Skip to main content
Join The Community
- Join our community
11
Premium Benefits
24/7
Access Available
21K+
Active Members
Commenting
Join the discussion
Exclusive Articles Coming Soon
Member-only articles
Weekly Newsletters
Weekly gaming & entertainment news
Member Badges
Earn badges as you go
Exclusive Competitions
Members-only prize draws
Curated Deals Coming Soon
Tech and gaming deals worth grabbing
GET COMMUNITY ACCESS QUICK
For the quickest way to join, simply enter your email below and get access. We will send a confirmation and sign you up to our newsletter to keep you updated on all your gaming news.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE
Want to subscribe to the magazine? Click the button below to find out more information.
Find out more
GET Community ACCESS QUICK

Join the GamesRadar community for quick access. Enter your email below and we'll send confirmation, and sign you up to our newsletter.

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Background
Welcome to GamesRADAR+ Community !
Hi ,

Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

MY ACCOUNT

Badge picture
Earn your first badge
Read 1 article to unlock your first badge.
Keep earning badges
Explore ways to get more involved as a member.
Latest Games News

Latest Games News

Breaking gaming news and updates

Read Now
Latest Games Reviews

Latest Games Reviews

Expert verdicts on the newest releases

Read Now

See what you’ve unlocked.

Explore your membership benefits.

Explore
Member Exclusives

Stay Ahead with GamesRadar+

Get the biggest gaming news, reviews, and releases straight to your inbox.

Explore

Sign Out
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
  • home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • View Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
    • View Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
Trending
  • Crimson Desert
  • Pokopia
  • Arc Raiders
  • The Boys S5
  • Starfield
  • Submit your clips. Win prizes
Don't miss these
Upcoming Switch 2 games 2026: four images featuring The DuskBloods, Fire Emblem Fortune's Weave, Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle.
Nintendo Switch 2 Upcoming Switch 2 games: New Nintendo Switch 2 games for 2026 and beyond
Best Ps5 games
Games Best PS5 games: The 25 greatest PlayStation 5 games in 2026, ranked
A screenshot of Gustave in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, one of the best RPGs you can play in 2026
RPGs The 25 best RPGs worth playing in 2026
Fox McCloud in the The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
Animated Movies Fox McCloud joins The Super Mario Galaxy Movie roster, fueling Super Smash Bros. movie speculation
Fox McCloud in the The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
Animated Movies Miyamoto says not to expect a Smash Bros-style crossover in future Mario movies
Nintendo Switch 2 playing Donkey Kong Bananza with Pro Controller to the left
Gaming Controllers The best Nintendo Switch 2 controller 2026: Compatible gamepads road tested with Ninty's new handheld
Marvel Rivals Elsa Bloodstone aiming glowing double-barrel shotgun
Third Person Shooters All potential upcoming Marvel Rivals characters based on leaks, datamines, and in-game hints
A picture of a Nintendo 3DS console next to several of the best 3DS games and Nintendo cards.
Games The 25 best Nintendo 3DS games of all time
Games like God of War Ragnarok: Kratos fighting a giant monster on a mountain top.
God of War 10 Games like God of War Ragnarok you should play next
Shadow (Keanu Reeves) in Sonic 3
Movies Every upcoming video game movie you need to know about in 2026 and beyond
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Super Smash Bros Super Smash Bros creator Masahiro Sakurai says it would be "impossible" to grant every fan request
Two chefs cooking on a boat with a seagull watching in the Nintendo Switch game Overcooked 2
Platforming Games Best two-player Switch games that let you team up with a friend or family member
Four pictures of games from our selection of the best Switch 2 games list, showing Donkey Kong, Cloud from Final Fantasy, Mario and Luigi, and three starter Pokemon.
Games The 20 best Switch 2 games to play in 2026
GamesRadar+'s upcoming Switch games for 2026 banner image shows a big woman looming over another character in Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream, Kanan Yuki in Digimon Story Time Stranger, Solid Snake in Metal Gear Solid Collection Vol 2, and a trainer in a battle in Pokemon Champions
Action Games Upcoming Switch games for 2026 and beyond
A header image for the Best Games 2026 list with a GamesRadar+ logo, showing Pokemon Pokopia, Romeo is a Dead Man, Demon Tides, and Resident Evil Requiem
Games The best games to play in 2026, so far
  1. Games
  2. Fighting

Who should be the next Super Smash Bros. Ultimate fighter?

