Updated at: 20-04-2022 - By: Leo Hall

The most played and most highly rated beat ’em up games on any platform, ever. As a result, only the most popular games will always be ranked at the top of the list. Throughout the genre’s history, these games have been regarded as the best of the best.

Batman: Arkham Asylum and Arkham City to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and many others, this list includes the most challenging games ever released on the market. It doesn’t need to include all of the obscure or new beat ’em up games.

In this article, we’ll highlight the top beat ’em-ups to look out for in 2022 to get a quick flash of nostalgia. Both vintage and new beat ’em ups are being released to honor those that came before them, including classic reissues and fresh releases.

Capcom Beat ‘Em Up Bundle

One of Capcom’s competitors Because Capcom’s arcade games allowed players to work together to defeat their enemies, the beat ’em-up genre became a household name.

Final Fight and Knights of the Round are included in the Capcom Beat ‘Em Up Bundle, which also includes online play for each game. In order to get your hands on some numbing, button-mashing action, Capcom’s Beat’Em Up Bundle is a must-have. However, Capcom’s licensed titles, such as Cadillacs and Dinosaurs and The Punisher, are not supported.

Fight’N Rage

Fight’N Rage is a modern spin on the classic beat-em-up, despite its antiquated aesthetic. If you’re looking for something different from the main storyline, you can explore the game’s branching paths and sub-paths, which are reminiscent of a fighting game’s parrying and other super-moves.

Nevertheless, the difficulty of Fight’N’Rage outweighs the game’s lack of built-in online multiplayer. Your Steam library contains the post-apocalyptic beat ’em up.

River City Girls

Beat ’em ups would be incomplete without mentioning the Kunio-Kun series, a classic Japanese series featuring a gang of violent schoolkids. River City Girls is the best Kunio game in a while, thanks to developer WayForward.

This series is adored by WayForward in every roundhouse kick and baseball bat blow as two high schoolers, Kyoko and Misako, fight to save their abducted girlfriends. However, despite the brawler’s strong gameplay mechanics, a few apparent flaws prevent River City Girls from being a true classic in the genre’s pantheon.

River City Melee Mach!!

This roundup’s featured game, Kunio-Kun 2, isn’t your typical beat ’em-up, which is how the River City series gained its fame. Instead, River City Melee Mach!! takes the series’ combat fundamentals–punches, kicks, throws, and weapons–and adds power-ups, special moves, stage gimmicks, and team-based, last-man-standing contests.

Arc System Works’ River City Melee Mach!! resurrects the series high school rivalry with its retro-style graphics, fast-paced combat, and nearly 200 characters. There are a few drawbacks that prohibit River City Girls from being a top-tier beat ’em up.

Treachery In Beatdown City

While Treachery In Beatdown City’s visual style and gameplay mechanics may seem like an obvious nod to classic beat ’em ups from years past, this is far from the case. In contrast, the brawler’s menu-driven, strategic combo system, and nasty urban satire present an entirely new experience.

This is an entertaining game that needs you to think your way through the gentrification factors that afflict a fictional city’s streets, but it may be too slow for standard beat ’em up aficionados. Fans of strategy, on the other hand, may find the game to their liking.

Yakuza 0

As a rare polygonal show that adheres to the beat-’em-up philosophy of SEGA’s Yakuza series, A precursor to the Yakuza series, Yakuza 0, focuses on the rise of series protagonist Kazuma Kiryu, who rises through the ranks of a Japanese crime organization to become its major boss.

Whether it’s among buddies, an orphan who serves as a father figure and a surrogate, or well-dressed hoodlums and the strangers in need they meet, the essence of gangsterism is honor and empathy. Walking Erection or Mr. Libido, an unidentified person who thrusts his pelvis while clad just in a pair of shoes and a pair of underwear, is another story. Yakuza 0 is one of the best PC brawlers because of its ability to alternate between tragic and ridiculous moments, all while delivering exhilarating action.

Streets of Rage 4

PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Stadia, and a Personal Computer (PC).

