We’re continuing our Holiday Gift guides, and this one is focused on those lovable fighting game fans. You know, the ones that seem to be the hardest ones to get anything outside of games; there’s not much that most people know of. However, we’ve searched high and low and even talked to some fans of the genre and asked them what they’d like for gifts. So, what we came up with should please anyone who enjoys playing fighting games — or anyone else who likes video games.
Check out our Holiday Gift Ideas for Fighting Game fans or Gift Ideas for Gamers in 2023! We’re sure you’ll like them.
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Mini-Cabs | Books | Games | Arcade Sticks | Controllers | Custom Steelbook Cases | Wall Art | Artbooks | Cookbook | Apparel | Collectibles
NEOGEO Mini Arcade International Version mini-Arcade Cab ($59.99)
The NEOGEO Mini Arcade International includes 40 of SNK’s finest, with most of the titles coming from the Fatal Fury, King of Fighters, Art of Fighting, Samurai Showdown, The Last Blade, and more on the small screen. Small but mighty with the HDMI support to hook it up to the big screen and add gamepads to boot! It’s perfect for impromptu fighting game events.
Get it at Amazon
My Arcade Street Fighter II Pocket Player Pro ($39)
If you ever wanted to play some of Capcom’s classic fighting games on the go but without breaking the bank, then the My Arcade Street Fighter II Pocket Player Pro is exactly what you need. This pint-sized unit includes Super Street Fighter II: The New Challengers & Street Fighter II: Special Champion Edition, which are some of Capcom’s best fighting games. And what’s even better is it features 6-facing buttons and an easy-to-access d-pad. So, if you don’t like playing games on your smartphone when you’re out in the streets or the comfort of your home, this seems like a sure bet to get your fight on.
Get it at Amazon
The Will to Keep Winning from Diago Umehara ($13)
One of the first books to tell the tale of an Esports legend’s journey, Diago Umehara. From his start to his disappearance from the fighting game scene to the legendary EVO 2004 moment that will live on in infamy, with a dash of his advice. The Will To Keep Winning digs pretty deep into Daigo Umehara’s story. Well-respected even for its theories on resetting yourself – even outside of the screen, the book is a perfect read.
Get it at Amazon
Daigo The Beast: Umehara Fighting Gamers! Volumes 1 – 4 ($20 per volume)
Did you know that Daigo also has a manga? Produced by UDON Entertainment, Volumes one through four tell the tale of Diago, battling it out in Japanese arcades before becoming the household name he is now. There are some real-life events from Daigo’s life, such as his journey through the arcade scene and where he developed his fighting style. It’s an interesting read, so if you can’t get enough of Daigo or manga, this might be worth checking out.
There are actually five volumes, but the fifth volume hasn’t been released as of yet.
Get it from Amazon or UDON Entertainment’s website
Street Fighter 6 ($60)
Street Fighter 6 is a no-brainer winner for those who haven’t picked it up yet. With it being the new age of the series, the most accessible way to get into the fight game genre is precedent here with the new Modern control scheme. Between the World Tour Mode for offline solo play, 18-character roster range, rotating battle hub classics from the vaults, and near-perfect online lobbies, it’ll be hard to put it down for the post-present-opening count.
Get it at Amazon for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, and Steam for PC
Capcom Fighting Collection ($40 and up)
If you’ve ever wanted Darkstalkers to make its way to current-gen platforms, this is the best way to do it! Capcom Fighting Collection brings about five titles from the series, not to mention Red-Earth/Warzard – an amazing CPS3 RPG fighting game that never came to the West, nor on consoles! Cyberbots, Super Gem Fighter, Super Puzzle Fighter 2 Turbo, and Hyper Street Fighter 2 all join the monster mash. All with netplay and different localization options!
Get it at Amazon for PS4, Xbox One, and Steam for PCBack to top
Mortal Kombat 1 ($60)
Mortal Kombat is back, but things have changed, thanks to Firelord Lui Kang. There are some differences, but one thing that hasn’t changed is the combat and the gore. Mortal Kombat 1 is the smoothest and most interesting version of Mortal Kombat to come out in a long time. From a whole universe refresh with characters having new designations and origins to the combat becoming one of the more straightforward versions of the system to date. Maybe skip the Nintendo Switch version of the game, as it has some issues.
