Is Smash Ultimate Still Popular in 2026?

Introduction

Super Smash Bros Ultimate was released for the Nintendo Switch in December 2018 and quickly became both a critical and commercial success. Now over 4 years later, does Nintendo‘s crossover fighting game still have an active playerbase and appeal that makes it worth picking up? Or has the hype died down, making way for new fighting game hits?

This comprehensive guide will analyze Super Smash Bros Ultimate‘s ongoing popularity and worth in 2024 and help you decide if now is still a good time to jump into the game as a new player.

Sales and Popularity

Let‘s start with the numbers – Super Smash Bros Ultimate is the best selling fighting game of all time, having sold over 30 million copies worldwide as of December 2022 according to Nintendo.

To put that into perspective, that‘s over 3 times the lifetime sales of Street Fighter II, previously considered the highest selling fighting game ever. And Ultimate achieved these heights in just 4 years.

Moreover, digital sales numbers directly from Nintendo indicate the game is still selling over a million copies every quarter – an incredible number for a game this old.

Clearly there‘s still tremendous interest in Smash Ultimate, especially remarkable given the install base limitations of being on just one console.

In terms of active players, there are estimated to still be over 3 million players per month enjoying online battles and multiplayer. Hardly the sign of a "dead game".

So by all indications of commercial success, Smash Ultimate is still hugely popular amongst Nintendo fans and continues to sell and entertain players in huge numbers.

Competitive Scene

Beyond just casual play, Super Smash Bros Ultimate is still thriving as an esport and remains one of the most watched fighting games.

The largest tournaments like GENESIS 8 (January 2023) and Smash World Tour Championships (December 2022) still pull in peak viewership numbers of over 200,000 on Twitch.

And Smash Ultimate garners significantly more entrants and viewers than the previous entry in the franchise, Super Smash Bros for Wii U.

There are over 5000 entrants in the biggest Smash Ultimate tournaments compared to just 2000-3000 for Wii U events. And streams hit 2-4X higher viewership nowadays.

So clearly the competitive scene is far from dead. In fact players, organizers, and sponsors remain heavily invested in Smash Ultimate as an esport.

The skill ceiling remains extremely high given the enormous roster of nearly 90 fighters. There‘s tremendous depth of mechanical techniques, combo strings, match-up knowledge and more to master.

Top players like MkLeo, Sparg0, Light, and acola continue to push the game to its limits and provide incredibly hype moments. The scene is far from figured out.

As long as Nintendo continues supporting the game with balance patches and avoids any more #FreeMelee-like controversies, expect Smash Ultimate to remain a tier 1 fighting esport.

Post-Launch Support

For any multiplayer game, especially fighting games, ongoing developer support through patches, balance changes, and new content is critical to maintaining an engaged player base.

And Nintendo has delivered substantial post-launch support for Super Smash Bros Ultimate since it‘s 2018 release:

• 12 new downloadable fighters including Banjo & Kazooie, Sora, and more. This brings the total roster to 89.
• 7 completely new stages and over 100 music tracks also added via DLC packs.
• Regular balance patches adjusting characters‘ moves, frame data, damage, speed, and more. The most recent patch was in October 2022.
• New game modes like Stage Builder and Home Run Contest added for free.
• Ongoing fixes and quality of life improvements for online play.

This incredible amount of added content and adjustments has ensured Smash Ultimate‘s meta continues evolving. There are new characters and techniques for competitive players to master, and fresh stages and music to enjoy casually.

Unfortunately, the final balance patch and DLC character Sora marked the end of new content updates as of late 2021. But Nintendo‘s 3+ years of ongoing support after launch helped Smash Ultimate retain and grow its playerbase.

Appeal for Casual Players

Super Smash Bros Ultimate isn‘t just a game for hardcore competitive players – it also offers immense value and enjoyment for casual gamers.

The enormous roster of nearly 90 Nintendo mascots and colorful stages encourage casual players to host epic couch multiplayer showdowns. Seeing Pikachu battle Sonic in Dracula‘s Castle never gets old.

There are over 100 stages spanning classic Nintendo franchises to provide tons of stylistic variety during 4 or 8 player Smash seshes with friends.

Hundreds of musical tracks let players customize their stage soundtracks based on their gaming nostalgia. Who doesn‘t enjoy beating friends up while blasting Pokemon or Mario Kart tunes?

Fun items like assist trophies, Pokeballs, hammers, shells, and more keep the chaos high in free-for-all matches. They help balance out skill differences in the group.

Plus tons of single-player and co-op modes like Classic Mode, Adventure, and Event Matches provide plenty to do solo or with a buddy. There‘s a lot beyond just 1v1 matches.

