The Best Beat-em-up Games for Playstation 4

Update : Mighty Morphin\' Power Rangers: Rita\'s Rewind added at rank #43.
1

River City Girls 2 (2022)

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80
Review score
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Nintendo Switch IOS iPhone Android Xbox Series X Xbox One Playstation 5 Playstation 4 PC Windows

Get ready for an all-new adventure with River City Girls 2! Team up with friends for local or online co-op and pound punks with new abilities including guard-crush attacks and lift-off combos. Level up to earn new moves, buy items, and recruit defeated foes and hired heavies to help you along the way. With enhanced combat, bigger areas to explore, surprise cameos, and an epic soundtrack, you'll be brawling until your enemies yell "BARF!"


What we like:
  • Side quests include mini-games for diversity
  • Multiplayer options available for local and online play
  • Destructible background objects for added fun
  • Offers solid beat 'em up mechanics with light RPG mechanics
  • Unique enemy recruitment system that allows players to personalize their play style
What could be improved:
  • Unbalanced boss battles
  • Lack of enemy variety
  • Technical issues with FPS and multiplayer

  • beat-em-up
  • cooperative
  • anime
  • brawler
  • pixel
  • fight
  • boss
  • rpg
  • local
  • em-up
  • collectathon
  • boss-fight
  • comic
  • action
  • arts

2

BROK the InvestiGator (2022)

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86
Review score
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PC Windows Playstation 5 Playstation 4 Xbox Series X Xbox One Nintendo Switch Linux Mac OS

BROK the InvestiGator is an adventure game set in a futuristic cyberpunk city where humans have been replaced by animals and robots. Join Brok, a former boxer turned private detective, as he attempts to uncover a sinister plot while struggling with parenthood and providing for his deceased wife's son. Experience the fusion of point-and-click adventure and beat 'em up gameplay styles as you explore your surroundings, talk to NPCs and solve puzzles.


What we like:
  • Fully voiced cast
  • Seamless fusion of point-and-click and beat 'em up genres
  • Relatable story with heartfelt moments
  • Sherlock Holmes­-esque interrogation sequences
  • Multiple endings for replayability
What could be improved:
  • Some puzzles are too simple to work out
  • Some sequences drag on too long serving little purpose outside of padding out the runtime

  • point-and-click
  • detective
  • beat-em-up
  • cyberpunk
  • dystopian
  • adventure
  • soundtrack
  • choices
  • investigation
  • futuristic
  • fight
  • mystery
  • cartoony
  • puzzle
  • post-apocalyptic

3

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!


What we like:
  • Classic visuals and gameplay
  • Coop play for up to two players
  • Challenging bosses
What could be improved:
  • 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

4

River City: Rival Showdown (2023)

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72
Review score
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arcade l famicom game boy mega drive x68000 PC Windows-engine super famicom Game Boy Advanced (GBA) ds virtual console ps2 wiiware Nintendo 3DS Playstation 3 Playstation 4 Playstation 5 Xbox Series X/s Nintendo Switch PC Windows Linux Mac OS

River City Ransom is back, rebuilt from the ground up! Rekindle old rivalries and relive past rumbles through a completely revamped story!

Buy

  • beat-em-up
  • brawler
  • fight
  • 2d
  • scroller
  • metroidvania
  • 1980s
  • cooperative
  • pixel
  • old-school
  • action-adventure
  • multiplayer
  • remake
  • retro
  • hack-and-slash

5

River City Saga: Three Kingdoms (2022)

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72
Review score
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Playstation 4 Nintendo Switch PC Windows

River City Saga: Three Kingdoms is a modern take on the classic River City Ransom series, combining it with Romance of the Three Kindgoms to create an exciting beat-em-up adventure. Fight your way through hordes of enemies and upgrade your character with weapons, food, armor or special moves by visiting stores in towns. Interact with NPCs and progress through a six chapter story full of dialogue and comedic timing. Enjoy local or online co-op for up to two players and bonus modes like China Heroes.


