All 11 Tekken Games Ranked Worst to Best

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All 11 Tekken Games Ranked Worst to Best

When it comes to a legendary fighting franchise that has been dominating the martial arts game scene, nobody does it like Tekken. The game first started in 1994 with its arcade debut, and since then, it has been creeping into the gaming history and legacy, shaping the fighting games genre.

When gamers first played the game, it was a blocky 3D fighting game on the original PlayStation. Now, it has turned into a popular series that has been running for decades, fueling intense controller-spamming rivalries. The games have evolved in many aspects in the past few decades, and their latest installment from 2024, Tekken 8, shows the world that the game is not ready to die anytime soon.

With better game mechanics, graphics, and an increase in the number of fighters, the game is not just another forgotten saga struggling to survive; it’s doing better than ever. The game has had multiple spin-offs and collaborations, but today, we will be looking at the main titles that follow the storyline and see who did it best and who got KO-ed.

11 Tekken 2 (1995)

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2 gameplay | Credits: BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment

This has to be the least fun Tekken game to come out of the original game saga. It was released in 1995 for arcades and was later ported to the original PlayStation. Sure, it was a great addition to the original game that came out in 1994, but the original game’s success was so massive, it had a ******* shoe to fill. The fighting game scene was heating up in the ’90s, and after the first game, everyone expected the second installment to take a step forward, but the results made it look like it took a step back.

The game did introduce memorable characters like Lei Wulong and Jun Kazama, and the ******* roster gave players more fighting styles to explore. It even polished the game mechanics slightly, showing minor improvements compared to its sequel. But despite being the follow-up to a successful first game, Tekken 2 just did not hit. The visuals barely had any notable changes, and the overall gameplay was not that great.

While it did lay some foundation for what the franchise would become, everything else forced the critics to rate the game at 6.2 on IGN, making it the lowest-rated game in the franchise.

10 Tekken (1994)

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When Tekken first released, it was on arcades and, after a year, was ported to PlayStation. This was the game that started it all. While everyone was used to the same fighters, making the fights boring, Tekken introduced multiple characters with distinct fighting styles that quickly grabbed the attention of gamers. Even though it looks like a boxy mess today, the game was quite advanced for its time.

It was quite fun to play this with your friends or siblings during vacations, and it has a special place in the hearts of gamers, but looking at it from a critical point of view, it does not compare to the other games the saga has made. It’s not surprising that Tekken scores a 7.5 on IGN, which is quite respectable as it started off the whole thing.

9 Tekken Tag Tournament 2 (2011)

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2 | BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment

The second Tag Tournament game was released a decade later, for the arcade in 2011 and for consoles in 2012. Even though the series took its sweet time to release, the game made sure it had everything that the fans loved from the original Tag Tournament and expanded on it. They offered over 50 characters from nearly the entire Tekken series and gave fans more variety and better matchup options.

The game even introduced new mechanics like Tag Assaults and Tag Crashes to improve the gameplay. This meant better combos and creative strategies. And this one, too, like the last game, improved on the graphics, animation smoothness, and over-the-top intros and win poses. Despite all these positives, the game was tagged as unbalanced and complicated, and one of the most unfriendly games for a beginner, which earned it a low rating of 7.5 on IGN.

8 Tekken Tag Tournament (1999)

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Tekken Tag Tournament doesn’t fall under the main game title, but it’s one of those games that deserves some credit. The game was first released in 1999 for arcades, and later it was launched for PlayStation 2 in 2000. They also introduced a new feature that allowed players to switch between two characters in a match. It was a 2v2 tag system, which none of the other games had done before.

The game was like a package that included most of the characters from the first three games, which meant players had better fighting options. Apart from the new game mechanics (which were fluid), the game only improved on the visual aspects, which the new PS2 console could handle. The extra juice from the PS2 was a huge leap for upgraded effects and smoother animations.

Even without a mainline story, Tekken Tag Tournament earned itself a solid 8.7 on IGN and remains one of the most beloved spin-offs in the franchise.

7 Tekken 6 (2007)

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Tekken 6 came out in 2007, more than a decade after the franchise began, and it has evolved a lot since then. Still, it couldn’t quite match some of the games released in between. The saga was released on the arcade and has been pretty synonymous with PlayStation for consoles, but Tekken 6 marked the first time the franchise appeared on Xbox.

The game introduced five new characters, for a total of 39 characters. It featured better graphics than its prequels and was the first game in the franchise to introduce the “Bound” system, which opened up more creative ways to execute and extend combos and destructible stages for added immersion.

Let me tell you, even though the game is not as highly praised as some of the other games in the franchise, it’s not a bad game at all; the rest of the games are so GOATed that even their worst games are rated at a dream score for some other games. That being said, it did have a clunky online experience and one of the most forgettable story modes, but somehow, it still managed an 8.8 on IGN.

