Here's something worth celebrating in 2026: beat 'em ups are back in a big way. What used to be a genre you'd only find tucked away in arcades or dusty PS2 collections has had a full-blown resurgence on PlayStation, and the PS5 is honestly the best place to enjoy it. Between the console's rock-solid backwards compatibility (so all those brilliant PS4 brawlers run smoother than ever), the DualSense's punchy haptics, and a steady stream of both loving remasters and bold new takes, there's never been a better time to grab a friend and start cracking skulls. 🎮
I've put together my 11 favorite beat 'em ups you can play on PS5 right now—a mix of modern classics, arcade legends, and a couple of hidden gems you might've missed. Grab a second controller, because co-op play is where these games truly shine. By the way, these games are also available on other consoles, but let's stick to the PS5 for now. 😎 Here goes!
1. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge
If there's one game that kicked the whole beat 'em up revival into high gear, it's Shredder's Revenge. It takes everything you loved about the old Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles arcade cabinets and the classic Turtles in Time, then rebuilds it with gorgeous pixel art, buttery-smooth combat, and up to six players brawling at once.
This is peak nostalgia done right. The animation is bursting with personality, the soundtrack slaps, and there's a genuine sense of joy in every pizza-fueled beatdown. Whether you're playing solo or dragging four friends along for the ride, this is one of the best modern beat 'em ups money can buy—full stop. 🍕
2. Streets of Rage 4
You simply cannot talk about beat 'em ups without Streets of Rage. This series basically defined the genre back on the Sega Genesis, and Streets of Rage 4 is a triumphant, decades-later comeback that honors its roots while feeling completely fresh.
The hand-drawn visuals are stunning, the combo system is deep and satisfying, and that God-tier electronic soundtrack will live in your head rent-free. Add in a roster of new playable characters and unlockable retro fighters, and you've got what many (myself included) consider the single best beat 'em up available right now. And if you love it, keep an eye out—the same studio's fantasy brawler Absolum is on the way, and it looks incredible. 😍
3. River City Girls 2
The River City Girls games took the old-school River City Ransom formula and injected it with anime flair, sharp writing, and a wicked sense of humor. River City Girls 2 doubles down on everything that made the first one special—bigger city, more moves, and drop-in co-op for up to four players.
If you love reading manga, you’ll like this game because the story telling portrays manga reading!
What I love here is the personality. The characters are hilarious, the beat-'em-up RPG mechanics let you level up and buy new abilities, and the whole thing is dripping with style. It's a modern brawler that respects the classics while doing its own thing brilliantly.
This is also nice because you can do some air combo in a beat em up setting. It’s like reliving the Marvel vs. Capcom setup!
4. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game – Complete Edition
For years this one was lost to time after being delisted—so getting the Complete Edition back on modern PlayStation was a genuine gift. Based on the beloved comic and film, it's a pixel-perfect love letter to retro brawlers with a killer chiptune soundtrack by Anamanaguchi.
The RPG-lite progression, the gorgeous sprite work, and the four-player online multiplayer make this an absolute blast with friends. It's charming, challenging, and endlessly replayable. If you slept on this back in the day, now's your chance to make it right. ✨
5. Capcom Beat 'Em Up Bundle
This is the ultimate arcade throwback package, and it's essential for any fan of the genre. The Capcom Beat 'Em Up Bundle collects seven arcade legends in one tidy download: Final Fight, Captain Commando, The King of Dragons, Knights of the Round, Warriors of Fate, Armored Warriors, and Battle Circuit.
Being able to play Final Fight and Captain Commando on a modern console—with online co-op added in—is a dream come true. Some of these hadn't been widely available for decades. It's a museum of quarter-munching history, and every single one holds up. Pure, unfiltered arcade gold. 🕹️
6. Dragon's Crown Pro
Dragon's Crown Pro is what happens when you cross a side-scrolling brawler with a deep RPG. Vanillaware's gorgeous, hand-painted fantasy world is one of the most beautiful things you'll ever see in the genre, and the combat has surprising depth once you dig in.
You pick from six distinct classes, loot dungeons, level up, and gear out your character across dozens of hours. It's a beat 'em up with real staying power thanks to those deep RPG mechanics. If you want something with more meat on its bones than a quick arcade session, this is the one. 🐉
7. Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons
Double Dragon is one of the founding fathers of the genre, and Rise of the Dragons is a fantastic modern reinvention. It adds a roguelite twist—you tag between two fighters mid-fight, chaining their movesets together for stylish combos across a neon-soaked post-apocalyptic city.
The tag mechanic keeps things fresh, the pixel art is slick, and there's a big roster of characters to unlock. It's a smart, stylish update that proves the old dragons still have plenty of fight left in them.
8. Dawn of the Monsters
Here's a fresh spin on the formula: instead of playing as a street brawler, you ARE the giant kaiju. Dawn of the Monsters is a native PS5 beat 'em up where you pilot massive monsters through a gorgeous, hand-illustrated world, smashing buildings and tearing through hordes of alien invaders.
The combat is surprisingly deep, with a combo system, unlockable skills, and destructible environments that make every fight feel epic. Two-player co-op lets you and a friend team up as a pair of towering titans. It's stylish, distinct, and one of the more original modern brawlers you'll find on the system. 🦖
9. The Ninja Saviors: Return of the Warriors
A remake of the SNES classic The Ninja Warriors Again, this one flew under a lot of people's radar—and that's a shame, because it's excellent. You play as combat androids fighting through a dystopian world with tight, deliberate, satisfying combat.
It's more methodical than your average brawler, rewarding you for learning each character's moveset and spacing. Two new playable fighters round out the roster, and the whole thing oozes style. A hidden gem that deserves way more love. 🥷
10. Jitsu Squad
If you want raw, flashy, over-the-top action, Jitsu Squad delivers. This indie brawler plays like a beat 'em up crossed with a fighting game, packed with fast combos, air juggles, and gorgeous anime-inspired art. Four wild characters, tons of unlockables, and frantic co-op chaos.
It wears its influences—Streets of Rage, TMNT, Guardian Heroes—proudly on its sleeve while carving out its own high-energy identity. It's not the most well-known name on this list, but for combo-hungry brawler fans, it's a genuine treat.
11. Mother Russia Bleeds
Time for something darker. Mother Russia Bleeds is a brutal, gritty, gloriously violent brawler with a grimy 1980s Soviet setting and a heavy pixel-art style. This is not one for the kids—it's a savage, blood-soaked ride from start to finish.
The combat is meaty and impactful, the atmosphere is thick and oppressive, and the four-player co-op makes the carnage even more intense. If Streets of Rage grew up angry, this is what it'd look like. A cult favorite that isn't afraid to get its hands dirty.
In Summary
The beat 'em up genre is thriving on PS5, and it's genuinely one of the most exciting comebacks in gaming right now. From arcade legends like Final Fight and Streets of Rage to fresh modern brawlers like Shredder's Revenge and River City Girls 2, there's something here for every kind of fan—whether you're chasing nostalgia or looking for your next co-op obsession. And with new titles like Absolum and the Fighting Force Collection on the horizon, the genre's future on PlayStation looks brighter than ever. 🎮
Which of these have you played? Any beat 'em ups you'd add to the list? Let me know in the comments!
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