The anticipation of Tekken 8's unveiling has reached a fever pitch. Players are rife with speculation about which familiar faces will reappear. However, the potential guest characters remain an underexplored topic. Given the previous guest characters' remarkable success - Geese, Negan, Noctis, and of course, Akuma - it's safe to presume we'll see new guests in the upcoming release.

Here are our Top 10 picks for potential guest characters in Tekken 8, taking into account gameplay style and compatibility with the existing lore. We appreciate the charm of Noctis and Negan, but we're focusing on characters that feel more at home in Tekken's world.

1.  Adam Hunter, Streets of Rage

Beat 'em Up games have seen a significant resurgence recently, thanks to the unexpected revival of the long-dormant Streets of Rage series with Streets of Rage 4. The trio of Axel, Blaze, and Adam has become iconic in gaming history. We're tipping our hat to Adam and his stylish, agile moveset. His flamboyant split-kicks, flying ground punches, and acrobatic hop kicks would make for fantastic, flashy combos. With Sega's anticipated announcement of Virtua Fighter 6, and considering the Yakuza series' popularity, Streets of Rage characters might be fair game where the former isn't.

2. Brad Hawk, Urban Reign

 

Should Sega decline to loan Adam Hunter, Bandai Namco could draw from their own Beat 'em Up catalog. Urban Reign's protagonist, Brad Hawk, could easily transition to Tekken with his brawling style. A combination of Bryan Fury and Miguel's techniques comes to mind when envisioning his gameplay.

Not to mention, we saw both Paul and Law as guests in Urban Reign too!

3. Kyo Kusanagi, The King of Fighters

Kyo, the iconic face of the King of Fighters franchise, is a rush-down style brawler who relies on mixups and frame advantages to subdue his opponents. His inclusion in Tekken could result in a blend of Lars and Miguel's gameplay. Plus, given the KOF Allstars Mobile-game crossover, SNK might owe Bandai Namco a favor.

 

4. Tokita Ouma, Kengan Asura

Tokita, the main character of the Kengan series, is a well-rounded, outspoken fighter. Fans of the manga and anime series can vouch for the series' grounded, realistic fight choreography. However, Kengan is no stranger to power-ups like The Advance, an enhanced state where characters become faster and stronger. Tekken could easily implement this, given the uncertainty surrounding the new game's Rage mechanic.

 

5. Akira, Virtua Fighter

Akira, the poster boy of Virtua Fighter, would fit seamlessly into the Tekken roster. His power-based aggressive style, reminiscent of Julia and Leo's moves, could be flawlessly executed with his muscular physique.

6. 2B, NieR

Yes, Soul Calibur 6 has already done it, but including 2B was a resounding success, despite the game's overall lukewarm reception. Given Bandai Namco owns the IP and a new game is undoubtedly on the horizon, the character 2B could attract NieR and Soul Calibur fans to Tekken 8, provided her balance is managed correctly.

7. Agent 47 from Hitman Series

While this choice would have had more weight if Square Enix still owned the Hitman series, Agent 47 is still a viable option. A household name in gaming, his combat style would combine Negan's movement style with Dragonuv's grappling potential. His garotte could also make for an excellent super or finisher move.

8. Kasumi, Dead or Alive

The 3D fighting game landscape can feel lonely for Tekken, with franchises like Soul Calibur losing their footing and Virtua Fighter making only a modest splash. Dead or Alive, though surviving, maintains a minimal player base. Due to dismal sales and early marketing controversies, a new Dead or Alive game seems unlikely. Lending DOA's star, Kasumi, to Tekken could be a strategic move for Koei Tecmo. It could introduce new players to the character and invite DOA fans to temporarily switch to Tekken.

9. Raiden, Metal Gear

Metal Gear Solid 4 revitalized Raiden's popularity, and Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance cemented the cybernetic ninja's appeal to millions of players. We envision an agile, Raven-type move-set and playstyle for Raiden. Plus, the next-gen visuals will be quite the spectacle.

10. Sagat, Street Fighter

Some Tekken fans might balk at the idea of another Street Fighter character, given Akuma's long-standing dominance in Tekken 7 tournaments. However, Sagat's grounded playstyle and clear counter-play within Tekken make him a more seamless fit. Imagine the excitement of a triple showdown between Sagat, Fahkuhmram, and a potentially returning Bruce – it would make for an incredible story arc. And let's not forget - he's so far, he's thought to be missing from Street Fighter 6.

 

 

There you have it, our top 10 potential guests for Tekken 8, grounded in what we believe is feasible and fitting within the current lore. Special thanks to IceBluu for contributing to this list! We'd love to hear your thoughts on these picks.