Retro 2D Beat ‘Em Ups Swinging for an Arcade Revival
Enjoy arcade action at home with the best retro beat 'em ups to blast through with your buds in local and online co-op.
Posted 3 months ago
The good old days of heading to an arcade to pummel screen after screen of punks and preppies are long gone. But thanks to a resurgence of beat 'em up games, you can now get your thug-thumping fix at home. All without burning through a pocket full of quarters! Retro-styled beat 'em ups are back in business, and we’ve picked out some of the best to enjoy right now in local co-op and online play.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge
©Tribute Games / Dotemu
- Players: 1-6
- Co-op: Online and local
Shouting “cowabunga!” in public today is likely to see you sectioned for speaking in tongues. Or worse, have you appear in a TikTok video mocking your Old English. But at home? You’re free from the cruel judgment of time. Free to stuff pizza down your gullet and raise some shell thanks to the excellent Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge.
This vibrant beat ‘em up by Dotemu and Tribute Games supports up to six players, so no one’s relegated to cheering from the sidelines. You can select from the likes of Michelangelo and Raphael, or opt to play as April O’Neil or Master Splinter instead. Each character has unique moves, and in co-op you can team up for some impressive combo attacks. It’s an absolute blast in local co-op, and supports online play. Shredder’s Revenge is easily one of the best retro beat ‘em ups available right now.
Streets of Rage 4
- Players: 1-4
- Co-op: Online and local
Streets of Rage 4 is a stylish uppercut of action. Swift, impressive, and likely to leave you dazed. This 2020 beat ‘em up game revives an iconic old-school series, with stars Axel, Blaze, and Adam returning to dish out punishment throughout the city. The ‘80s-inspired hand-drawn cartoon visuals pair with some fancy backdrops and lighting to create a sumptuous aesthetic that helps Streets of Rage 4 stand out from the primarily pixel-art competition.
Combat here is a little more involved and challenging, so you might need to drop the difficulty if you’re just looking to button bash through baddies. But put in the time, and you’ll find immensely rewarding mechanics. The main story is short but made to be replayed, and the 2021 Mr. X Nightmare DLC is well worth snagging if you enjoyed the core content. Oh, and the soundtrack slaps nearly as hard as the in-game cast.
Streets of Rage 4
Release Date: April 30, 2020
The Karate Kid: Street Rumble
- Players: 1-4
- Co-op: Local only
Much like its protagonist, The Karate Kid: Street Rumble is the new kid on the beat ‘em up block. It’s a simpler affair that lets you crane kick your way through environments from the first three films. Playable characters include Daniel LaRusso, Mr. Miyagi, Ali Mills, and Kumiko. The combat systems aren’t quite as fleshed out as the likes of Shredder’s Revenge or Streets of Rage 4 – there’s minimal interaction with the environment and items here – but you will unlock steady upgrades to special attacks as you complete challenges with each character. Your special meter here also blocks attacks, making it more forgiving than most beat ‘em ups.
The core beat ‘em up sequences of The Karate Kid: Street Rumble are interspersed with simple training mini-games where you compete against your friends. There’s an attempt to relay the movies’ main story beats, but for the most part, you’ll be taking down goons in environments drawn from various scenes. It doesn’t quite measure up to the others on this list, but there’s still plenty of fun to be had for fans of the films. Just be aware that this one is local co-op only.
The Karate Kid: Street Rumble
Release Date: September 20, 2024
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game - Complete Edition
©Ubisoft Montreal
- Players: 1-4
- Co-op: Online and local
Originally released for Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network way back in 2010, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game has been on quite the odyssey. After a lengthy period in which it was delisted, this entertaining beat ‘em up based on the Scott Pilgrim comics was resurrected in 2021. That’s a comeback well worth celebrating, as it remains a fantastic romp crammed full of creative levels and enemies.
The game’s core premise sees you fighting through seven levels to take down Ramona Flowers’ seven exes. The Complete Edition also packs in the Knives Chau and Wallace DLC packs. If you want a break from the main levels, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game - Complete Edition also includes a selection of mini-games. Dodgeball is a great distraction from dueling past flames.
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game - Complete Edition
Release Date: January 14, 2021
River City Girls 2
- Players: 1-4
- Co-op: Online (1-2) and local (1-4)
Shantae developer WayForward took an impressive swing at the 2D beat ‘em up genre with the original River City Girls, and the 2022 sequel brings more of the same with more characters and several refinements. It’s one of the more chaotic brawlers on this list, with special moves often sending characters spinning across the screen. To expand upon your creative combos and juggling potential, you’ll unlock new abilities as you level up and can buy items to equip by visiting various stores.
After rescuing their boyfriends, the River City Girls are joined by new allies and former enemies to confront a new threat which faces the city. The solution? Hitting punks in the face, of course. River City Girls 2 boasts enjoyable comic book cutscenes and voice over for leading characters. Note that when playing online, co-op support is only for up to two players at a time.
River City Girls 2
Release Date: December 14, 2022
Still to come
2024 is looking particularly feisty, with several more retro-styled beat ‘em ups on the way. Here are two that those still lamenting the loss of arcades should definitely keep an eye on.
G.I. Joe: Wrath of Cobra
©Maple Powered Games
Based explicitly on the 1980s era of G.I. Joe, Wrath of Cobra will let you take characters like Duke, Scarlett, Roadblock, and Snake Eyes into fisticuffs with Cobra troopers and Crimson Guards.
G.I. Joe: Wrath of Cobra
Release Date: September 26, 2024
Digital Only
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind
©Digital Eclipse
Primary colored spandex may soon be back in vogue, if Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind lives up to its promise. The plot here sees Robo-Rita conjure a portal that transports the Power Rangers back to the early ‘90s, where they’ll need to face both future and past versions of the evil sorceress. Five-player online co-op, hand-drawn pixel art, arcade shooting sequences, and a chance to control the Megazord together? We’re really hoping this one is a winner.
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind
Release Date: December 10, 2024