Get it on Amazon for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch, and on Steam and Epic Games Store for PC
Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising ($50 and up)
Undoubtedly, 2023 has been a fantastic year for fighting games, with the release of Street Fighter 6, Mortal Kombat 1, and the hype build-up for Tekken 8. However, ArcSys isn’t to be left out of the fun and is releasing an updated build of Granblue Fantasy Versus (2020), Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising. This new game will feature a new control scheme for newcomers, which has been the theme for most fighters this year, a new storyline, rollback netcode, and crossplay, a new RPG campaign that removes a lot of the grind from the original game, new lobby and online infrastructure, new game modes such as Grandbruise Legends, which is a Fall Guys clone, more—oh, and new characters.
You’ll be able to transfer over your data for the same platform—story progress, tournament trophies, EX colors, battle pass color variants, and weapon skins, so you don’t have to regrind for all that again. There’s even a free version that will include a rotating cast of three characters that lets you access the online lobbies, matches, and activities, and you can also play the first 40 episodes of the updated story mode.
Get it on PlayStation Network for PS4, PS5, and on Steam for PC
Guilty Gear Strive ($26 and up)
Heaven or Hell, with the latest installment of the Guilty Gear Franchise. The classic Guilty Gear cast, such as Sol Badguy & Ky Kiske, is rounded with a solid cast of unique fighters and some new faces. With an amazing soundtrack and fast-paced gameplay that will keep you on your toes, this game comes highly recommended!
Get it on Amazon for PS4, PS5, and on Steam and Microsoft Store for PC
King of Fighters 15 ($60)
KOF 15 is a fantastic fighter for new and veteran fans of SNK fighting games. It has an engaging story mode that contains multiple interactions with many of the individual fighters within its large roster of over 30+ fighters. The soundtrack for this game is expansive, and you will find new and classic SNK jams in it. With more ways to play and online featuring rollback netcode & boss mode, this is the fighting game to get this holiday season.
Get it at Amazon for PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, and on Steam and Epic Games Store for PC
Garou Mark Of The Wolves ($8 and up)
With Garou City of Wolves Looming over, why not visit the SNK Classic that birthed the new era of Fatal Fury (Garou Densetsu)? Mark Of The Wolves is one of the best fighting games that came out in 1999, during the back and forth between SNK and Capcom. With a roster of new characters such as Rock Howard, B.Jenet & Kevin Rian, this game oozes style with its excellent pixel art and a solid soundtrack. The icing on the cake is that the game has rollback netcode. So, if you’re new to the Fatal Fury, a fan of SNK fighters, or want to know more about Team Garou from King of Fighters 15, you can’t miss with this gem here.
Get it on PS4 or PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, or Steam for PC
Tekken 8 ($70 and up)
I was reluctant to put Tekken 8 on the list only because it doesn’t get released during the Holiday Season but will drop just after the new year. However, since it doesn’t make sense to promote Tekken 7 anymore, what the heck? So…. Tekken 8 is Bandai Namco’s next 3D fighter and part of the still-going Tekken franchise. With new gameplay mechanics, new and returning game modes, new characters, a vast number of returning favorites, and yes, a new out-of-this-world story! We got father vs son, mom vs son, brother vs sister, and whatever Harada has planned for us. I played a bit of Tekken 8 during the Closed Network Test and Closed Beta Test, and while I got my butt handed to me, I enjoyed the updated fighter.
Get it on Amazon for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, or on Steam for PC
8Bitdo Arcade Stick for Xbox ($120)
Sadly, when it comes to Arcade Sticks / Fight Sticks, the Xbox Series X|S doesn’t get as much love as the PlayStation or even the PC. And thanks to Microsoft and Xbox’s recent attempts to prohibit unofficial devices from working on the platform, things look grim. However, if you’re looking for an official Arcade Stick for the console, the 8Bitdo Arcade Stick for Xbox will work in a pinch. It has a nice weight, so it won’t move all over the place when trying to land your combos; the joystick has a satisfying sound when moving it around, as do the buttons.
