1976
Heavyweight Champ (Sega) - First game to feature fist-fighting; however, boxing games don't usually count.
1979
Warrior (Vectorbeam)
* First fighting game that isn't boxing.
* First and only fighting game created by Vectorbeam.
* First fighting game for the arcades.
* First fighting game that uses one kind of weapon.
* First fighting game with 2P multi-player.
* First and only fighting game with vector graphics.
* First fighting game developed by a U.S. company.
1983
The Attack of the Phantom Karate Devils (Phantom Software)
* First and only fighting game created by Phantom Software.
* First fighting game to play at home or elsewhere, but not portable.
* First fighting game developed for a home computer (which was the Commodore 64).
* First fighting game with health (as well as stamina).
* First fighting game with kicking.
* First fighting game with projectiles (the ninja's star), but only CPU-controlled.
* First side-viewed fighting game that isn't boxing.
* It is unknown whether or not that Phantom Software is a U.S. company or a European company.
1984
Kung-Fu (Bug Byte)
* First (and only?) fighting game by Bug Byte.
* First fighting game for the Sinclair ZX Spectrum
* First side-viewed competitive fighting game (allowing up to two players to go head-to-head)
* First fighting game with instant replays (later used in Nintendo's Joy Mech Fight and Jaleco's Dead Dance / Tuff E Nuff, as well as some 3D fighting games starting with Sega's Virtua Fighter)?
Karate Champ (Data East / Technos Japan)
* First fighting game published by Data East.
* First fighting game developed by Technos Japan (former Data East staff).
* First successful fighting game.
* First fighting game developed by a Japanese company that's not boxing.
* First fighting game developed by Technos Japan (former Data East staff).
* First successful fighting game.
* First fighting game developed by a Japanese company that's not boxing.
* Technically the first game with a form of canceling, but does not allow moves to be canceled into other moves, so it is not the same thing.
* Technically the first fighting game with blocking (performed by holding back on the left joystick), but it is difficult to get it to work and not reliable.
* First fighting game with a tutorial demonstration (commonly seen in Neo-Geo fighting games).
* First fighting game with a judge character.
* First fighting game with winning taunts.
* First fighting game with an intro.
* First fighting game with digitized speech.
* First fighting game with bonus games.
* First fighting game featured in a film (Ferris Bueller's Day Off starring Matthew Broderick. It also appeared again in Bloodsport starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, making it two film appearances in a row as a fighting game).
Karate Champ: Player VS. Player (Data East) - This is the Karate Champ game the NES and FDS Karate Champs are home ports of.
* First fighting game revision.
* First fighting game sequel.
* First fighting game fully developed by Data East without Technos Japan being involved.
Urban Champion (Nintendo)
* First fighting game created by Nintendo.
* First fighting game for a home console that's not a home computer (which was the Family Computer/Nintendo Entertainment System).
* First fighting game with any kind of easily controllable defending.
* First fighting game to have easily controllable, reliable blocking (which is performed by holding up or down before your opponent executes a high level or low level punch, respectively).
* First fighting game with an environmental hazard (flowerpots dropped from people in windows).
* First fighting game with dizzies.
* First fighting game where players scroll to each battle (later used in Jordan Mechner's/Broderbund's Karateka, Taito/Allumer's Gladiator, Hudson's China Warrior and some others).
* First fighting game where matches were decided by something other than health depletion or point totals.
* It is unknown whether Urban Champion or Great Swordsman was the first fighting game with background music played during the actions of battles (others had musical cues) and the first fighting game with a form of "ring outs". Urban Champion was first released in Japan on November 14, 1984, while Great Swordsman was released sometime in 1984.
Great Swordsman (Taito / Allumer) - Great Swordsman's kendo mode was most likely ported to the NES as a Musashi no Ken licensed game.
* First fighting game either by Taito or perhaps the uncredited Allumer.
* First fighting game with death moves ( often referred to by the trademark name of Mortal Kombat, War Gods and Tattoo Assassins as "Fatalities", or by another generic term "finishing moves" ).
* First fighting game with countering; however, the intercepting moves do not actually hit the opponent, so it is really merely a form of defending.
* Perhaps the first example of modern hit levels, as there are three that each need to be defended against differently.
Karateka (Jordan Mechner / Broderbund)
* First rotoscoped video game (as well as fighting game)
* Perhaps the first fighting game with lifebars.
* First fighting game to have a final boss.
* First fighting game with a minor enemy during scrolling (the final boss' bird)
1985
Yie Ar Kung-Fu arcade (Konami)
* First fighting game to introduce the concept of multiple fighting characters with completely different fighting styles.
* First fighting game to feature fighting female characters (Star and Fan).
FC & MSX versions of Yie Ar Kung-Fu (Konami) - First fighting game to allow players to rebound off walls?
Onna Sansirou - Typhoon Gal (Taito)
* First fighting game with a playable female character.
* First fighting game to taunt opponents during battle.
* First fighting game where multiple enemies are fought at the same time.
* First fighting game with throws and grappling.
* If Karateka doesn't count as a fighting game, then Typhoon Gal is the first to feature lifebars, as well as boss characters.
* First fighting game released exclusively in Japan.
* First fighting game with 3D plane fields instead of 2D plane fields in a 2D game, later seen in Ka Ge Ki (Taito / Kaneko), Violence Fight (Taito), Pit-Fighter (Atari), Power Athletes (Kaneko), Dark Edge (Sega), Knuckle Heads (Namco), Ballz series (Accolade) and Aggressors of Dark Kombat (ADK).
