- Primary Subject: Fighting Game Guest Characters (Crossover DLC)
- Key Update: Street Fighter 6 has broken tradition in its current season by adding its first-ever guests, Terry Bogard and Mai Shiranui, while Tekken 8’s Season 3 "Mystery Fighter" is rumored to be another major cross-media collaboration.
- Status: Confirmed (Season 3 Roadmaps)
- Last Verified: March 2, 2026
- Quick Answer: Guest characters provide a "marketing bridge" that attracts new players while forcing veterans to adapt to mechanics and move-sets that break the game's traditional rules.
When playing fighting games, one thing many people look forward to is their roster. It's always exciting thinking about what kind of characters you get to use, which ones you could end up favoriting, those you'd hate to go against, etc.
The best part about sticking with fighting games is seeing how the base roster gets expanded, usually via in-game unlockables or DLC. Normally, they're fighters you'd expect, like those who are part of the franchise the game is from. But sometimes, there are a few surprises in the form of guest characters.
While many tend to blend in well with the roster of whatever game they've been added to, some are so unusual that you question whoever thought it would make sense to add them. Still, there are a few that, despite being weird inclusions, players still think they're amazing additions, and they actually enhance the quality of the fighting game. As for which characters fall under that category, here are a few names:
1. Lars in Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2
This was definitely a surprise for fans of the game, as it's likely that a good chunk of them had no idea who Lars is. The man who's half Mishima and the leader of the rebel group Yggdrasil is a popular name in the Tekken franchise, and thanks to Masashi Kishimoto creating an alternate costume for him in Tekken 6, he managed to gain some fame in the world of Naruto as well.
Not only does he look perfect in Ultimate Ninja Storm 2, but he also feels like he fits in with the roster. This is thanks to his being a flashy and fast-moving fighter in the Tekken universe, and his being able to use electric-based attacks is just the cherry on top. Lars may seem somewhat out of place in the game, but there's no doubt that he's a fun and cool-looking character to use, and that's all you could ever want from someone you could play as in a fighting game.
2. Darth Vader, Yoda, and The Apprentice in Soulcalibur IV
Soulcalibur is known for its historical fantasy setting, so it would make sense that a sci-fi character would feel out of place. Yet, Darth Vader, The Apprentice, and Yoda just waltzed right in and made everyone feel like they're exactly where they belong. The three were added to the game to help promote Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, and while it was certainly a bold move with a lot of risk, it paid off.
Each of them had their own playstyles, with Yoda's being lightning quick, Darth Vader'sbeing slow and powerful, and The Apprentice's being a slight mixture of both. All three felt great to use and looked really good, making it easy to understand why so many people enjoyed their inclusion in Soulcalibur IV despite not making any sense.
3. SPARTAN-458 in Dead or Alive 4
In a fighting game franchise that mostly focuses on hand-to-hand combat, adding a character like a Spartan from Halo should not have worked. Yet, it did in Dead or Alive 4, as SPARTAN-458, also known by her real name, Nicole, was quickly well-received by fans.
While she obviously couldn't use any of the extremely powerful weaponry her franchise is known for, she made up for it with a fast, powerful, and aggressive close-quarters combat style that made mincemeat out of the Dead or Alive cast. Team Ninja and Bungie certainly made the right call in adding SPARTAN-458, as the uniqueness of the guest character certainly enhanced the overall quality of the game.
4. Negan in Tekken 7
Of all the potential guest characters that could be added in a franchise as popular as Tekken, nobody would have guessed that someone from a popular zombie TV Show, The Walking Dead, would be one. As part of Tekken 7's DLC 9, fans were perplexed and even frustrated with his inclusion, given that the roster slot could have been given to anyone more deserving.
However, his entertaining personality and the fact that he's easy to pick up quickly changed the minds of many. With his trusty bat, Negan swings at any and all foes in ways that let even new players pick up wins against seasoned veterans when played well. He's arguably one of the best examples of a successful character who's the result of a fusion between a fighting game and something from the real world, and we can only hope there's more like him in the future.
5. The Xenomorph in Mortal Kombat 10
For Mortal Kombat 10, you could argue that every guest character should be on this list. However, Jason Voorhees, Leatherface, and even a Predator at least make sense as fighters, as their designs wouldn't be too out of place in a Mortal Kombat game, and perhaps even their individual motives. However, you wouldn't be able to say the same about a Xenomorph.
Its inclusion is similar to the rest in that people consider it a wild addition, but what makes this different from the others is that it should have absolutely no business participating in an inter-dimensional tournament, yet here it is. The Xenomorph feels like it's there only to wreak havoc, and with its long-range and mix-up intensive playstyle, it did, which is why so many loved it. It may not have made sense for the popular Alien to be in a Mortal Kombat game, but it was a good thing that it squirmed its way in, as it made for a lot of fun and memorable fights between players.
While there are a lot of weird yet pretty awesome guest characters in the world of fighting games, I'm confident that these names stand out from the rest. I'm hoping that the future sees more just like them, as such inclusions make for better titles.
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