When it comes to 1990s fighting games, most people instantly think of Street Fighter II, Mortal Kombat, or Tekken. These titles ruled the arcades and home consoles, shaping the fighting game genre into what it is today. But beyond the legends, there were dozens of other fighting games—some strange, some brilliant, and some completely forgotten.

If you were gaming during the 90s, you might have stumbled across a few of these, either at your local arcade or tucked away in a video rental store. Today, we’re diving back in time to remember 20 fighting games from the 1990s that you may have forgotten about.

1. Eternal Champions (1993 – Sega Genesis)

Sega’s answer to Mortal Kombat, this game featured time-traveling warriors brought together to fight for a second chance at life. Brutal finishing moves and a darker tone made it stand out, but it never reached the same mainstream success.

2. Weaponlord (1995 – SNES, Genesis)

A weapon-based fighter released by Namco, Weaponlord focused heavily on counterattacks and deep mechanics. It was ahead of its time but struggled with casual players who just wanted flashy combos.

3. Battle Arena Toshinden (1995 – PlayStation, Saturn, PC)

One of the first fully 3D fighting games, Toshinden wowed players with polygonal graphics and sidestepping mechanics. Unfortunately, it quickly faded once Tekken and Soul Edge showed up.

4. Primal Rage (1994 – Arcade, multiple consoles)

Dinosaurs and giant apes battling each other in brutal fights? That’s Primal Rage. It had a cult following thanks to its stop-motion animation and unique concept, but it never grew into a long-lasting franchise.

5. Dark Rift (1997 – Nintendo 64)

Billed as “the first true 3D fighting game,” Dark Rift leaned heavily on flashy visuals but lacked memorable characters. Still, it holds a nostalgic place for N64 fighting fans.

6. Killer Instinct (1994 – Arcade, SNES)

While not completely forgotten, Killer Instinct is often overshadowed by Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter. Rare’s combo-heavy brawler had memorable characters like Fulgore and Cinder, but the series disappeared until its 2013 reboot.

7. Plasma Sword (1998 – Dreamcast, Arcade)

A sci-fi fighter from Capcom (also known as Star Gladiator 2), this one is remembered for its flashy weapon combat and space opera setting. Unfortunately, it never hit the heights of Capcom’s other fighters.

8. Mace: The Dark Age (1997 – Arcade, N64)

A violent, medieval-themed fighting game that stood out for its weapons and brutal finishing moves. It wasn’t as polished as Soul Calibur, but it was fun while it lasted.

9. Psychic Force (1995 – Arcade, PlayStation)

A strange but fascinating 3D fighter where battles took place in the air with psychic powers. Its mechanics were unique, but it was too niche to catch on.

10. Bloody Roar (1997 – Arcade, PS1)

This beast-transformation fighter let characters morph into powerful animals mid-battle. While it had a small fanbase, it never reached the popularity of Tekken or Virtua Fighter.

11. War Gods (1996 – Arcade, N64)

Midway tried to replicate the success of Mortal Kombat with War Gods. It used “digital skin” technology for its fighters, but clunky gameplay made it more of a curiosity than a classic.

12. Rival Schools (1997 – PlayStation, Arcade)

Capcom’s high-school-themed fighter was full of charm, with students from different cliques battling it out. While it had its fans, it never became a huge franchise.

13. Last Bronx (1996 – Arcade, Saturn)

Sega’s gritty, weapon-based fighting game featured street gangs clashing with pipes, sticks, and swords. It was overshadowed by Virtua Fighter but had its own unique style.

14. Bushido Blade (1997 – PlayStation)

A fighting game where a single well-placed strike could end a match instantly. Bushido Blade was revolutionary, but its slower, realistic combat wasn’t for everyone.

15. Rise of the Robots (1994 – Multiple systems)

This robotic fighter looked impressive for the time but is remembered more for its poor gameplay. Still, it was hyped heavily in the 90s and deserves a mention.

16. Fighters Destiny (1998 – N64)

Unlike most fighters, Fighters Destiny used a points system rather than health bars, rewarding throws, knockdowns, and ring-outs. Innovative, but too different to attract a wide audience.

17. Toshinden 3 (1996 – PlayStation)

The sequel to Battle Arena Toshinden added more characters and faster gameplay but failed to keep the series relevant in the wake of Tekken 3.

18. Tobal No. 1 (1996 – PlayStation)

Developed by DreamFactory and published by Square, this 3D fighter stood out for its fluid animation and unique dungeon-crawling mode. Sadly, it never found a large fanbase outside Japan.

19. Star Gladiator (1996 – Arcade, PlayStation)

The predecessor to Plasma Sword, this was Capcom’s attempt at a 3D space-fighter. It’s mostly remembered today as the game that introduced Hayato, who later appeared in Marvel vs. Capcom.

20. Ballz 3D (1994 – Genesis, SNES, 3DO)

A fighting game where the characters were made entirely of bouncing balls. It was strange, clunky, and often ridiculed, but definitely memorable.

The 1990s were a golden era for fighting games, but not every title could reach the heights of Street Fighter or Tekken. Many of these forgotten gems were ambitious, experimental, and sometimes downright weird—but that’s what made the decade so special for the genre.

If you grew up playing some of these, you know how much fun it was discovering obscure fighters at the arcade or in the bargain bin at your local game store.

Which of these forgotten 90s fighting games do you remember playing? Did we miss one of your hidden favorites? Let us know in the comments below!