A ranked list balancing gameplay quality, style, replay value, and overall fan reception.
🥇 1. Streets of Rage 4
Why it ranks #1:
The gold standard of modern beat ’em ups — fluid combos, tight controls, beautiful hand-drawn art, and outstanding music. Reinvents a classic without losing its soul.
🥈 2. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge
Why it’s great:
A pixel-art feast with up to 6-player co-op, killer animations, and fast classic arcade fighting. It’s the ultimate nostalgia trip and a great modern brawler.
🥉 3. River City Girls 2
Why it stands out:
A stylish, funny, anime-inspired brawler with deep combat, character upgrades, and cooperative mayhem. Excellent for players who want both charm and punch.
4. Fight’N Rage
Why it’s on the list:
Fast, challenging, retro-arcade beat ’em up excellence. Big combos, branching paths, and tight controls make this a purist’s dream.
5. Dawn of the Monsters
Why it’s unique:
Giant kaiju smashing through cities in a comic-book art style. Heavy, powerful combat that feels different from any other Switch brawler.
6. Dragon’s Crown Pro (via Switch Online Expansion Pack Streaming)
Why it’s notable:
Gorgeous Vanillaware art, RPG elements, deep combat, and loot-driven progression. A fantasy-styled beat ’em up with tons of replayability.
7. Capcom Beat ’Em Up Bundle
Why it’s a must-own:
Seven classic arcade beat ’em ups (including Final Fight and Captain Commando). Great history, great co-op, great value.
8. River City Girls (original)
Why it’s here:
Colorful, stylish, funny, and a fantastic introduction to the Kunio-kun universe. Less polished than 2, but more charming to many fans.
9. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game — Complete Edition
Why it’s beloved:
A cult-classic beat ’em up with iconic pixel art and a legendary chiptune soundtrack by Anamanaguchi. Perfect for co-op sessions.
10. The TakeOver
Why it makes the list:
Inspired heavily by Streets of Rage with a modern visual twist. Flashy, punchy, and fun — a solid alternative to the big names.