With a massive vault of Nintendo history and content to explore, Super Smash Bros Ultimate offers endless fun potential for casual audiences.

Is a Smash 6 on the Horizon?

Fans of the Super Smash Bros series have come to expect a new Nintendo console to bring with it a new Smash game.

So with Nintendo expected to release a "Switch successor" console within the next couple years, should players expect Smash 6 to also arrive around that timeframe?

Unfortunately, the game‘s director Masahiro Sakurai has expressed uncertainty about his involvement and any concrete plans for a sequel.

In November 2021 he stated "I personally don‘t see there being 6. I don‘t know if I‘m going to be involved or not, but generally speaking, I don‘t know if they could make another Smash."

This doesn‘t necessarily rule out a Smash 6 entirely, as Nintendo could potentially develop a sequel without his involvement.

But given Sakurai has directed every game since the N64 original, a new Smash without him seems unlikely to happen soon if at all.

It took nearly 6 years between releases of Super Smash Bros Brawl and Smash Wii U. So even if a theoretical Smash 6 entered development, a release date anytime before 2026 seems highly improbable.

For now, both Nintendo and Sakurai remain quiet about concrete Smash plans. Fans should expect continued support for Ultimate for the rest of the Switch‘s lifecycle. A sequel could happen eventually, but not for quite some time.

How Does It Stack Up to Modern Fighting Games?

Given Super Smash Bros Ultimate originally launched back in 2018, how does its gameplay and presentation hold up against more recent fighting game releases?

Let‘s compare Smash Ultimate to 3 major fighting games that have come out since its release:

• Street Fighter 6 (2024)
• Multiversus (2022)
• Dragonball FighterZ (2018)

Graphics and Art Style

Visually, Smash Ultimate‘s cartoony art style has aged very well. While not as technically complex as Dragonball FighterZ‘s cell-shaded graphics or Street Fighter 6‘s hyper-realistic visuals, the simplicity allows it to still look great.

And the focus on accurately representing each character‘s distinctive franchise art gives Smash Unlimited charm. The roster looks like it was pulled directly from decades of Nintendo games instead of reimagined.

In terms of animation, there‘s nothing as buttery smooth as Dragonball FighterZ. But Smash still holds up well with tons of personality in each fighter‘s movement.

Gameplay and Mechanics

Core Smash gameplay has remained fun and inviting while also retaining immense depth. The fundamentals don‘t feel dated compared to new releases.

The platformer-inspired movement, fighting game combos and positioning, and party game items/hazards blend together into a formula still compelling today.

Of course more modern mechanics like Multiversus‘ assist characters or SF6‘s Real Time Commentary system demonstrate genres continue evolving. A future Smash could adopt some current fighting game innovations.

But as is, Smash gameplay doesn‘t feel drastically outdated or unappealing compared to the fun new ideas in other recent smash hits. The foundation is so strong that Ultimate still holds its own.

Online Play

Unfortunately, online play remains Smash Ultimate‘s achilles heel. Nintendo has gradually improved lag and connection issues since launch via patches.

However, the online experience remains nowhere near as smooth and seamless as Street Fighter 6 or Multiversus. Those games were built from the ground up with good netcode.

Smash Ultimate also lacks ranked matchmaking or lobbies for playing with friends. So while online play has gotten better, it leaves much to be desired compared to competitors.

Content and Polish

Where Smash Ultimate undeniably triumphs over the competition is the sheer wealth of content and insane polish that comes from over 20 years of iteration.

The 89 fighter roster dwarfs SF6‘s launch lineup. Multiversus has potentional but is still adding characters. Only Dragonball comes close.

Decades of history have also allowed Smash to build up 1200+ music tracks, 100+ stages, countless items and Pokeballs, etc. It‘s an unrivaled Nintendo museum.

And the insane attention to detail like easter eggs, callbacks, movesets tailored to source games give Smash unparalleled depth and soul.

No other fighter can reasonably compete with Ultimate‘s sheer quantity and quality of content.

Impact of the Pandemic

The global COVID-19 pandemic that kicked off in 2020 undeniably had many impacts on the gaming industry. For Super Smash Bros Ultimate, did lockdowns and isolation boost interest? Or did halted esports hamper momentum?

On the positive side, COVID-19 quarantines clearly increased video game playtime across the board as stuck-at-home consumers looked for entertainment.

This certainly benefited Smash Ultimate sales and online play engagement. Nintendo even referenced the pandemic as factor in the game‘s record sales.

Additionally, the party fighter was a natural fit for virtually "getting together" with separated friends and family. Group battles replaced actual group hangouts.

However, nearly two years of cancelled in-person tournaments and esports events stunted competitive Smash Ultimate‘s growth as a spectator sport right as it was heating up.

