Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves

After 26 years, Fatal Fury is finally back—and City of the Wolves hits! It makes a bold return with deep story content, solid offline/online modes, and ambitious mechanics. While I'm not a fan of how SNK implemented the Smart Style control scheme, and the online experience has some issues, this is undoubtedly SNK’s strongest modern fighter yet!

Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves is a fighting game for fighting game fans, thanks to its deep gameplay mechanics and diverse character roster. Offering a slew of single-player and multi-player modes, this game has something for just about everyone.

Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves is not the most innovative or ambitious fighting game of the year, but it’s one of the most heartfelt and enjoyable.

Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves provides a refreshingly old-school fighting game experience, dialing back on the complicated meter systems and overly aggressive play seen in other modern entries in the genre. However, the game’s REV system provides plenty of risk-versus-reward decision making, while the brake and feint functions allow for much combo and playstyle creativity. You’ll certainly get th...

City of the Wolves kicks off with a promising start, delivering moments that feel like home runs—or slam dunks (thanks to Terry). That said, not every shot lands perfectly, and some areas could be addressed in future installments, depending on the subseries’ longevity. The REV system has ramped up the action significantly, making the two-decade-long wait worthwhile for fans who’ve eagerly anticipa...

Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves is a great addition to the series, with a large cast of fighters and accessible controls that let you pull off big attacks with ease.

While its guest characters are questionable, and there are some issues with its single-player RPG mode, Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves is a fantastic fighting game with fun mechanics, attractive visuals and plenty of modes.

Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves is a triumphant revival of one of the pioneers of the 2D Fighter that doesn't land every strike it throws, but hits with all of the most important ones for figthing game fans.

If you're looking for a fun new fighting game to play in 2025, then Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves is a great contender. There's a little bit of everything for players in the genre, and it does a great job of teaching newcomers the basics. The Rev system helps it stand out from others in the space. But at the same time, it does have some core issues that mainly stem from specific guest fighters be...

Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves is what SNK is best at. A pure fighter with great mechanics that are easy to understand and only the best will master. It's just a shame that so many of its modes and unlocks are shallow and don't add much to the overall experience.

A mechanically sound and fun fighting experience is slightly hampered by a lacking set of modes to use it in.

Very few fighting game series get a second act. Most fade. For a series to get there twenty-six years after its first big moment, after the company behind that series has been through bankruptcy and acquired — twice — is nothing short of miraculous. But no miracle is free; like all powerful magics, they extract a price.