Super Smash Bros Ultimate vs Super Smash Bros Melee
The short answer
Ultimate for almost everyone; Melee if you want the competitive one. Ultimate has every character in the series' history, modern online and a huge single-player mode. Melee is faster, more technical, and has a two-decade competitive scene built on movement techniques the game never intended.
What they have in common
Same platform-fighting core — percentage instead of health, ring-outs instead of knockouts, and items you can turn off.
Pick Ultimate if you want to play with people in the room.
Eighty-plus fighters, hundreds of stages, and a difficulty range that works for a nine-year-old and a tournament player at the same table.
Games like Super Smash Bros Ultimate →Pick Melee if you want the technical ceiling.
Wavedashing, L-cancelling and a speed nothing since has matched. The scene is still active, but the barrier to entry is genuinely high.
Frequently asked questions
Should I play Super Smash Bros Ultimate or Super Smash Bros Melee?
Ultimate for almost everyone; Melee if you want the competitive one. Ultimate has every character in the series' history, modern online and a huge single-player mode. Melee is faster, more technical, and has a two-decade competitive scene built on movement techniques the game never intended.
What do Super Smash Bros Ultimate and Super Smash Bros Melee have in common?
Same platform-fighting core — percentage instead of health, ring-outs instead of knockouts, and items you can turn off.
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* Affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
More head-to-heads are on the comparisons page.
