Mutation Nation (Neo Geo)
Another Neo Geo entry from Hamster, Mutation Nation was originally released in 1992. Fighting as Ricky and/or Johnny, you'll be facing a plethora of mutants and robots as you clean the streets in this one, and while there's little to make it stand out from the crowd from a gameplay perspective, brawler enemy designs don't get much more varied than this. It's colourful, it's got both mutants and robots... what's not to like?
River City Girls (Switch eShop)
WayForward's spin-off from the Kunio-kun series is absolutely fantastic; a modern game that's a perfect accompaniment to the Double Dragon & Kunio-kun collection we looked at earlier. River City Girls layers the accessible gameplay of the original games with a subtly complex RPG-style experience system which rewards you with stats boosts and new moves as you move around a non-linear game world that pays homage to the past beautifully. Like many of the games above, the onus is on you to experiment with different moves, different characters, and different friends to get the most out of it, but WayForward did remarkable work capturing the spirit of this classic brawling franchise and River City Girls is a delight that you should definitely have ready and waiting on your Switch.
There's also a sequel and a prequel (sort of) to investigate if you play this and want more.
Streets of Rage 4 (Switch eShop)
Streets of Rage 4 is the very best the series has ever been. Its hand-drawn graphics breathe new life into Wood Oak City and its inhabitants, the soundtrack is outstanding, and the combat feels better than ever. Lizardcube, Guard Crush Games, and Dotemu have managed to completely modernise the look and feel of Streets of Rage, expanding on the experience without losing sight of what made the original games so popular to begin with – and the handful of additions made to the action here serve only to enhance the classic core gameplay, resulting in one of the best side-scrolling beat 'em ups we've played in a long time.
And the Mr X Nightmare DLC is pretty tasty, too. A truly fantastic brawler.
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The TakeOver (Switch eShop)
Given its proximity of release to Streets of Rage 4, comparisons between that game and this one were inevitable and entirely justified. Fortunately, The TakeOver is just as worthy of your time and money, even if it lacks online play and some of the extra polish that Dotemu, Lizardcube, and Guard Crush Games' title possesses. Some players will no doubt take issue with the CG-style sprites, but every other aspect of this package feels spot-on and we especially appreciate the two bonus stages, which feel like love letters to other Sega classics. The TakeOver offers an engaging and addictive alternative to Streets of Rage 4, and any self-respecting fan of the side-scrolling fighting genre shouldn't hesitate to pick up both.
Super Punch Patrol (Switch eShop)
Super Punch Patrol feels like a greatest hits package, but that's the thing about the greatest hits – they're great. And so is Super Punch Patrol, in the end. For the price you'll pay, it's nothing short of spectacularly generous; there are only five stages, but they're tough as old boots and it'll take time to master the challenge and see those credits roll. With costumes and characters to unlock, there's reason to keep playing even after you surmount this beastly little brawler, and at its low asking price it's a bit of a no-brainer.
Double Dragon Neon (Switch eShop)
Double Dragon Neon is an old game for sure, but fortunately, it's far from being an outdated one. Under the watchful consultation of series creator Yoshihisa Kishimoto, WayForward managed to successfully reboot the franchise back in 2012 for a whole new audience by adding a healthy dose of craziness to the more classic tropes of the genre, and that inventiveness still holds merit. What other game allows you to stop, pop ’n’ lock, breakdance, and beatbox mid-level? An afternoon with the Lee brothers is the perfect way to spend your time.
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game - Complete Edition (Switch eShop)
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game – Complete Edition is a great beat ‘em up for your Switch. Available to purchase once again after years in purgatory, its bombastic presentation and crunchy combat gameplay make it enjoyable from start to finish. Though it can feel like it runs a bit short, and the difficulty spikes can be rather intense, anybody looking for a fun, short game to play in co-op is in for a treat. Let's just hope it sticks around for longer than four years this time.
Arcade Archives VENDETTA (Switch eShop)
If you're a fan of belt-scrolling fighters then Vendetta is a must-buy, pure and simple. While its arcade origins do mean it's slightly unbalanced in terms of fairness, it has enough charm, gameplay, and multiplayer appeal to be well worth a look, even decades after its initial release.
Mayhem Brawler (Switch eShop)
Mayhem Brawler is way, way better than it has any right to be. It looks good, plays nicely and only really suffers by comparison to its bigger brothers such as Fight'N Rage and Double Dragon Neon. The animation is lacking compared to these titles, but it's still perfectly acceptable, and the slightly generic environments are too busy to really pay much attention to. With a world this interesting, we'd love to see another game take place in Mayhem Brawler's universe.
