Guilty Gear is a series of fighting games by Arc System Works, created and designed by artist Daisuke Ishiwatari.

Guilty Gear has generally received praise from video game reviewers for its highly technical gameplay, graphics, soundtrack, and for its characters.

The story mostly focuses on Sol Badguy, a brash bounty hunter and die hard Queen enthusiast who, feeling guilty of his past creations which in turn, results in him becoming a gear, decides to make up for his own actions through fighting them whilst keeping his own identity a secret.

However, his own reluctance to help others, as well as his selfish actions, often attracts the attention of Ky Kiske, his own rival and former comrade, who tries to get into fights with him whenever annoyed.

A recurring theme throughout the franchise is redemption, with many of the character’s story arcs revolve around attempting to clear their name and is also presented as a religious motif mainly related to Christianity.

Other recurring themes reflect upon real world issues, such as the destructive consequences of wars, racial prejudice, and the dangers of unchecked scientific progress.

The series' emphasis on speed and technicality and introduction of unique movement options such as an "air dash" would ultimately become the foundation for the "anime" subgenre of fighting games.

Each game in the series includes a "Tension Gauge" that fills as the player performs offensive maneuvers, such as approaching the opponent or attacking them.

For example, Zato-1 utilizes a shadow-like symbiotic creature named Eddie that is able to detach itself and be controlled separately for a period of time, allowing complex tandem attacks between the two.

Two novelizations of Guilty Gear X were written by Norimitsu Kaihō, illustrated by Daisuke Ishiwatari, and published by Enterbrain: Lightning the Argent[a], and The Butterfly and Her Gale[b], on January 20, 2001 and on August 24, 2002.

[31][32] A manga titled Guilty Gear Xtra, a collaboration among Daisuke Ishiwatari, Norimitsu Kaihō, and Akihito Sumii, was serialized in Kodansha's Magazine Z on September 22, 2003.

[74][75][76] GameSpot said that "Guilty Gear is one of the few non-Capcom or SNK 2D fighters to make any sort of impact on the genre",[77] while Eurogamer stated: "If 2D beat-em-ups are moving toward extinction, they really are ending on a high note with stuff like this.

Hampson included Guilty Gear among the 10 best fighting game franchises of all time, praising the series's evolution along the years, the "distinctive visual flair" of its 2D sprites, and the "well-defined story lines", adding "its identity is among the most unique in the world of beat-'em-ups.

"[59] BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger, another fighting game developed by Arc System Works, was once considered a spiritual successor of the Guilty Gear series.

[82][83][84][85][86] In an interview with Dexerto, creator Daisuke Ishiwatari said that Guilty Gear Strive was made to change the direction of the series completely.

Arc System Works CEO Minoru Kidooka commented that while the game represented a big departure for the series, the company is happy with their new expanded audience.