What we like:
  • Fun beat-em-up gameplay
  • Upgradeable characters
  • Local or online co-op for up to two players
  • Bonus modes like China Heroes
  • Full gallery with character bios and music gallery
What could be improved:
  • Clunky controls
  • Difficult platforming levels in some areas
  • Very long story dialogue

  • beat-em-up
  • spectacle
  • 2d
  • historical
  • old-school
  • destruction
  • brawler
  • fight
  • platform
  • comedy
  • retro
  • pve
  • family-friendly
  • anime
  • controller-support

6

River City Girls Zero (2022)

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73
Review score
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Nintendo Switch PC Windows Xbox Series X Xbox One Playstation 4 Playstation 5

River City Girls Zero is a spin-off of the Kunio-kun franchise where you play as Misako and Kyoko, fighting their way to rescue Kunio and Riki. Featuring great visuals, superb character designs, and a fantastic soundtrack, River City Girls Zero offers local co-op support with extras like manga-style animated self-aware cutscenes, an opening video, new music and more.


What we like:
  • Great visuals
  • Superb character designs
  • Fantastic soundtrack
  • Local co-op support
  • Extras like manga-style animated cutscenes
  • New music
What could be improved:
  • No difficulty modes
  • No online play
  • Limited display options for aspect ratios

  • beat-em-up
  • cooperative
  • brawler
  • anime
  • action-translated
  • spin-kicking
  • pixel
  • fight
  • local
  • motorbike
  • crime
  • boss
  • retro
  • combat
  • classic

7

Dawn of the Monsters (2022)

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80
Review score
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stadia Playstation 4 Xbox One Xbox Series X PC Windows Playstation 5 Nintendo Switch

Dawn of the Monsters is an action-packed kaiju game that puts you in control of powerful fighters to battle a horde of giant monsters known as Nephilim. Customize your fighter with Augments and unlock devastating Rage Attacks and Cataclysm attacks. Face off against challenging bosses, appreciate beautiful visuals and captivating music, and embark on a riveting story with interesting characters.


What we like:
  • Complex combat system
  • Unique characters with different playstyles
  • Rich story with interesting characters
  • Beautiful visuals and captivating music
What could be improved:
  • Stages start to feel similar after a while
  • Lack of clarity in the ranking system
  • Training room could use more options

  • cooperative
  • 2-player
  • beat-em-up
  • side-scrolling
  • two-player
  • action
  • scroller
  • fight
  • beat'em
  • brawler
  • boss
  • action-adventure
  • combo
  • local
  • 2d

8

ONE PIECE: PIRATE WARRIORS 4 (2020)

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91
Review score
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Nintendo Switch PC Windows Playstation 4

ONE PIECE: PIRATE WARRIORS 4 is the latest evolution of PIRATE WARRIORS action! Based on the concept of "experiencing a real ONE PIECE battlefield," buildings will come crashing down during the action and attacks will throw up smoke and dust, placing you in the thick of the ONE PIECE world!

Buy

  • beat-em-up
  • anime
  • pirates
  • hack-and-slash
  • split-screen
  • pvp
  • fight
  • cooperative
  • musou

9

Jitsu Squad (2022)

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81
Review score
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Nintendo Switch Xbox Series X Xbox One Playstation 5 Playstation 4 PC Windows

Jitsu Squad is a four-player co-op fighting game inspired by the Marvel vs Capcom series. The players take on the role of four heroes on a mission to thwart an evil sorcerer’s ambitions and retrieve a powerful demon's soul stone. With beautiful hand-drawn visuals and an over-the-top chop socky soundtrack, this game will have you feeling like you're playing in one of your favorite Saturday morning cartoons.


What we like:
  • Varied characters
  • Super transformations and screen filling super attacks
  • Visually stunning graphics
  • Entertaining soundtrack
  • Variety of enemies and bosses
What could be improved:
  • Difficulty distinguishing between characters in multiplayer mode
  • Limited number of puzzles
  • Not difficult even at the end

  • ninja
  • beat-em-up
  • 1990s
  • scroller
  • cooperative
  • hack-and-slash
  • fight
  • character
  • swordplay
  • 2d
  • comedy
  • superhero
  • old-school
  • retro
  • linear

10

Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise Of The Dragons (2023)

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74
Review score
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Playstation 4 Xbox Series X Xbox Series X/s Nintendo Switch Playstation 5 Xbox One PC Windows

The Double Dragon brothers return in this fresh addition to the iconic beat 'em up franchise. With roguelite elements, every playthrough is a chance at new action. Tag in with 2 of 4 starter characters or unlock 9 additional characters, each with their own special moves and unique playstyles.


  • cooperative
  • boss
  • rogue-like
  • beat-em-up
  • brawler
  • local
  • martial
  • combo
  • retro
  • arcade
  • fight
  • side-scrolling
  • online
  • classic
  • action

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