Which 2001 Tekken game introduced walled stages?

Tekken 4, released in 2001, introduced walled stages to the series.

Earlier Tekken games generally placed fighters in open arenas where characters could move freely around the stage boundaries. Tekken 4 changed that design by adding walls and confined environments, making stage geometry an important part of combat. A fighter could be trapped against a wall, limiting movement and creating new opportunities for pressure, combos, and tactical positioning.

The change was part of Tekken 4’s broader attempt to make the series feel more grounded and interactive. The game also allowed players to move before a round officially began and used uneven floors and realistic-looking locations. These experiments made Tekken 4 distinctive, although some veteran players disliked the departure from the more open, juggling-focused design of Tekken 3.

The wall system became a defining feature of later Tekken games. Subsequent entries expanded it with wall splats, wall breaks, balcony breaks, and other stage interactions. Although later games refined the mechanic, Tekken 4 is the installment credited with introducing walled stages.