2D Beat ‘Em Ups were once on life support after the arcade era faded, but the genre has come roaring back thanks to veteran studios and ambitious indie teams keeping the spirit alive. Modern beat ’em ups revive that classic arcade energy while introducing deeper combat systems, smarter co-op, and slicker presentation than ever before.
As someone who fell in love with beat ’em ups the moment my father first brought me to an arcade, I’ve spent my whole life playing just about every game in the genre that I could. And now that the genre is back in full swing, I’ve pulled together several titles that no fan should miss. Check them out, try the ones you haven’t played yet, and enjoy punching someone in the face without worrying about getting arrested.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge
Developer: Tribute Games | Publisher: Dotemu
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge is one of the best modern 2D beat ’em ups because it understands exactly what made the original arcade games so beloved. The combat is fast, responsive, and surprisingly deep once you start learning each character’s mobility options and cancels. Tribute Games packed the stages with clever references, expressive animation, and small visual details that reward fans of the classic show. On top of the main story mode, the game includes challenges, unlockables, and online co op that actually works well, making it a game you can return to again and again. It is both a nostalgia trip and one of the cleanest brawlers on the market today.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge Review
Available On: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch
Streets of Rage 4
Developer: Dotemu, Guard Crush Games | Publisher: Dotemu
Streets of Rage 4 sets the bar for how to revive a retro series the right way. The hand drawn art gives each character and enemy personality, while the combat is expertly tuned to reward smart spacing, juggling, and careful resource management. Every character plays differently, and learning their strengths gives the game a long lifespan. The soundtrack blends modern production with classic Sega flavor, and the Mr. X Nightmare DLC pushes replayability to a new level with a satisfying survival. It remains one of the finest examples of modern 2D brawling we’ve ever played.
Available On: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch
River City Girls 2
Developer: WayForward | Publisher: WayForward / Arc System Works
River City Girls 2 embraces a loud, stylish, anime inspired approach to traditional beat ’em ups. The expanded city hub, character progression, and side quests add layers of depth that encourage exploration rather than just punching through linear stages. Every playable character has unique combos, animations, and unlockable skills, giving the gameplay more variety than most games in the genre. The humor, voice acting, and soundtrack help give the world personality. Combat feels more fluid than in the first game, and the co-op experience is smoother and more rewarding.
Available On: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch
Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons
Developer: Secret Base | Publisher: Modus Games
While the game’s title seems like a mouthful, Double Dragon Gaiden does something few legacy revivals attempt. It injects roguelite mechanics, randomized progression, and tag team strategy into a classic formula without losing the spirit of the original series. Missions can be tackled in any order, the difficulty scales dynamically, and each run lets you tailor your fighters with different upgrades. The tag system gives the combat an extra layer of depth, letting you create stylish tag ins and air conversion. This is a fantastic revival and is one of the better Double Dragon titles you’ll find anywhere.
Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons Review
Available On: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch
Fight’N Rage
Developer / Publisher: Seba Games Dev
Fight’N Rage remains one of the most mechanically polished indie beat ’em ups ever made. Despite its retro look, the combat system allows for huge combo strings, cancels, air juggles, and defensive maneuvers that make every fight feel dynamic. The game includes branching paths, hidden bosses, alternate endings, and a large cast of unlockable characters that dramatically change how the game plays. It is fast, aggressive, and rewarding whether you want to play casually or master advanced techniques. Few 2D beat ’em ups offer this level of depth from a single developer.
Available On: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch
Final Vendetta
Developer: Bitmap Bureau | Publisher: Numskull Games
A tough, stylish, arcade focused beat ’em up that delivers pure old school energy that takes inspiration from titles such as Final Fight and Streets of Rage. Final Vendetta features crisp pixel animation, excellent hit feedback, and a heavy focus on enemy pressure and spacing. The combat has real weight to it, giving every strike impact, and the soundtrack matches the gritty tone perfectly. It is challenging, short, and incredibly replayable, making it perfect for fans who want high intensity action without filler.
Available On: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch
Absolum
Developer: Guard Crush Games | Publisher: Dotemu
Absolum builds on the combat foundation Guard Crush perfected in Streets of Rage 4, but applies it to a fantasy world full of unique heroes, magic attacks, and weapon abilities. Early footage highlights fluid animations, visually striking abilities, and a roster of characters with unique fighting styles and powers. The environments and enemy designs have a rich, handcrafted quality that feels different from the usual urban setting seen in beat ’em ups, with plenty to do once the main adventure has ended. Absolum has absolutely delivered and defines what a 2D brawler can be.