Shanghai Kid (known in Japan as Hokuha Syourin Hiryu no Ken) (Culture Brain)
* First fighting game created by uncredited Culture Brain (formally known as Nihon Game).
* First fighting game to feature a combo system; however, many would consider it to be more like "hit this button to do more damage when 'Rush' appears" rather than "take advantage of recoiling opponent to hit them again", which is what many define as a combo.
* First fighting game with special moves.
* First fighting game to have more than one sequel, which are the Hiryu no Ken/Flying Dragon series.
Galactic Warriors (Konami)
* First mech-based fighting game.
* First fighting game to have multiple playable characters.
* First fighting game to have both male and female characters to play as; however, only two are male and one is female.
* First fighting game with a guard button.
* First fighting game with block damage.
* First fighting game with air blocking.
* First fighting game with character specific move sets for the playable characters.
* First fighting game with playable characters that shoot/throw projectiles ( Phantom Karate Devils didn't allow players to use projectiles ).
* First fighting game with a modern health bar (as opposed to a health meter comprised of notches like in Capcom's Mega Man series).
* First fighting game with the ability to execute multiple attacks while airborne.
* First fighting game with attacks of varying levels of strength.
Yie Ar Kung-Fu II: The Emperor Yie-Gah (Konami) - First fighting game with multiple objects and minor enemies to avoid during scrolling.
Kinnikuman Colosseum Deathmatch (Bandai)
* First fighting game by Bandai.
* First Kinnikuman video game (best known outside of Japan for the M.U.S.C.L.E. toys and the Ultimate Muscle anime).
* First licensed fighting game.
* Although Kinnikuman is about wrestling, this plays like a fighting game, so it is noteworthy for also being the first fighting game with air throws.
The Way of the Exploding Fist + (Melbourne House) - This is the third game in The Way of the Exploding Fist series.
* First fighting game with a "training mode", which plays like a 1 on 1 fighter.
* First fighting game to allow more than two players (which allowed up to three people to play at the same time).
1986
International Karate + (System 3) - First fighting game to have more than two competitors in a free-for-all style fight.
Gladiator (Taito/Allumer) - Gladiator was followed by a sequel titled Blandia.
* First weapon-based fighting game with multiple objects and minor enemies to avoid during scrolling.
* First fighting game where armor/clothing can be knocked off.
Brian Jack's Uchi Mata (Martech, later known as Screen 7) - Both of these features below were later widely used in modern-fighting games.
* First fighting game to feature hidden moves that players have to find on their own.
* First to feature motion control scheme that allowed users to perform various fighting techniques.
FC/NES version of Trojan (Capcom)
* See the "VS. GAME" mode. This proves that this is the first fighting game by Capcom, as well as their first weapon-based fighting game.
* First non-fighting game with a fighting game mode.
1987
Karate (Atari 2600) (Univision, later rereleased by Froggo)
* First and only fighting game for the Atari 2600.
* First to be re-released without being updated ( which often happened to fighting games that sold well, and became re-released with the prices cut while being labeled like "Million Seller" or "Best" ).
Street Fighter (Capcom)
* First non-grapple based fighting game with controller motions.
* First fighting game with pressure-sensing buttons.
China Warrior (Hudson)
* First fighting game by Hudson Soft.
* First fighting game to have characters with faces that show wounds on their bodies as they get hurt, later used in SNK's Art of Fighting series, Strata's Time Killers and BloodStorm, Jaleco's Dead Dance / Tuff E Nuff.
Fuuun Shaolin Kyo (Jaleco)
* First fighting game by Jaleco, who later on became better known for Tuff E Nuff (known in Japan as Dead Dance).
* First fighting game for the Famicom Disk System. It was followed by a sequel titled "Fuuun Shaolin Kyo: Ankoku no Maou".
1988
Fuuun Shaolin Kyo: Ankoku no Maou (Jaleco) - First fighting game with multiple environmental hazards (e.g. wind, lightning, etc.).
FC/NES version of Double Dragon 1 (Technos Japan) - Although mostly a scrolling beat 'em up, it has a VS. mode, which proves that it is Technos Japan's first own fighting game. Inside of it, it's very important to note that tapping forward or back twice will execute a running maneuver, making it the first fighting game to include that technique.
Fighting Road (Toei Animation)
* First fighting game with a gauge bar.
* First password-driven fighting game.
* Technically the first fighting game with blocking (performed by holding back on the left joystick), but it is difficult to get it to work and not reliable.
* First fighting game with a tutorial demonstration (commonly seen in Neo-Geo fighting games).
* First fighting game with a judge character.
* First fighting game with winning taunts.
* First fighting game with an intro.
* First fighting game with digitized speech.
* First fighting game with bonus games.
* First fighting game featured in a film (Ferris Bueller's Day Off starring Matthew Broderick. It also appeared again in Bloodsport starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, making it two film appearances in a row as a fighting game).
Karate Champ: Player VS. Player (Data East) - This is the Karate Champ game the NES and FDS Karate Champs are home ports of.
* First fighting game revision.
* First fighting game sequel.
* First fighting game fully developed by Data East without Technos Japan being involved.
Urban Champion (Nintendo)
* First fighting game created by Nintendo.
* First fighting game for a home console that's not a home computer (which was the Family Computer/Nintendo Entertainment System).
* First fighting game with any kind of easily controllable defending.
* First fighting game to have easily controllable, reliable blocking (which is performed by holding up or down before your opponent executes a high level or low level punch, respectively).
* First fighting game with an environmental hazard (flowerpots dropped from people in windows).
* First fighting game with dizzies.
