Dead or Alive 5 is the series' return to form with enriched combat mechanics and an expanded roster. Revised counter-attack system, generous solo modes. The best DoA in a long time, accessible and deep.
Your verdict
Category
Fighting2 players16+
Description
Tecmo Koei fighting game with a varied roster from the Dead or Alive and Virtua Fighter series and refined physics. Published by Tecmo Koei, released in Europe in September 2012. Technical 3D combat with falls and bounces, interactive hazardous environments, characters in varied outfits and online mode. European version.
Dead or Alive 5 review
MAX
Art direction
★★★★★
"Iconic"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
3/5
Story
★★★★★
"Solid"
Fighters modelled with polished realism, spectacular arenas and worked-over light: Tecmo's fighting game tends as much to fluidity as to staging. The richness of the interactive settings and the crispness of the animation impress. This visual finesse, sleek and dynamic, perpetuates the series' graphic reputation.
A revival of Team Ninja's fighting game, Dead or Alive 5 weds a readable counter system, interactive arenas and a generous roster, in a very polished presentation. Still common in the West, its interest lies in this revival of a well-liked versus series rather than scarcity. An affordable piece for fans of accessible 3D fighting.
Better with friends
A 3D fighter as spectacular as it is accessible, where the strike-throw-hold triangle keeps duels readable while rewarding reading your opponent. The competition charms beginners and experts alike, carried by interactive arenas that multiply reversals. Local versus stays its strong suit, ideal for evenings where everyone quickly finds their footing and well-placed counters draw cheers.
Is Dead or Alive 5 still worth playing in 2026?
Dead or Alive 5 marks the return to form of Team Ninja's fighting series, with a brisk system built on the strike, throw and counter triangle that stays accessible without being shallow. The interactive multi-tier arenas, where you hurl the opponent through the scenery, keep a jubilant spectacle peculiar to the saga. The widened roster and the generous solo modes flesh out the whole. The title has since been outclassed by its own more complete reissues, but it remains a good entry point for anyone discovering this flashy yet surprisingly technical take on versus fighting.
