Which Street Fighter game should you play after the movie?
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Some links on this page are affiliate links.
- Play Street Fighter 6. It's the current game, and most of the movie's cast is in it.
- Get the Years 1-2 Fighters Edition, not the standard one. M. Bison and Akuma, both in the movie, are Year 1 and Year 2 characters.
- New to fighting games? That's fine. Street Fighter 6 has a simplified "Modern" control type and a single-player story mode.
- Want the 1993 version the movie is based on? Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection has Street Fighter II in it.
In this guide
The Street Fighter movie opens in theaters on October 16. It's set in 1993, with Chun-Li recruiting Ryu and Ken for the World Warrior tournament.
That tournament comes from Street Fighter II. The good news for anyone who wants to play after watching: most of these fighters are still in the current game.
Which game is the movie based on?
The Street Fighter II world. The movie uses its tournament setup and its cast, from Ryu and Ken to M. Bison.
Street Fighter II is more than 30 years old, though. If you want to play these characters with modern graphics and online play, Street Fighter 6 is the one.
Are the movie's characters in Street Fighter 6?
Most of the main fighters are. It depends on the edition.
| Main fighters in the movie | In Street Fighter 6 |
|---|---|
| Ryu, Ken, Chun-Li, Guile, Blanka | Base game |
| Akuma | Year 1 DLC |
| M. Bison | Year 2 DLC |
| Balrog | Not in the game |
The Years 1-2 Fighters Edition includes the base game plus the Year 1 and Year 2 characters. That's why it's the one to get if you want the movie's villain.
Is Street Fighter 6 OK for beginners?
It's built to be. There's a "Modern" control type that simplifies the game to four attack buttons. Special moves come out with one button and a direction.
There's also World Tour, a single-player story mode. You make your own character and explore cities instead of jumping straight into ranked matches.
The picks
Street Fighter 6 Years 1-2 Fighters Edition (Nintendo Switch 2, Digital)
Available nowGet this if you want to play the movie's cast, including M. Bison and Akuma, on Switch 2.
Skip it if you already own Street Fighter 6 and bought the Year 1 and Year 2 characters.
- Includes
- Base game + Year 1 and Year 2 characters
- Format
- Digital code
- Story mode
- World Tour
- Sold by (Oct 1)
- Amazon.com Services
The digital code was available right away when I checked. The standard edition leaves out Akuma and M. Bison.
Check price on AmazonStreet Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection (Nintendo Switch)
ClassicGet this if you want the 1990s games themselves, including Street Fighter II.
Skip it if you mainly want online play with the newest characters. That's what Street Fighter 6 is for.
- Games included
- 12, including Street Fighter II versions
- System
- Nintendo Switch (runs on Switch 2)
- Switch 2 status
- Supported, with a note about online play
- Sold by (Oct 1)
- A third-party seller
Nintendo lists it as supported on Switch 2. Its note says players on an original Switch may see texture problems when they face a Switch 2 player online.
Check price on AmazonWho can skip this
If you already have Street Fighter 6 with the Year 1 and 2 characters, you're set. Of the movie's main fighters, only Balrog is missing.
If you just want to see the movie, you don't need to buy anything.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Street Fighter (2026 film))
- Wikipedia: Street Fighter 6 (roster, Modern controls, World Tour, Switch 2 editions)
- Nintendo: Street Fighter 6 Years 1-2 Fighters Edition for Nintendo Switch 2
- Nintendo: Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection
- Nintendo Life: Nintendo Switch 2 backwards compatibility guide