Which Super Smash Bros. game is the first to bring back every character from previous installments?

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is the first game in the series to bring back every character from previous installments.

Released for Nintendo Switch in 2018, Ultimate was built around director Masahiro Sakurai’s goal of assembling the complete historical roster. Its base game included all 63 fighters from earlier entries, alongside 11 newcomers such as Inkling, Ridley, Daisy, Simon, and King K. Rool. Later downloadable content expanded the roster even further.

The phrase “every character” refers to playable fighters, not every enemy, boss, Assist Trophy, or non-playable character ever seen in Smash. Some returning fighters were redesigned or reclassified as Echo Fighters, but they still counted as part of the returning roster. Ultimate ultimately reached 89 playable fighters, including downloadable characters.

A common mix-up is Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U, which introduced many new fighters but also left several veterans out. Ultimate’s “Everyone Is Here!” campaign specifically highlighted its unprecedented complete return of previous playable characters.