#All mainline Tekken video games, ranked by Metacritic rating

Preventing video games have turn out to be such a mainstay that it’s onerous to think about the gaming business with out them. Such iconic names as Road Fighter and Mortal Kombat helped set the stage for the style within the early Nineties, however with developments in 3D improvement, the likes of Tekken would quickly cement its place.

Created by Namco/Bandai Namco Studios, the collection has been gracing our consoles and PCs for over 30 years, so I believed it was excessive time to check out simply how profitable Tekken has turn out to be, instilling itself as one of many largest combating franchises in gaming and serving to to push the business ahead.

Now, I’m conscious there are a number of spin-offs, however for the sake of ease, I’ll be concentrating on the eight mainline entries, although I’ll throw within the two Tag Event video games as properly. Only for the hell of it. So right here is each most important Tekken installment as judged by their Metacritic scores, going from lowest to highest.

Tekken (1994) – N/A

It needs to be famous that Tekken (Japanese for “iron fist”) is under no circumstances the primary ever 3D combating recreation. That honor goes to Virtua Fighter, which launched in 1993. Nevertheless, it will solely take one 12 months for Namco to ship its personal model of polygonal fisticuffs, introducing the primary entry in a long-standing collection that up to now stretches over three many years.

Sadly, there may be no Metacritic rating for the unique Tekken. Whereas I might take critiques from different sources, they might solely mirror opinions on the time of launch somewhat than scores that proceed to be tallied. It’s a disgrace, because it makes it seem like the sport is by some means dangerous, which it actually isn’t. It’s undoubtedly aged immensely, nevertheless it simply took what Virtua Fighter was doing and upped the ante with oodles of persona and deep lore.

Tekken 6 (2007) – 79%

There’s a sure level in Tekken‘s historical past that’s a little bit of a blur for me, significantly throughout this midpoint within the collection. I’m very aware of the sooner installments, however the later ones I solely appear to have obscure recollections of enjoying. What I’m saying is I’m pretty sure that Tekken 6 is the newest one I’ve performed, however I couldn’t testify to that in court docket.

It’s additionally attention-grabbing to notice that this recreation was launched in 2007, which implies it’ll be turning twenty in a few years. And right here I used to be considering it was fashionable. The sixth recreation gave us the Rage system, which afforded characters extra harm per hit. In any case, it could be low on this listing, however with a Metacritic rating of 79%, it’s nonetheless a bloody good addition to the collection.

Tekken 4 (2001) – 79%

I do keep in mind enjoying Tekken 4. Till 4 am one night time. Whereas drunk on rosé wine. This installment made some adjustments to the collection, most notably the flexibility to maneuver round an enviornment, making higher use of the 3D house.

Tekken 4 was one thing of a step up from simply having the ability to trip and probably a bit to the aspect. The one motive I’m placing this forward of Tekken 6 (regardless of the identical Metcritic rating) is the consumer critiques have this one barely greater (7.7 versus 7.5).

Tekken 7 (2015) – 82%

If there’s one factor you may say a couple of Tekken recreation, it’s that you just just about know what you’re going to be getting. You can most likely say that about most combating video games, however this may be why even the more moderen entries within the King of Iron Fist Event appear to do fairly properly. The franchise doesn’t really feel stagnant; as a substitute, it’s very a lot constant in displaying off what it does finest.

I do know for a truth I haven’t performed Tekken 7, so I can’t remark by myself expertise of it. What I can say is that Bandai Namco is aware of how one can ship what makes followers glad whereas additionally tweaking the collection to maintain issues just a little bit contemporary. Boasting 82% on Metacritic exhibits that this tactic is evidently working.

Tekken 5 (2004) – 88%

Till I began researching this listing, I didn’t know the way it was going to look. I assumed the later video games would have decrease scores whereas the extra traditional installments can be the most well-liked. However that doesn’t appear to be the case, and I’m right here for it.

Tekken 5 has a meaty 88% on Metacritic, which might be all the way down to the truth that this recreation is credited as taking the collection again to its roots. The sport’s visuals are a step up from its predecessor, we get some new characters, and we additionally get the brand new Crush System. On prime of that, some outdated favorites make a return, together with Anna Williams and Wang Jinrei.