* First fighting game where players scroll to each battle (later used in Jordan Mechner's/Broderbund's Karateka, Taito/Allumer's Gladiator, Hudson's China Warrior and some others).
* First fighting game where matches were decided by something other than health depletion or point totals.
* It is unknown whether Urban Champion or Great Swordsman was the first fighting game with background music played during the actions of battles (others had musical cues) and the first fighting game with a form of "ring outs". Urban Champion was first released in Japan on November 14, 1984, while Great Swordsman was released sometime in 1984.
Great Swordsman (Taito / Allumer) - Great Swordsman's kendo mode was most likely ported to the NES as a Musashi no Ken licensed game.
* First fighting game either by Taito or perhaps the uncredited Allumer.
* First fighting game with death moves ( often referred to by the trademark name of Mortal Kombat, War Gods and Tattoo Assassins as "Fatalities", or by another generic term "finishing moves" ).
* First fighting game with countering; however, the intercepting moves do not actually hit the opponent, so it is really merely a form of defending.
* Perhaps the first example of modern hit levels, as there are three that each need to be defended against differently.
Karateka (Jordan Mechner / Broderbund)
* First rotoscoped video game (as well as fighting game)
* Perhaps the first fighting game with lifebars.
* First fighting game to have a final boss.
* First fighting game with a minor enemy during scrolling (the final boss' bird)
1985
Yie Ar Kung-Fu arcade (Konami)
* First fighting game to introduce the concept of multiple fighting characters with completely different fighting styles.
* First fighting game to feature fighting female characters (Star and Fan).
FC & MSX versions of Yie Ar Kung-Fu (Konami) - First fighting game to allow players to rebound off walls?
Onna Sansirou - Typhoon Gal (Taito)
* First fighting game with a playable female character.
* First fighting game to taunt opponents during battle.
* First fighting game where multiple enemies are fought at the same time.
* First fighting game with throws and grappling.
* If Karateka doesn't count as a fighting game, then Typhoon Gal is the first to feature lifebars, as well as boss characters.
* First fighting game released exclusively in Japan.
* First fighting game with 3D plane fields instead of 2D plane fields in a 2D game, later seen in Ka Ge Ki (Taito / Kaneko), Violence Fight (Taito), Pit-Fighter (Atari), Power Athletes (Kaneko), Dark Edge (Sega), Knuckle Heads (Namco), Ballz series (Accolade) and Aggressors of Dark Kombat (ADK).
Shanghai Kid (known in Japan as Hokuha Syourin Hiryu no Ken) (Culture Brain)
* First fighting game created by uncredited Culture Brain (formally known as Nihon Game).
* First fighting game to feature a combo system; however, many would consider it to be more like "hit this button to do more damage when 'Rush' appears" rather than "take advantage of recoiling opponent to hit them again", which is what many define as a combo.
* First fighting game with special moves.
* First fighting game to have more than one sequel, which are the Hiryu no Ken/Flying Dragon series.
Galactic Warriors (Konami)
* First mech-based fighting game.
* First fighting game to have multiple playable characters.
* First fighting game to have both male and female characters to play as; however, only two are male and one is female.
* First fighting game with a guard button.
* First fighting game with block damage.
* First fighting game with air blocking.
* First fighting game with character specific move sets for the playable characters.
* First fighting game with playable characters that shoot/throw projectiles ( Phantom Karate Devils didn't allow players to use projectiles ).
* First fighting game with a modern health bar (as opposed to a health meter comprised of notches like in Capcom's Mega Man series).
* First fighting game with the ability to execute multiple attacks while airborne.
* First fighting game with attacks of varying levels of strength.
Yie Ar Kung-Fu II: The Emperor Yie-Gah (Konami) - First fighting game with multiple objects and minor enemies to avoid during scrolling.
Kinnikuman Colosseum Deathmatch (Bandai)
* First fighting game by Bandai.
* First Kinnikuman video game (best known outside of Japan for the M.U.S.C.L.E. toys and the Ultimate Muscle anime).
* First licensed fighting game.
* Although Kinnikuman is about wrestling, this plays like a fighting game, so it is noteworthy for also being the first fighting game with air throws.
The Way of the Exploding Fist + (Melbourne House) - This is the third game in The Way of the Exploding Fist series.
* First fighting game with a "training mode", which plays like a 1 on 1 fighter.
* First fighting game to allow more than two players (which allowed up to three people to play at the same time).
1986
International Karate + (System 3) - First fighting game to have more than two competitors in a free-for-all style fight.
Gladiator (Taito/Allumer) - Gladiator was followed by a sequel titled Blandia.
* First weapon-based fighting game with multiple objects and minor enemies to avoid during scrolling.
* First fighting game where armor/clothing can be knocked off.
Brian Jack's Uchi Mata (Martech, later known as Screen 7) - Both of these features below were later widely used in modern-fighting games.
* First fighting game to feature hidden moves that players have to find on their own.
* First to feature motion control scheme that allowed users to perform various fighting techniques.
FC/NES version of Trojan (Capcom)
* See the "VS. GAME" mode. This proves that this is the first fighting game by Capcom, as well as their first weapon-based fighting game.
* First non-fighting game with a fighting game mode.
1987
Karate (Atari 2600) (Univision, later rereleased by Froggo)
* First and only fighting game for the Atari 2600.
* First to be re-released without being updated ( which often happened to fighting games that sold well, and became re-released with the prices cut while being labeled like "Million Seller" or "Best" ).
Street Fighter (Capcom)
* First non-grapple based fighting game with controller motions.
* First fighting game with pressure-sensing buttons.
