Savage Reign is a vs. fighting game that offers a dozen fighters, mixing fighting with weapons and a two-plane system like the one seen in the Fatal Fury saga, with which it is possible to get to the back of the stage by climbing to a higher level or climbing up pipes.

Each stage has interactive elements that intervene in the fights, such as falling stalactites, lava jets, spotlights that can be knocked down, and all the characters, have the ability to execute movements based on projectiles, which can be used to chase the opponent when he changes planes, and which can even be reflected.

Savage Reign is set in the first half of the 21st century in the fictional city of South Town (the same city used in the Fatal Fury and Art of Fighting series), which has now been upgraded and renamed as Jipang City. A mysterious legendary fighter known only as King Leo has risen up from the shadows of secrecy and issued a challenge on television for the strongest of fighters to battle against him in a fighting tournament known as the Battle of the Beast God. He promises immense wealth beyond anyone's dreams and legendary fame beyond imagination. Nine fighters have come to the tournament, each with their own sole purpose and reason for battling against King Leo.