6 Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection (2005)

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Released in arcades in 2005 and later on the PSP and PlayStation 3, Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection was an upgraded version of Tekken 5. Tekken 5 was already a loved game, but the added flair really helped to gain more attention towards the franchise. It also introduced two new characters, Lili and Sergi Dragunov, who quickly became fan favorites.

The most notable thing about the game was how good it looked, and the improved sharpness really added to the hype. The best part is that it was not just limited to consoles; the game also came in PSP, which also looked surprisingly good despite being a handheld. It had added content from the original Tekken 5 and better replay value due to new stages, costumes, and a deep ranking system that kept players grinding.

Even though it was not one of the mainline games, it gained a lot of attention from the fans and even got a staggering 8.5 on IGN.

5 Tekken 4 (2001)

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4 | Credits: BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment

The first three games of the Tekken saga made minute improvements to the graphical elements and mechanics, but the real challenge was added with the fourth installment, which came out in 2001 for arcades and PlayStation 2. It shook up the formula a bit. The game added a new layer of strategy with uneven stages and walls that affected movement and combos. These changes added more fun to the franchise, which was starting to feel a bit monotonous.

The graphics were a serious leap forward, and the added tracks just added to the rush and fun. Some fans weren’t thrilled with the changes to the character roster and the less fluid gameplay compared to Tekken 3, but overall, Tekken 4 earned solid praise for trying something different. The game has a strong IGN rating of 9, but surprisingly, it’s not the best one the game series has to offer.

4 Tekken 8 (2024)

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After six and a half years of anticipation, BANDAI NAMCO finally blessed the fans with Tekken 8, which dropped in 2024. The game brings the legendary fighting franchise up to today’s standards and style. The game is built on Unreal Engine 5, and boy, does it look stunning compared to the older titles. The character models did not look like they were cut using scissors, and the world felt more interactive and dynamic.

The story mode dives into the drama between Jin and Kazuya, giving longtime fans the payoff they’ve been waiting for. They also introduced a new heat system, which makes the character more powerful for a temporary ******* of time, which means faster and more aggressive combat, and forces players to play more offense. The game also added rollback netcode for smoother online gameplay, making it one of the most technically advanced Tekken games yet. Even with all that, it received a 9 rating from IGN, which makes you wonder how good the games that came in between were.

3 Tekken 3 (1997)

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Lots of franchises have a main title that took them mainstream. Sometimes, it can be the original, and for others, it can be a later game that put the franchise on the map. Well, for the Tekken saga, it’s Tekken 3 that redefined the game series and put it on the global map. The jump in animation quality, fluidity, and character variety was wild compared to anything that came before it.

This was also the game that introduced iconic characters like Jin Kazama, Hwoarang, and Xiaoyu, who would go on to become the main characters of the franchise. The game was fast and responsive, and the mechanics were something we hadn’t seen before. All these things came together to make the game super addictive. Even the sidestep was revolutionary and added to the 3D depth that changed the way people looked at the game, and the bonus Tekken Force mode added replayability that fans didn’t expect.

All in all, the game has a special place in the hearts of hardcore fans and surprisingly wooed the fans as well, helping it hold a massive 9.3 rating on IGN.

2 Tekken 5 (2004)

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By the time Tekken 5 landed on PlayStation 2 in 2005, the franchise had already seen its fair share of highs and lows, but this game was a bounce-back from the low-rated Tekken 4. After they experimented with the fourth installment, they brought back faster gameplay, smoother animations, and a more refined combat system that longtime fans loved immediately.

The game also took a massive leap in the visual department as well, with stunning set designs and character models that used PS2 resources to the max, going back to playing it, and sometimes it still doesn’t feel like a PS2 game. The introduction of “****** Within” mode gave players a new way to explore Jin’s story. The game was loved by fans and critics alike and received a

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, making it one of the best games in the saga.

1 Tekken 7 (2015)

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Without a doubt, the most beloved game in the franchise is Tekken 7. The game was released in 2015 for arcades and then to consoles in 2017. This was the game that brought the game back into the spotlight. They introduced slow-motion finishes, cinematic rage arts, and some of the most intense story cutscenes the franchise has ever seen. The seventh installment of the original saga was a complete package.

This game also focused on expanding the roster with a bunch of newcomers, who will soon become fan favorites, including Akuma from Street Fighter, who entered the ring and surprisingly didn’t feel off. This also featured the netcode, which meant smoother gameplay when playing online, and the online gaming community embraced the game with open arms. It did not come as a surprise when it got a near-perfect 9.5, making it the highest-rated and most played game in the Tekken series.

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