The Streets of Rage series has been revived by developer Dotemu in this superb fourth installment. To execute harsh, combo-heavy street justice that is rewarding, players take control of classic favorites like Axel and Blaze, as well as newcomers Cherry and Floyd The pixelated sprites are replaced with eye-catching comic-style imagery. Yuzo Koshiro, the original creator of the SoR series, has written the soundtrack for this entertaining package. Once released, Streets of Rage 4 proved to be a solid installment in the series. Mr. X Nightmare, a DLC expansion for the game this year, added new characters and a survival mode as well as music from Retro composer Tee Lopes to the game’s soundtrack, making it more engaging.

Young Souls

A dungeon-crawling progression and exploration are a wonderful combination in Young Souls’ model. Your adopted father has been kidnapped by goblins from beneath the earth, leaving you orphaned and troubled. When you wake up, you’ll roam the streets of your neighborhood to stock up on weapons and armor for your nighttime adventures in the goblin kingdom. It’s great fun to take on these creatures in pairs, but Young Souls lets you tag the twins in and out of battle, adding a fighting game-like strategy to the action. Timed-Stadia, with its magnificent art direction and unexpectedly touching plot, won’t be available on any other platform soon.

Fight’N Rage

PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and a personal computer are all options.

Look no further than this year’s re-release of a beloved vintage arcade game. The school’s undisputed champion, Fight’N Rage, is a little-known gem. It’s a CRT-style display and a pixel-art game. Fighting off baddies with two other players will feel like you’re sitting on the couch in front of an ancient television (set to channel 3, of course) If you want to air-juggle adversaries until they explode in a comical pile of bone, Fight’N Rage is the best option. Those looking for a brawler that is simple, direct, and entertaining should not overlook this title.

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game – The Complete Edition

PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Stadia, and a Personal Computer (PC).

Symbolic of the beat-em-up resurgence on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 was the Scott Pilgrim vs. The World game released in 2010. This is an adaptation of the cult film based on the iconic comic book series The game drew extensively on River City Ransom and other classics to create its own pleasant experience. Scott Pilgrim, on the other hand, was removed from the market in 2014, thus those who missed out on it were left without a way to play it. Scott Pilgrim (together with all of its DLC) was remastered and distributed on the latest platforms by Ubisoft in 2020, granting fans’ hopes of a sequel. Take advantage of this once only. If you were a big fan of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game when it came out 10 years ago, then you’ll still like it now.

River City Girls 2

PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and a personal computer are all options.

Everything on this list can be traced back to River City Ransom owing to River City Girls, and the legendary series is still going strong. It’s implied by the title that you’ll be fighting like Kunio and Riki’s girlfriends, Misako and Kyoko, who were kidnapped. One of the most unforgettable soundtracks of recent times plays in the background while you fight your way through the game’s melee combat. Even after you’ve destroyed the final goon or weird boss, you’ll be humming the tunes from this game. Fans of the old-school throwdown will like River City Girls, even if it isn’t flawless and may be punishingly difficult at times.

The Takeover

PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and a personal computer are all options.

When it comes to compliments, it’s safe to say that Streets of Rage is beaming with pride and flushing with embarrassment. To the point of plagiarism, The Takeover pays unashamed homage to Sega’s famous franchise. Contrary to what may be assumed based on its 3D visual appearances and jazz-infused soundtrack, the game has its own unique tricks and gameplay elements while yet looking and sounding like a lot of other games. Instead of using weaponry to extend their assault range, players can load up the fury bar and unleash devastating special strikes that can wipe out entire screens with a single shot. At least, the Takeover does a good job of executing recognized concepts.

Castle Crashers Remastered

Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One

It was just like Scott Pilgrim, Castle Crashers received the same remaster treatment that elevated the most popular modern beat’em up to the upper echelons. 60 fps gameplay, a new multiplayer mini-game, and all of the DLC items it has ever gotten give the most beloved indie games a new lease on life. After all these years, fighting with the four colored knights is still an enjoyable pastime that re-creates a number of memorable moments from 2008. Playing Castle Crashers Remastered with friends old and new is a great way to relive that enthusiasm.

