Best Beat-'Em-Up games See all
The rarest Beat-'Em-Up games See all
$799 
$1458 
$794 
$852 
$724 
$2652 
$542 
$920 
$965 
$558 
$2230 
$1611 $439 
$411 
$377 
$422 
$470 
$389 Best Beat-'Em-Up games by console
Beat-'Em-Up tops to explore See all
Beat-'Em-Up games in video game history
The beat-'em-up, or side-scrolling brawler, sends one or two heroes to clean up the street with their fists. Codified by Double Dragon in 1987 and its two-player play, it enjoyed its golden age in arcades and on 16-bit, before fading in the 3D era and then being reborn through the indie scene.
Its classics hit hard: Double Dragon laid the co-op foundations of the genre, Final Fight set the Capcom style, Streets of Rage 2 marked its absolute peak and Guardian Heroes added RPG depth. Golden Axe, Battletoads and River City Ransom complete a friendly family.
For collectors, the beat-'em-up hides rarities: some low-print 16-bit entries and Japanese exclusives reach high values, especially complete. On RomWize, every beat-'em-up is retested and re-rated for 2026, with its rarity index and collector value (loose, complete and new) by region; the 'by console' section above helps you find the best, machine by machine.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best Beat-'Em-Up games?
RomWize's ranking of the best Beat-'Em-Up games is based on a dual score — the original-era rating and a 2026 re-evaluation — to highlight the titles that still stand out today.
Which Beat-'Em-Up games are the rarest and most valuable?
For every Beat-'Em-Up game, we track a rarity index and a collector value (loose, complete and new) by region. The 'rarest' section highlights the hardest titles to find.
On which consoles can you find the best Beat-'Em-Up games?
The 'by console' section ranks platforms by their number of Beat-'Em-Up games, so you can explore the best titles console by console.