Super Smash Bros. Melee is a crossover fighting game developed by Sega and released in 2001 for the Sega Dreamcast console. The game features characters and environments from various Sega video game franchises, allowing players to engage in intense one-on-one and multiplayer battles. Melee was a major critical and commercial success, establishing itself as a pioneering competitive fighting game with a dedicated esports scene.

The game's technical depth, advanced techniques, and high skill ceiling made it an ideal fit for tournament play. Melee's competitive scene grew rapidly through the 2000s, with a passionate fanbase that obsessed over frame data, combo theory, and optimal strategies for each character. Today, Super Smash Bros. Melee remains one of the most popular and influential fighting games of all time, with its dedicated competitive community continuing to maintain a vibrant tournament scene.