The objective of this genre of game is easy enough for anyone to understand. How titles in the beat ‘em up genre distinguish themselves, however, is through their unique integration of other concepts into the move forward and beat the heck out of everything formula.
Whether it is a fantasy theme, a popular IP from mainstream media, or even two horror franchises fused into an interesting brawling game, the beat ‘em up genre’s rules are pretty much anything goes. That’s probably why we have such a variety of styles in this top 10 list.
Here we’ve compiled our ten favorite beat ‘em up games from all times, spanning home consoles as well as the arcades. If you’re looking for the best of the best, you’ll find them here, there’s no doubt. Of course, if we’ve left any of your favourites out, let us know in the comments section below or on social media… but we’re certain that these ten beat ‘em up games demonstrate the best of the best the genre has to offer:
10. Double Dragon
Billy and Jimmy Lee are the original dynamic duo when it comes to beat ‘em up games in the minds of many gamers. This game has appeared on pretty much every system and spawned a legion of sequels and spin off properties – even a movie, albeit a bad one. The formula here is classic beat ‘em up which means you will move forward and even up, smashing everyone’s face that gets in your way. There is a story, and it is pretty dark, which just makes the gritty feel of the game that much cooler. A great introduction to the genre, Double Dragon has withstood the test of time and it is not hard to see how.
9. The Simpsons Arcade Game
The Simpsons were a cultural phenomenon
