What is Tekken (series)?

The Tekken series is a franchise of fighting video and arcade games developed and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. The first Tekken game was released in arcades in 1994, and has since expanded into a flagship series for Bandai Namco, producing eight mainline entries alongside several spin-off titles.

The core gameplay of the Tekken games revolves around one-on-one battles between characters across a 2D plane, employing hand-to-hand combat mechanics that allow players to use their character's limbs to strike, throw, or grab opponents. Each character in the roster has their own unique fighting style, moveset, and combo capabilities, ranging from traditional martial arts to more unorthodox techniques.

A key aspect of Tekken's gameplay is its combo system, which allows players to string together sequences of attacks to inflict greater damage. Mastering juggle combos by launching opponents into the air with certain moves is crucial for competitive play. Another staple is the game's eight-way directional input, giving players a wide range of movement and dodging abilities.

The series is known for its character roster comprising diverse fighters from around the world, each with elaborately designed movesets that draw from various real-life fighting disciplines. The storylines in each installment generally revolve around the King of Iron Fist - a fighting tournament that attracts combatants from across the globe to determine the world's strongest fighter.

Since its debut, the Tekken franchise has seen strong critical and commercial reception, having moved over 50 million units worldwide across its games. Its intuitive gameplay system, flashy visual presentation, and engrossing lore surrounding its iconic fighters has established the series as one of the premier 3D fighting game brands in video game history.

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