Features
By GamesRadar Staff, Rachel Weber published 24 January 2020

This week's Big Question, answered by our writers

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

(Image credit: Nintendo)
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Want to add more newsletters?

GamesRadar+

Every Friday

GamesRadar+

Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.

GTA 6 O'clock

Every Thursday

GTA 6 O'clock

Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.

Knowledge

Every Friday

Knowledge

From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.

The Setup

Every Thursday

The Setup

Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.

Switch 2 Spotlight

Every Wednesday

Switch 2 Spotlight

Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.

The Watchlist

Every Saturday

The Watchlist

Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.

SFX

Once a month

SFX

Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!


Join the club

Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
Subscribe to our newsletter

The arrival of a new Super Smash Bros. Ultimate fighter is a serious business and can inspire the kind of passions that have started wars. We decided it was our duty, nay, our privilege, to humbly put forward our own suggestions for the next addition. Did we get it right? Put it this way, one of our suggestions is a bird. 

This is the latest in a series of big questions we'll be interrogating our writers with, so share your answers and suggestions for topics with us on Twitter.  

Goose

(Image credit: House House)

No, not Anthony Edwards' character from Top Gun, but Untitled Goose Game's (un)titular protagonist. We know that House House' already iconic gander is always up for a fight, and their limited range of attacks could easily be fleshed out by Nintendo for the Smash pro circuit. Honk stuns, bell throws, wing-based AOE attacks... the Ultimate team would barely have to do anything to make Goose a perfect fit among the current roster and - let's be real - a "New Challenger" announcement of that kind of 'OMG' variety is every marketer's dream. This passive aggressive passerine has already broken the internet once. Give them to Nintendo, and let's break it all over again. Alex Avard

You may like
  • Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Super Smash Bros creator Masahiro Sakurai says it would be "impossible" to grant every fan request
  • Key art for Scott Pilgrim EX showing Scott and Ramona ready for action in front of a montage of enemies and other characters, with the Big in 2026 GamesRadar+ frame Scott Pilgrim EX's new roster is inspired by "fighting game archetypes", with a fresh take on the universe
  • Tekken 8 screenshot The 25 best fighting games you can play right now in 2026

Geralt of Rivia

(Image credit: CD Projekt Red)

Yes, more swordplay. You can moan all you want about the addition of another swordsman, but Geralt of Rivia can also make hand signals that do magic so jog on and let me have my fun. Who wouldn't want to watch Geralt cast Aard and yeet Kirby off of a map? Perhaps his special would involve Roach dropping on top of someone's head? Or maybe Yennefer can pop in and be all hot and scary and mean and just...intimidate people to death? 

Despite its size, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt was a surprisingly functional port for the Nintendo Switch, and bringing Geralt into the world of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate has never been more timely. We're still in the midst of a Witcher Fever: everyone's got a slight temperature and the echoes of "Toss a Coin to Your Witcher" stuck in their heads. Capitalize on it, Nintendo, and give the people what they want. Alyssa Mercante  

One of the Colossus from Shadow of the Colossus 

(Image credit: Bluepoint Games)

It doesn't even matter which one to be honest. Except maybe not the little dog one who's scared of fire because that's just mean. No, I want one of the really big ones, like the giant with a sword hand and face like a surprised hairy coffee pot. The idea being that the player is both a fighter and the level [MindBlown.gif]. Okay, there are some kinks to work out. Like how you stop everyone just punching whatever bit of floor they’re standing on to defeat you but Masahiro Sakurai strikes me as the kind of guy who gets what he wants so I don’t have to win any of you over, I just have to convince him. Leon Hurley

Sora

(Image credit: Square Enix)

Another swordsman, I hear you sigh. A) Those are keyblades, damnit. Big difference. And B) Shush. It’s my pick.

Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Sora would be the best choice to kick off the second Fighter’s Pass: As the Kingdom Hearts lead for closing in on two decades, he’s mainstream enough that pretty much everyone will be universally happy with the choice (looking at you, Byleth), and also has almost unlimited potential with his fighting style.

Can we have Simba fighting by his side on Final Destination? Sure. Mushu cooking Link medium-rare? Go for it. Buzz punching Luigi to infinity and beyond? Abso-freaking-lutely. Let’s ignore all the legal red tape that is probably stopping Sora joining the Smash roster and, instead, embrace all things House of Mouse. Then this can be the first step towards Sakurai making the Disney x Nintendo crossover he’s secretly always wanted. Bradley Russell

Rex from Xenoblade Chronicles 2

(Image credit: Nintendo)

It would mean yet another anime swordsman, but I reckon Rex from Xenoblade Chronicles 2 would be a good fit for Smash. We've already got Shulk, the protagonist of the original Xenoblade Chronicles, but Rex could play very differently thanks to the many Blades at his disposal. I'm picturing a Pokemon Trainer-style setup where you play as Rex but you can choose between a few blades which modify his move set. Pyra, Mythra, and [super spoiler story Blade] would be a solid three, and if we're looking for a fourth, I'd vote for Zenobia. His down-air could be a Smash-style spike, his grabs could be based on topples, his Smash attacks could be Specials - it's super cool in my head, not gonna lie. Austin Wood

Balrog from Street Fighter

(Image credit: Capcom)

We’ve had Ryu. We’ve had Ken. Now it’s time to expand Smash Bros’ Street Fighter invasion beyond the realm of dragon punches and garbled shouts of Tatsumaki Senpuukyaku. Step forward everyone’s favorite digital boxer, still known as M Bison in the game’s homeland of Japan, renamed Balrog everyone else in the world for fear of legal reprisals from ear-biting Hangover II guest stars. I’ve always loved Bally for his simple approach to Street Fighter life, which mirrors my strategy for fixing broken electronics: if it doesn’t work first time out, just punch it a little bit harder. An approach that marries perfectly with SSBUF’s fast, impactful, arena-based chaos. Making the choice for the game’s next DLC addition a no-brainer. It must be glove, glove, glove. Ben Wilson

Kazuma Kiryu

(Image credit: Sega)

The original star of the Yakuza series has finally retired from the spotlight, which means Kiryu has plenty of time to pummel other video game characters. His standard street brawler moves fill up his Heat Gauge, then he pulls off context-sensitive Heat Actions - grabbing Mario and slamming his face into the pavement, side-stepping Link's master sword and breaking his arm, that kind of thing. Kiryu's Final Smash is heralded with a piercing call of "Kiryu-chaaaannnnn!" as Majima leaps in to beat the hell out of everybody with a baseball bat, leaving Kiryu free to sing sad karaoke in the background. Then there's Kiryu's accompanying Kamurocho stage, which has a handful of citizens - such as adult babies and slot car enthusiasts - who will help you in combat if you complete their Substories. I really need this to happen now. Connor Sheridan

Got a question you'd like the GamesRadar team to answer? Let us know on Twitter.

Rachel Weber
Rachel Weber
Social Links Navigation
Contributor

Rachel Weber is the former US Managing Editor of GamesRadar+ and lives in Brooklyn, New York. She joined GamesRadar+ in 2017, revitalizing the news coverage and building new processes and strategies for the US team.

