Hessen Crash is Germany’s longest-running fighting game community event and a flagship tournament series for competitive players and fans of the genre. It combines high‑level esports competition with a grassroots community festival atmosphere, making it a central meeting point for the German and European FGC.
What is Hessen Crash?
Hessen Crash is a recurring fighting game event series that has been running since 2010, now celebrating its 22nd edition and 15th anniversary. It offers main tournaments with cash and merchandise prizes, international qualifier events, and dedicated stream coverage, alongside space for community‑run side tournaments and casual play.
The event features a wide range of titles such as Street Fighter 6, Tekken 8, Guilty Gear Strive, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and many more, attracting hundreds of participants from over 20 nations. As an officially recognized stop for circuits like the Esports World Cup qualifiers, Tekken World Tour, SNK World Championship and Arc World Tour, Hessen Crash is firmly embedded in the international competitive calendar.
How did it start?
Hessen Crash began in 2010 as a grassroots community tournament created to give niche fighting game players in Germany a dedicated home and regular offline meeting point. Initially organized as a local event in Hesse, it grew edition by edition into a bi‑annual series with 20 offline and 2 online iterations, making it one of the most consistent FGC events in the region.
Over time, the organizing team around 2BeCommUnity professionalized the structure, expanded the game lineup and introduced partnerships with cities, venues and publishers, while keeping the community‑driven character intact. This evolution culminated in large‑scale editions such as Hessen Crash XXII in Frankfurt’s raumfabrik, featuring more than 360 participants, 13 tournaments and over 100 setups.
Why is it so beloved?
Hessen Crash is beloved because it prioritizes community experience as much as competition, emphasizing a welcoming, “familiar” atmosphere where newcomers and pros share the same space. Attendees can not only enter main brackets but also run their own side events, meet friends from all over Europe and become part of a long‑standing tradition in the German FGC.
The event has repeatedly been recognized by the community, including being voted Germany’s best fighting game event in 2019 by the HardEdge community, and continues to grow in scale while staying authentic to its roots. Its mix of international top‑level play, regional pride, iconic “Bembel” trophies and consistent quality over more than a decade has turned Hessen Crash into a true cult format in German esports.