The Best Beat-em-up Games for Linux

Update, : PixelJunk Scrappers Deluxe added at rank #6.
1

Streets of Rage 4 (2020)

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90
Review score
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Nintendo Switch Xbox One Playstation 4 PC Windows Mac OS Linux stadia IOS iPhone Android

Streets of Rage 4 is the long awaited fourth entry into the classic Sega franchise. It features a blend of old and new, with classic characters such as Axel and Adam Hunter returning alongside a new main character, Cherry. All characters have unique playstyles, from Axel's powerful punches to Cherry's speedy strikes. There are tons of unlockables to discover and it has an amazing soundtrack.


Pros:
  • Satisfying combat
  • Incredible music and visuals
  • Tons to unlock
  • Simple yet rewarding combat mechanics
Cons:
  • Lack of 4 player online
  • Occasionally too easy to get cornered

  • brawler
  • boss
  • cooperative
  • beat-em-up
  • combo
  • retro
  • classic
  • side-scrolling
  • fight
  • old-school
  • arcade
  • online
  • hand-drawn
  • crime
  • combat

2

Final Vendetta (2022)

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74
Review score
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Playstation 5 Nintendo Switch Playstation 4 Xbox Series X Xbox One PC Windows Mac OS Linux

Final Vendetta is an arcade-style throwback inspired by the 16 and 32-bit-era of gaming. It features large, gorgeously animated character sprites, true-to-the-era hand-drawn pixel art backgrounds and timeless old school flourishes. Perfectly combining elements from Final Fight and Streets of Rage 2 with generous dashes of NEO GEO style, Final Vendetta is a master class in kicking ass!


Pros:
  • Classic visuals and gameplay
  • Coop play for up to two players
  • Challenging bosses
Cons:
  • Limited lives on Easy or Hard mode
  • Some cheap enemy attacks and grabs

  • beat-em-up
  • arcade
  • boss
  • pixel
  • classic
  • brawler
  • old-school
  • soundtrack
  • fight
  • side-scrolling
  • retro
  • combo
  • cooperative
  • scroller
  • arts

3

9 Monkeys of Shaolin (2020)

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78
Review score
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PC Windows Xbox Series X Mac OS Linux Nintendo Switch Xbox One Playstation 4

9 Monkeys of Shaolin is a beat-em-up game with deep combat mechanics and varied level designs. The story follows Daokong, a man who joins a Shaolin order to seek revenge on the Japanese pirates that attacked his village. With generous parries, special attacks, seal moves and skill points to customize your abilities, you will feel like an unstoppable warrior!


Pros:
  • Deep combat mechanics
  • Varied level design
  • Generous parries and special attacks
  • Plenty of voice acting options
Cons:
  • Relatively short runtime
  • By-the-numbers plot

  • cooperative
  • beat-em-up
  • martial
  • fight
  • pirates
  • side-scrolling
  • local
  • brawler
  • online
  • ninja
  • arts
  • combat
  • old-school
  • hack-and-slash
  • action

4

Shing! (2020)

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74
Review score
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PC Windows Playstation 5 Xbox Series X Xbox One Nintendo Switch Playstation 4 Linux Mac OS

Experience the most exciting and immersive beat-em-up combat system ever – become a kickass ninja and slice some demons in style!


  • beat-em-up
  • demons
  • cooperative
  • ninja
  • fight
  • rogue-like
  • swordplay
  • hack-and-slash
  • 2.5d
  • spectacle
  • scroller
  • character
  • side-scrolling
  • colourful
  • arcade

5

Tonight We Riot (2020)

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93
Review score
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Linux Mac OS PC Windows Nintendo Switch

The game follows a player-controlled crowd of workers rather than a single character,[4] each member with their own weapons, to fight against Pinkertons, militias, and police as they move their way through a level. Players can inspire more workers to join the crowd by liberating factories and encouraging more workers to join the fight. The game's difficulty is dynamic as it is tied in part due to the size of the mob, from being extremely difficult as a single worker to challenging or easy as the mob grows in size.[5] The levels end in boss fights ranging from large vehicles operated by the police to the President of the fictional country the game takes place in.[6][7]


  • political
  • beat-em-up
  • crowd
  • politics
  • cooperative

6

PixelJunk Scrappers Deluxe (2023)

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74
Review score
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wii u vita ps1 portable Playstation 5 Playstation 4 Playstation 3 PC Windows Mac OS Nintendo Switch Linux google stadia facebook apple arcade

Clean up the streets of Junktown as a team of robot garbage collectors. Trash your opponents with up to 4 players or go it alone in this beat ‘em up that’s also a clean ‘em up!

Buy

  • beat-em-up
  • cyberpunk
  • collectathon
  • local
  • multiplayer
  • truck
  • cooperative
  • robots
  • stylized
  • futuristic
  • fight
  • colourful
  • 2d
  • squad
  • casual

7

Buck Up And Drive! (2021)

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88
Review score
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Linux PC Windows

There is time to explain, I just don't wanna.

Buy

  • racing
  • fight
  • beat-em-up
  • 2.5d
  • runner
  • driving
  • attack
  • score
  • procedural
  • character
  • stylized
  • surreal
  • comedy
  • arcade
  • combat

8

Way of the Passive Fist (2018)

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92
Review score
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Linux Mac OS PC Windows Xbox One Playstation 4 Nintendo Switch

Way of the Passive Fist is a unique and colorful arcade brawler. Parry, Dodge and Dash to outwit and outlast your enemies on a desolate planet ruled by raiders, mutants and fanatical sun worshipers. It's a new kind of tactical fighting in the licensed arcade brawler for the 90s cartoon you wish existed.


  • beat-em-up
  • pixel
  • brawler
  • rhythm
  • action
  • fight

9

River City Ransom: Underground (2017)

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88
Review score
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Game Boy Advanced (GBA) PC Windows-engine super cd-rom² sharp x68000 family computer/nes Linux PC Windows Mac OS

One of the best beat'em ups of the NES era is back! Many years after vanquishing Slick on the school rooftop, Alex and Ryan must take to the streets again. Help a new crop of fighters defeat the hordes of River City, and clear their name in a sinister kidnapping plot. You'll earn money, unlock moves, and upgrade your skills in a sprawling city on the brink of total chaos. This modern take on an old classic features over 500 unique street fighting moves, dozens of weapons, secrets galore, and a bonus arena fighting mode. Features: -Online co-op and arena death match for up to 4 players -A new chapter in the River City universe -Unlock 10 playable heroes in the story campaign, each with their own fighting style -140 levels to explore, complete with hazards and secrets -22 shops to upgrade your characters -Arena multiplayer combat mode features team selection, modifier modes, and CPU partners -Play as hero or villain in intense arena combat: can you unlock all 44 fighters?


  • beat-em-up
  • rpg
  • pixel
  • retro
  • pve
  • open-world

10

Memory Lost: Chapter One (2022)

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98
Review score
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PC Windows Linux

First chapter of Memory Lost. It is a story-driven action shooter, the battles in which are built around the mechanics of mind capturing and moving into the enemy's body. First-aid kits were not delivered, there is only one magazine in the weapon - change the bodies to survive!

Buy

  • top-down
  • shoot-em-up
  • beat-em-up
  • isometric
  • shooter
  • gore
  • violent

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