Young Souls (Switch eShop)
Those of you who were big fans of the aforementioned Castle Crashers or Streets of Rage 4 will find plenty to love here. Young Souls smartly mixes RPG-lite elements with a compelling story, non-linear structure, and some impressively satisfying beat-'em-up combat to make for an experience that you won’t want to miss. Despite some rare performance hiccups which tarnish the Switch version slightly compared to the more powerful platforms, Young Souls still proves itself to be one of the best beat-‘em-up titles on the system, and we’d give this one a high recommendation to anyone who enjoys a good brawler, co-op or solo.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge (Switch eShop)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge is the best Turtles beat 'em up ever made, and a faster, better-looking, and more entertaining affair than even Streets of Rage 4. It looks delicious, sounds superb, and rekindles childhood memories beyond all expectation, time-warping you back to 1987. Its combat system is so much fun to mine that you feel compelled to keep coming back to try new strategies, and with its awesome multiplayer the experience evolves again and again. Like any beat 'em up, it does get repetitive as you enter the last third, but that’s more a fault of the concept than the game. Shredder’s Revenge really is an unprecedented shell-ebration. Ahem
Not a bad collection of fisticuff-lovin' misfits, hmm? Think we've missed one? Put 'em up in the comments below and perhaps we'll add it to this fluid, ever-changing list.
This article is one of our Switch Essentials guides which cover a wide variety of genres, including the Best Switch FPS Games, the Best Switch RPGs, the Best Switch Games For Kids, the Best Switch Couch Co-Op Games and the Best Switch Fitness and Exercise Games. We can also help out hunting down the Best Switch Horror Games, the Best Switch Racing Games, the Best Switch Action-RPGs, the Best Nintendo Switch Roguelikes, Roguelites and Run-Based Games, the Best Free Switch Games, the Best Remakes And Remasters, the Best Switch Music And Rhythm Games, Best Feel-Good Switch Games, Best Switch Open-World Games, Best Switch Soulslike Games, Best LGBTQ+ Switch Games, and even Games to Play After You've Finished Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
Whatever your favourite genre, we've got you covered: Strategy Games, Metroidvanias, Puzzle Games, Party Games, Online Multiplayer Games, Local Wireless Multiplayer Games, Shmups, Twin-Stick Shooters, Visual Novels, Kart Racers, Fighting Games, Football Games, Funny Games, Golf Games, 'Walking Sims' And Narrative Games, Switch Games For Lovers And Lonely Hearts, Detective Games, Hidden Gems, 2D Platformers, 3D Platformers, Puzzle Platformers, Tabletop Mode Games, Run and Gun Games, LEGO Games, Sports Games, Survival Games, Beat 'Em Ups, Camera Games, Chill Games, Family Games, Retro-Inspired Games, Short Games, Card Games and Deck-Builders, and Life Sims And Farming Games.
Still hungry for more? Elsewhere we look at Wholesome Games, TATE Mode Games, Flight Sim and Space Combat, Point and Click Adventure Games, and the Best Switch Exclusives, as well as Every Arcade Archives Game, Every ACA Neo Geo Game, Every SEGA AGES Game On Switch, plus the Best Switch Ports, Best Wii U-To-Switch Ports, Best Switch Collections And Compilations, Best Cheap Switch Games, Best Switch Demos, Games That Are Better On Switch OLED, Switch Games Under $10, $20, $50, and Switch games with the Best Soundtracks and the Best Graphics. Phew!
If you're looking for the best Switch games regardless of genre, our reader-voted selection of the Best Nintendo Switch Games should help you out, and you can also find the Best Nintendo Switch Games of 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023. And finally, if you're interested in other Nintendo consoles and retro games, check out the Best Game Boy Games, Best GBC Games, Best GBA Games, Best Nintendo DS Games, Best Nintendo 3DS Games, Best NES Games, Best SNES Games, Best N64 Games, Best GameCube Games, and Best Wii Games, and Best Wii U Games, as well as Every Available Nintendo Switch Online Retro Game, and ranked lists of Every Nintendo Switch Online NES, SNES, N64 and Sega Genesis / Mega Drive Game.
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Comments 45
Almost had a heart attack before I saw these weren't ranked, not gonna lie.
Thanks for this.
I loved beat em ups as a kid (target: renegade and double dragon being particular faces) and really want to share this genre with my son but worry he's a bit young at 6.
I still hope that one day, Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World The Game returns and comes to the Switch and takes its place as one of the top beat-em-up games here.
Super Crush K.O. has become my favorite over all of the ones on the list, ever the outlier indeed.