China Warrior (Hudson)
* First fighting game by Hudson Soft.
* First fighting game to have characters with faces that show wounds on their bodies as they get hurt, later used in SNK's Art of Fighting series, Strata's Time Killers and BloodStorm, Jaleco's Dead Dance / Tuff E Nuff.
Fuuun Shaolin Kyo (Jaleco)
* First fighting game by Jaleco, who later on became better known for Tuff E Nuff (known in Japan as Dead Dance).
* First fighting game for the Famicom Disk System. It was followed by a sequel titled "Fuuun Shaolin Kyo: Ankoku no Maou".
1988
Fuuun Shaolin Kyo: Ankoku no Maou (Jaleco) - First fighting game with multiple environmental hazards (e.g. wind, lightning, etc.).
FC/NES version of Double Dragon 1 (Technos Japan) - Although mostly a scrolling beat 'em up, it has a VS. mode, which proves that it is Technos Japan's first own fighting game. Inside of it, it's very important to note that tapping forward or back twice will execute a running maneuver, making it the first fighting game to include that technique.
Fighting Road (Toei Animation)
* First fighting game with a gauge bar.
* First password-driven fighting game.
1989
Hissatsu Doujou Yaburi (Sigma Enterprises) - First RPG-based fighting game.
Street Smart (SNK)
* First fighting game by SNK.
* First fighting game where normal moves can be part of a string of combos. The combo system is simple, but it is the first of its kind.
* First fighting game with co-operative play.
Fist of the North Star (Game Boy) (Toei)
* First portable fighting game (which was developed for the Game Boy).
* If the Fist of the North Star game for the Sega Mark III (known outside of Japan as Black Belt for the Sega Master System) counts as a fighting game due to having VS. segments at the end of each stage, then the Game Boy Fist of the North Star wouldn't be the first fighting game based on the manga/anime series.
Reikai Doushi: Chinese Exorcist / The Last Apostle Puppet Show (Home Data)
* First fighting game by Home Data.
* First fighting game with digitized sprites (which are probably plastic figures).
* First fighting game with items to pick up.
Hippodrome (known in Japan as Fighting Fantasy) (Data East)
* First weapon-based fighting game with multiple weapons to choose from.
* Data East's first weapon-based fighting game.
* Due to having gigantic boss characters, this was the first to have them in fighting game history.
Violence Fight (Taito) - First fighting game with destructible environments.
Tenkaichi Bushi - Keru Naguuru (Namco / Game Studio)
* First fighting game published by Namco and first fighting game developed by their second-party developer, Game Studio. Namco later became better known for the Tekken and Soul franchises.
* First fighting game to have a very large roster (16 characters).
1990
Otoko Jyuku (Yutaka)
* First weapon-based fighting game on a portable console.
* First fighting game with platforms to jump on (however, that might not be innovative enough by fighting game standards).
Pit-Fighter (Atari Games)
* First fighting game by Atari Games.
* First fighting game with zooming view.
* First fighting game with digitized live actors.
* First fighting game to feature weapons to pick up and use.
* First fighting game to feature "down attacks" where players can hit their opponents that are laying down, later used in Taito's Dino Rex, Sega's Virtua Fighter series, SNK's Art of Fighting 3, Sunsoft's Waku Waku 7 and several others.
1991
Horangi-eui Bunno / Rage of Tiger (Byulbram Creature)
* First Korean fighting game, as well as the only Korean fighting game released before the impact of Capcom's fighting game below.
* First fighting game made public as a work-in-progress version (a later example would be Epic MegaGames & Diversions Entertainment's One Must Fall: 2097).
Street Fighter II: The World Warrior (Capcom)
* First modern fighting game ( or "basic style fighting game" as Japan calls it ). It's pretty much like an automobile. Combines many innovative ideas that were already done in older fighting games into one.
* First fighting game with a glitch-based combo system (although it was accidentally invented)
* First to have a six-button configuration.
* First modern fighting game to have a playable female character (Chun Li).
* First fighting game to have a character that can both cling to a stage and be disarmed (Balrog/Vega/Claw); however, he wasn't playable until Champion Edition and Turbo.
Tsuppari Wars (Sammy)
* Although it's more like an ancestor to Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto franchise, it also contains fighting game segments, making it the first fighting game by Sammy.
* First fighting game to feature team-based matches, which were 5-on-5 matches. This was probably later used in SNK's The King of Fighters franchise, Sega's Virtua Fighter 3tb and Namco's Tekken Tag Tournament titles.
Fatal Fury: King of Fighters (SNK)
* First fighting game to allow players to fight either in the foreground or background.
* First fighting game with the ability to attack in a Z-axis.
* First modern-fighting game with co-operative play.
Super Metal Crusher (Pack In Video)
* First fighting game by Pack In Video.
* First fighting game where players can just sit and watch computer players battle each other without players being involved, later used in Nintendo's Joy Mech Fight and Super Smash Bros. titles, as well as the freeware fighting game engine M.U.G.E.N.
1992
* First to have a six-button configuration.
* First modern fighting game to have a playable female character (Chun Li).
* First fighting game to have a character that can both cling to a stage and be disarmed (Balrog/Vega/Claw); however, he wasn't playable until Champion Edition and Turbo.
Tsuppari Wars (Sammy)
* Although it's more like an ancestor to Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto franchise, it also contains fighting game segments, making it the first fighting game by Sammy.
* First fighting game to feature team-based matches, which were 5-on-5 matches. This was probably later used in SNK's The King of Fighters franchise, Sega's Virtua Fighter 3tb and Namco's Tekken Tag Tournament titles.
