Beat 'em up
Ongoing coverage on Beat 'em up.
Latest coverage
Punch, Parry And Unleash RIOT Supers In Fallen City Brawl
Fallen City Brawl, a new pixel-art beat 'em up developed by Eastasiasoft and Fallen City Studio, is now available on PC, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch for £12.49. The game features four playable characters, seven stages of street combat inspired by classic arcade brawlers, and a combat system with combos, counters, and special RIOT Super attacks.
PAX West 2026 - Maximum Thunderness: Castle Crashers Meets Power Rangers
Maximum Thunderness is a new 3-player co-op roguelite beat-em-up from Berzerk Studio, drawing heavy inspiration from Castle Crashers and 90s Power Rangers aesthetics. The game features vibrant hand-drawn art, auto-scrolling levels, and distinct character classes, emphasizing chaotic fun and replayability through its roguelite upgrade system. It is currently available to wishlist on Steam with an unspecified release date.
Oh dear, half a year after launching Samson, Swedish developer Liquid Swords have filed for bankruptcy
Swedish developer Liquid Swords, known for its debut title Samson, has filed for bankruptcy. The company, founded by former Avalanche Studios co-founder Christofer Sundberg, reportedly owes employees back pay and faces an uncertain future. Samson, an open-world beat 'em up, was released earlier this year and received mixed reviews, with subsequent patches failing to salvage its commercial performance.
Star Wars: KOTOR remaster devs are bringing back the Shrek 2 game that might only be good in my childhood memories,…
A remaster of the 2004 game Shrek 2: The Game is reportedly coming to modern platforms, developed by Aspyr. The game, originally released on PlayStation 2, Xbox, and GameCube, featured beat 'em up action, puzzles, and mini-games. The remaster is expected to include 4K resolution support, improved textures, an enhanced UI, and new Photo and Cheat Modes.
PAX West 2026 - Dungeon Lurker: Retro Fantasy for the Modern Age
13AM Games' upcoming retro-modern dungeon crawler, Dungeon Lurker, features a unique narrative centered around a mysterious, undeletable save file from a previous owner. The game combines roguelite hack-and-slash combat with engaging risk/reward mechanics for lost items and a compelling pixel-art style. While an exact release date is unconfirmed, it is anticipated for 2027.
Crunchyroll Adds Retro Brawler Streets of Rage 4 to Its Android Vault
Crunchyroll has added the retro beat 'em up game Streets of Rage 4 to its Android game library. The service offers access to the title for subscribers.
PAX Aus 2026 wrap-up: SEGA’s gaming goodness
SEGA showcased several highly anticipated titles at PAX Aus 2026, including playable demos for Alien Isolation 2 and Persona 4 Revival, alongside a preview of the Yakuza prequel Stranger Than Heaven. Alien Isolation 2 is confirmed for Switch 2, while Persona 4 Revival is a full remake of Persona 4 Golden. Stranger Than Heaven, developed by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, offers a historical action-adventure beat 'em up experience.
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe: Dragon Pearl of Destruction Launches on February 4, 2027
Bitmap Bureau is releasing He-Man and the Masters of the Universe: Dragon Pearl of Destruction on February 4, 2027, a 2D beat 'em up based on Masters of the Universe. Players can control He-Man, Teela, Man-at-Arms, or She-Ra against Skeletor and Evil-Lyn across thirteen stages. The game will feature the largest roster of He-Man characters in a single title and is launching on PS4, Xbox One, PS5, Xbox Series, Switch, and PC for $29.99/€29.99.
He-Man Fans Have a New Reason to Return to Eternia as Pre-Orders Open
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe: Dragon Pearl of Destruction, a new 2D beat 'em up developed by Bitmap Bureau and published by Limited Run Games, is bringing Eternia back to retro gaming. Pre-orders for physical editions, including a Collector's Edition, are now open for the game launching February 4, 2027, on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC.
