Where Are All The Boxing Games?

I spent the summer of 2006 (yes, I am that old) obsessed with Rocky Legends, the PS2 game that let me take on the role of my favourite characters from the Rocky movies. All the hype that year was about the upcoming Rocky Balboa movie and 13 year old me was obsessed with the franchise. In those days we were spoilt for choice when it came to boxing games. We had Fight Night, Rocky, Knockout Kings, and the Ready 2 Rumble series. But then, the genre just dried up. The last great boxing game was Fight Night Champion in 2011 and thanks largely to market shifts and licensing issues, we stopped seeing new boxing games². So you can only imagine my excitement when the genre was reborn with the appearance of Undisputed.

Along Came Undisputed

Undisputed emerged from a simple conversation between brothers when Ash Habib and his siblings Asif and Asad wondered why there hadn’t been a major boxing game in years. Starting as a side project in 2020, with no prior game development experience, they began learning everything from scratch - from coding to animation - through tutorials and Google searches⁴. The Sheffield-based brothers turned their living room project into a serious venture when Ash quit his job and invested all his resources into establishing Steel City Interactive⁴.

What set their approach apart was their decision to build a working prototype and secure boxing licenses before seeking investment. Rather than just presenting a pitch deck, they created a functioning game that demonstrated their vision. This strategy proved successful, winning over investors like London Venture Partners and Novator⁴. The game was released on 11th October 2024, featuring over 70 licensed boxers, 60 different punch types, and advanced footwork mechanics⁵. Their dedication paid off as Undisputed went on to sell one million copies, marking a significant achievement for the indie studio that brought boxing games back after a decade-long absence⁴. As shown in the above infographic, Undisputed has generated millions of dollars in Steam revenue and currently has one of the lowest saturation scores in our Steam Map, indicating a largely untapped market. Yet, despite the commercial success, Undisputed has received mixed reviews from players and in that same infographic you might be surprised to see that it has a SteamDB score of only 63.6% and ranks 47th amongst it’s peers.

A Rocky Start but Great Potential

Since its release on October 11, 2024, Undisputed has faced several significant technical and gameplay issues. The most prominent problem has been the broken power punch system, where players can spam power shots to break through blocks and achieve quick knockouts, making online play particularly frustrating⁶. The game also suffers from synchronisation issues causing phantom punches and hit detection problems, while the AI exhibits strange behaviour like staying in blocking stance for unreasonably long periods⁷. Additionally, players have criticised the limited roster of current fighters, with less than 80 total boxers at launch and many notable names missing from the game⁸.

The reception has been mixed, with the game receiving praise for its authentic boxing simulation and visual fidelity, particularly in fighter models and animations⁷. However, the gameplay has been described as slow and unresponsive by some players, with punches taking too long to connect and stamina depleting too quickly⁹. While the game maintains a “mostly positive” rating overall, recent reviews have trended towards “mixed” as players express frustration with technical issues and the controversial decision to lock certain fighters behind paid DLC¹¹. Despite these problems, many acknowledge that Undisputed represents the most serious attempt at a boxing game since Fight Night Champion, though it still requires significant improvements¹².

No Real Competition

The success of Undisputed is really a testament to the lack of competition in the boxing games market and emerging as the first developer in years to make a real attempt at an authentic boxing game. If we look at the 100 most similar games to Undisputed on Steam (see the scatter plot below) amongst the games that have received similar or higher reviews, whilst also finding commercial success, the majority are not boxing games but pro-wrestling games.

The most highly rated boxing game in this space is The Thrill of the Fight - VR Boxing which has been praised for its realistic physics and immersive gameplay¹³. In fact, the only other realistic boxing game that punches above the rest (pun intended) is Creed: Rise to Glory, another VR title. But if you want a realistic fighting game that doesn’t require a $300 headset and the risk of punching your TV, the options are limited. In the image below are games available on Steam that attempt realistic fighting mechanics and are ranked by estimated revenue. We have also provided the Steam DB score for each game to give an indication of how well received they are by the community.

The most direct competitor on Steam for Undisputed is Real Boxing, a $4.99 game that features motion-captured animations, Unreal Engine graphics, and both career and multiplayer modes with customisable fighters. The game offers basic boxing mechanics with jabs, hooks, and uppercuts through keyboard or gamepad controls¹⁴. Something I love about this title is they’ve incorporated the interactive training mini-games that were a staple of the Fight Night series and Rocky Legends. However, the game has received a lot of heat thanks to frequent crashes and bugs, poor hit detection¹⁶ and janky character animations¹⁵, repetitive career mode structure with limited variety¹⁵, and frustrating clinch mechanics that turn into time-wasting button-mashing sequences ¹⁴.

The third highest grossing game, Tactic Boxing, has been praised for its focus on positioning and tactical combat, where being in the right position to punch matters significantly¹⁷. The body attack system is particularly well-received, with the game respecting and rewarding body shots in scoring. The combat emphasises tactical decision-making rather than just visual appeal¹⁸. Despite all this, it just doesn’t have the same level of polish and high quality graphics as Undisputed or even Real Boxing, which unfortunately limits its appeal to a wider audience.

Hidden Opportunities in an Underserved Market

All these games sit in a corner of the market that is under-saturated and, as evidenced by the success of Undisputed, has a fan base crying out for an immersive realistic fighting game. We can visualise this by just looking at the 100 most similar games to Undisputed on our Steam Map below.

The games are coloured red and the distance between games represents their similarity. Notice the large void that exists between games in this space. That void represents the space of possibility for new games to emerge and fill the gap. The success of Undisputed is a testament to the potential of this market and the opportunity for new developers to make their mark. The space is ripe for innovation and new ideas, and with the right approach, the next big boxing game could be just around the corner.