Fatal Fury: King of Fighters (SNK)
* First fighting game to allow players to fight either in the foreground or background.
* First fighting game with the ability to attack in a Z-axis.
* First modern-fighting game with co-operative play.
Super Metal Crusher (Pack In Video)
* First fighting game by Pack In Video.
* First fighting game where players can just sit and watch computer players battle each other without players being involved, later used in Nintendo's Joy Mech Fight and Super Smash Bros. titles, as well as the freeware fighting game engine M.U.G.E.N.
1992
Big Fight: Big Trouble in the Atlantic Ocean (Tatsumi)
* Its "1P VS. 2P Battle" mode confirms that it's a fighting game, and while it's a modern beat 'em up like Capcom's Final Fight (1989), it is the first modern beat 'em up with a non-beat 'em up mode.
* First fighting game to have "get up" attacks.
* Its "1P VS. 2P Battle" mode confirms that it's a fighting game, and while it's a modern beat 'em up like Capcom's Final Fight (1989), it is the first modern beat 'em up with a non-beat 'em up mode.
* First fighting game to have "get up" attacks.
* First fighting game to allow players to power-up their fighting moves?
Shogun Warriors (known in Japan as Fujiyama Buster) (Kaneko)
* First modern-fighting game by Kaneko.
* First modern-fighting game based on ancient Japanese mythology, later popularized by SNK's Samurai Shodown, The Last Blade franchises and Ninja Master's - Haoh Ninpo Cho.
Street Fighter II: Champion Edition (Capcom) - First fighting game to feature multi-step air hitting.
World Heroes (ADK)
* First fighting game to feature multi-jumping.
* First fighting game to perform projectiles while airborne.
* First modern-fighting game with pressure-sensing buttons.
* First modern-fighting game to feature environmental hazards (as seen in its "Death Match" / "Fatal Match" modes).
* First to feature a character that imitates other characters from the game, who is known as Geegus (later used by Shang Tsung from Midway's Mortal Kombat, Salamander from Konami's Martial Champion, Dantel from Sammy's Survival Arts, Dural from Sega's Virtua Fighter series, Yacopu from both Sunsoft's Trip World and Galaxy Fight: Universal Warriors, and Charade from Namco's Soul series).
Metal & Lace: Battle of the Robo Babes (known in Japan as Ningyou Tsukai) (Forest) - First fighting game to feature an all-female roster. Later fighting games and franchises with all-female rosters include V.G. Variable Geo, Asuka 120% (until the release of Asuka 120% Limited BURNING Fest. featured a male character known as principal Genichirou Shindou), Valkyrie: The Power Beauties, Seifuku Densetsu Pretty Fighter (until FIST for PS1 and Saturn), Toukidenshou Angel Eyes, SNK Gal Fighters, Arcana Hearts, Vanguard Princess and some others.
Power Athlete (Deadly Moves for MD/GEN / Power Moves for SNES) (Kaneko) - First modern-fighting game with RPG elements?
Mortal Kombat (Midway)
* First modern-fighting game by a U.S. company (Midway).
* First fighting game to perform environmental death moves (e.g. The Pit stage).
* First 2D fighting game with digitized live actors (Pit-Fighter is on a 3D plane field, while Reikai Doushi didn't use actors).
* First fighting game to feature hidden death moves (death moves that players have to find on their own).
* First fighting game with juggling combos?
Either Blandia (Allumer / Taito) or Time Killers (Strata / Incredible Technologies) - One of these was the first weapon-based modern fighting game. Time Killers was released in November 1992, while Blandia was released sometime in 1992. Time Killers was also the first (and only?) fighting game where characters can still fight either with one or a few more body parts cut off (except for the head). While Blandia is the sequel to the 1986 Gladiator arcade game, while it follows the style of Capcom's SFII, it is the first modern-fighting game with removable armor. Blandia was also probably the first modern-fighting game (if not just fighting game) with a stage select screen.
Either Holosseum (Sega) or Karate Tournament (MITCHELL) - One of these was the first modern fighting game to use realistic fighting (lack of fictional moves), but they both came out the same year. Holosseum came out on December 30, 1992, while The Karate Tournament came out sometime (most likely earlier than Holosseum) in 1992. Holosseum was also Sega's first real attempt in the fighting genre, as well as the first and only holographic fighting game. Karate Tournament was MITCHELL's first (and only?) attempt in the fighting genre.
Dino Rex (Taito)
* First modern-fighting game by Taito.
* First modern-fighting game with clay-based digitized sprites.
* First animal-based fighting game, which is full of prehistoric animals (Atari's Primal Rage and DreamWorks Interactive's/EA's Warpath: Jurassic Park came out later).
* First modern-fighting game to allow players to pick up weapons, but only one kind: bones, which are wielding weapons.
Art of Fighting (SNK)
* First modern 2D fighting game with zooming view.
* First modern fighting game with energy bars.
* First fighting game with energy bar recharging (Fighting Road charges by attacks).
* First fighting game with desperation moves ( or "super attacks" ).
* First fighting game with unlockable moves (e.g. Haoh Sho Ko Ken).
* First fighting game with moves that can't be blocked.
* First fighting game with back dashing.
* First fighting game with taunts used in the middle of each fight that drains the opponent's energy bar.
Nekketsu Kakutou Densetsu ( Technos Japan ) - First fighting game for up to 4 players to play simultaneously.
1993
Martial Champion (Konami)
* First modern-fighting game by Konami.
* First fighting game with high jump stages in a Y-Axis.
