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Street Fighter Games in Order
The main-line Street Fighter games by release date, plus the tangled story timeline where the Alpha series is a prequel and both Street Fighter IV and V are set before Street Fighter III.
Street Fighter Games in Order โ complete list
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Why this order?
Street Fighter is one of the most influential fighting-game series ever made, but its numbering is a trap. The games were not released in story order, and the title numbers do not match when each game happens in the saga. This page gives you two clean ways through the series: the order Capcom actually released them, and the order the story takes place.
Release order is the simplest and the one we default to. It follows the arcade and console launches: the original Street Fighter (1987), the genre-defining Street Fighter II (1991), the Alpha sub-series (from 1995), the technical Street Fighter III (1997), then the modern run of Street Fighter IV (2008), V (2016), and 6 (2023). If you just want to see how the fighting evolved, play in this order and watch the mechanics deepen from game to game.
Chronological order is where it gets strange. The Alpha games are prequels, set between the first Street Fighter and Street Fighter II, fleshing out younger versions of Ryu, Ken, and Chun-Li. Street Fighter II then plays out, but the next chapters are Street Fighter IV and V, which Capcom released decades later yet set before Street Fighter III. Both IV and V are midquels between II and III, and V's ending directly sets up the III era. So the story runs: Street Fighter, Alpha, II, IV, V, III, then 6. The numbered titles deliberately lie about the timeline.
For most players, release order is the right call, because each entry assumes you have the fighting fundamentals the previous one taught. If you care about the lore around Ryu, M. Bison, and the Shadaloo plot, use the chronological toggle. Fans of Capcom's other fighters like Darkstalkers, or the crossover Marvel vs. Capcom series, will find many of these characters reused there too.
Timeline 1987โ2023
Every entry plotted by release year โ see the gaps, clusters and revivals at a glance.
Where to play it today
Affiliate links (Bookshop.org for books, store links for games/films) slot in here.
Frequently asked questions
What order should I play Street Fighter in?
For most people, release order is best: Street Fighter, Street Fighter II, Alpha, III, IV, V, then 6. Each game builds on the mechanics of the last. If you care about the plot instead, use the chronological toggle, which runs Street Fighter, Alpha, II, IV, V, III, 6.
How many Street Fighter games are there?
There are seven main-line numbered or core entries: the original Street Fighter, Street Fighter II, the Alpha series, Street Fighter III, IV, V, and 6. Counting every updated edition, spin-off, and crossover, the total is far higher, but these seven cover the core saga.
Why isn't Street Fighter played in number order?
Capcom released the games out of story sequence. The Alpha series is a prequel to Street Fighter II, and both Street Fighter IV (2008) and V (2016) were released long after Street Fighter III yet are set before it. The numbers reflect release branding, not the timeline.
Is Street Fighter Alpha a prequel?
Yes. The Alpha series takes place between the original Street Fighter and Street Fighter II, showing younger versions of Ryu, Ken, Chun-Li, and the rise of the Shadaloo organization. It was released after Street Fighter II but happens before it.
Where does Street Fighter IV fit in the story?
Street Fighter IV is set after Street Fighter II but before Street Fighter III, even though it was released over a decade after SF III. Street Fighter V also sits in this gap, just after IV, leading directly into the III era. That is the biggest reason the numbering does not match the timeline.
Do I need to play earlier games to enjoy Street Fighter 6?
No. Street Fighter 6 is fully playable on its own and is the most beginner-friendly entry, with tutorials and a story-driven World Tour mode. Prior games add context for returning characters but are not required.
Last updated · Sources: en.wikipedia.org, Wikidata
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