10 Fighting Games Where Superman Would Obliterate the Competition

Besides being recognized as DC Comics’ flagship hero and the superhero who started it all, Superman is also heralded as one of (if not) the strongest fighters in popular culture. Paradoxically, Superman hasn’t had many opportunities to show off his fighting prowess in the world of video games — if anything, Batman has more games than Superman.

Fighting games are the perfect venue for superheroes, especially everyone’s favorite Kryptonian, to show off their superior combat skills. Sadly, there are very few fighting games about superheroes, and even fewer that are actually good. Superman has made a few notable fighting game appearances, like in Moral Kombat vs DC Universe, Injustice 2, and most recently, MultiVersus. However, for one of the most popular and iconic superheroes of all time, there are plenty of other games where it would be an absolute blast to play as Superman.

10 Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Eyes of Heaven Compliments the Classic Superman

No other fighting game captured the creativity and chaotic energy of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure the way JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Eyes of Heaven did. The game featured almost all of the legendary manga’s Stand Users and their Stands. Having Superman fight the Stand Users would make sense, but only if his classic incarnations were used.

The Superman of the Golden and Silver Ages of Superheroes had more in common with JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure’s characters than his modern incarnations — these classic Supermen embarked on weird adventures and wielded odd powers. A campier and sillier Superman would be the perfect guest fighter in Eyes of Heaven’s roster.

9 Guilty Gear Strive Could Realize Superman’s Anime Potential

One of the best things about Guilty Gear Strive is its revamped fighting system. Guilty Gear Strive simplified the infamously complex control scheme of the long-running Guilty Gear series while retaining its challenging essence. Seeing Superman’s powers being reworked with Guilty Gear Strive’s system would be a sight to behold.

Besides the usual super strength and senses, Superman’s access to Kryptonian technology, variants from the multiverse, and more lend themselves well to Guilty Gear Strive’s wild imagination. Additionally, seeing Superman drawn in Guilty Gear Strive’s style complete with a rocking theme song needs to happen sooner rather than later.

8 Street Fighter Would Make Good Use of Superman’s Powers

Although it’s ostensibly about skilled martial artists and fighters from around the world, the Street Fighter series could also be seen as superhero fighting games. Ryu, Chun-Li, and more were born with great powers and fought larger-than-life and often supernatural villains like Akuma or M. Bison. Superman would fit perfectly well in this world.

Superman wouldn’t be the first opponent of sci-fi or alien origin that Street Fighter’s heroes and villains would’ve fought. Kal-El’s powers also lend themselves well to Street Fighter’s signature attacks. All Superman would need is a slight redesign to better fit Street Fighter’s style, and a moveset based on his various abilities and feats.

7 Soulcalibur’s Crossovers Could Bring Superman In

Soulcalibur made a name for itself by featuring some of the highest-profile guest fighters seen in the fighting game genre. Soulcalibur IV famously featured Darth Vader and Yoda, while Soulcalibur V and Soulcalibur VI brought Ezio Aditore and Geralt of Rivia, respectively. Superman wouldn’t be misplaced in Soulcalibur, especially since he wielded a sword.

The prime Superman held the Sword of Superman in the past, Krypton’s history is quite medieval, and many of Superman’s Elseworlds variants used similar ancient weapons instead of his traditional superpowers or advanced technology. Despite his roots in sci-fi, Superman fits quite well in Soulcalibur’s world more than many players realize.

6 Godzilla: Save the Earth Would’ve Pit Superman Against Classic Kaiju

To build up hype for the upcoming Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, the DC Universe and MonsterVerse collided in Justice League vs. Godzilla vs. Kong (written by Brian Buccelato, illustrated by Christian Duce). The miniseries’ first issue revealed that, in a fight, Godzilla would kill Superman. This is a fight that needs to be recreated in a fighting game.

The oft-forgotten cult classic Godzilla: Save the Earth would’ve been the perfect place to see Superman not only fight Godzilla, but other classic Toho kaiju as well. The Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee sequel featured 18 kaiju, including Mothra and Jet Jaguar. Had Superman joined this game before, it would’ve been a childhood dream come true.

PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale was Sony’s failed answer to Nintendo’s Super Smash Bros. series. The PlayStation-exclusive fighting game pit Sony’s most iconic characters like Kratos and Sly Cooper in a free-for-all brawl. Had PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale come out a bit later, it would’ve undoubtedly made room for Injustice: Gods Among Us’ Superman.

The original Injustice game came out a year after PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale did. Regime Superman would’ve been both a great guest fighter from a hit PlayStation 3 title and the perfect villain for the crossover fighting game. If ever PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale comes back, Regime Superman or his heroic foil needs to join the fight.

4 Super Smash Bros. Can & Should Make Room for Superman

One of the main requirements for any popular character to join Super Smash Bros.’ highly coveted fighting roster is that they have to be a video game character. Even if he has fewer games than Batman, Superman still fits the bill thanks to his worldwide fame, appearance in the Injustice games, and even infamous games like Superman 64.

Superman joining the celebration of fighting games and, more importantly, pop culture that is Super Smash Bros. feels right. Besides being able to go up against other cultural icons like Mario or Link, Superman joining Super Smash Bros. would allow fans of his comics and the games to experience brawls they never knew they wanted.

3 Mortal Kombat 1 Erroneously Left Superman Out

Superman already has a history with Mortal Kombat and NeatherRealm Studios. Besides joining the crossover Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, Superman was a brutal playable fighter in NeatherRealm’s hit Injustice games. Given these and Mortal Kombat 1’s multiversal story, it’s a shame that Superman isn’t a part of the famed fighting series’ reboot.

Mortal Kombat 1 missed a chance to hearken back to Mortal Kombat’s more overlooked entries and NeatherRealm’s past by not adding Superman as a DLC fighter. Had Superman been a part of Mortal Kombat 1’s Kombat Packs, players could’ve also pit the Man of Steel against two of his most famous deconstructions: Homelander and Omni-Man.

2 Jump Force Would Settle the Battle Between Superman & Goku

Jump Force let anime and manga fans put their power scaling theories to the ultimate test by pitting Shonen Jump’s most famous heroes in a fighting game. One of Jump Force’s most prominent fighters is none other than Dragon Ball’s Goku. Since Goku is already in a game dedicated to power scales, it only makes sense to bring Superman in.

Determining if Superman could defeat Goku and vice versa is one of the longest-running and (hilariously) annoying debates among those who take power scales seriously. Besides giving players a chance to put this argument to rest, Superman joining Jump Force also lets his fans see how well he fares against other anime icons.

Given how DC Comics and Marvel Comics are inseparable and forever tied together, it’s a bit weird that Marvel’s major crossover fighting game linked up with Capcom’s games, not the DC Universe. Since Superman already crossed paths with Marvel heroes and villains, it feels inevitable that he would wind up in Marvel vs. Capcom someday.

Marvel vs. Capcom’s continuity and story are loose enough to connect the disparate worlds of Marvel and Capcom. They should have no problem incorporating the DC Universe or making room just for Superman in a special guest appearance. Superman fighting Marvel’s and Capcom’s best fighters is an epic clash that needs to happen at least once.