* First fighting game where players can disarm their opponents and fight back with their opponents' weapons, later used in Nintendo's Super Smash Bros. Brawl for Wario's Bike and Samus Aran's suit parts.
Either Sango Fighter (Panda Entertainment) or Super Fighter (C&E) - One of these is probably the first fighting game developed by a Taiwanese company. Super Fighter was released on February 20, 1993, while Sango Fighter was released sometime in 1993.
Dark Edge (Sega)
* Technically the first fighting game with full-3D movement, combining 3D plane field with attacking in X, Y and Z axises.
* First fighting game with a jump button (later used in Namco's Knuckle Heads).
* First fighting game with looping stages, later used in Nintendo's Joy Mech Fight, Sunsoft's Galaxy Fight: Universal Warriors, Sega's Fighting Vipers and some others.
Raging Fighter (Konami) - First fighting game developed exclusively for a portable console that isn't a licensed game nor a port of a fighting game from another platform?
Monster Maulers (Konami) - First modern fighting game with gigantic opponents to fight against.
Dead Dance / Tuff E Nuff (Jaleco)
* First modern-fighting game by Jaleco.
* First fighting game with a continuous story mode.
Ta•o Taido (Video System)
* First and only fighting game by Video System.
* First modern-fighting game to allow players to avoid wrap ( or grab ) attacks.
* First fighting game to have special moves in two or three forms.
World Heroes 2 (ADK)
* First fighting game to feature air dashing.
* First fighting game with advanced blocking?
* First fighting game with the ability to reflect projectiles.
* First fighting game with counter-grabbing (the ability to grab back your opponent after he/she grabs you, later used in Street Fighter: The Movie arcade and Aggressors of Dark Kombat).
Burning Rival (Sega / Sega-AM2)
* First fighting game by Sega's AM2 Team (which later the same year became better known for Virtua Fighter).
* Perhaps the first fighting game with very detailed cartoony/anime-style graphics later used in others such as the Street Fighter Alpha series, the VS. Capcom series, the DarkStalkers series, Fatal Fury 3 and its Real Bout series, Street Fighter III, Martial Masters and several others.
Perfect Soldiers / Superior Soldiers (Irem) - First modern fighting game to feature high jumping in an X axis.
Fighter's History (Data East)
* First (and only?) fighting game with a weak point system.
* First fighting game with a special guest character from another game (which is Karnov from his self-titled arcade game). Examples of later fighting games with special guest characters from other games include Ryo Sakazaki (Fatal Fury Special), Gouki/Akuma (X-Men: Children of the Atom), Castlevania and TwinBee characters (Battle Tryst) and several others.
Knuckle Heads (Namco) - Although Nekketsu Kakutou Densetsu was the first to allow up to 4 players, it was a home console release. Knuckle Heads was the first ARCADE fighting game to allow up to 4 players to play simultaneously.
Schmeiser Robo ( HOT-B )
* First giant mech-based 2D modern fighting game(?) (later examples include Gundam fighters and Capcom's Cyberbots: Fullmetal Madness).
* First modern fighting game to have a combination attack.
* First modern fighting game with a guard button.
* First fighting game with "guard canceling"
* First fighting game with small jumping used along with large jumping.
One Must Fall: 2097 (Epic MegaGames / Diversons Entertainment)
* First 2D fighting game with 3D-rendered graphics?
* First fighting game with a combo counter?
* First fighting game to allow upgrading all aspects of a chosen character, make up just about any color scheme the player wants and included so many extra features and other stuff.
* First fighting game with built-in online capable features for battling other players from other locations, better known as "online multiplayer".
Joy Mech Fight (Nintendo)
* First 2D fighting game to feature looping stages (Dark Edge was in a 3D plane field, but with sprites).
* First 2D fighting game to have unlockable characters (28 of them, for a total of 36 combined with the 8 starting characters) that are unlocked by completion.
* First side-viewed 2D fighter to feature a "COM VS. COM" mode for players to sit and watch computer players battle each other (Super Metal Crusher had an overhead view).
Samurai Shodown (SNK)
* First successful weapon-based fighting game(?).
* First modern-fighting game to fill up energy bar by attacking or by being hurt.
Survival Arts ( Sammy / Scarab )
* First modern-fighting game to feature multiple weapons dropped on stage for anyone to pick up from wielding ones to shooting ones ( Dino Rex only had one ).
* First to allow players to perform combos that end with a death move (or "combo-based death moves"), later popularized by Midway's Mortal Kombat series for its "Brutalities". Unlike Mortal Kombat's however, instead of hitting the opponent a certain amount of times (called "dial-a-combo") to explosively defeat them, Survival Arts allows players to hit their opponents any different number of times. See this combo video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FX5foNFjx20
Power Instinct (known in Japan as Gouketsuji Ichizoku) (Atlus)
* First fighting game with destructible walls that widen stages. This feature was later used in some of its sequels, as well as Taito's Kaiser Knuckle and its revision Dan-Ku-Ga.
* First fighting game to allow the whole roster to perform multi-jumping. ADK's World Heroes was the first, but only allowed Hanzou and Fuuma to multi-jump.
Virtua Fighter (Sega)
* First 3D polygon-based fighting game.
* First 3D fighting game to have ring outs.
* First 3D fighting game to have "get up" attacks.
* First 3D fighting game with an imitating character (Dural).
1994
Battle K-Road (Psikyo) - Perhaps the first modern-fighting game to have a real-life animal character for human characters to fight against in main battles (Big Bear)? Karate Champ and Violence Fight only had animals fought in bonus stages. This Japanese website tells it:
http://www12.ocn.ne.jp/~takebo/hazimete.html
Art of Fighting 2 (SNK) - First fighting game to feature passive throwing.
