Summary
Huge crossovers in gaming can be really exciting.While Easter Eggs are satisfying nods for big fans of games that get a reference, the best moments are opportunities for different worlds to collide and beloved heroes to face off against each other.
Some of the biggest video games of all time, no matter their genre, have been successful because of the sheer amount of fan-favorite appearances they feature, and how they let players see faces they know and love interacting in ways that are usually reserved for the pages of fan fiction. Here are the nine most ambitious andbest mashup games of all time.
One of the largest scale toys-to-life games, and another brilliant addition to theLEGOseries,LEGO Dimensionsgave fans of the brick-breaking series access to a massive number of characters from across a whole slew of unexpected titles. The classic adventure features simple combat, countless collectibles, and levels that present the best moments from the stories they tell. Featuring levels and playable characters like the DC superheroes, the wizards of theHarry Potterseries, and even Beetlejuice and The Goonies, fans of any property will find something for them here.
The characters each have playgrounds to be let loose in, vehicles and contraptions to play with, and will all band together to savethe block-built universe. While this game followed theLEGOgame formula for the most part, the inclusion of physical play with a toys-to-life aspect made the whole game a unique mashup that is mostly for fans of LEGO rather than the properties that star in it.
Perhaps the most iconic mashup game of all time, one that raised the bar for fighting games and crossover titles alike,Super Smash Bros.is a series that pits hugely popular video game characters against each other in recognizable locations. While eachSmash Bros.title is a perfect example of how to effectively cross over games,Super Smash Bros. Ultimatesets itself apart by following through on its promise: “Everyone is here.”
Players can choose between Nintendomascots like Mario, Pikachu, and Link, but guest characters allow for fighters from all across gaming history to make appearances and represent the best that video games have to offer. Whether it be modern classics likeMinecraftor pioneers of genre like Snake ofMetal Gear Solidfame,Smash Bros.manages to ride the linebetween being an exciting party game, a competitive fighter, and a showcase for the best of gaming history.
Following in the footsteps of theLEGOseries,Funko Fusionuses the visuals of the collectible figures styled after countless movies and TV shows and lets players loose in a variety of stories.A collectathon adventure that sets itself apart from theLEGOgames, fans can jump into the worlds ofHe-Man, The Umbrella Academy, Hot Fuzz, Battlestar Galactica,and evenFive Nights At Freddy’s.
The sheer range of missions on offer makes this a contender for the crossover game with the widest scope. The game clearly tries to strike a balance;Funko Fusionwants to endear itself to fans of the original properties and give a faithful experience while wrapping the whole thing in a cartoony, approachable package that can appeal to new or unfamiliar fans as well.
Another fighting game that pits unexpected characters against each other,MultiVersuslets fan-favoriteWarner Bros.characters fight alongside each other in a clearlySmash Bros.inspired clash. The cast of characters seemed, at first, to be eclectic and strange, but asMultiVersushas developed, players have been won over.
Characters like Arya Stark, The Iron Giant, Batman, Beetlejuice, and Adventure Time’s Finn the Human are thrown into fast and explosive matches that earn players points and experience. Unlockable perks, costumes, and characters make for a real sense of progression, and the developers' commitment to continue expanding the game means that this could blossom into an even larger crossover as time passes.
Fighting games make a perfect setting for mash-ups, allowing fans to see plenty of their favorite characters scrapping. One of the most established crossovers in the industry, with a series of popular titles, is theMarvel Vs Capcomline.
Pitting characters fromStreet Fighter,Darkstalkers,Resident Evil,Mega ManandStrideragainst the members of the Avengers, the X-Men, and more fan-favorite Marvel Super Heroes, these games have captivated audiences with complex combo mechanics and exciting team up possibilities. The latest collection —Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection:Arcade Classics— bundles some of thebest fighting games of all timewith a huge range of characters and a signature visual style that makes for high-energy, high-stakes battles.
While a MOBA may not be everyone’s cup of tea,Heroes Of The Stormgoes out of its way to capture the best of Blizzard’s library, and throws everything together into a crowd-pleasing game with shorter matches and a huge roster. Iconic characters fromStarcraft,Warcraft,Overwatch, andDiablomeet with more rogue choices to bring heaps of possibilities to the 5v5 matchups.
Players have a slew of abilities that can be upgraded using group experience that is shared between the team in each match. Mounts and Hearthstones ensure that fans of Blizzard’s massive catalog of distinct characters will find something familiar.Heroes Of The Stormmight not have become as popularas some of the other massive online games under Blizzard’s belt, but it is still a hugely successful mashup game in its own right.
Mortal Kombatis no stranger to strange crossovers, bringing in characters like the Terminator or Robocop to engage in the messy fatalities and gory fights that make this series infamous. However, perhaps its most ambitious crossover title isMortal Kombat vs. DC Universe.Letting Raiden and Scorpion test their fighting skillsagainst Superman and Batman while still preserving the weighty combat and bloody brutalities meant that fans of both properties could get invested.
The story mode lets players take on both Shao Khan and Darkseid to defeat the epic villains from both worlds in a narrative that sees the universes collide with catastrophic results. This opportunity to see unlikely allies and bickering rivals makes for a captivating mashup.
A group of four plucky Survivorsdart in the shadows towards the generator, repairing it to desperately try to power up the gates that stand between themselves and freedom. One crazed killer hunts them across the map, hoping to sacrifice them to a great and unknowable horror.Dead By Daylightusesplayer-vs-player competitionto serve up horror scares featuring terrifying icons from the best the horror genre has to offer.
A Xenomorph, Pinhead fromHellraiser, the evil Chucky doll, and Freddy Kreuger himself all use their signature skills to defeat the other players who are forced to flee from the all-powerful killer.Dead By Daylighthas quickly become a celebration of horror staples, letting players use different tactics to either escape, or to hunt.
One of the least expected crossover titles,Puyo Puyo Tetris 2is a mashup of two of gaming’s biggest arcade puzzlers, combining the neat block stacking gameplay ofTetriswith the pattern matching loop ofPuyo Puyo. Local PvP gameplay sees players collect powerups to make their opponents' board more chaotic and difficult, and the Fusion Mode slides both games into each other with chaotic results.
Tetrominoes are heavy enough to fall to the bottom of the board, while the Puyos sit at the top. The addictive and rhythmic gameplay loop ofone of the bestselling series of all timefinds a worthy match and succeeds in providing a surprisingly effective party battler.
