10 Best Crossover Games of All Time

It’s always been a clever idea to bring some of the most loved heroes and villains from one franchise into another. And while it may not always work out in the final product’s favor, crossover games do tend to lean more on the innovative and grand. 

There’s just something special about always playing Mario the plumber in Super Mario in often platforming and karting roles, only to meet his quirks and determined personality in the Super Smash Bros fighting game. This may be an obvious crossover that, either way, will add the depth and strategy of numerous gaming characters to the final game. 

But every so often, developers surprise us with unexpected merges, even stepping into the battle royale and RPG genres. Today, we’re exploring history to identify some of the best crossover games of all time that not only surprised us with their experimentation in merging out-of-the-box franchises but also with their resulting entertainment value. 

10. PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale (2012)

The go-to way of delivering an exciting crossover title has always been to merge characters from various franchises in a fighting game. And PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale is simply one of those fighting game crossovers to do it well. Battles take place on platforming stages, featuring fan-favorite characters from PlayStation franchises. 

You have a maximum of four players choosing their own character with a unique fighting style and moveset. And the range of moves included is pretty impressive, at a whopping 24 different options. You then max out your super move meter and unleash a devastating combo to KO the opponent and win.

For the characters featured in the game, you have a pretty diverse bunch, from Kratos from God of War to Nathan Drake from Uncharted and even Sackboy from LittleBigPlanet. And the stages are just as diverse, too, from Ratchet and Clank to Metal Gear Solid and Twisted Metal.

9. Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope (2022)

Mario from Super Mario has definitely done the most rounds in other franchises and vice versa. Take the Mario + Rabbids series, for instance, a spin-off crossover turn-based tactical game that combines the Super Mario and Rabbids franchises. 

You can either check out the Kingdom Battle or Sparks of Hope entries. Either one is exciting in its own right, allowing you to control your chosen party group in turn-based battles involving surprisingly deep strategy. 

However, Sparks of Hope is the more recent title, offering the most content. It adds new characters to the cast, tasking you with saving the world from a new dark force called Cursa. 

8. LEGO Dimensions (2015)

Nearly all of the franchises in gaming can be adapted into the LEGO franchise –arguably. It’s just about finding the right theme for you. In LEGO Dimensions, a common enemy, the evil Lord Vortex, unites heroes from different worlds.

This action-adventure platform crossover game features characters from the DC universe, like Batman, those from The Lord of the Rings, and Harry Potter.

It’s one of the surprising crossovers that just works perfectly, embarking on an exciting adventure that carries the creative building and humor we all love from LEGO.

7. Fortnite (2017)

The ongoing Fortnite battle royale seasonal pass has always been prominent for featuring crossovers. I mean, so far, they have collaborated with Marvel, featuring Thanos, Black Widow, and Star-Lord, National Football League, featuring official teams from the league, Marshmello, Major Lazor, John Wick, Stranger Things, Borderlands, DC Comics, and more.

Most crossovers are usually pop culture-oriented, and perhaps because the characters and cosmetics themselves are globally celebrated, the Fortnite battle royale ends up always evoking excitement over the next crossover.

6. Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney (2012)

Visual novel adventure puzzle games aren’t always prone to crossovers. However, Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Writing: Ace Attorney stands out for daring to combine two distinct franchises and make it work.

You have two contrasting personas as leads: Professor Layton, a brave archeology professor with a thirst for knowledge, and Phoenix Wright, a pretty good and charismatic defense attorney known for winning the most hopeless cases. 

Together, they take us on an unforgettable adventure, solving an enticing mystery and defending witches in the trial making it a worth entrant in the best crossover games of all time.

5. Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games (2007)

Another unexpected crossover that works beautifully is the Mario and Sonic at the Olympics sports game. It brought together Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog, featuring Olympic events where the two compete for the win. So, you have events like running and relay. 

There are other characters you can control too, from the respective Mario and Sonic franchises. And you may also test your skills in fantasy-based contests, too. 

4. Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate (2014)

Like Fortnite, Monster Hunter has always featured various crossovers across its entire run. You often access outfits and weapons from other franchises. In Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate, for instance, you can access outfits from the Street Fighter II and Devil May Cry franchises.

Yet it still remains that the best part about the series is the exhilarating vertical and horizontal-based combat. The content is absolutely immense, challenging you and your friends to fight some of the most fearsome monsters in gaming history.

3. Kingdom Hearts (2002 -)

As a whole, Kingdom Hearts is a crossover between Disney and Square Enix characters, from Donald Duck to Sephiroth from Final Fantasy. It’s been a successful run so far, telling some of the most heart-warming tales. 

Today, the series has become so huge that every Disney character has their own unique, reimagined Disney world, which you’re free to drop in and out of as you embark on your magic-filled adventures. That is why this is definately one of the best crossover games of all time.

2. Mortal Kombat (1992 -)

For most gamers, Mortal Kombat marks the epitome of fighting thrills, with its knack for violence and gory splatters across the screen. But beyond the savagery of the fights is the stellar adaptations of various crossovers throughout its history. 

You have fighters like Terminator, Robocop, and the Joker join in the fray of combat. No matter the crossover fighter, it’s always exciting to witness how their brutality and fatality moves play out.

1. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (2018)

Yet no other crossover game beats the staggering roster of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. The series has just been growing bigger and better. The latest entry adding 23 new fighters to the now 89 playable roster. They all come with their distinct worlds, creating such diverse and immense content. 

From Pokémon and Gundam to retro games like Star Fox and indies like Brawlhalla, nearly all of the Nintendo franchises you can think of have a place in Super Smash Bros. This is why we rank it as the one of the best crossover games of all time.