Lack of LAN tournaments made cheating scandals like Cinnpie‘s even more damaging to the scene. And it disadvantaged players that relied on in-person events over online play.

Now as the world has emerged from the worst COVID shutdowns, the Smash World Tour and major LAN events have fortunately resumed. This will help rebuild momentum.

On the whole, the pandemic seemed to be a net positive for Smash Ultimate‘s general popularity thanks to increased gaming, but harmed its esports aspirations. Getting back to normal should allow the competitive scene to start fully thriving again.

Character Roster Breakdown and Analysis

Having explored broader trends, let‘s now dive deeper into the 89 fighter roster that sits at the core of Smash Ultimate‘s appeal and staying power.

Just the shear size of the roster is a massive selling point. But which specific characters shine most in competitive play vs cater more to casual fans? What are their key strengths and weaknesses?

Here is a detailed tier list rundown of Super Smash Bros Ultimate‘s gigantic character roster:

S Tier (Top Competitive)

These fighters dominate professional play with strong combo potential, recovery, edge-guarding, and mobility:

• Pikachu – Extremely fast combo builder and edge-guarder. Top 5 most popular in tournaments.
• Joker – Excellent mobility and kill power when Arsene is active. A top pro main.
• Steve – Incredible advantage state with mining and crafting. Unique resource mechanic.
• Fox – Invincible on startup side B and blindingly fast mobility. Legendary veteran.
• Sheik – One of the best for racking up damage with fast combos. High execution.

A Tier (Also Viable Competitively)

While not as common in the metagame, these fighters have strengths that can still win tournaments:

• Shulk – Monado Arts give him unique customizations to stats.
• Zero Suit Samus – Agile and versatile combo game.
• Lucina – Fundamentally solid character from Fire Emblem series. Easy to pickup.
• Rob – Strong zoning with laser projectile. Useful recovery options.
• Wolf – Hits hard and has great KO potential. Popular "edgy" Star Fox rep.

B Tier (Strong but Struggle)

These fighters are held back by some key weaknesses like recovery, approach, or speed:

• Banjo & Kazooie – Good at range but very slow mobility.
• Wii Fit Trainer – Gimmicky Deep Breathing buff can be potent.
• Ridley – Large size makes him easy combo fodder.
• King K. Rool – Hits hard but very slow and laggy moves.
• Richter Belmont – Great ranged attacks but very limited close up.

C Tier (Mostly Just For Fun)

Don‘t expect to win any major tournaments with these extremely low tier picks:

• Ganondorf – Slowest, laggiest character in the game. Easily gimped. Fun disrespect pick.
• Little Mac – No recovery thanks to useless air game. But hits incredibly hard on-stage.
• Kirby – Adorable but not that powerful or quick. Very limited.
• Charizard – No longer transforms from Pokemon Trainer. Outdone by other heavies.
• Dr. Mario – Lacks interesting gimmicks or standout strengths. Mario clone.

So in summary, the enormous roster provides a diverse spread of fast rushdown fighters, slow heavies, quirky gimmick picks, and everything in between.

Top players need to deeply understand both a primary fighter and numerous matchups. But mid and lower tier characters can still steal games if wielded cleverly.

Even "bad" fighters tend to have at least some niche situation or cheese strategy they excel at. There‘s fun variety for players at all skill levels.

Is Smash Ultimate Still Worth It in 2024 for New Players?

Okay, after reviewing all the evidence – steadily strong sales momentum, an active competitive scene, tons of content, and a diverse meta – Super Smash Bros Ultimate definitely seems to still be going strong into 2023.

But is now still a good time for new players to pick up the game? Or is the skill ceiling too daunting at this late stage against veterans who have mastered tech and matchups?

Here‘s a quick pros vs cons evaluation:

Pros

• Massive amount of content, fighters, stages, music, etc to enjoy
• Active online playerbase guarantees people to play against
• Fundamentals focused gameplay still inviting for newcomers
• Ongoing tournaments to spectate and work towards

Cons

• Large roster overwhelming without guidance
• Advanced techniques like perfect pivoting exist
• Some top players have 4+ years more experience
• Waiting for sequel means less new content updates

Overall, Smash Ultimate offers such tremendous value content-wise that it‘s absolutely still worth it for new players. The low initial barrier to entry plus hidden long tail depth caters to all commitment levels.

Joining late does mean catching up on skill. But learning and improving over time against veterans is part of the journey. And the core gameplay foundations remain welcoming.

Given the lack of a successor on the horizon, Smash Ultimate is still the definitive Super Smash Bros experience that provides endless hours of fun. It‘s a must-buy for any Nintendo fan.