Dead or Alive 6 Last Round

Dead or Alive 6 Last Round is a great fighting game wrapped up in a very bad package. If you've never played Dead or Alive 6 before and you're looking to jump in, this is the best way to play a game that still has a lot going for it. (Actually, now the only way, since the original game has been delisted.) If you’re already a fan and you were hoping for a version of Dead or Alive 6 with long-awaited improvements like rollback netcode, cross-platform play, Tag Battle, or even just some new content… this ain't it. It’s wild that Koei Tecmo is charging money for seven-year-old costumes, that Mai and Kula aren't included, and that the things you'd expect from the definitive edition of a fighting game in 2026 simply aren't here. I get it: rebuilding your netcode is hard and what's here works fine enough. But rollback is the standard now. Cross-platform play is the standard. In a world where all the DLC was included, or Tag Battle was added, or where there were new characters and stages included at release, those omissions would be easier to forgive. But that's not the world we live in. Dead or Alive 6 is still a great fighting game. It deserved a better last round.

The commitment that these developers have to the game and the fact that we will have more stages and characters alongside everything released since the original till now, that’s a huge upside in the game’s favor. And in general, the fighting mechanics are awesome, and the game does run better overall. It’s a nice addition to the library of any fighting game afficionado or any newcomer to fighting games. But for a fan of the original DEAD OR ALIVE 6, this is a good pack only if you want almost all DLC in a single place, along with the promise of new, free content down the line.

Dead or Alive 6: Last Round is easily the best way to experience DOA6 if you're a newcomer. Between its fun combat system, fantastic stage interactions, large roster, and impressive amount of offline content, it remains one of the most enjoyable fighting games on the market. However, if you've already spent your time with the original release, there is very little here that justifies buying it again.

Dead or Alive 6 Last Round is still a great fighting game, with its smart mechanics, deep roster, and a new Photo Mode. But as a definitive edition, the lack of any upgrade path, missing guest characters, and fractured online community make it harder to celebrate without some significant reservations.

Dead or Alive 6 Last Round is the ultimate edition of 2019's DOA6. It offers absolutely no new content outside a pretty decent photo mode, so if you haven't played it yet, now is the time. If you already own DOA6, however, there's almost nothing here that can be recommended. For newcomers, Dead or Alive 6 Last Round is going to be an electric experience, and it's guaranteed to be one of the best fighters this year purely by the will of its savage gameplay. For vets, however, it may indeed be DOA.

As a longtime series fan that is desperate for Dead or Alive to get back on the right track again, it brings no joy to be criticising this disappointing re-release. Dead or Alive 6: Last Round is a game that struggles to justify its existence by including barely any of the previously released DLC by default, missing features from the original title, adding very little in the way of appealing new content, and lacking in crossplay and rollback netcode. DOA is a brilliant fighting series that deserves way better than this, and DOA6LR is still a solid entry, but it is impossible to ignore the missteps taken with this edition.

Dead or Alive 6: Last Round is a solid offering for new and existing players, but it definitely doesn’t feel like a complete package. While it comes with most of the downloadable characters, half of the skins/outfits remain behind paywall, and the overall experience and UI feel dated at this point. It doesn’t help the story mode is dreadful and there’s not a lot to do outside competitive online matches. The mechanics themselves are at the very least enjoyable, as it’s still a gratifying fighting game, but everything around it falls short of anything remarkable. Despite the glamorous character models, Dead or Alive 6: Last Round feels more dated than it should.

Dead or Alive 6 Last Round is a really good fighting game with plenty of single-player content and online features to keep newcomers and returning fans happy. The game's optimizations and improvements are welcomed, but the lack of rollback netcode and cross-play at launch holds Dead or Alive 6 Last Round back.

Dead or Alive 6 Last Round is an over-the-top fighting game that is only a little afraid to get silly and sexy. It is best to temper your expectations, as this supposed “definitive version” feels well and truly like a cash grab designed to test the fans’ engagement before Dead or Alive 7, without so much as addressing any of the problems DOA 6 is notorious for. With the original lambasted for its violent, aggressive monetisation practices, Last Round feels destined to fall into the same pit.