10 Best Indie Fighting Games in 2024 

While most Indie games come from small development teams, they offer quite extraordinary gameplay. Over the years, indie developers have covered a wide range of genres, including fighting games, to spread their creativity across the vast world of video games. They often feature captivating storylines, unique play styles, and thrilling combat scenarios. For those who rarely want to let an indie slip through the cracks, here are the 10 best indie fighting games in 2024.

10. Punch Planet 

Punch Planet centers on sci-fi, with a distinctively rich and immersive universe of advanced cities, exotic planets, and alien races. The 2.5D 6-button fighting offers features like a GGPO-based lobby system, simple Arcade mode, Versus, and an excellently developed training mode. Its story revolves around Roy, an undercover Detective for the Luna PD who gets framed for a high-profile murder. To clear his name, Roy must find the real culprit and return them to his world. His only lead is Planet K-0, infamous for harboring the most dangerous criminals in that Universe. 

9. The Black Heart 

The Black Heart features a horror theme with gothic aesthetics. While it follows the tradition of Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter, this game has a unique storyline. The story is about a recently murdered King in another war-torn alternative world. The creature that murders the King is said to be robust and resides in between six worlds. Since the vicious creature stole the King's heart, which is said to hold the power used to create the worlds, six creatures are on a quest to recover the stolen heart. Each creature's mission is to help its world. 

8. Tough Love Arena

Tough Love Arena is a browser-based 2D video game released in 2022. It has six unique characters and is available both online and offline. The online mode offers a rollback net code that's free to play. Its main feature is the purple LOVE meter, which allows you to perform Rapid cancels and Bursts whenever it fills up. The game is characterized by simple movements, making it among the best indie fighting games to play with friends. To invite friends, click on the main menu and open the “Friends” button. 

7. Hyperfight 

Hyperfight is a 1-touch-kill game characterized by fast-paced gameplay structured around unique round systems. Beware of every hit you take in this indie game because it's definitely lethal. You'll have six characters to choose from, and you can play against friends or CPU-controlled enemies. The exciting part is that if you get hit once, you'll die; if you hit an opponent, you'll receive one point. To win, you must garner 5 points. These points allow you to do supers and specials. Each winning round will bring you closer to victory and give you resources to help you win. 

6. Fantasy Strike

Fantasy Strike is a colorful fighting game developed by Sirlin Games. It's designed to accommodate both beginners and seasoned gamers. The game offers excellent video tutorials, with its main focus revolving around thoughtful strategies rather than complex button executions. Players use attack buttons to move, jump, or move right or left. To add to its simplified gameplay, Stirling Games added visual cues to convey pertinent information. So, instead of blood, a colored spark will appear whenever the fighter lands a strike. Your goal is to do as much damage to your opponent as possible until their health bar is depleted. 

5. Head 2 Head

Developed and published by ArcForged, this indie fighting game revolves around adventure, survival, and fantasy. Prove you are the best by fighting through a gauntlet of enemies using ALL HEAD JUTSU. Head 2 Head's gameplay mechanics are pretty simple. They include jump, dash, and Skull cancels. Ensure you collect Rogue-like stat buffs and Skulls throughout your mission. They help you further your mission of becoming the HEADMASTER. In this case, each opponent you defeat will give you a skull. 

4. FOOTSIES Rollback Edition

This simple 2-D indie fighting game is also suitable for experienced and new gamers. Learning and playing is simple because it has three buttons: attack, forward, and backward. Moreover, FOOTSIES Rollback Edition features an online battle mode with a rollback netcode, implemented using GGPO open-source codes to ensure players enjoy stable online gameplay. When playing, you must manage your poisoning, attacks, baiting, and, above all, capitalize on your opponent's mistakes. Ensure you take advantage of the training modes available in this game to hone your fighting skills. 

3. Fight of Animals

This adorable indie fighting game centers around animal memes, including Might Fox, Power Hook Dog, and Magic Squirrel. You'll have 22 characters with different playstyles to choose from. Note that you must unlock two of these by clearing arcade mode. Once you choose your favorite fighter, you'll embark on a thrilling battle where you're supposed to fight through arcade mode, with the main aim of becoming the King of Animals. What's more, this game features a relatively simple control system. You'll have two buttons to execute normal moves: Light and Heavy. 

2. Your Only Way is Hustle

While this game draws inspiration from the likes of Super Smash Bros, it has a somewhat distinctive gameplay. In Your Only Way is Hustle, you won't perform all actions in real-time. Instead, the game pauses after each moment, allowing you to predict your opponent's next move and plan your next moves. In terms of controls, you'll have a menu with 20+ attack options, which differ in power, speed, and combo potential. You'll have four characters to choose your favorite based on speed and technicality. 

1. Schwarzerblitz 

Schwarzerblitz features over 28 playable characters, over 100 skins, and 40+ stages. The 3-D fighting game borrows heavily from Dead or Alive and Soul Calibour. It's reminiscent of the 90′ nostalgia characterized by 3-D low-poly fighters. With 8-way movements, this indie fighting game allows you to move freely within the arena and perform strategic attacks. You'll also be equipped with attack strings and a guard button to help you cause more damage to your opponents.

So, what’s your take on our picks for the 10 best indie fighting games in 2024? Let us know your thoughts here on our socials or in the comments.