Darkstalkers

Darkstalkers is a franchise of 2D fighting games developed and published by Capcom, featuring a roster of supernatural beings drawn from folklore, myth, and original design. The series is known for its gothic, anime-influenced artwork and one-on-one combat where each fighter has a distinct style and set of special moves.

The first game, Darkstalkers: The Night Warriors, released in arcades in 1994, introduced a diverse cast that has remained iconic. Notable fighters include Morrigan Aensland (a succubus), Demitri Maximoff (a vampire), Felicia (a catwoman), Anakaris (a mummy), Jon Talbain (a werewolf), Hsien-Ko (Lei-Lei) and Lin-Lin, and Q-Bee (a bee-themed Darkstalker). The series continued with Darkstalkers 2 (Night Warriors: Darkstalkers’ Revenge) in 1995 and Darkstalkers 3 (Vampire Savior: The Lord of Vampire) in 1997, with subsequent ports to home consoles and later compilations.

Premised around a gathering of Darkstalkers from various dimensions, the games present a tournament that determines leadership and influence within the Night World. The setting blends horror motifs with fantasy combat, emphasizing fast-paced combos, counters, and character-specific systems.

In addition to the mainline titles, Capcom released Darkstalkers Resurrection in 2013, a high-definition remaster that bundled the arcade entries with updated visuals and online play. The series has appeared in crossover titles such as Marvel vs. Capcom 2, helping to keep its characters in circulation within Capcom’s fighting-game canon. The franchise remains a cult favorite among players for its distinctive character designs and gothic aesthetic, though no new mainline entry has been released since the late 1990s.