Tekken 8

“Tekken 8 is a competent and appealing entry in the series that shakes up its familiar combat system without making it too unbalanced. Apart from the story campaign, the offline modes sadly aren’t as strong as they could be. But the PvP modes work fairly well and will keep the community afloat, even if crossplay is a bit finicky and the online connection crashes on occasion. Tekken 8 provides a solid base for additional content until the next entry, be it more characters, customization options, or extra modes. Either way, we’re ready for the next battle.”

“Tekken 8 is a welcome return for the series, with a fighting style that feels fresh through its aggressive combat, and plethora of modes.”

“Street Fighter 6 just raised the bar for AAA fighting games midway through 2023, and its long-time 3D rival Tekken has already matched it. Tekken 8's story mode is a breath of fresh air after T7's, and its abundance of single-player modes will give casual fans plenty to do afterward. Veterans can enjoy Tekken 8's new characters and mechanics without the game’s fundamentals being compromised, and a top-notch presentation will impress without technical hiccups. No one could have expected Tekken 8 to improve this much after Tekken 7 was already so strong, but it's clear that the new game won’t settle for anything less than being the series’ best.”

“Tekken 8 is a marked improvement over Tekken 7 and a perfectly executed balancing act, keeping older players happy while revealing its trademark freedom to newcomers.”

“Tekken 8 is an incredible evolution for the series, with tons of single player content, an excellent suite of training tools, a great online experience, and exciting new mechanics that make Tekken more dynamic than ever.”

“The best Tekken game in years, let down only by its struggling netcode and aged customisation.”

“Tekken 8 has a depth to it that can feel overwhelming. But it's also a game that doesn't force you to take it all in at once.”

“As a complete package, Tekken 8 doesn’t reach the heights of recent rivals like Street Fighter 6 and Mortal Kombat 1. But when the match begins, and you’re exploiting openings to unleash flashy combo strings and air juggles, it remains a thrilling, if very familiar, one-on-one experience.”

“A new aggressive fighting system and a healthy cast of characters make Tekken 8 pack a powerful punch.”

“Tekken 8 is a faster, hyper, and fuller package than before. A must-grab for fighting enthusiasts.”

“Tekken 8 is a bold direction in the fighter genre that ultimately leads to it being one of the greatest fighting games of all time. The amount of content that Bandai Namco is offering here is more than ever before seen in a fighting game. The Dark Awakens, while only a few hours long, focuses more on the narrative of Jin and Kazuya with cutscenes and comes close to jumping into JRPG territory. Tekken 8 is about the fighting, and the integration of the Heat System and changes to the fighting system propel the series forward while offering some of the most rewarding fights out there. The visuals and gameplay bring together an experience that's truly next generation. Tekken 7 was an excellent base to go off of for the next game, and Bandai Namco added so much more with Tekken 8. Fans of the long-running series will not only love the additions, but also newcomers to the series will have all the tools laid out for them to get properly acclimated with Tekken.”

“Tekken 8 is the ultimate Tekken game. A glossy veneer of modernity encases a strong foundation that builds upon its predecessors to great success. In every regard, Tekken 8 matches and surpasses the very best that the series, and the fighting game genre as a whole, has to offer.”

“Tekken knows where it's coming from, and we love where it's going. The new mechanics build on a more than established foundation, and add a special flavor that will be enjoyed by newcomers and veterans alike. The Heat System is a hit, and the new arcade modes are more than welcome. A Tekken to play for thousands of hours.”

“Tekken is back at full force with a very solid eight entry. This next step for the franchise is full of content that resonates with Tekken's own historic legacy. Whether it is the amazing character design, both visually and mechanically, as well as through its many family dramas, Tekken 8 just knows how to do it all. The Iron Fist Tournament is definitely as good as ever.”

“Tekken 8 breaks the chains that held it anchored to the past while remembering the lessons learned so far: welcome to the next-generation Iron Fist tournament.”

“Tekken 8 offers a successful update to the formula of the franchise by showing a powerful performance and an array of game modes that satisfy both expert players and newcomers.”

“Tekken 8 makes me angry at myself. I know that I’ve missed out on an amazing franchise. But at least I feel like I’m getting into the series at a strong point. Tekken 8 is a robust package that features some of the most satisfying digital fisticuffs I’ve ever seen.”

“Between the Heat System, Special Style controls, a healthy roster and more, Tekken 8 has set the stage for a glorious new era of the fighting franchise.”