Dragon’s Crown Pro

In-home gaming system

After years of success with RPGs, Vanillaware decided to take a risk in 2013 with Dragon’s Crown. After years of experience in gaming, the company utilized its expertise in role-playing and storytelling to produce an enjoyable collaborative hack-and-slash adventure that, in truth, I enjoyed. As a result, it’s become something of an icon, and fans have been clamoring for a sequel ever since. For the time being, players must make do with Dragon’s Crown Pro, an improved edition that boasts a 4K presentation and cross-platform compatibility. Additionally, it has all of the game’s DLC content as well as brand-new orchestral music. If you’re looking for more action-oriented RPGs and brawlers, Dragon’s Crown Pro is a good option.

Double Dragon Neon

Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and a personal computer

Double Dragon Neon brought Billy and Jimmy back to prominence with a colorful return to form for one of the genre’s foundations. Love and passion have been missing from Marian’s life, opening the door to a nostalgic adventure that is more pleasurable than classic games could have ever been. The new evade feature, which allows you to avoid enemies precisely at the appropriate time, rewards strong counterattacks. Neon’s look and feel are reminiscent of the 1980s. Those who are wondering, “What happened to Double Dragon?” need not go any farther.

Capcom Beat ‘Em Up Bundle

PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and a personal computer are all options.

What’s the point of having one solid brawler when you can have seven of them? Because it includes classics like Final Fight and lesser-known treasures like Captain Commando, The King of Dragons, Knights of the Round, Warriors of Fate, Armored Warriors and Battle Circuit, the Capcom Beat ’em up Bundle is a must-have for genre fans. The nicest aspect is that each game can be played online and in both English and Japanese versions. Armored Warriors and Battle Circuit, two long-lost arcade masterpieces, may finally be played on a home console for the first time thanks to this bundle. The arcade-style brawlers, the Pupu platter.

The TakeOver

Streets of Rage and Final Fight are among the games that have had a significant influence on this one. The TakeOver is one of the most visually stunning beat ’em ups ever created. Additionally, the game features spectacular visual effects for its setting, creating an immersive and high-stakes battle experience.

The game’s combat has just the right amount of variety to keep things from getting stale. Co-op play and a wide array of weapons make it a great option for this type of play. Even though it lacks the polish of a game like Streets of Rage 4, the few bugs that do occur don’t detract from the overall enjoyment of the experience.

River City Girls

Since its debut in 1986, the Kunio-Kun series has been a huge hit in Japan. It wasn’t until River City Ransom: Underground was published in 2017 that the series really took off in the West. Even though River City Girls didn’t come out until two years after its predecessor, many believe it to be the best of its kind.

If you’re a fan of beat ’em ups, you can’t help but fall in love with this stunningly beautiful one. It’s fun to play, has a great soundtrack for kicking the floor and taking names, and is full of humorous jokes. In addition, its inclusion on the most recent generation of consoles makes it accessible and easy to play, unlike some of the best games out there.

X-Men

Konami was the leading force in the arcades during the 1990s. beat ’em ups. Unlike today, Konami had licenses to some of the most popular and well-known titles and used them to great use. As a result, several great Konami games were available in arcades during this time period, with X-Men being one of the most well-known.

Featuring comics and the show, the X-Men were big in the 90s, so a four-player beat ’em up from Konami with diverse mutants was the perfect storm. Storm, Nightcrawler Colossus, Wolverine, Cyclops, and fan favorite Dazzler may all be controlled in the struggle against Magneto.

Final Fight 3

Before it became the famed 1 on 1 tournament that it is today, Street Fighter II was originally intended to be a Final Fight sequel. However, several characters from Final Fight appear in Street Fighter, like as Guy, Cody, Rolento, Hugo, Poison, and more. This makes Final Fight an important part of Street Fighter.