Super Street Fighter II Turbo (Capcom) - First fighting game to have a boss that can be unlocked and played using a code; however, he is banned in most (if not all) tournaments.
Sugoi Hebereke (Sunsoft)
* First fighting game by Sunsoft.
* First fighting game by Sunsoft.
* First overhead-viewed fighting game with desperation moves.
Kaiser Knuckle (Taito)
* First (and only?) fighting game that has five strengths of basic attacks.
* First fighting game to feature air evasion.
BloodStorm (Strata / Incredible Technologies) - First fighting game that allows players to obtain moves from the opponents they defeat and use in later matches. This feature was later used in Capcom's Mega Man fighting games (which are Mega Man: The Power Battle and Mega Man 2: The Power Fighters), as well as Voltage Fighter Gowcaizer by Technos Japan and Rabbit by Electronic Arts and Aorn. This was also used by Kirby in Nintendo's Super Smash Bros. franchise, but not in later matches.
Vampire / DarkStalkers (Capcom)
* First fighting game to allow players to guard in the air.
* First fighting game to perform chain combos?
Ranma 1/2: Chougi Ranbu Hen (Shogakukan / Atelier Double)
* First fighting game with a tag team system (if Tsuppari Wars doesn't count).
* First fighting game to allow players to perform tag team combos.
Fight Fever (Viccom), Best of Best (SunA), Dragon Master (Unico) or Horangi-eui Bunno 2: Pi, Don, Geurigo Nunmul / Rage of Tiger 2: Blood, Money and Tears (Byulbram Creature) - One of these is the first modern-fighting game developed by a Korean company. Fight Fever was released somewhere on June 28, 1994, while the other three were released sometime in 1994.
Cosmic Carnage (known in Japan as Cyber Brawl) (Sega / Almanic (later known as Givro)) - First fighting game to feature customizable characters by giving them different fighting styles. The characters can choose between three types of "armors" (which in turn can be chosen as Light or Heavy) which would give different move sets. This was probably later popularized in Capcom's Cyberbots: Fullmetal Madness.
Battle Arena Toshinden (Takara / SCEA / Tamsoft)
* First 3D weapon-based fighting game.
* First 3D fighting game with sidestep maneuver.
Double Dragon V: The Shadow Falls (Tradewest / Leland Interactive Media) - First fighting game to feature parrying (unintentionally so), according to this:
http://www.segafans.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=615&sid=cea5033c95d0c2e31d17e9b25ff505ff
Golden Axe: The Duel (Sega) - First fighting game to feature screen-filled super attacks, later popularized in several of Capcom's later fighting games.
The King of Fighters '94 (SNK)
* First cross-over fighting game (featuring characters from four franchises: Fatal Fury, Art of Fighting, Ikari Warriors and Psycho Soldier)
* First fighting game to feature a format consisting of 3-on-3 team based matches officially dubbed the "Team Battle System". Ranma 1/2: Chougi Ranbu Hen uses a 2-on-2 team system.
* First fighting game to feature dodging?
* First fighting game with rolling?
Killer Instinct (Rareware) - First fighting game to feature combo-breaking?
Huang Fei Hong / Alien Challenge (IGS)
* First fighting game by IGS.
* First Taiwanese fighting game made in arcade format.
* First Taiwanese fighting game released internationally?
1995
Either Dragoon Might (Konami) or Savage Reign (SNK) - One of these was the first fighting game with more than one stage where players can cling on parts of each stage that aren't platforms. Savage Reign was released on April 25, 1995, while Dragoon Might was released sometime in 1995.
Street Fighter: The Movie arcade (Capcom / Incredible Technologies) - First fighting game with throw-escaping?
Battle Monsters ( Naxat Soft / Scarab ) - First 2D modern fighting game with multiple small platforms to jump on in the foreground, later popularized in Nintendo's Super Smash Bros. series.
Cho Aniki: Bakuretsu Ranto Hen (Masaya / NCS Corp.) - First airborne-based fighting game that isn't a licensed game?
Outlaws of the Lost Dynasty (Data East)
Double Dragon V: The Shadow Falls (Tradewest / Leland Interactive Media) - First fighting game to feature parrying (unintentionally so), according to this:
http://www.segafans.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=615&sid=cea5033c95d0c2e31d17e9b25ff505ff
Golden Axe: The Duel (Sega) - First fighting game to feature screen-filled super attacks, later popularized in several of Capcom's later fighting games.
The King of Fighters '94 (SNK)
* First cross-over fighting game (featuring characters from four franchises: Fatal Fury, Art of Fighting, Ikari Warriors and Psycho Soldier)
* First fighting game to feature a format consisting of 3-on-3 team based matches officially dubbed the "Team Battle System". Ranma 1/2: Chougi Ranbu Hen uses a 2-on-2 team system.
* First fighting game to feature dodging?
* First fighting game with rolling?
Killer Instinct (Rareware) - First fighting game to feature combo-breaking?
Huang Fei Hong / Alien Challenge (IGS)
* First fighting game by IGS.
* First Taiwanese fighting game made in arcade format.
* First Taiwanese fighting game released internationally?
1995
Either Dragoon Might (Konami) or Savage Reign (SNK) - One of these was the first fighting game with more than one stage where players can cling on parts of each stage that aren't platforms. Savage Reign was released on April 25, 1995, while Dragoon Might was released sometime in 1995.