Does that mean it needs to be a direct competitor to Undisputed? An immediate competitor trying to replicate the success? Not necessarily. The market is large enough to support multiple games and each game can bring its own unique twist to the genre. The key is to understand the needs of the players and deliver an experience that resonates with them.

From investigating this corner of the market, there are two things that are immediately clear:

1. You cannot underestimate the difficulty in creating a realistic fighting game. The physics, animations, and mechanics all need to be finely tuned to create an experience that feels authentic and satisfying. This is a genre that demands a high level of polish and attention to detail. Just watch the Punch A Bunch devlog series to understand how hard it is!
2. It appears that everyone in this space is trying to achieve the same thing - a focus on the most authentic boxing experience possible with immersive fight mechanics and physics

With such a high barrier for perfection and so little competition, I think the space is an ideal breeding ground for new ideas and innovation. The competition doesn’t look like it’s going to heat up soon either, with only a handful of upcoming games in development, the most promising being Brawler Bro’s.

However, I can’t help but feel there is a missing piece of the puzzle in this corner of the market. One that doesn’t necessarily need to deliver triple A graphics or the most realistic physics possible. There are plenty of games in the past that have delivered immersive and realistic gameplay without the need for the most cutting edge technology: The Long Dark, Tacoma, Project Zomboid, Firewatch, and Shadows of Doubt to name a few. If I am allowed to be selfish for a minute - I have skin in the game, I love boxing games - I would like to see a title that focuses on the narrative and the emotional journey of a boxer. A game that tells a story, that makes you feel the highs and lows of a fighter’s career. I want a Rocky. After all, aren’t all the greatest stories of the sport less about the ideal jab combination or lead hand movement and more about the struggle, the triumph, and the heartbreak?

That is just my own two pence, but if narrative isn’t your thing there are other innovations that (after exploring the Steam market place for an ungodly amount of time) I think have not been taken to their full potential. Here are some interesting titles that I think could inspire the next big boxing game:

• MMA Arena: a turn-based fighting game that uses deck building mechanics to simulate the strategy of MMA fighting. Despite its promise it has received mixed reviews with some describing it as a "repackaged mobile game". However, I think the concept is interesting and could open the door to a new approach to boxing games.
• Victory Road: this one really excited me (so much so that I went ahead and bought it) - in Victory Road you don't play the boxer, you play the coach. You have to manage your fighter's training, diet, and strategy to lead them to victory. It's a fresh take on the genre and I think it could be a great way to explore the world of boxing from a different perspective. Take this same concept with different graphics and a more in-depth training system and you could have a real winner.
• Punch Club: how can I talk about boxing games without mentioning Punch Club. It's honestly a work of art. It takes that classic 80s boxing movie feel and turns it into a management sim. It's silly and fun though, and I think there is a lot of potential in this space for a more serious take on the genre. Imagine a game that combines the management aspects of Punch Club with the narrative of a game like Firewatch. That could be something special.
• Road To Champion: Boxing Simulator: this game is very rough around the edges, but if you look past the poor graphics and clunky controls, the general concept of expanding the gameplay beyond the ring could have real appeal. There might be some players that are looking for a more casual arcade fighting experience with fun and immersive elements like customising your character, gym, training, and general life outside of the ring.

Conclusion and Future Outlook

Undisputed has made a significant impact on the boxing games market, reinvigorating a genre that has been dormant for years. The success of the game demonstrates the potential for new developers to enter the space and deliver innovative experiences that resonate with players. The lack of competition in the market presents an opportunity for new ideas and approaches to emerge, with the potential to redefine the genre and capture the attention of boxing fans around the world.

However, Undisputed has highlighted some of the difficulties in creating a realistic fighting game, with technical and gameplay issues affecting the overall experience. The game’s mixed reception underscores the need for developers to focus on delivering a polished and engaging experience that meets the expectations of players.

The barrier to entry is high for this genre, so arcade-style fighting mechanics with a focus on innovating outside the ring could help developers differentiate and succeed in the market. As the market continues to evolve, there is room for new games to explore different aspects of the boxing genre, from narrative-driven experiences to innovative gameplay mechanics. With the right approach and a focus on quality, the next big boxing game could just surprise us.

References

1. Reddit | Why did EA stop making Fight Night Games?
2. BJPenn | EA Sports to revive fan-favorite ‘Fight Night’ boxing series after releasing UFC 6 in 2025
3. YouTube | How Undisputed created the first major boxing game in over a decade
4. GameIndustry.biz | Undisputed hit: An indie-made boxing game featuring real fighters has just sold 1m copies
5. The Sporting News | Undisputed Career Mode & Character Creator: How new boxing video game features work
6. Screenrant | Undisputed Is Suffering From A Major Game-Breaking Problem & I'm Not Convinced It'll Be Fixed
7. Insider Gaming | Undisputed Review – Redefining The Boxing Game Experience
8. The Sportster | The Undisputed Boxing Game Was Anticipated By Fans. Now It's A Disaster
9. SDHQ | Undisputed
10. PC Gamer | A boxing fan with no game dev experience quit his job to make a technical boxing sim—now the world's best pros want to be in it
11. Screenrant | Undisputed Continues Troubling Game Trend That I Think Will Absolutely Tank The Game
12. IGC | Undisputed Review
13. YouTube | Thrill of the Fight: Is it the BEST VR boxing Game in 2023?
14. YouTube | Real Boxing Gameplay Review
15. IGN | Real Boxing Review
16. Big Red Barrel | Review: Real Boxing
17. YouTube | Finally Playing Career Mode!! in this NEW BOXING GAME - Tactic Boxing
18. Reddit | i’m playin this game called Tactic Boxing