Tekken 2 (1995) – 89%

Whereas not my private favourite, Tekken 2 nonetheless holds a particular place in my coronary heart. It was my introduction to the collection, having watched a buddy play it on his PlayStation. Mentioned buddy would additionally try to drag a number of the strikes off on me in actual life, together with that one Nina does the place she tries to dislocate your arm from the shoulder. Weirdly, we’re not in contact lately.

Whereas Tekken had but to actually set up itself as a formidable mainstay within the combating style, the primary recreation within the collection very a lot set issues in movement. As such, the second installment solely improved on the unique in each manner doable, which included giving us new modes for the house launch, equivalent to Survival Mode, Time Assault, and Crew Battle.

Tekken 8 (2024) – 90%

Look, we live in fairly dystopian instances in terms of the gaming business (in addition to, you already know, the remainder of the world). Publishers are intent on nickel-and-diming us for each penny we’re value, and sadly, Tekken 8 isn’t any exception. The gutting of content material and promoting traditional characters as separate DLCs are a testomony to the instances we’re dwelling in, and that is seemingly why the sport is displaying as “combined” on Steam.

Nevertheless, it should be doing one thing proper for it to have a Metacritic rating of 90%. Even the consumer rating is displaying as 7.6, which is fairly favorable contemplating criticisms of monetization techniques. However once more, Bandai Namco stands tall as an organization that may do profitable combating video games, as soon as once more delivering new techniques and mechanics whereas tweaking what got here earlier than.

Tekken 3 (1997) – 96%

I can’t let you know how happy I’m to see that not solely is Tekken 3 thought of the best entry in the entire collection, nevertheless it’s additionally on the primary web page of Metacritic’s finest video games of all time. It stands tall and proud alongside such iconic titles as The Orange Field, Baldur’s Gate 3, and Resident Evil 4. This entry has been my favourite since I first performed all of it these years in the past.

I stated earlier how Tekken 2 improved on the unique formulation. Properly, the third recreation does that much more so. I nonetheless keep in mind my jaw dropping at a number of the reduce scenes; the way in which Eddy Gordo’s limbs moved to indicate emotion, or the close-up element of a cop’s face as he pursued Paul on his bike. On the time, I’d by no means seen something fairly like Tekken 3‘s intro, and if the visuals weren’t sufficient, the truth that we additionally obtained the Streets of Rage-inspired Tekken Power mode was simply the cherry on prime.

Tekken Tag Event 2 (2011) – 82%

Whereas I stated I wasn’t too fascinated with speaking concerning the spin-offs within the collection, I really feel it’s not less than value mentioning the Tekken Tag video games. Whereas not canonical to the opposite video games when it comes to story, they’re noteworthy for providing a ton of characters to select from, with the crux of the gameplay being the flexibility to swap between characters in the midst of a combat.

Tag 2, very similar to what got here earlier than it, afforded the chance to focus solely on tag crew battles. So far, this entry has essentially the most characters in its roster, with 61 fighters to select from. So far as Tekken spin-offs go, the Tag video games are undoubtedly up there when it comes to general recognition and high quality, even when Bandai Namco has not given the world any new ones for nearly 15 years.

Tekken Tag Event (1999) – 85%

The primary Tag, launched in arcades in 1999 earlier than getting a house launch in 2000, was initially meant as an replace to Tekken 3 earlier than turning into a standalone launch. As such, it sits proper between the third and fourth mainline video games when it comes to launch date and has been well-received through the years, with a Metacritic rating of 85%. It’s stunning, due to this fact, {that a} follow-up didn’t emerge sooner.

Once more, very similar to Tag 2, this one was notable for having a reasonably hefty solid of characters to select from, with a complete of 39 fighters in its roster. Which will pale compared to its 2011 sequel, nevertheless it’s value remembering that there have been solely three video games in the entire franchise at this level. For comparability, Road Fighter III: third Strike (a recent of Tekken Tag Event) had simply 20 characters.