Speaking of the buttons, they have a nice travel distance and nice spacing. Of course, both the joystick and buttons can also be swapped out. Lastly, you can use the 8Bitdo Arcade Stick either with a USB cable or the included 2.4 GHz dongle, making it nearly lag-less. If you enjoy playing fighting games on the Xbox Series X|S (like me) and enjoy playing fighting games or just using an Arcade Stick, this is a good replacement.
Get it on Amazon
PDP Victrix Pro FS ($400)
As far as Arcade Sticks / Fight Sticks go, this has become the premier stick, and that’s not me just saying it. Several staff members had a chance to go on extended sessions with this beauty, and it’s not far-fetched to say that this is one of the best sticks we’ve ever had the pleasure of playing with. It comes with Sanwa Denshi buttons, a patented Link 2 joystick from PDP, and is one of the sturdier and heaviest sticks I’ve played with. Not to mention that it can be easily modded, as the top opens up to get access to the joystick and buttons. This is made for fighting game fans; there’s no doubt about that.
However, the downside is that it is expensive, and that price tag usually puts it out of most gamers’ hands. But, if you have the cash to get this for yourself or someone else, do it – neither person will regret it. Another downer is that this is only for the PlayStation 4, 5, and PC. If you’re an Xbox gamer, sadly, this isn’t an option available to you. And if you don’t like purple, it also comes in white and in a level-less (No joystick) if you’re into Hitbox Arcade / Fight Sticks.
Get it at Amazon
Hori Fighting Commander Controllers ($40 and up)
If you don’t like Arcade Sticks / Fight Sticks but enjoy playing fighting games, that’s okay, as Hori has you covered with its fantastic Fighting Commander controller line-up. Even better is that Hori makes this for the PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch, so no one is left out. These controllers are made so that they feel like a mini-arcade stick is sitting in your hands and come with both a d-pad that is much better than what we get on the DualSense and Xbox Series controllers, an 8-way gated analog stick, with a 6-faced layout for the buttons, two bumpers/triggers on the left and right side of the controller, and a 10-ft cable. The 6-faced comes with micro-switches and provides a short travel distance, which is great for cranking out the punishment. All of the controllers come with the ability to save multiple profiles and can have their sensitivity adjusted using an app on a PC.
Get it at Amazon – PS4/PS5 version, Xbox Series X|S version, Nintendo Switch version
PDP Victrix Pro controller – $180
The PDP Victrix Pro is another PlayStation 4/5 and PC controller (sorry, Xbox owners) that completely replaces the DualSense controller. This is meant for the competitive gamer and lets you swap around the d-pad and analog stick positions on the left side and remove the analog stick on the right side, adding two extra buttons on the front for fighting games. It features remappable paddles and nearly 10 ft of cable if you don’t want to use the included 2.4 Ghz wireless dongle. However, you do lose access to the haptic feedback and the adaptive triggers as this is a modular controller. However, if you’re getting this for strictly fighting games, we’re sure you or the person you’re getting it for won’t care.
Get it at Amazon
Custom Fighting Game Steelbook Cases – $35 – 50
The stuff that you find on ETST anymore is simply amazing. Especially in this instance, I found a person who creates amazing-looking steelbook cases for several fighting games, including Tekken 8, Street Fighter V, Mortal Kombat 11, and even King of Fighters XV. If you are a fan of steelbook cases or know someone who is, this might be the perfect gift.
Get it at ETSY
GamingTee Fighting Game Posters – $15 and up
These are hand-drawn posters from some of your favorite fighting games and characters. These also come in multiple sizes, but they don’t come framed. Regardless, I’m sure you’ll find one you or someone else will love. They have multiple games covered, from Street Fighter, King of the Fighters, Darkstalkers, Red Earth / War-Zard, Samurai Shodow, and countless others. And if by some chance you don’t, they also have T-shirts as well.
Get it from ETSY
Darkstalkers Official Complete Works – $120
This art book is expensive but well worth it, thanks to its incredible art that spans all of the Darkstalker titles. Sure, you could download the art book, but that’s both illegal and doesn’t do the art the justice it deserves. There are also interviews, discussions about the designs, and more. If you are or know someone who loves Capcom’s Darkstalkers and wants outside of the games, this is the next best thing.
