Is the Beat em up genre dead or still alive and kicking?
Beat `em up games were once all the rage. Every other game was a side scrolling beat `em up. And we loved to play such games. But not so nowadays. The gaming industry has expanded so much that beat `em games are rare now. But when we do get to play such games, the nostalgia gets over level 9000. So, here I present 15 of best beat `em up games for PC.
17. Foul Play
You play as the demon hunter Baron dashforth, who works on stage in the theatre. One day, while performing, something on the theatre goes wrong and you must find the origin of the “foul play” and eliminate it.
You are accompanied by your sidekick scampwick to help you through the process. There are quite a few linked attacks that make up for exciting and flashy takedowns which adds some icing to the cake.
Gameplay footage :
16. Paint the Town Red
This game revolves around you visiting various places to beat down various mobs of enemies. What is unique about the game is the hundreds of different methods or means by which it allows you to beat your enemies. From baseball bats to whiskey bottles, this game has everything.
The game features a sandbox and 4 unique levels which includes biker bar, disco, prison and pirate cove. Each level has unique weapons and enemies.
The game is still early access, so it doesn`t have the full set of features it promises. But we are optimistic the developer will soon update the game with new features such as rogue mode and new interesting levels.
Gameplay video :
15. Double Dragon Neon
How do you beat the dead?
The shadow warriors gang attacks and kidnaps a girl named Marian. The gang is led by the magic undead skeleton, Skullmageddon, the main villain. Marian is related to the heroes of the game, Jimmy and Billy Lee. The 2 brothers, set out on an journey to save her.
What do you do when a magic skeleton kidnaps your girl? Well, you set out on an epic journey to save her. This side scrolling beat `em up came out in 2012 and was a sudden burst of nostalgia due to the fact that it was similar to the original Double Dragon.
The two brothers fight their way through goons to save Marian
Although at first the combat of this game looks exactly the same as the original one, soon enough it starts to forge a path of its own. The core mechanic of any beat `em up, punch and kick, is there. But there is a depth to the overall combat system.
This was attained by the addition of combos and other new mechanics in the game. One of the best thing introduced is the addition of an evade button for dodging attacks. If evasion is timed right, the character will gleam by glowing red and attain double power. This can prove effective when fighting powerful bosses.
Steam link :
Gameplay link :
14. Crime Life: Gang Wars
You came to the wrong neighborhood
You play as Tre, one of the rookie members of the biggest gang of the Grand Central city, the Outlawz. But the glory of the gang is short lived as it is soon threatened by a new rival gang, the Headhunterz. As tre learns that the leader of Outlawz is abandoning the gang to join the Headhunterz, he attacks and kills him, taking his place as the leader of the gang. Now it’s up to Tre to restore the Outlawz to its former glory.
You make your way through hordes of police officers whilst playing as Tre
The game is a simulation of gang fights, and the gameplay is mainly focused on street fighting, involving many gang members at once. The game offers 25 story mode missions and quite a few free roam ones. You are allowed to free roam in the world, but the areas are a little small. This game seems to be a mash-up between GTA and Final Fight.
Gameplay video :
13. Streets of Fury EX
Special moves and furies are what make this game interesting
Streets of fury EX is one of the newer titles on the list and is quite unique in its gameplay and characters. The game is basically set up in Paris and you are tasked with eliminating the gangs in the area. The game provides a total of 17 characters to play with locally or in a 4 player co-op. Up to 4 players may join up to cooperate or to battle in the versus mode.
The game offers quite a few game modes including story mode, alternate story mode, challenge mode, survival mode etcetera and is jam packed with cool special moves, furies and combos. This game basically combines the versus fighting game and a side scrolling beat `em up and is the best of both worlds.
For more info refer to this steam link :
Gameplay video :
12. Kung Fu Strike - The Warrior's Rise
The betrayers will pay – I will have my revenge
You play as a prince named Loh, as he embarks on an epic journey to avenge a horrific betrayal of great magnitude. He wanders the lands in search of the mastermind responsible for his downfall. The story, though not that deep, is quite engaging.
At first the game seems to be a typical button mashing beat `em up, but it soon sheds all the advantages for button mashers and focuses more on a deeper and more complex gameplay.
The character at first is only able to perform a few basic moves like hop, kick and throw a few weak punches. But as the character progresses, he unlocks new moves, combos and abilities.
1 vs 6 ... not a good idea bro...
The unique gameplay mechanic that sets this game apart is that when you knock opponents out they sometimes drops coins and items. These coins can be used to upgrade the character and unlock many useful perks like extensions to life meter etc.
For more info, follow steam link :
Gameplay video :
11. Streets of rage
Beating goons and bringing peace to the city is your goal
Your once peaceful city has fallen victim to a criminal syndicate. Mass violence has become common and no one is safe. It is now on your shoulders to take down all the bad guys and once again bring peace to your hometown.
You play as either Adam (boxer), Axel (martial artist) or Blaze (judo expert). And each character has slightly different attributes which adds to the overall variety in the game. The gameplay is simple and involves the basic mechanics of punch, kick and jump.
Streets of rage was followed by its sequels streets of rage 2 and 3, which revolved around a set of different characters and a similar gameplay and story. And all 3 titles are well worth playing.
