With　the　development　of　fuel　cells,　multi-stack　fuel　cell　system　(MFCS)　for　high　power　application　has　shown　tremendous　development　potential　owing　to　their　obvious　advantages　including　high　efficiency,　durability,　reliability,　and　pollution-free.　Accordingly,　the　state-of-the-art　of　MFCS　is　summarized　and　analyzed　to　advance　its　research.　Firstly,　the　MFCS　applications　are　presented　in　high-power　scenarios,　especially　in　transportation　applications.　Then,　to　further　investigate　the　MFCS,　MFCS　including　hydrogen　and　air　subsystem,　thermal　and　water　subsystem,　multi-stack　architecture,　and　prognostics　and　health　monitoring　are　reviewed.　It　is　noted　that　prognostics　and　health　monitoring　are　investigated　rarely　in　MFCS　compared　with　previous　research.　In　addition,　the　efficiency　and　durability　of　MFCS　are　not　only　related　to　the　application　field　and　design　principle　but　also　the　energy　management　strategy　(EMS).　The　reason　is　that　the　EMS　is　crucial　for　lifespan,　cost,　and　efficiency　in　the　multi-stack　fuel　cell　system.　Finally,　the　challenge　and　development　potential　of　MFCS　is　proposed　to　provide　insights　and　guidelines　for　future　research.　©　2023　The　Author(s)