All subsequent Final Fight games have been 3D instead of 2D as Final Fight 3 was its highest point in the series and its final 2D entry. New dimensions were an enormous advance, but also obliterated much of what made previous games so enjoyable, leading to the series’ demise into obscurity.

The Simpsons Arcade

A few series have lasted as long as The Simpsons, which is currently celebrating its 32nd year, but few have done it with such enduring popularity. They may not be as well-known today as they once were, but The Simpsons enjoyed huge popularity in the 1990s and the video game industry was happy to capitalize on it.

To save Maggie from Smithers and Burns, you play as either Homer, Marge or Bart in the Simpsons Arcade four-player ‘beat ’em-up’ game. While it may be hard to believe, the game’s characters and environments look exactly like those from the program.

Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles Of Mystara

D&D: Chronicles of Mystara is a compilation of two Capcom beat ’em ups based on the Dungeons and Dragons franchise, which are both included in this collection. The 1993 game Dungeons & Dragons: Tower of Doom and the 1996 game Dungeons & Dragons: Shadow over Mystara are included in the compilation.

Beat ’em ups like this one were first released in arcades before being made on the Sega Saturn. However, the collection was converted to Steam, Xbox Live Marketplace, Playstation Network and Steam, making it easy to access and play now.

Dragon Ball Advance Adventure

Dragon Ball Advance Adventure is a game that portrays the story of the Dragon Ball anime from the perspective of the main characters. The plot continues in the wake of the World Championships, The Red Ribbon Saga, and the exploits of King Piccolo. It is shown in the program that Goku’s Kamehameha gets stronger and more powerful as the game progresses.

This is mostly a side-scrolling 2D beat’em up in terms of gameplay. When you’re fighting the boss, the game switches to a one-on-one battle in which you throw your opponents into the air and attempt to juggle them. It’s a fantastic feature that adds a lot of variation to the gameplay while also forcing players to consider their options a little more carefully.

Guardian Heroes

Treasure, the same group behind Gunstar Heroes and Ikaruga, created Guardian Heroes. The Sega Saturn version of Guardian Heroes is a four-player beat-’em-up with minimal role-playing components. In order to evade attacks, you can switch to one of three other planes, or you can take over the plane of your opponent.

The remastered version of Guardian Heroes was made available on the Xbox Live Marketplace and PlayStation Network. Ikaruga and Radiant Silvergun’s remasters from Treasure also feature enhanced graphics and a few noticeable improvements to the original audio.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles In Time

Fans of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time will be delighted to see their favorite half-shelled heroes back in action! Originally designed for four players for the arcades, it was later released for home consoles like the Super Nintendo. You can take on the role of Donatello, Raphael Michaelangelo, or Leonardo da Vinci, each with their own special abilities and weapons.

TMNT: Turtles in Time pits the ninjas against one another in a series of stages set at various points in history. Bebop, Rocksteady, and Shredder are just some of the TMNT villains you’ll encounter in the game.

Dragon’s Crown

Vanillaware, the firm behind the likes of Odin’s Sphere, Muramasa the Demon Blade, and Grimgrimoire, created Dragon’s Crown. They have a particular art style in common with Vanillaware’s other works. Four-player brawler Dragon’s Crown features extensive RPG aspects and endless replayability owing to the variety of classes and levels in the game.

A remastered version of Vanillaware’s Dragon’s Crown has recently been released for the Playstation 4 named Dragon’s Crown Pro, which was originally released for the Playstation 3 and the Playstation Vita.

FAQS:

Is Yakuza a beat em up?

Yakuza’s fighting is a throwback to the days of classic beat ’em ups. A 2D Side-Scrolling Brawler may simply be created using the many brawler aspects in the series. Kazuma’s primary purpose is to learn more about Kamurocho while he battles his way through the majority of the games.

What’s the difference is between hacking and beating em up?

H&S, commonly known as hack and kill (H&S or HnS), or slash’em, is a style of video game in which players engage in melee combat using a variety of melee weapons (such as blades or swords). … It’s a genre of beat-em-up games that emphasizes close-quarters combat, usually involving the usage of swords.