Street Fighter II

Street Fighter II generated over $1.5 billion in arcade revenue, making it the most influential fighting game ever created. Its six-button layout and special moves like the Hadouken defined the genre, with 15% faster match times than the original 1987 version. Capcom's roster of eight unique fighters outperforms #3 Mortal Kombat's digitized sprites in fluidity, while its competitive balance remains a study in game design nearly three decades later.