Street Fighter 6
2023 · PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PCThe modern flagship with Drive mechanics, optional Modern controls, World Tour mode, and a broad online ecosystem.
MainlineModern Street Fighter
5 releases & editions
← Full Street Fighter guide
Where to start with Street Fighter
The fighting-game benchmark: fireballs, footsies, world warriors, tournament revisions, and decades of competitive fundamentals.
Start with Street Fighter 6
The best current starting point: modern controls, strong tutorials, World Tour, and an active player base.
Then play…
Street Fighter II: The World Warrior
1991 · Arcade, SNES, Genesis / Mega DriveThe arcade phenomenon that made character matchups, combos, command inputs, and head-to-head fighting mainstream.
MainlineStreet Fighter IIThe essential genre text: simple enough to read, deep enough to explain why fighting games exploded.
5 releases & editions
Street Fighter Alpha 3
1998 · Arcade, PlayStation, Sega Saturn, Dreamcast, Game Boy Advance, PSPThe maximal Alpha entry, built around selectable Isms, a large cast, and one of the series' most energetic presentations.
MainlineAlpha / ZeroThe broadest Alpha package, with a huge roster and multiple fighting styles.
7 releases & editions
Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike
1999 · Arcade, Dreamcast, PlayStation 2, XboxThe cult-favorite III revision, famous for its animation, jazz-hop style, parries, and long competitive life.
MainlineStreet Fighter IIIThe iconic parry-era Street Fighter, best after learning basic fighting-game structure elsewhere.
7 releases & editions
Street Fighter IV
2008 · Arcade, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PCThe 3D-looking, 2D-playing revival that introduced Focus Attacks and rebuilt the modern fighting-game audience.
MainlineModern Street FighterThe game that brought Street Fighter back to the mainstream, though 6 is easier to enter today.
5 releases & editions
Honest skips / for later
Street FighterFor fans
Important history, but stiff and primitive compared with the sequel that defines the genre.
Street Fighter II Turbo: Hyper FightingStart here
A faster, sharper Street Fighter II once the original clicks.
Super Street Fighter II TurboStart here
The definitive old-school competitive Street Fighter II, but tougher than a first stop needs to be.
Street Fighter Alpha: Warriors' DreamsStart here
A good intro to the flashier Alpha branch, though Alpha 3 is the fuller stop.
Street Fighter Alpha 2Start here
Often the cleanest Alpha game mechanically, especially if you want a tighter roster than Alpha 3.
Historically fascinating, but Third Strike is the Street Fighter III entry most newcomers should see.
Street Fighter VLater
Important competitively, but Street Fighter 6 is the better modern entry point.