The best fighting games for Android include one-on-one fighters like Shadow Fight and Skullgirls, boxing simulators like Real Boxing 2, platform brawlers like Brawlhalla and quick stickman fights. Most are rated Teen or Everyone 10+. Shadow Fight 3 says it needs a stable internet connection, and none of the ten promises offline play.
Fighting games used to mean an arcade cabinet, a sticky joystick and a queue of people waiting to beat you. On a phone you trade the joystick for taps and swipes, and the best Android fighters have worked hard to make that feel natural.
For each game I checked its Google Play page and logged the developer, installs, whether it shows ads or in-app purchases, the content rating and anything said about connections. They appear in no particular order.
Ratings are the first thing to check. Six of the ten are rated Teen, three are Everyone 10+ and only Supreme Duelist is rated Everyone, so this is mostly a list for older players.
Fighting games and their labels
| Game | Developer | Google Play installs | Ads / in-app purchases | Offline wording on the listing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supreme Duelist | Neron's Brother | 100M+ | Contains ads, in-app purchases | No offline claim on the listing |
| Shadow Fight 3 - RPG fighting | NEKKI | 100M+ | Contains ads, in-app purchases | 'Shadow Fight 3 is an online game and requires a stable internet connection' |
| I, The One - Fun Fighting Game | CASUAL AZUR GAMES | 100M+ | Contains ads, in-app purchases | No offline claim on the listing |
| Shadow Fight 2 | NEKKI | 100M+ | Contains ads, in-app purchases | No offline claim on the listing |
| Real Boxing 2 | Vivid Games S.A. | 50M+ | Contains ads, in-app purchases | No offline claim on the listing |
| Brawlhalla | Ubisoft Entertainment | 10M+ | No ads label, in-app purchases | No offline claim on the listing |
| Real Boxing - Fighting Game | Vivid Games S.A. | 10M+ | Contains ads, in-app purchases | No offline claim on the listing |
| Legend Fighter: Mortal Battle | TOH Games | 10M+ | Contains ads, in-app purchases | No offline claim on the listing |
| Street Fight | Rendered Ideas | 10M+ | Contains ads, in-app purchases | No offline claim on the listing |
| Skullgirls: Fighting RPG | Autumn Games, LLC | 10M+ | No ads label, in-app purchases | No offline claim on the listing |
Each fighter in brief
Supreme Duelist
A fast, silly stickman fighting game from Neron's Brother, easy to pick up and full of flailing limbs. It's rated Everyone, the gentlest rating here.
Shadow Fight 3 - RPG fighting
NEKKI's role-playing fighter, where your hero learns three fighting styles and collects weapons. It's rated Teen, and the listing says it needs a stable connection.
I, The One - Fun Fighting Game
A rooftop brawler where you kick and punch rivals out of the arena in online fights. It's rated Everyone 10+.
Shadow Fight 2
The earlier Shadow Fight, a mix of role-play and classic fighting where you equip your silhouetted hero with weapons and armour. It's rated Everyone 10+.
Real Boxing 2
Vivid Games' boxing simulation, built around realistic punches and professional boxing rules. It's rated Teen.
Brawlhalla
Ubisoft's platform fighter, where you knock opponents off the stage, with online modes and cross-play. It shows no Contains ads label and is rated Everyone 10+.
Real Boxing - Fighting Game
The original Real Boxing, with a career mode for your boxer and simple controls. It's rated Teen.
Legend Fighter: Mortal Battle
TOH Games mixes a fighting game with role-play, so you level up between bouts. It's rated Teen.
Street Fight
A side-scrolling brawler from Rendered Ideas, where a group of friends takes on gangs who've taken over a city. It's rated Teen.
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Skullgirls: Fighting RPG
A hand-drawn 2D fighter with team building and combos, from Autumn Games. It shows no Contains ads label and is rated Teen.
Four styles of mobile fighting game
- Classic one-on-one: Shadow Fight 2, Shadow Fight 3, Skullgirls and Legend Fighter.
- Boxing: Real Boxing 2 and Real Boxing - Fighting Game.
- Platform brawler: Brawlhalla, where you knock rivals off the stage.
- Silly and quick: Supreme Duelist, I, The One and Street Fight.
If you grew up on arcade fighters, start with the classic one-on-one games. If you want something you can play in a two-minute break with no learning curve, the stickman and rooftop games are kinder.
Getting better at touchscreen combat
- Learn one combo and use it until it's automatic.
- Block more than you think you need to.
- Play the training or story mode before jumping online.
- Turn on a controller if the game supports one.
- Watch a replay of a lost fight to see where you dropped your guard.
Connections, ads and in-app purchases
Shadow Fight 3's listing says it's an online game and needs a stable connection, and several others describe online fights. None of the ten listings says it plays offline, so try a game with Wi-Fi off before relying on it on a journey.
Brawlhalla and Skullgirls show no Contains ads label, while the other eight do. All ten have in-app purchases, often fighters, weapons or upgrades, so turn on approval for in-app purchases if a younger teen is playing.
When you need a breather from punching
If you love the stories behind fighting games more than the fights, text based games for story lovers might be your thing. For trips with no signal, no internet games for Android and PC are a safer bet than online fighters. And for something completely different, dive into free submarine games.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best fighting games for Android?
Popular choices on Google Play include Shadow Fight 2, Shadow Fight 3, Skullgirls: Fighting RPG, Brawlhalla and Real Boxing 2.
Can I play fighting games on Android offline?
None of these ten listings says it plays offline, and Shadow Fight 3 says it needs a stable internet connection.
Which fighting games have no ads?
Brawlhalla and Skullgirls: Fighting RPG show no Contains ads label on Google Play.
Is there a fighting game suitable for younger children?
Supreme Duelist is rated Everyone. Most others are Teen or Everyone 10+.
Is there a boxing game for Android?
Yes. Real Boxing 2 and Real Boxing - Fighting Game from Vivid Games are both boxing simulators.
Do fighting games support controllers?
Some do. Check the game's own settings, as controller support isn't shown in the labels I read.