Street Fighter: The Movie arcade (Capcom / Incredible Technologies) - First fighting game with throw-escaping?
Battle Monsters ( Naxat Soft / Scarab ) - First 2D modern fighting game with multiple small platforms to jump on in the foreground, later popularized in Nintendo's Super Smash Bros. series.
Cho Aniki: Bakuretsu Ranto Hen (Masaya / NCS Corp.) - First airborne-based fighting game that isn't a licensed game?
Outlaws of the Lost Dynasty (Data East)
* First fighting game to permanently-disarm the opponent's weapon (later used in ADK's Ninja Master's: Haou Ninpou Chou)
* First fighting game to knock players away and combo into them as they bounce off the walls or floor?
Avengers in Galactic Storm (Data East) - First fighting game to feature assistant characters ( often referred to by many either as "helpers" or by SNK's KOF trademark "Strikers" ), later popularized in Capcom's VS. series and SNK's KOF series.
Fighting Vipers (Sega) - First 3D fighting game with removable armor like in Taito & Allumer's Gladiator and Blandia games.
Real Fighter (Nesco / X-Tec) - First Korean 3D fighting game?
1996
Toukidenshou Angel Eyes (Tecmo)
* First fighting game to allow players to briefly freeze (or not move) while in mid-air for dodging purposes?
* First (and only?) fighting game with more than one type of sprite style in one game (some "hand-drawn", some 3D-rendered).
Art of Fighting 3: The Path of the Warrior (SNK) - First rotoscoped modern-fighting game?
Psychic Force (Taito) - First 3D airborne-based fighting game. Some later examples include some Dragon Ball-based ones, as well as SAI-MATE's Touryuu Densetsu Elan Doree arcade.
The King of Fighters '96 (SNK) - First fighting game to have "guard-breaking".
Tobal No. 1 (Square / DreamFactory)
* First fighting game by Square.
* First 3D fighting game to have special moves in two or three different forms (like Video System's Ta•o Taido).
Fighters Megamix (Sega-AM2) - First crossover 3D fighting game (featuring Virtua Fighter and Fighting Vipers characters, as well as others from other Sega-AM2 games and franchises).
Fighter's Impact (Taito / Polygon Magic) - First 3D fighting game to feature desperation moves ( or "super attacks" ).
1997
Virtua Fighter 3tb (Sega / Sega-AM2) - First 3D fighting game to have tournament battles featuring more than two characters.
Rival Schools (Capcom) - First 3D fighting game with high jumping in a Y Axis.
1998
Fighters Destiny (Imagineer) - First 3D fighting game with a customizable point scoring system.
Rakuga Kids (Konami) - First 2.5D fighting game (which is "a fighting game where 3D-polygon based characters move on a straight 2D plane field")?
1999
Tekken Tag Tournament (Namco) - First 3D fighting game with a tag-team system that allows players to control more than one character simultaneously.
SNK vs. Capcom: The Match of the Millennium (SNK / Capcom) - First successful portable fighting game?
2000
Capcom vs. SNK 2 EO (Capcom / SNK) - First successful online fighting game?
1996
Toukidenshou Angel Eyes (Tecmo)
* First fighting game to allow players to briefly freeze (or not move) while in mid-air for dodging purposes?
* First (and only?) fighting game with more than one type of sprite style in one game (some "hand-drawn", some 3D-rendered).
Art of Fighting 3: The Path of the Warrior (SNK) - First rotoscoped modern-fighting game?
Psychic Force (Taito) - First 3D airborne-based fighting game. Some later examples include some Dragon Ball-based ones, as well as SAI-MATE's Touryuu Densetsu Elan Doree arcade.
The King of Fighters '96 (SNK) - First fighting game to have "guard-breaking".
Tobal No. 1 (Square / DreamFactory)
* First fighting game by Square.
* First 3D fighting game to have special moves in two or three different forms (like Video System's Ta•o Taido).
Fighters Megamix (Sega-AM2) - First crossover 3D fighting game (featuring Virtua Fighter and Fighting Vipers characters, as well as others from other Sega-AM2 games and franchises).
Fighter's Impact (Taito / Polygon Magic) - First 3D fighting game to feature desperation moves ( or "super attacks" ).
1997
Virtua Fighter 3tb (Sega / Sega-AM2) - First 3D fighting game to have tournament battles featuring more than two characters.
Rival Schools (Capcom) - First 3D fighting game with high jumping in a Y Axis.
1998
Fighters Destiny (Imagineer) - First 3D fighting game with a customizable point scoring system.
Rakuga Kids (Konami) - First 2.5D fighting game (which is "a fighting game where 3D-polygon based characters move on a straight 2D plane field")?
1999
Tekken Tag Tournament (Namco) - First 3D fighting game with a tag-team system that allows players to control more than one character simultaneously.
SNK vs. Capcom: The Match of the Millennium (SNK / Capcom) - First successful portable fighting game?
2000
Capcom vs. SNK 2 EO (Capcom / SNK) - First successful online fighting game?
2011
Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition (Capcom / Dimps)
* First 2D (or probably 2.5D) fighting game in autostereoscopic 3D?
* First fighting game with "always on" background connectivity, which seeks and connects other networks nodes (e.g. Wi-Fi hotspots) sending and downloading information while in sleep mode or while playing the game.
Dead or Alive: Dimensions (Tecmo Koei / Team Ninja)
* First 3D fighting game in autostereoscopic 3D?
* First fighting game with "always on" background connectivity, which seeks and connects other networks nodes (e.g. Wi-Fi hotspots) sending and downloading information while in sleep mode or while playing the game.
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