7 fighting game characters who deserve their own game

Characters in fighting games might be designed for combat. But character development has become an important part of the immersive experience developers want to provide, even in the fighting genre.

And in video game franchises, the character develops with increasing popularity as we go deeper into the series. While almost every character comes with a backstory and an explanation for its behavior, some have deep lore attached to them.

We will take a look at seven characters who have enough depth in their lore, character, and overall development to warrant their own standalone games.

Some of these entries have been taken from a compilation by The Gamer.

Yoshimitsu (Tekken/Soulcaliber)

Yoshimitsu already feels like a major character in both Soulcaliber and Tekken, and his dark theme is perfect for an adaptation into a separate game.

Per the series’ lore, the original Yoshimitsu was the founder of the Manji clan in the 16th century. The character in Tekken is the 17th successor, a modern-day Yoshimitsu.

His ominous and eerie character design makes him interesting, and his Robin Hood-like storyline of taking from the corrupt to help the poor can provide an endearing angle.

His cybernetic body allows a developer to bring in the prospect of upgrades and customizations, which is perfect for character progression.

King (Tekken)

Tekken developed the King as a character nicely, with the modern titles actually featuring The Second King, who inherited the mask from the original one.

King fights to care for the orphaned children he is responsible for. His wrestling history, combined with the modern-era storyline, can set up an intriguing premise.

Developers could build a world related to King and his role as a protector, leaning towards a Max Payne-style revenge-driven story.

Scorpion (Mortal Kombat)

Scorpion’s character design and storyline are perfect for a protagonist role. Hanzo Hasashi’s arc is one of the most complete ones in fighting games.

In fact, Hanzo’s transformation into Scorpion could be converted into a game like 007: First Light, where the character’s origin is established.

The story of him traveling different realms to reclaim his humanity could become the base of the game, even turning into a full-blown franchise or series.

Juri Han (Street Fighter)

While many would point at Chun Li as the deepest female character in the Street Fighter franchise, Juri Han’s lore is rich, and her gray character sets her up wonderfully for a standalone game.

Since she is basically a mercenary, we could see an Assassin’s Creed-inspired tale, where players can accept contracts, and the result and nature of contracts accepted will determine her journey.

Terry Bogard (Fatal Fury/The King of Fighters)

One of the most iconic SNK characters, Terry Bogard has had a slew of crossover appearances. His storyline of being a mentor and protector and his crossovers could set him up for a game that can fuse time travel with the action genre.

An open-world game could see him roaming around different versions of South Town or multiple areas like his hometown.

The game could dub him as the multiverse’s protector. Mentoring other characters could add to an intriguing premise.

Cervantes (Soulcaliber)

Cervantes de Leon belongs to the class of pirates, and his menacing design in Soulcalibur is enough to convince people to give him a standalone video game.

His pursuit of Soul Edge and the sword then corrupting him, turning him into an immortal monster, creates a fascinating backdrop for character development.

Perhaps a game like Bound by Flame, where the character fights to reclaim his humanity, can be fitting for a character like Cervantes. Alternatively, a pirate-themed action-adventure game could explore Cervantes’ lore.

Johnny Cage (Mortal Kombat)

Johnny Cage is a character that is uniquely built. His lore of being a movie star and encountering supernatural threats sets up a hit formula. The elements of comedy embedded in his character will appeal to the masses as a popular candidate to become a protagonist.

The combination of his character’s satire and the dark theme of Mortal Kombat could deliver a game such as the Yakuza franchise, with Johnny Cage having the charisma to pull it off.

Which fighting games character do you want to see as the protagonist in a standalone video game?

Read more at Gaming Community by Max Level!