The Fighting Games
Like many others, I grew up with video games. While I enjoy playing different genres, the one I still play frequently is fighting games. Nowadays, fighting games are considered a niche genre, but when I was a little kid, they were among the most popular types of games. Back then, fighting games seemed too difficult, and I never had the courage to play them at arcades. It wasn’t until I got a computer that I started trying them out and gradually came to appreciate their charm.
I still remember how, during holidays and family gatherings, my cousins and I would always play fighting games together. Even as an adult, I still find time to play occasionally.
The Appeal of Fighting Games
To me, fighting games are all about mind games between two players. Most fighting games follow a best-of-three or best-of-five format, with each round typically lasting 60 seconds—sometimes 99 in certain games. This means the pace is incredibly fast; a single round is over in a minute, and a full match is usually decided within 3 to 5 minutes, or even faster.
What makes fighting games so engaging is their similarity to real-life combat sports: you must quickly analyze your opponent’s habits, identify their weaknesses, and exploit them—while simultaneously preventing them from doing the same to you. Strategy and adaptation are key.
For example, if you favor using low sweeps and land them successfully four times in a row, your opponent will likely catch on by the fifth attempt. At that moment, they may react differently, anticipating your move. But if you can predict that they’ve adapted, you can switch your approach and counter their counter-strategy. Of course, this isn’t always foolproof since you’re making predictions about your opponent’s mindset.
This is where the magic of fighting games lies: they demand sharp observational skills, the ability to predict your opponent’s next move, and the foresight to anticipate whether they’ve already figured out your plan. All of this happens in a split second, making every match a dynamic and ever-changing experience. What might seem like a simple game of two characters duking it out in a small arena becomes a thrilling mental duel where no two rounds are ever the same.
The Pressure
Because fighting games are fast-paced and one-on-one, they create intense pressure, especially when playing against others. New players often resort to button-mashing, unable to think calmly under the stress of real-time competition. This is completely understandable—after all, no one wants to lose, and the rapid pace only amplifies the tension. Some beginners even ask others, “I get so nervous when I’m battling someone that my hands shake. How can I overcome this?”
Even after playing fighting games for years, I still feel that pressure at times. Sometimes, after several matches, I find myself unable to think clearly and need to take a break. The nature of one-on-one battles means that when you lose, there’s no one else to blame—just yourself. And because matches are so short, you can easily go through 10 matches in just 30 minutes. If you’re on a losing streak, you may have to face 10 consecutive losses in that time.
To truly enjoy fighting games, you must learn to accept defeat. This isn’t easy for everyone. Some players, when they’re about to lose, will disconnect from the game to avoid taking a loss—this is called a “rage quit.”
I’ll admit, in my early days of online play many years ago, I also rage quit out of frustration. But one time, after I did it, my opponent didn’t send an angry message. Instead, he simply wrote:
“What’s the point?”
At the time, I brushed it off. But to this day, I still remember those words.
And they were right—what’s the point? If you play fighting games, every loss should be a learning experience. If you accept your defeats and learn from them, you improve. But if you can’t handle losing, you’ll avoid challenges instead of facing your weaknesses, and you’ll never truly grow.
Sounds a lot like real life, doesn’t it?
Nowadays, I don’t let wins and losses get to me. Even if I lose 30 matches in a row, I won’t rage quit. Instead, I’ll send my opponent a “GG” (Good Game) because they gave me an opportunity to learn. And at the end of the day, it’s just a game—winning or losing doesn’t affect my real life. This mindset has helped me improve over time.
Yet, when I reflect on my real life, I realize I haven’t always applied this same lesson. There have been countless times when I’ve let the fear of failure stop me from even trying.
Why?
Is it because real life isn’t a game? That doesn’t seem right. There are plenty of things where failure wouldn’t actually harm me in any meaningful way.
So why do I avoid them?
What am I afraid of?