For more info, steam link :
Gameplay video :
10. Enslaved: Odyssey to the West
No mech lives on my watch
The game is set 150 years in the future where mechs are wreaking havoc in the world. But as soon as you decide to save it, you get enslaved by a girl named Trip. She puts a headband on you which makes you obey her command. Also, if she dies, you die. So, you set out to find Trips family and get the headband off of you.
You will play as Monkey, the main protagonist, and you must defeat Pyramid, the main villain, with the help of Trip, your AI sidekick, or Pyramid will keep Trip’s family as slaves.
The game offers a deep and engaging story which emotionally attaches the player to the game and its characters. Trip is also one of the best AI sidekicks we have seen in a long time, which adds to the overall quality of the game.
Gameplay :
9. Dungeons and dragons : chronicles of Mystara
Is it me or this game looks like golden axe....
This game is actually the compilation of two classic games, dungeons and dragons : tower of doom and dungeons and dragons : shadow over mystara. The result is a classic side scrolling beat `em up game which delivers more than what`s promised.
The game is a deep and story driven experience with unique gameplay elements. You get to choose from 4 different classes with each class having unique perks and an XP leveling system. It is as though an action RPG merged with a side scrolling feature.
Gameplay :
8. Kung fury : street rage
Punching your way through nazis is the ultimate goal
“Still not enough Nazis hurt in the making of this game”. What is the game about?
One of the slogans of the developer tells a lot about this game. The game is actually a kind of expansion pack to the original kung fury and it adds new playable characters, a new epic storyline and a lot more content.The game is basically about killing Nazis and bringing peace to the world. Done The game also features 4 unique combat styles including Kung Fury, Triceracop, Hackerman and Barbriana. Which make the game a lot of fun to play.
Gameplay :
7. The Takeover
You make through hordes of goons by using ounches, kicks and special moves
The takeover is a side scrolling beat `em up taking inspiration from legendary games like Final Fight and Streets of Rage but adding new content to spice things up including a new combo system, fast gameplay and modern graphics.
The game bring back old memories and is surely a lot of fun to play. Be sure to check this one out.
Gameplay :
6. DragonBall Xenoverse
Goku vs kid buu
Towa and Mira, two powerful villains, have set out to change the course of history by manipulating time. Trunks alone cannot defeat the overwhelming power that is upon the realm. So Trunks asks Shenron for a hero. So Shenron sends "you" to help trunks. Now it is up to you to defeat Towa and Mira or history will never be the same.
The gameplay is what we would expect from a dbz game. Flashy attacks with deadly combos and even deadlier opponents make the game worth playing. The game also features a few rpg mechanics and robust character customization.
Gameplay :
5. Remember Me
Nillin taking out an enemy
You play as Nillin, an errorist imprisoned in the bastile fortress. She was saved just before her memories were to be wiped away. Retaining a portion of her memories, she comes to know that she can read, manipulate and mix other people's memories. So, she uses her abilities to save everyone from getting their memory wiped.
The game is set in 2084 in a futuristic version of Paris. Which is now under the control of the Memorize corporation which controls the memories of people. A small group of rebels known as errorists has been formed to tackle Memorize and you play as one of them.
Remember Me introduces a whole new concept in the gaming industry. The game mechanics are quite fun to play and the overall story is quite enthralling and exciting.
Gameplay :
4. Street Fighter 5
With boasted graphics and overall better gameplay, this game is a must play
At this point I think there is no one who is not familiar with the street fighter franchise. Street fighter 5 is the fifth entry in the franchise and helps bridge the gap between Street Fighter 3 and 4 in terms of story.
The gameplay is similar to the previous titles but with a few added features. Firstly the game adopts true 3D. Also the game sees the return of the ex gauge from street fighter 3. A new addition is the V gauge which fills up when you do combos and can be used for V skills and V abilities. This also gives the characters a damage boost. There is also a stun meter which will cause the player to be stunned when filled. Overall the game looks awesome.
Gameplay :
3. Batman series
I am Batman …….
Batman games are some of the best beat em up games of all time. Starting from Batman: Arkham City, batman games have set the bar high for other games not only in graphics but also story telling and fluid combat.
I just wrote a review on the most recent Batman game, arkham knight, which you can read here. The game has an amazing story and one of the best combat in any beat em up game till date.
Gameplay :
2. Zeno clash
Come at me you human looking plant thingy
You play as Ghat, the protagonist, one of the children of Father-Mother, a hermaphrodite. After learning Father-Mothers secret, you try to kill it but fail and get banished from the family by your brothers and sisters. Now it is up to you to make your way back and reveal the true nature of Father-Mother.
The story of the game is quite deep and overwhelming. This game is more than just a simple mindless beat em up game. It is an adventure in itself and a journey worth going through.
Gameplay :
Sleeping Dogs
Lonely hero on a lonely road
Sleeping dogs is the best beat em up game I’ve come across so far. You play as Shen, a drug dealer, who goes to jail because of a drug deal. In a turn of events you get to work as undercover agent for the police to capture and bring the triad gang to justice for killing Shen’s uncle, Po.
There are quite a few turn of events which makes the story of sleeping dogs one of best. The games offers an open world approach asking with quite a few rpg elements baked in.
Gameplay :
