Top 9 Side Scrolling Beat-'Em-Ups

Here are nine of the best side scrolling beat-'em-ups to ever have a camera follow them beating up goons and eating turkey off the floor.

[Gaming4Life1981]

Streets of rage 2 is the best beat em up ever created.

[dead_pixels]

It's definitely up there, that's for sure. I've probably played through it a few hundred times since 1992!

[Gaming4Life1981]

If you want to try a new beat em up that is really good then you should play Mother Russia Bleeds. Its really good and any fan of streets of rage will love it.

[dead_pixels]

I reviewed that alongside its release :D I agree, it was a really quality beat 'em up with a killer soundtrack. Love how brutal all of the weapons-based kills were. And that strip club stage is absolute insanity.

[Stogz]

Agreed don't know how many hours me and friends put into that game. Good times!

[prankster101]

Wrong. Final Fight is the best beat em up ever created.

[hahaha]

How could Warriors of Fate 2 and Aliens vs Predator not making to the list?

[dead_pixels]

AVP is a classic, for sure. I had the PCB years back but swapped it for Cave's Ibara. I'd love to get it back in my collection one of these days.

As good as it is, I think a lot of Capcom's other brawlers edge it. Punching Xenomorphs and Weyland Yutani thugs in the face just isn't as satisfying as leaving piles of punks and mobsters twitching on the pavement.

[Chevalier]

Oh man I absolutely loved AvP. It is so kinetic and with all the cool weapons and the Predator Blaster just wrecking things.

[Zbombs408]

Where's fighting force 1 ????????

[BillytheBarbarian]

That game was puke.

[Kakashi Hatake]

What, that game was amazing.

[DreadGara]

Yeah it was good, This is an opinion piece of the author, so no big worry there.
I do have totally different list in my mind... But still I like and respect the guy choice over there.

OT:
Good read & amazing list 👍
Would like to see a similar new fresh topic about shmups and side scroll shooting​ games.

[Tetsujin]

Dragons Crown
XMen arcade
Captain Commando
Guardian Heroes

Surprised those didn't make the list. I still remember to this day the debates between Streets of Rage 2 or Final Fight which was better.

[Last_Boss]

Guardian Heroes damn straight!!

[Amorist89]

Guardian Heroes absolutely, own it on Saturn and Xbox Live Arcade 😀

[PlayableGamez-]

Where is Breath of the Wild?

[Last_Boss]

Lmao

[Gaming4Life1981]

LOL

[Godz Kastro]

I would love a side scrolling beat em up using the xbox/ps4s full power!!!! 4 player online coop as a base. I remember an avenger side scrolling beat em up many moons ago in the arcade, it was great.

[Gaming4Life1981]

yea I would love to see a beat em up using the systems full power as well.

[Tzuno]

Cadillac and dinosaurs he forgot about it, it's very good.

[Gaming4Life1981]

that was really good and so is Sengoku(all of them).

[dead_pixels]

Sengoku 3 is a favorite of mine actually. Love the combo system quite a bit. It's definitely a game I keep in my four slot's lineup.

[PhoenixUp]

I can bet that Odin Sphere and Dragon's Crown won't be on this list

[GrimReaperGamer]

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles In Time

[Godz Kastro]

YES!!! TMNT was a great side scrolling beat em up. Cant believe i forgot that one. Top 5 all time in my book.

[sadsatan]

robo army on neo geo was my jam

[killbillvolume12]

Two Crude Dudes and Captain Commando should of made the list. Also where the hell is Alien Vs Predator haha. Damn good games

[Rebel_Scum]

haha Two Crude Dudes, that game was hot garbage back in the day. Captain Commando should be on this list too. Streets of Rage 2 at #3 is a travesty of justice. It's easily the best beat em up ever made.

[BillytheBarbarian]

Streets of Rage 2 for life! But I spent a ton of time in River City Ransom reading books and buying cds to upgrade my skills. Dragon Feet and Acro-circus destroyed them all. I always wanted to see River City Ransom in 3-D but the closest thing to it would be something like Sleeping Dogs, Yakuza, or even Shenmue if you had the patience to master the moves.

[derkasan]

I know it's more recent compared to the ones in the 90s, but Scott Pilgrim was one solid beat-em-up.

[DivineAssault]

Another Konami gem was Metamorphic force..

[Retroman]

Why can't we get games like these for ps4? along with hardcore games as ps2 was. Sh't I'm tired of open world only games . Shit my ps4 sit collecting dust.

did not buy ps3,ps4 to collect dust but for ps2 ,ps1 games to merge over. if i known this should kept my SNES

Yes , im a Old skool gamer.

[Vanfernal]

There's been a couple old school Neo Geo beat'em ups released lately on the PS4. However, they are hilariously overpriced. Double Dragon I-II are also there. PS3 actually had A LOT of game like Final Fight and Dungeons N Dragons. Take a good look at the PS store. You'll be surprised by some hidden gems in there that haven't been advertised.

[Retroman]

Van, i've seen final fighter and D n D on PSN . i hate digital download ,not the same as physical disc in your hands . King of Fighter coming as physical disc for ps4.

[hahaha]

God I missed this golden arcade era.

[Venoxn4g]

Castle crashers

[Lightsbane]

Guardian Heroes will always be my favorite.

It's one of the "killer apps" on my favorite console of all time: the Sega Saturn.

[Einhander1971]

Where to start, AVP, Cadillacs and dinosaurs, undercover cops, vendetta, streets of rage 1,2,3, metamorphic force, I could go on and on :) classics from the golden age.