Street Fighter has played a pivotal role in shaping and popularizing the fighting game genre, despite not being its originator. This iconic series introduced groundbreaking concepts like combos, a six-button layout, and motion inputs for special moves. It not only fostered a competitive fighting game scene but also propelled the arcade industry to new heights in the 90s. Moreover, it breathed new life into the genre with the advent of online play.
With each new installment, Street Fighter sought to innovate and explore fresh directions, capturing the attention of other renowned fighting game franchises like Mortal Kombat and The King of Fighters. However, it transcended the boundaries of its genre, evolving into a cultural phenomenon. The well-known characters from Street Fighter have made appearances in various forms of media and even ventured beyond the confines of fighting games, as seen in their inclusion in popular titles like Fortnite.
If you’re eager to delve into the series and experience its intricate narrative, this article provides a chronological overview of each entry, enabling you to embark on the journey right from the beginning.
Since its original release in 1987, Capcom has launched five main entries in the Street Fighter series, accompanied by sequels, special editions, and re-releases across multiple platforms and arcade systems. Typically, each iteration introduced new characters, modes, roster balancing, and other unique features.
While the original Street Fighter had only two versions—the original arcade release and the console port—Street Fighter II spawned seven different iterations since its debut in 1991. The most recent addition to the series is the Switch-exclusive Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers (2017). The subsequent main entry, Street Fighter III, comprises three releases: New Generation, 2nd Impact, and Third Strike. Street Fighter IV, released in 2008, received three additional incarnations: Super Street Fighter IV, Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition, and Ultra Street Fighter IV. Lastly, Street Fighter V also received significant updates post its initial launch in 2016, resulting in Street Fighter V: Arcade Edition and Street Fighter V: Champion Edition.
In addition to the main series, the Street Fighter Alpha subseries garnered significant popularity during its time. It consisted of three games: Street Fighter Alpha: Warriors’ Dream, Street Fighter Alpha 2, and Street Fighter Alpha 3. Another subseries, Street Fighter EX, emerged through a collaboration between Capcom and Arika, introducing a trilogy of 3D games for the first time.
Expanding beyond the main titles, the Street Fighter franchise boasts an extensive list of crossovers, spin-offs, and special character appearances in other series. These include the film tie-in Street Fighter: The Movie, the puzzle game Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo, the fighting game spin-off Super Gem Fighter Mini Mix (also known as Pocket Fighters), and the latest mobile entry, Street Fighter: Duel, available on Android.
The Vs. series has witnessed numerous iterations throughout its history. From the well-received X-Men Vs. Street Fighter in 1997 to the incorporation of Street Fighter characters in various “Vs. Capcom” titles, the most popular being Marvel Vs. Capcom, this crossover franchise has captivated fans. Additionally, Ryu and the World Warriors clashed with characters from Tekken in Street Fighter X Tekken. An intriguing fan-made platformer spin-off, Street Fighter X Mega Man, further expanded the franchise’s horizons.
Before delving into the list of main titles, it is worth mentioning that the canon timeline of the Street Fighter series is not entirely consistent. There are discrepancies in individual character stories across different entries, with plots restarting and characters facing unexpected resurrections. Nonetheless, the following timeline represents the most widely accepted chronology within the series.
