Discover the 5 best rivalries in gaming based on how beloved and iconic they are among the fandom with our list.

The concept of the main protagonist having an arch-rival is one of the oldest themes in fiction, let alone gaming. While there have been many rivalries across different games, only a few have stuck with players throughout the years. The reason is that these rivalries have a great impact on the game’s story, and the characters directly oppose each other’s ideals. So, here are the 5 best rivalries in gaming that players adore to this day.
1. Dante vs Vergil

Dante vs Vergil is arguably the most iconic rivalry in action games as a whole. The reason is, both of these characters have the same traumatic origin story. However, they chose different ways to cope with it. While Dante chose to stick with his humanity, Vergil chose to embrace his Demonic powers and made it his life goal to attain more power.
Additionally, their color scheme and abilities also directly contrast with each other. Dante’s powers and Devil Trigger have red colors, while Vergil’s have blue. Furthermore, the fact that they have clashed so many times throughout the series makes them one of the most iconic rivals in gaming.
2. Kratos vs Zeus

Across the entire God of War series, Kratos vs Zeus is the most iconic rivalry. After being betrayed by Zeus in God of War 2, Kratos made it his goal to kill Zeus and topple Olympus by any means necessary. Kratos’ hatred for Zeus even became a meme, as players memed him yelling his father’s name angrily. Their fight is also the lengthiest one in God of War history, which helped give their rivalry the appropriate and satisfying closure.
Even now, many players agree on the fact that Zeus was Kratos’ biggest and most iconic nemesis of all time.
3. Jin Kazama vs Kazuya Mishima

The Mishima family feud has always been one of the most iconic clashes across gaming history. However, the recent clash between Jin Kazama and his father, Kazuya Mishima, cemented their rivalry as the best one in Tekken. Ever since Tekken 4, these two have always disliked each other, to the point that they were willing to kill each other.
They finally came toe-to-toe in Tekken 8, and after a fierce and lengthy battle, Jin Kazama emerged victorious. This ended the decade-long rivalry for now, making Jin Kazama the superior fighter.
4. Cloud vs Sephiroth

Sephiroth has constantly tormented Cloud Strife in every way possible throughout Final Fantasy VII. He killed Cloud’s mother, burned his village, and constantly taunted him whenever he could throughout the game. Additionally, he also killed Aerith Gainsborough, who was very dear to Cloud and his friends. Combining all of these things, it is clear that Cloud hates and fears Sephiroth a lot.
This makes the rivalry between Cloud and Sephiroth very impactful and intense, as both of them have a lot of history with each other.
5. Scorpion vs Sub-Zero

Arguably, the most iconic rivalry in fighting game history, Scorpion vs Sub-Zero, is beloved by many fans to this day. Their abilities directly contrast with each other, as Scorpion uses fire attacks while Sub-Zero uses ice. Additionally, they belong to rival factions within the story, and their own personal conflicts make their interactions entertaining and iconic.
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