a sequel to Lethal League and used player feedback in order to perfect the title and give players what they wanted in a fighter title. It is available on Steam, PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. Players can choose from 12 characters and can use "pong" game mechanics to fire projectiles back at their opponent, creating a lot of fast-paced explosive action.
Slap City
Slap City was developed by the gaming company Ludosity, and brings together characters from different Ludosity games to battle it out. The game has eight unique characters with specific weapons and abilities that ensure that two players will never have the same moves and options. The game has 32 battle stages but also has some stages that revolve specifically around slapping a ball into goals in order to win. The game was first available only on Stream but has since been released for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4.