Get it at Amazon
For all you Tekken fans, we didn’t leave you hanging. The Art of Tekken: A Complete Visual History follows the series history through a visual feast of iconic games and characters, with in-depth interviews with the Bandai Namco developers who made it a reality, the players who made it a phenomenon on its way to becoming one of the best-selling fighting game series in history and art from Tekken 1 – 7. It’s an amazing book that would be perfect for anyone’s gaming room or living room.
Get it from Amazon
Supercade: A Visual History of the Videogame Age 1985-2001 – $43 and up
This book isn’t specifically devoted to fighting games, but that’s what makes it special. Instead, this is a 450+ page visual history book that covers the arcade games from 1985 to 2001, which along the way does cover fighting titles such as Street Fighter, Street Fighter II, Mortal Kombat, Fatal Fury: King of Fighters and so many other arcade games that introduced us to the love that is video games.
Get it at Supercade’s website
Street Fighter: The Official Street Food Cookbook – $35
Inspired by the diverse nationalities of the iconic characters in Capcom’s Street Fighter video game franchise, the Street Fighter: The Official Street Food Cookbook offers easy-to-make recipes perfect for your next party or one-on-one showdown. This cookbook features delectable treats found in food stalls on the streets of Japan, Spanish tapas from a flamenco tavern, snacks on a pier in the Amazon River basin, and much more. With easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions, this cookbook features recipes and characters from every iteration of Capcom’s hit Street Fighter series.
Get it at Amazon
Guilty Gear -Strive- May’s Plush Hat ($50), Guilty Gear -Strive- May Hoodie Version 2 ($100) and Guilty Gear -Strive- Totsugeki! May’s Dolphin Plush ($50)
Do you want to strike fear in your opponent while being snuggly? Then look no further than the Unga War Criminal Hoodie of the year with May’ Plush Hat, Hoodie, and Plush Dolphin. These are available for those comfy psychos on the Arc Systems Works store. TOTSUGEKI!!!
Get these on Arc System Works store website –Hoodie, Hat, Dolphin Plush
Storm Collectibles Virtua Fighter 5 Akira – $77
Despite SEGA not working on a new Virtua Fighter title, it doesn’t mean we can give some love to the first arcade 3D fighting game, which is a favorite of many. With this figurine, you can pose Akira any way you’d like, including that blasted Tetsuzankou (Iron Mountain Lean) that takes away a huge chunk of your life every time!
Get it on Amazon
Kotobukiya Darkstalkers: Felicia Bishoujo Statue – $113
Ever since Capcom’s Darkstalkers series hit the fighting scene, Felicia has been a favorite due to her playful nature, and it doesn’t hurt that she can hold her own against the other fighters in the game. And it’s not just Darkstalkers, as she has appeared in other games, including Marvel vs. Capcom 2 and 3, SNK vs. Capcom, Super Gem Fighter, Super Puzzle Fighter 2 Turbo, and yes, Capcom Fighting Jame. Thanks to Kotobukiya, you can have your own Felicia to adorn your desk, shelf, or wherever else you keep your fighting game goodies.
Get it on Amazon
Good Smile Chun Li Nendoroid Action Figure – $59
Chun-Li has been a staple of the fighting game scene. Regardless of whether you don’t play Capcom fighters, you know who she is. Many would call her the first lady of fighting games, which is very fitting from the character who made everyone shout “Spinning Bird Kick.” And while there are countless other Chun-Li collectibles, we found this cutesy Chibli version with a bit more attitude and one that can sit on your desk while you’re reading about the upcoming fighting game stuff.
Get it at Amazon
Storm Collectibles – Tekken 7 King – $100
King has always been a favorite of mine (Keith), but he was always too technical with the grabs and throws for me. Still, I love this poseable Tekken 7 action figure from Storm Collectibles. It looks just like King does from the game; I love the attention to detail, it comes with lots of articulation (more on the top than bottom), and it even comes with the cape, which hides the tail. The only thing that could be better is if it was the Tekken 7 version instead.
Get it at Amazon
