The gameplay of the series is primarily composed of fast-paced hand-to-hand combat in a 3-Dimensional playing field that began with the first game released in 1996, followed by five main sequels, numerous updates, spin-offs, printed media, a film adaptation, and merchandise.

Dead or Alive has been a critical and commercial success, having been well-praised for its impressive fighting system, beautiful graphics, and interactive environments.

Like other modern fighting games that attempt to emulate real life martial arts, DOA's input system is designed so controls correspond to the game character's actions; if the character moves forward with a punch, the controls most likely would include the punch input and pressing forward on the directional pad.

In comparison to others in the fighting game genre, such as Virtua Fighter, the series places emphasis on striking characters quickly and efficiently.

There is an emphasis on quick combos and air-juggles since the game's countering system and fast recovery times prevent slow, technical sets of moves in most instances.

The series controls also make the instances of speed and simplicity more congruent with the focus of timing and combos in mind, as the commands for basic attacks are widely considered more straightforward than most video games.

[14] Beginning with the original Dead or Alive, players could tap the guard button and a direction corresponding with the anticipated attack, which would do a powerful counterattack known as Counter Hold.

[20] The game also features an enhanced Bounce Combo system that allows players to bound their opponent on the ground for a finisher, with different inputs depending on the character.

DOATEC (Dead or Alive Tournament Executive Committee), a massive corporation with unknown motives, holds the fighting competition in arenas ranging from the North Pole to the Amazon rain forest.

Kasumi's brother Hayate, previously injured by Raidou, is also kidnapped and was used as a subject in DOATEC's bio-weapon experiment, Epsilon.

The game's plot concerns a secret goal of DOATEC's mad scientist Victor Donovan to produce the ultimate human weapon, called the Omega Project.

Through the Epsilon and Alpha stages, it was initially believed that DOATEC captures and wipes the Mugen Tenshin's Hajin Mon ninja Genra's memory.

Continuing to Dead or Alive 6, DOATEC and Mugen Tenshin discover that MIST is after the fifth tournament qualifier participant Honoka, due to her having a similar power signature as Raidou, causing them to keep an eye on her in different ways.

Ayane and Honoka are soon kidnapped by MIST and coerced into unwillingly reviving Raidou, their biological father, as an undead cyber ninja demon.

Helena, who arrived at one of MIST's hidden laboratory to secure the place, approaches a young scientist who act as Lisa's replacement and is responsible for Raidou' resurrection, NiCO.

When asked how he wished the series would contribute to the fighting genre, Itagaki replied: "I want people to remember DOA as a game that was very aggressive and combative.

The success of Dead or Alive sparked a renewal interest in Tecmo's classic (but at that time long dormant) Ninja Gaiden series.

Rachel and Momiji, characters originating from the Ninja Gaiden series, appear in updated versions of Dead or Alive 5.

Dead or Alive 5 was created in partnership with Sega AM2 of Virtua Fighter fame, featuring several guest characters from that series.

[36] In a February 2024 interview with Team Ninja department manager, Masakazu Hirayama, he stated that they are is considering the possibility of returning to the series, saying that Dead or Alive is an important IP to them.

[37] When asked about introducing a guest character from Dead or Alive to Tekken 8, producer Katsuhiro Harada cited this content drought as the main reason he doesn't see a collaboration happening.

[39] and A feature film titled DOA: Dead or Alive, directed by Corey Yuen and starring Holly Valance, Devon Aoki, Jaime Pressly, Sarah Carter, and Natassia Malthe, was released in the United States on June 15, 2007.

In the film, four female fighters are invited to a martial arts contest; they begin as rivals, but work together to uncover the secret that Donovan, the organizer of the tournament, is trying to hide.

Dead or Alive 2 is also seen briefly in the 2002 film One Hour Photo, where the son, Jake Yorkin, is playing the game in his bedroom.

In the 11th episode of the 6th season entitled "Gone" from 2002, two of the Trio members, Andrew Wells and Jonathan Levinson, play Dead or Alive 3 at the arcade.

[76] In October 2007, a fan-made web series of CG action movies called Dead Fantasy was created by late web-based animator and writer, Monty Oum.

As well as the multiple references to the namesake series, there are also salutes to other games, films, and media of the fighting genre, plus some examples of fan-made weaponry and costumes.

[121] Dead or Alive 2 was a turning point for the series, since it offered many new features and was notable for improving and popularizing the concept of multi-tiered environments.

Jeb Haught of GameRevolution always loved the series and its interactive environments, smashing opponents into environmental hazards for extra damage.

[138] Between 2015 and 2019, Team Ninja held annual Dead or Alive Festival events where fans could compete in fighting game tournaments, along with cosplay, photo and illustration contests, and could either win or purchase merchandise of the series.