Walk to the right of the screen, pick up weapons and powerups, mash the buttons and watch the bad guys drop dead. Master these techniques, and the beat-em-up genre is essentially your oyster. But even though the days of the coin-op cabinet are in the past, there are plenty of modern successors to scratch that itch for action.
The Nintendo Switch has everything a retro gamer could want and more, and that can certainly be said of modern beat-em-up titles. Those white-knuckled players looking for an alternative to Final Fight or Golden Axe definitely have their pick of the eShop these days.
10 Streets of Red
Streets of Red isn't just a modern beat-em-up, but a zombie-infested homage to retro arcade titles of the genre. With nods to games like Streets of Rage, Turtles in Time, and Captain Commando, the developers certainly did their homework when crafting this gory game.
There are multiple playstyles, dozens of undead and horror-inspired enemies to slog through, and addictive replayability that will keep the game fresh for even seasoned players. What better way to start the list than with a bloody bang?
9 The Ninja Saviors: Return of the Warriors
This game squeaks by on the list on a technicality, but it would be a mistake not to include it. The Ninja Saviors is actually a remake of a '90s arcade title, but because it offers so much new material, it deserves some major recognition for offering a different experience.
While it doesn't offer anything novel in terms of gameplay, it does come equipped with prominent tweaks and updates that the arcade title lacked. It features sharper combat, powerups, and unlockable characters completely new to the game.
8 Streets of Rage 4
For those players wanting something a bit more traditional in terms of gameplay, layout, and atmosphere, one can never go wrong with anything the Streets of Rage series has to offer. The newest entry in the franchise will definitely evoke some old nostalgia, but improve on the classic formula.
Control and gameplay are very similar to the originals, but its comic-book-inspired artwork, new characters, and jacked-up super moves keep the game fresh and make it stand out from the rest of the series.
7 Double Dragon: Neon
If the previous entry was a product of the '90s, Double Dragon: Neon is a modern game but permanently stuck in the '80s. Jimmy and Billy are back from the original arcade title, but now they're facing off against an evil Skeletor-inspired villain in this saturated tongue-in-cheek homage to the series.
Fans of the original Double Dragons will be right at home, but fans of the genre as a whole might find it a little basic. Come for the action, stay for the kitsch.
6 The Takeover
The Takeover can best be described as a literal interpretation of a modern beat-em-up game. It feels like a strange combination of Final Fight or Streets of Rage, but it wears a fully-rendered CGI skin that feels strange yet not unwanted or noncreative.
If one has played any classic beat-em-up, they've essentially got the gist of this game's dynamic. Honestly, it's a wonder that it hasn't been seen in some modern arcade somewhere. That's just how familiar it is.
5 Wulver Blade
The best part about modern entries in the beat-em-up genre is simply how brutal they've become in recent years. With the popularity of games like God of War, many brawlers have taken the ancient warrior approach. It might be easy to go Viking or Spartan, but Wulver Blade gets original by going the way of the Celt.
By adding a mix of hack-and-slash with its side-scrolling nature, this game offers a uniquely gruesome experience by pitting vengeful Celts against the Roman legions. It definitely scores high for creativity.
4 Fight N’ Rage
Yet another tribute to the genre, Fight N' Rage takes more than a few cues from classic arcade titles but goes even further with it by utilizing pixelated graphics and parodies of names, titles, and locations from the genre.
The best way this game could be described is a comedic homage, but with just enough spoof and parody that it doesn't venture into rigamarole status. But what else can be expected from a game featuring kick-boxing chickens?
3 Story of a Gladiator
Story of a Gladiator is a deliciously deadly arena beat-em-up. If any action fans just so happen to be looking for a true gladiator experience, this is it. Complete with different weapons, armors, and opponents, gamers will have to fight tooth and nail to claw their way through the ranks of warriors in this juicy title.
It has everything one could expect from a gladiator arena, right down to the cheering crowds and wild beasts to fight. After taking on Greeks, Romans, and barbarian hordes, only one question remains. "Are you not entertained?"
2 Castle Crashers
It's cartoony, it's crude, it's loaded with cheap gags and borderline juvenile humor, but Castle Crashers is one of the most fun beat-em-ups in the history of the genre. It's essentially a fantasy brawler with a save-the-princess goal, but it has tons of weapons and unlockables to keep the game fresh.
Honestly, there's no reason to not play this adventure. The combat is crunchy, the hand-drawn graphics are delightful, and the overall experience is something worthy of the neighborhood arcade.
1 Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World: The Game
Few modern titles can perfectly surpass the classics, but Scott Pilgrim is probably the one that fits that description perfectly. Based on the movie based on the graphic novel series, this 16-bit brawler is one of the best on consoles, and it's hard not to see why.
The game is a hybrid of several different beat-em-up titles with a hipstery coat of paint. Bearing elements from Streets of Rage, River City Ransom, and even a little Final Fight, there's practically something for everyone.