Bak Mei Kung Fu-Inspired Beat ‘Em Up Game Sifu Launches on Mobile!
The Bak Mei Kung Fu-inspired beat 'em up game Sifu has officially launched on mobile platforms. The game challenges players to overcome their enemies in a stylish martial arts setting.
Knuckle Paradise Demo Is Now Live on Steam | Invision Game Community
ARTE France and Flying Oak Games have released a Steam demo for Knuckle Paradise, a hand-drawn, pixel art beat 'em up inspired by 1990s action comedies. The demo allows players to experience a full chapter, including the first boss, and explore side quests. The game features fluid combat inspired by titles like Bayonetta and Devil May Cry, alongside exploration and side activities.
Double Dragon - A classic 1980's beat 'em up but with a twist! (PC)
A reimagined 'Double Dragon' beat 'em up, titled 'Double Dragons', has been released for PC as an alternate-history sequel to the original games. This new installment features upgraded pixel art, enhanced gameplay, an expansive campaign, 20 playable characters, a 'Blood Mode' with fatalities, and three retro-inspired mini-games.
Chronic Man - Free Online Browser Game
Chronic Man is a free, offline, browser-based beat-'em-up game developed by happystoner5420 Games. It features classic arcade gameplay with modern cinematic artwork, an original story about a superhero protecting Earth, and 8 stages with unique boss battles. The game offers a deep moveset, multiple difficulty levels, and supports keyboard, gamepad, and touch controls.
Fallen City Brawl finally sets release date on Nintendo Switch, new trailer
After years since its initial announcement in 2021, Fallen City Brawl has finally received a release date of October 28, 2026, for the Nintendo Switch. This retro-inspired beat 'em up features pixel art, deep combat mechanics, and local co-op, with a soundtrack by Daniel Lindholm.
Box Knight Review – Clock Out, Grab Your Cardboard Sword and Kill the CEO | Invision Game Community
Box Knight is a fun and silly action roguelite that blends beat-'em-up combat with roguelite progression and local co-op. Players transform into a cardboard knight to battle monsters in an office tower, with responsive controls and an engaging elemental system adding depth. While the combat can become repetitive and some upgrades are shallow, the game's strong personality, excellent co-op, and developer responsiveness make it a bloody good time, especially for those seeking a humorous and accessible brawler.
Six Heroes. Four Players. One Empire To Smash In King’s Blade
King's Blade, a new beat 'em up game developed by Alexey Suslin and published by Sometimes You, is now available for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch. The game features six unique heroes, 12 levels, and supports local co-op for up to four players, offering classic arcade-style combat with a fantasy theme.
Arthur And Lancelot Team Up In Blades & Battles
Blades & Battles, a new 2.5D fantasy beat 'em up from developer and publisher QUByte Interactive, is now available for PC, PlayStation, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch. The game features Arthur and Lancelot battling supernatural creatures in a mythical Camelot, offering both single-player and local co-op modes with retro arcade combat.
Suplex and shatter glass enemies after being in prison for committing a cardinal crime in the psychological horror beat 'em up Brokensides
Brokensides is a new psychological horror beat 'em up from developer FUNKYHEART where players control a violent character recently released from prison. The game features a unique visual style blending wireframe 3D, improperly rendered models, and ASCII art, with enemies shattering into glass pieces upon defeat. While no release date has been announced, the game is available to wishlist on Steam.
Next Week on XBOX: New Games for September 28 to October 2
This weekly feature highlights new games coming to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC between September 28 and October 2. Titles include Minecraft Dungeons II, Gears of War: E-Day, Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve, and a remastered The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, among many others across various genres.
The Walking Dead: Streets of Survival launch trailer
The launch trailer for The Walking Dead: Streets of Survival has been released, showcasing its beat-'em-up combat inspired by AMC's television series. Players can control iconic characters like Rick Grimes and Negan across twelve levels, battling both the undead and the Saviors. The game is available on Nintendo Switch.
