Capcom Fighting Collection on Nintendo Switch: A Definitive Retrospective of Classic Arcade Fighters

Capcom Fighting Collection on Nintendo Switch: A Definitive Retrospective of Classic Arcade Fighters As one of the most influential names in the video game industry, Capcom has given life to some of the most iconic characters and franchises, rivaling even Nintendo's own pantheon.

However, Capcom’s impressive back catalogue often features beloved series that, despite devoted followings, remain dormant for years at a time.

Now, with Capcom Fighting Collection, fans gain access to a well-curated anthology of Capcom’s 1990s arcade highlights—many available on Nintendo Switch for the first time. At the heart of this collection is the famed Darkstalkers series.

Known for its gothic anime flair and inventive gameplay mechanics, Darkstalkers left an indelible mark on the mid-90s arcade scene and inspired future Capcom fighters like Street Fighter Alpha and various Marvel crossovers.

Despite the series’ legacy and cast of memorable combatants, Darkstalkers hasn’t seen a mainline sequel in over two decades.

In the Capcom Fighting Collection, all five arcade titles from the franchise—including the canonically significant third entry and its subsequent iterations—are available for play, featuring all the roster tweaks and mechanical refinements across versions. The anthology dives deeper into Capcom’s lesser-known gems such as Cyberbots, a unique one-on-one fighter born from Armoured Warriors featuring giant mechs and customizable pilots.

Each robot brings a different fighting style, while the pilot choice primarily affects the story experience in single-player mode. Red Earth stands out as perhaps the rarest inclusion.

Leveraging the advanced CPS-3 hardware before Street Fighter III, Red Earth focuses on boss battles and integrates RPG-style level progression, allowing players to save progress through arcade passwords—a distinctive feature never before brought to home consoles until now. Naturally, the Street Fighter legacy is well represented.

Hyper Street Fighter II, originally a 15th-anniversary celebration game and the last to use the CPS-2 board, lets players pit different versions of the legendary roster against one another—an ultimate crossover within the series.

Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo offers a creative blend of fierce competition and puzzle-solving, where matching gems and executing combos can overwhelm opponents with cascading blocks. For those who prefer light-hearted brawls, Super Gem Fighter Mini Mix, with its charm and Capcom lore-packed stages, turns familiar chibi-style characters loose in a fast-paced showdown. Unlike previous Capcom anthologies such as the Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection, Capcom Fighting Collection was developed internally by Capcom, forgoing Digital Eclipse’s signature curation.

This shift brings noticeable improvements to online play, with all titles supporting robust rollback netcode and unified matchmaking across the collection.

Players can match up across modes and titles, enhancing replayability from the Nintendo Switch’s versatile platform.

While some options, like the three-bout match setup, mirror past collections, the network improvements are a welcome advancement. Fans will also appreciate access to an extensive gallery of classic artwork, design sketches, and music—some created exclusively for this anthology.

These extras enrich the experience, despite the absence of the timeline features and historic trivia often included in Digital Eclipse’s releases. Capcom Fighting Collection, available now on Nintendo Switch via retail and the eShop, is an essential package for retro enthusiasts and newcomers alike.

It preserves some of Capcom’s most innovative titles, many of which have rarely left the arcade.

Visually, sonically, and mechanically, these games stand the test of time, providing a sharp reminder of Capcom’s golden era of creativity.

For anyone invested in gaming history or the fighting game community, this is a collection that not only celebrates the past but makes it accessible for new generations.

Nintendo Switch Capcom Nintendo Capcom Fighting Collection Switch Red Darkstalkers Red Earth