The Streets of Rage games should be at the very top of this list if not for the awful input lag on the Megadrive collection
@cmk8 Start with something like Night Slashers (assuming you don't mind exposing him to cartoon violence)
@Savino should have replaced that hot garbage with 99Vidas and Mother Russia Bleeds
Does anyone know what's the deal with Night Slashers in the European eShop? I added it to my wishlist the week it was released, but shortly after that, it was marked as 'unavailable', and it has stayed that way since.
If you like beat em ups, and dont own Fight n Rage... fix that.
For me, Final Fight will always be the greatest,with Street of Rage the next best.
Did you put River City Girls on this list but not Mother Russia Bleeds? Insane
This is beat em up game i want for Switch.
Beat 'Em Ups are among my favourite types of games, so I'm always on the lookout for new ones.
I'd put "Two Crude Dudes" / "Crude Buster" on there as well, but I have a soft spot for that cheese-fest of a game.
I'd forgotten that "Mutation Nation" was on the Switch. Recently grabbed "99 Vidas" for a buck, seems to be worth that, plays nicely and doesn't look bad at all.
"Slaps & Beans" was great, if a bit buggy in a few places. Having grown up on Bud & Terrence, I really enjoyed it all the way through.
"River City Girls" was also absolutely brilliant. I hadn't had so much fun with a game in a long time...beat it in a single sitting!
Uuugh, I wanna make this beat em up game I've been cooking up for several years, now! And TWEWY just gave me the last bit of inspiration that I needed to pull the concept together!
I can't even get the motivation to turn on the PC I bought and diddle around with music or outline what the four main characters look like. Too busy losing weight with Ring Fit! (Or... that's my excuse.)
I see a few people mentioning 99Vidas in a positive light and I'm wondering if they played the same game I did. I thought it was terrible. But there are a lot of gems on this list.
Final fight
Streets of rage
Golden axe
Ultimate Alliance should be there, too.
@Stargazer will look into it thanks, don't mind cartoonist stuff = he loves smash for example!
Nice list here. I have a lot of these games on Switch. Still kinda bugs me that River City Girl’s and Fight N Rage have no online play but they are some good beat em ups. Hopefully Streets of Rage 4 can make the list.
@Severian still have it on my ps3, was thinking of firing it back up sometime especially after watching the first half hour or so on netflix recently
As for 99 Vidas, I tried the demo but couldn’t really get into it. It was even on sell for just a dollar on the e shop at a one time and I still passed on it.
I thought I'd find 99 Vidas here, that's a pretty good beat 'em up.
I'm a fan of good beat-em-ups (what aren't the called bemups?) and own none of these. I'll probably get River City Girls in time and the Kunio collection. I've been eyeing Double Dragon 4 (not on the list) for many months now, waiting it for it be discounted. It's a matter of principle!
I’d prefer Sengoku 2
@NinChocolate I loved Sengoku 3, even though the difficulty got ridiculous toward the end of the game.
Really wished Double Dragon Neon was on Switch. And waiting patiently for Streets of Rage IV.
Been waiting for River City Girls to go on sale. Looks awesome.
@Anti-Matter Wait, you like beat-em-ups? I thought you didn't like violent games?
@Heavyarms55
Well, as long still rated Teen and tolerable enough for me. 😉
I have ever played Beat em up games when i was kid and teen such as Double Dragon NES, Sailor Moon (Beat em up style) SNES, Pulirula PS1.
Remember, i played K-1 (Kickboxing tournament in Japan) PS2 and GBA version...
I have tried the Demo from Switch eshop and it was like 16bit 2D Double Dragon with Super Power meter divided into 2 levels. When you have 1 bar you can unleash stronger elemental attack to all foes. When you have full bar, you can "summon" Elemental Guardian to strike all foes with powerful attack. It was like i called GF or Aeon from Final Fantasy. 😀
@Anti-Matter Kickboxing I can understand, it's a sport with strict rules.
Beat-em-ups often portray people using weapons and violence that kills people in rather painful ways. Trust me, you'd rather be shot in the head than beaten to death with a crowbar. Even if they don't show the blood and gore... like, that's still obviously killing in violent and painful ways.
I'm just surprised and again confused. As much as you talk about your personal taste in games, I still somehow don't understand it. Is it really just the rating that matters to you?
@Severian River City Girls can filled the void till then
@Heavyarms55
Before i accept the games, the things i judge first by order:
1. Age rating
2. Contents inside
3. Genre
4. Gameplay
5. Graphics
Age rating is the first thing i judge from the games. Any games with rated M / CERO C, D, Z / PEGI 16,18 games will be banned instantly. Only some exceptions if the games rated PEGI 16 but rated Teen or CERO B (FF XII, FF XIII) or rated CERO C but rated Teen or PEGI 12 (The Sims games). But i will avoid to get PEGI 16 games or CERO C games if the other region rated somehow still safe enough for Teen gamers.
