Tekken 5 recaptures the magic after Tekken 4. Snappier combat, huge roster and sumptuous staging. For many fans, the absolute series peak on PS2.
Your verdict
Category
Fighting2 players16+
Description
A Namco 3D fighter released in 2005, the fifth main Tekken franchise entry and PS2 peak. Massive 32-character roster (return of Anna, Bruce Irvin, Roger Jr.), combat overhaul with more precise defense mode and deeper chains, deepened Story/Time Attack/Survival modes. Considered one of the best Tekken games of all time. Absolute 3D fighting reference.
Tekken 5 review
MAX
Art direction
★★★★★
"Iconic"
MAX
Music
★★★★★
"Legendary"
3/5
Story
★★★★★
"Solid"
Fighters modelled with polished realism, magnificent arenas and worked-over light: the fighting game reaches a high-flying technical elegance. The fluidity of the animation and the richness of the settings elevate every clash. This visual finesse, sleek and snappy, illustrates Namco's mastery at the end of the generation.
Nervy and eclectic, the music blends electro, techno and rock into an energy that matches the frantic pace of the fights. Each arena has its stylish theme, from the most tense to the most groovy, underlining the personality of the fighters. This sleek sonic identity, the series' hallmark, galvanises every clash with flair.
Gameplay
"Masterful"
A deliberate return to fundamentals, this entry refines a 3D fighter of exemplary clarity and balance: sidesteps, ground follow-ups and a sprawling roster reward investment without scaring off the newcomer. The fluidity and precision of the controls remain beyond reproach. The series' high point on the console, it retains a depth that still delights enthusiasts today.
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
3D fighting in its most accomplished form: a gigantic roster, bouts of exemplary fluidity and a depth that rewards years of practice. The handling stays accessible, but each character hides treasures of technique. Spectacular, balanced and superb with several players, one of the untoppable peaks of versus, acclaimed the world over.
Addictiveness
"Obsessive"
Chaining tightly timed strikes and juggling your opponent in the air turns every round into a precision act you constantly want to replay. An immense roster and side modes revive the practice. The technical depth intimidates the newcomer, but this readability, this nerviness and this generosity of content keep a pull that fans never let go of.
Difficulty
"Balanced"
Lifespan
"Massive"
A teeming roster and a combat system of great depth open a near-bottomless room to grow. Mastering each character, customising your fighters and battling in versus restarts the pad indefinitely. That richness, paired with side modes and a retro arcade mode, earns the title a stubborn reputation as a major fighting game.
The Western release of Tekken 5, the return to form of Namco's fighting series after a lukewarm entry, praised for its balance, fluidity and an arcade mode retracing the saga's history. Still widespread, its desirability rests on this status as a consensus 3D-versus entry and a lasting demand rather than scarcity. A cornerstone piece for a fighting-game set, sought in a complete, well-kept box.
Better with friends
A pillar of 3D fighting, of a fluidity and clarity that make it a treat in duels from the very first handling. The competition plays out in the dance of footwork, the sidestep and the timing of launchers, where reading your opponent's habits makes all the difference. Welcoming to novices but fathomlessly deep, it chains snappy face-offs and feeds rivalries that sharpen evening after evening.
Is Tekken 5 still worth playing in 2026?
Released in 2005 on PS2, Namco's project is often regarded as one of the peaks of the Tekken line, thanks to a combat system of exemplary fluidity and depth after the missteps of the fourth entry. The richness of the combos, the readability of the fights and a vast roster make it a benchmark of three dimensional versus fighting. The Devil Within mode and the bonus retro arcade Star Blade flesh out the solo offering. The beauty of the stages and the handling have held up remarkably. The absence of online play weighs. Essential for fans of technical fighting and for players in local duels.