Read more
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Super Smash Bros Super Smash Bros creator Masahiro Sakurai says it would be "impossible" to grant every fan request
 
 
Key art for Scott Pilgrim EX showing Scott and Ramona ready for action in front of a montage of enemies and other characters, with the Big in 2026 GamesRadar+ frame
Action Games Scott Pilgrim EX's new roster is inspired by "fighting game archetypes", with a fresh take on the universe
 
 
Tekken 8 screenshot
Fighting Games The 25 best fighting games you can play right now in 2026
 
 
A close-up of Wolverine in his iconic yellow and black X-Men costume, grimacing as he raises his claws close to this chest - cropped from the game's key art with the GamesRadar+ Big in 2026 frame
Action Games With Wolverine set to elevate superhero gaming in 2026, here's the four features I want the most, and four I'm desperate to avoid
 
 
Hollow Knight: Silksong cutscene screenshot showing Hornet lying on the ground in front of her nail
Action Games "I felt empty inside. I needed more Silksong": Hollow Knight Silksong player builds ultimate boss with Reddit-voted mods
 
 
Four pictures of games from our selection of the best Switch 2 games list, showing Donkey Kong, Cloud from Final Fantasy, Mario and Luigi, and three starter Pokemon.
Games The 20 best Switch 2 games to play in 2026
 
 
Latest in Fighting
Two boxers fight in Untitled Boxing Game
Fighting Games Untitled Boxing Game codes (April 2026) for Spins and Coins
 
 
Liu Kang in Mortal Kombat 2
Mortal Kombat "You lost $40 million": Dev lost Mortal Kombat rights because he went on a family vacation
 
 
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Super Smash Bros Super Smash Bros creator Masahiro Sakurai says it would be "impossible" to grant every fan request
 
 
Invincible VS screenshot showing Dupli-Kate using her abilities
Fighting Games Invincible VS director wants players to feel like "a f**king superhero," so expect matches that are a "knock-down, drag-out fight until the death"
 
 
Alex Clotheslining Ryu in Street Fighter 6
Fighting Games Street Fighter 6 hits new all-time peak playercount on Steam thanks to the protagonist of the series' biggest flop
 
 
Mortal Kombat 11
Games Mortal Kombat's Sub-Zero and Kitana team up after figure skating duo's win to pull off a competition illegal move
 
 
Latest in Features
Animal Crossing characters look up at the moon
Animal Crossing Animal Crossing helped me process grief, and I'm not alone: "Visiting her island has brought me a lot of peace"
 
 
PS5 Pro and PS5 original console on a wooden table
Peripherals Console gaming on a VPN: what works on PS5/Xbox Series X
 
 
A haughty-looking man in robes gazes down at the viewer while standing against a colorful background
Tabletop Gaming MTG Secrets of Strixhaven finally fixes a problem I've had with Magic for years
 
 
Marathon Triage runner
FPS Games Yes, Marathon is hard – but that is liberating
 
 
Key art for Neopets: Mega Mini-Games Collection - The Neopian Arcade Odyssey showing colorful creatures against a blue background
Action Games This Neopets mini-game collection proves it's actually good to preserve bad games
 
 
Jung Ji-Hoon as Im Baek-jeong in Bloodhounds season 2.
Streaming Services These are the 3 new to Netflix shows I'll be watching this weekend (April 3–April 5)
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. Todd Howard making a point
    1
    Skyrim and Fallout 4 artist says Bethesda's Todd Howard has too many yes men: "A lot of people were afraid to say no to Todd and that hurt him"
  2. 2
    Immersive sim pioneer Warren Spector's new stealth game Thick as Thieves makes the blessed pivot, dropping PvPvE in favor of single-player and co-op
  3. 3
    Prime Video's top 10 shows and the 3 you need on your watchlist right now (April 3–April 5)
  4. 4
    Spider-Man star Zendaya says she wants to work with Black Panther director Ryan Coogler: "He means so much to the world, but he also means so much to us"
  5. 5
    Sony may never support PS3 games again, but at least the platform's best emulator is getting massive improvements on PC handhelds like Steam Deck

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...