Beat em up games are action games where you walk through a level, usually from left to right, and fight waves of enemies with punches, kicks and weapons before a boss. Classics include Double Dragon, Final Fight and Streets of Rage. Modern picks include Streets of Rage 4, Castle Crashers and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge.
Fans also call them brawlers, and the idea is simple: keep moving, hit what's in front of you and don't run out of health. Many are built for two or more players on one couch, which is a big part of the appeal.
Where the genre came from
Beat em ups grew out of the arcades in the late 1980s. Double Dragon and Final Fight set the template: a side-scrolling street, a handful of enemy types, and a boss at the end of each stage. Konami's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles arcade game added four-player co-op and made friends crowd round one cabinet. On home consoles, the Streets of Rage series from Sega became the genre's most loved set, praised for its music as much as its fighting.
Many of these classics are still talked about because they were easy to pick up but demanded real skill. If you enjoy that old-school feel, our guide to retro games covers where the genre sits among the other arcade-era favourites.
Modern beat em up picks
These are well-known games that show how wide the genre has grown. Platforms and availability change, so check which systems each one supports, and look at the age rating before you buy, particularly if children will play.
Streets of Rage 4
A modern follow-up to the Sega series, with hand-drawn art and a strong soundtrack. Suits: fans of the originals and newcomers who want a polished brawler. Strength: tight, satisfying combat and great co-op. Limit: it's fairly short, so you'll replay it to improve.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge
A love letter to the arcade game, with large sprites and fast combat. Suits: groups of friends and families, since it supports up to six players in co-op. Strength: instantly readable, and it's fun even for people who don't play games much. Limit: the campaign is short, and large groups can make the screen chaotic.
Castle Crashers
A cartoon fantasy brawler with colourful knights and a silly sense of humour. Suits: families and friends who want a light, funny co-op game. Strength: it's easy to learn, and levelling up gives you something to chase. Limit: the combat is simpler than in other games here.
River City Girls
A story-driven brawler with shops, upgrades and a big connected map. Suits: players who like a bit of role-playing mixed into the fighting. Strength: a lively script and a large move set. Limit: the map can mean some backtracking.
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game
A pixel-art brawler based on the comics and film, with co-op play and RPG-style levelling. Suits: fans of the story and of retro art. Strength: great style and a catchy soundtrack. Limit: it's best played with friends, and the combat can feel basic after a while.
Sifu
A single-player kung fu game with a third-person view, where your character ages every time you fall. Suits: players who like a challenge and martial arts. Strength: expressive, weighty combat. Limit: it's tough, and it doesn't offer couch co-op.
Absolver
A martial arts game built around online duels and a deck of moves you design for your own fighting style. Suits: players who like customising a fighter. Strength: a system that rewards creativity. Limit: it depends on other players being online, so check that servers are still active before you buy.
Fight'N Rage
An independent brawler that mixes a retro look with modern combat and several playable fighters. Suits: fans of the 16-bit era. Strength: a nostalgic style with plenty of extra modes and fighters. Limit: the difficulty can be steep for beginners.
Because many of these games borrow ideas from role-playing games, such as levelling and shops, you may enjoy reading what role-playing games are if you want to understand why.
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Beat em ups vs fighting games
People mix up the two, but they play very differently.
| Beat em up | Fighting game | |
|---|---|---|
| Opponents | Many enemies at once | One opponent at a time |
| Movement | Walk through a long level | Stay in a single arena |
| Goal | Reach the end and beat the boss | Win a match against a rival |
| Players | Often co-op, side by side | Usually head to head |
| Examples | Streets of Rage, Castle Crashers | Street Fighter, Tekken |
| Best for | Casual groups and couch play | Players who like one-on-one skill |
A fighting game asks you to learn dozens of moves and read a single opponent. A beat em up asks you to move well, manage crowds and keep your health up. That's why beat em ups are friendlier for groups.
Playing co-op on the couch
Co-op is where most of these games shine. A few tips make it smoother:
- Check how many controllers you have before you pick a game. Some titles support up to four or six players, but you'll need enough pads.
- Pick characters with different strengths, such as one fast and one strong, so you cover each other.
- Look at the friendly-fire settings. In some games you can hit each other, which can be funny or annoying depending on the group.
- Share the pickups. Health items matter, and arguing about them spoils the fun.
- Take breaks between stages. The games are short, but button-mashing for long stretches gets tiring.
One more thing I'd check is whether a game offers local play, online play or both. Some brawlers only work on one couch, some only online, and a few do either. If you're buying for a household, local play is usually the easiest, because nobody needs an account or a stable connection. If your friends live far away, online co-op matters more, so read the store listing carefully.
If your couch group likes co-op in other genres, co-op horror games offer a very different, spookier way to team up.
Make a beat em up game? See how to get it featured on this list.
If you want the full set, start at the Free Games to Play Offline and Online: Every Guide in One Place (2026).
Frequently asked questions
What is a beat em up game?
It's an action game where you move through a level, usually side-scrolling, and fight many enemies with punches, kicks and weapons, ending each stage with a boss.
What was the first famous beat em up?
Double Dragon and Final Fight are two of the best-known arcade beat em ups, and they set the pattern for the genre that followed.
Are beat em ups good for co-op?
Yes. Many, such as Streets of Rage 4, Castle Crashers and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge, are built for friends to play together on one screen.
What's the difference between a beat em up and a fighting game?
A beat em up has you fight many enemies as you move through a level, while a fighting game pits you against one opponent in an arena.
Are there beat em up games for beginners?
Castle Crashers and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge are easy to pick up. Always check the age rating before you buy.
