The DLC perfects an already masterful comeback: the Survival mode and bonus fighters reignite the urge to brawl. The combo system remains a delight of timing and flow, lifted by a gorgeous art direction. The modern beat-'em-up at its finest.
Your verdict
Category
Beat-'Em-Up4 players12+
Co-op
Description
An expansion extends the brawling with new fighters and a generous survival mode. Published by Dotemu, released worldwide in 2021. Three fresh characters, a survival mode with random powers, a full training room and new music tracks.
Streets of Rage 4 - Mr. X Nightmare review
MAX
Art direction
★★★★★
"Iconic"
MAX
Music
★★★★★
"Legendary"
2/5
Story
★★★★★
"Classic"
The expansion extends the game's instantly recognisable touch: vibrant hand-drawn art, urban neon and new enemies with colourful designs. This modern comic-book style, as readable as ever in the heat of action, keeps its visual freshness fully intact.
This expansion widens the already dazzling palette of the fourth game by inviting a host of guests — Tee Lopes, Yoko Shimomura and Keiji Yamagishi among others — around the supercharged brawls of Survival mode. House, funk and taut electro intertwine. That feast of fresh beats extends the pleasure without ever easing the tempo.
Gameplay
"Masterful"
Mastering recoverable damage, extending your combos and improvising under the survival mode's random powers: that's what this expansion multiplies. The base game's tempo and readability were already exemplary, and three sharply distinct fighters broaden the palette. The looping brawl stays niche, but the timing's precision and the new soundtrack are top of the class.
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
All the beat'em up's energy carries on with fresh fighters of sharp style and a survival mode that reshuffles the deck each round. Facing waves of enemies together, juggling random upgrades and combos, keeps reigniting the urge for one more try. This expansion supercharges replayability and hands brawl fans an inexhaustible playground.
The beat 'em up rediscovers the art of the stage guardian, and the Mr. X Nightmare DLC pushes spectacle further: rhythmic combos, telegraphs to read and tight counter windows. Every foe reshapes your approach, from hulking bruisers to nimble duelists, all carried by an electrifying soundtrack that keeps adrenaline soaring.
Better with friends
With the Mr. X Nightmare add-on, the brawler scales up to four fighters on one screen, and that's where the co-op turns gleefully messy. You chain enemies together, scoop a downed teammate back up, and occasionally trip over each other since blows can hit friends. Survival mode piles on unpredictable situations and heroic comebacks. A title you'll happily relaunch to blow off steam over an evening of flying fists.
Is Streets of Rage 4 - Mr. X Nightmare still worth playing in 2026?
This expansion generously extends one of the finest modern beat-'em-ups. Streets of Rage 4 was already a triumph of tempo and animated pixel art, and Mr. X Nightmare adds three sharply distinct fighters, a full training room and a survival mode with random powers that multiplies replay value. The genre stays niche and looping brawls won't win everyone over, but the command of counter-hits and the new soundtrack are top of the class. For genre lovers, it is an add-on that extends the pleasure with real precision.