As for beat em up games, usually they rated Teen or CERO B or PEGI 12 as long there is no blood, no gory, just cartoonish violence like Tom & Jerry. I have mentioned softer beat em up games such as Sailor Moon SNES (beat em up style) and Pulirula PS1. They looked safer and still appropriate enough for younger audiences.
The contents that i still allowed based on ESRB such as: Mild Cartoon Violence, Cartoon Violence, Violence, Fantasy Violence, Comical Mishief, Mild Blood, Animated Blood, Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Alcohol References, Partial Nudity (but i have never owned games with this content so far), Mild Lyrics, Sexual References.
For me the best ones on Switch are Capcom Classics (mainly for Final Fight), Fight 'n' Rage and Arcade Archives Double Dragon. Hopefully Sega will add both arcade Golden Axe games as part of Sega Ages.
I hoped to see ‘The Beatdown’ on that list as it looks graphically Amazing! Shame the Dev’s website says the Switch version is coming soon.
Fight N Rage is class but some of those other games like Streets of Red look awful like IPhone games. Double Dragon looks interesting even though they where ridiculously easy to complete.
@Anti-Matter Well... honestly I still don't understand. XD But that's fine. If the system works for you that's all that matters.
The best game in the Capcom Beat 'em up Bundle for me is Armored Warriors.
Wulverblade really surprised with the amount of effort and history the creator Michael Heald put into it. I wouldn't have known about that title if it haven't have been for Super Rare Games releasing it.
As for River City Girls I was enjoying the game up until that fight with Hibari. The lack of online multiplayer was also disappointing.
I'd love to see Konami release some of it's arcade classics to Switch with online multiplayer like The Simpsons, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Arcade Game and Turtles in Time, Bucky O'Hare, X-Men and Asterix.
I've spent so many hours on castle crashers with the boys
Ah, was hoping Bloody Zombies might have sneaked in as an honourable mention. ^_^
https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/Nintendo-Switch-download-software/Bloody-Zombies-1321510.html
My wish list for beat 'em ups is Scott Pilgrim (which I have yet to play but love the graphic novels) and Turtles in Time.
Licencing stuff suuuuuuuuuucks
Of the ones I've played, Streets of Rage 4 and Fight 'n' Rage are both brilliant, whilst River City Girls is terrible. Do not waste your money on that!
Added Super Punch Patrol.
I wish people would stop saying Scott Pilgrim is good.
Dear Gavin, author of this article,
THANKS for this!! First of all, I never would have dreamed this genre from my youth would have such a come back. Secondly, there are legitimately good-looking games on this list that I was not aware of!! Third, I know the guys from one of these dev teams and it's pretty rad to see them get some pub ^_^
Thanks again!
These are the Beat 'Em-ups I have on:
*Arcade Archives
-64th Street
-Crime Fighters
-Vendetta
-Zero Team <-My favourite out of this lot
*ACA: Neo Geo:
-Burning Fight
-Sengoku 1
-Sengoku 2
-Sengoku 3 <-My favourite out of this lot
*E-Shop:
-Castle Crashers
-Fight 'N' Rage
-Mayhem Brawler <-My favourite out of this lot
-The Takeover
*Game Card:
-Capcom: Belt Action
-Double Dragon: Neon
-Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 3
-River City Girls
-Scott Pilgrim
-Streets Of Rage 4 <-My favourite out of this lot
Overall, I prefer 'Mayhem Brawler' over SOR4 but 'Belt Action' over the lot.
I've still yet to buy TMHT: TCC and TMNT:SR as they aren't physical and as regards 'Jay And Silent Bob', I SHARN'T buy it until the notoriously difficult shopping mall level is fixed.
I vote for Wulverblade because I absolutely love Golden Axe!
Streets of Rage 4 is a bad joke. Have no idea what people like about it. Enemies are too cheap, returning characters all suck against normal enemies (Axel and Blaze are basically unplayable on Normal difficulty), baffling mechanics like not saving your special for emergencies. And worst of all the music is garbage. It felt somehow really clunky and bad.
I know not everyone is gonna like every game, but if you alienate people that played and liked the original games in their initial run, you're doing something wrong. Maybe I'm just hard to please, I thought FFVIIR was awful too. Is it wrong to have high expectations for continuations of things you're a fan of?
Half the modern beat em ups out there are just rip offs of Streets of Rage's style anyways, so why bother playing it when you can get a similar experience much cheaper?
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