Available On: PC, PS4, PS5, Switch
Marvel Cosmic Invasion
Developer: Tribute Games | Publisher: Dotemu
Ok, I know this game isn’t technically available to play just yet, but it will be very soon. However, there’s a demo that you simply must play! Marvel Cosmic Invasion takes everything players expect from a Dotemu produced brawler and expands it into a full Marvel event. With 15 playable heroes, each with unique abilities and supers, the combat is designed to be flashy and fast.
The Cosmic Swap tag mechanic allows mid combo character changes, creating stylish sequences that feel exciting in both solo and co-op play. The demo already shows a high level of polish, strong sprite work, and enemy designs inspired by the Annihilation Wave arc. If the final game continues at this level, Marvel fans will finally have the 2D beat ’em up experience they’ve been asking for quite some time.
Available Soon On: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 1, Switch 2
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game – Complete Edition
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal | Publisher: Ubisoft
Scott Pilgrim delivers a stylish blend of pixel art, humor, and RPG inspired progression that still feels special even after more than a decade. Every character has a unique set of moves that deepen as you level up, and co-op play elevates the action from fun to completely chaotic. The pacing, animations, and soundtrack give the game a distinctive energy that few brawlers match. The Complete Edition brought the game back after years of being delisted, letting fans old and new enjoy a true cult classic that remains one of the most iconic beat ’em ups of the 2010s. If anything, this gives fans something to hold them over while Scott Pilgrim EX is still being developed, and set to be released in 2026.
Available On: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch
Mayhem Brawler
Developer / Publisher: Hero Concept
Mayhem Brawler distinguishes itself with a comic book aesthetic, supernatural themes, and a focus on enemy variety. The combat feels crunchy and weighty, and each of the three main characters has a distinct gameplay rhythm that encourages experimentation. The branching story routes offer multiple endings, giving players reasons to revisit the campaign. The mix of street level brawling with urban fantasy creatures makes it stand out in a genre that usually sticks to traditional settings. For players who want something familiar but with a fun thematic twist, this is an excellent pick. Of course, I have to mention that the follow-up, Mayhem Brawler II: Best of Both Worlds, is set to be released in 2026.
Available On: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch
Dragon’s Crown / Dragon’s Crown Pro
Developer: Vanillaware | Publisher: Atlus
Dragon’s Crown and its enhanced version Dragon’s Crown Pro blend 2D beat ’em up action with RPG progression, loot hunting, branching stages, and a stunning hand painted art style that only Vanillaware could deliver. Every character and enemy is brought to life through fluid, expressive animation, turning even simple encounters into visual spectacles. The combat system combines juggling, magic, summons, and party synergy, giving players an impressive range of options whether fighting solo or in co-op. Its blend of level variety, gear upgrades, and loot grinding keeps it endlessly replayable. While it leans more toward action RPG than pure brawler, its side scrolling combat and richly crafted environments make it one of the standout 2D action games of the last decade. Sadly, it is only available on PlayStation platforms, but if that is not an issue for you, this is absolutely a game you need to experience.
Available On: PS3, PS Vita, PS4 (Dragon’s Crown Pro)
Guardian Heroes
Developer: Treasure | Publisher: SEGA
Guardian Heroes is a cult classic and one of the most inventive 2D beat ’em ups ever created. Featuring branching story paths, RPG style leveling, multiple endings, and a unique multi-plane battle system, it offered an incredible amount of depth long before modern brawlers caught up. It also includes one of the best versus modes ever seen in a beat ’em up, allowing up to six players on the Sega Saturn, and an insane 12-player mode in the Xbox port, to battle it out in chaotic, over-the-top brawls that were years ahead of their time.
This is easily one of my all-time favorite games in the genre, but unfortunately it is also one of the hardest for people to play today, since the original version is locked to the Sega Saturn and the enhanced port is stuck on Xbox Live Arcade. If you can find a way to play it, do not miss it. Guardian Heroes remains one of the most creative and influential beat ’em ups ever made.
Available On: Sega Saturn, Xbox 360 (Xbox Live Arcade), Xbox One (via backward compatibility if previously purchased)
The Ninja Saviors: Return of the Warriors (The Ninja Warriors: Once Again)
Developer: Natsume Atari | Publisher: ININ Games / Taito
This remaster of the 1994 Super Nintendo classic (not the arcade game of the same name) stands as one of the most polished and satisfying 2D beat ’em I’ve played. The Ninja Saviors: Return of the Warriors features beautiful sprite work, tight controls, and some of the best enemy encounter design in the genre. Each of the cyber-ninja characters feels dramatically different, with movesets that support fast, flowing combos and reward precise timing. The game is challenging, but that difficulty is part of what makes it so rewarding, giving players that perfect blend of old school design and modern refinement. For fans of classic arcade style action, this is an absolute must-play.
Available On: PC, PS4, Nintendo Switch
