Street Fighter III: Gill, the Illuminati, and the Seeker's End

Street Fighter III is the arcade-era finale of the Street Fighter series. Set at the end of the timeline, it swaps in a new villain — from M. Bison to Gill and his Illuminati.

The far end of the timeline

In the overall Street Fighter timeline, Street Fighter III comes last. It's the story after Street Fighter II, and the "endpoint" of the arcade-era saga. Ryu's journey reaches a new point here.

So strictly speaking, the stories of Street Fighter IV and V actually take place before Street Fighter III — they're "middle chapters" added in retrospect.

New villains: Gill and the Illuminati

Street Fighter III's final boss is no longer M. Bison, but a mysterious figure named Gill. Gill claims to be "one of the chosen", wielding both ice and fire, his red-and-blue skin a striking sight.

Behind him is an even more mysterious organization — the "Illuminati" (a secret society). Ambitious and intent on reshaping the world order, it becomes Street Fighter III's new shadowy hand.

Ryu's end point

In Street Fighter III, Ryu remains a central figure. After years of wandering and repeated battles against the Satsui no Hado, his path enters a more mature phase. He's no longer just "seeking strength", but searching for the very "meaning of fighting".

This entry's rivals extend beyond Shadaloo to a host of fighters — including newcomers like Alex and Urien, and the ever-waiting Akuma.

The legend of 3rd Strike

Street Fighter III's most famous version is 3rd Strike. With its exquisitely precise systems, flashy combos, and immense popularity, many players crown it the "peak of 2D fighting". Years on, it remains an evergreen topic in the fighting-game community.

Street Fighter III closed the book on the arcade era. From the Shoryuken of 1987 to the climactic duels of 3rd Strike, Ryu and Street Fighter's journey became the hottest memory of countless players' youth.