Beat 'em up
Ongoing coverage on Beat 'em up.
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Beat ‘Em Up Roguelite Action RPG Radiant: Guardians of Light Lands on Mobile
Radiant: Guardians of Light, a co-op fantasy beat 'em up with roguelite elements, has launched on mobile platforms after its initial PC release. Developed and published by Chorrus Games, the game features manual combat, RPG systems, and a cartoonish art style. It is available for $4.99 on the Google Play Store and supports offline play and local co-op with controllers.
Double Dragon and Kunio-kun Creator Dies Aged 65
Yoshihisa Kishimoto, the acclaimed creator of the Double Dragon and Kunio-kun (known internationally as River City) franchises, has passed away at the age of 65. His son confirmed the news, with no cause of death announced. Kishimoto also contributed to other titles like Data East's Cobra Command and Road Blaster.
Feature: Nintendo Life eShop Selects (March 2026)
Nintendo Life's eShop Selects for March 2026 highlights the best digital releases on Nintendo Switch. Blue Prince took first place, praised for its challenging roguelike puzzles. Minishoot' Adventures secured second place with its charming twin-stick Zelda-style adventure, and Scott Pilgrim EX landed third with its expanded beat 'em up gameplay and RPG elements.
Double Dragon - A near Arcade experience brings back the nostalgia via JOTD for the Amiga AGA! (WIP)
Developer JOTD is working on an Amiga AGA version of the classic arcade beat 'em up Double Dragon, aiming to bring it closer to the original arcade experience. This new version is being developed for AGA-equipped Amigas and has undergone significant debugging, with scrolling and completability as the next goals. JOTD is known for high-quality Amiga conversions, often using original arcade code for accuracy.
Indie Selects for April 2026: Big on Building, Strategy, and Action
The Indie Select Hub for April 2026 features a diverse collection of indie games across various genres, available on Xbox. Highlights include the beat 'em up Scott Pilgrim EX, the zombie shooter Ghetto Zombies: Graffiti Squad, the tactical Showgunners, the city builder Laysara: Summit Kingdom, the puzzle game Bubblegum Galaxy, and the stealth tactics title Sumerian Six.
Indie Game of the Month Awards March 2026 🏅
The Indie Game of the Month Awards for March 2026 highlight the best indie releases across various genres. Planet of Lana II won Puzzle Platformer of the Month, New Super Lucky's Tale - PlayStation 5 Edition took 3D Platformer of the Month, and Kena: Bridge of Spirits - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition was named overall Indie Game of the Month.
Renegade Reborn - Retro Brawling Returns: "Renegade Reborn" Heading to the Amstrad CPC!
Renegade Reborn, a new beat 'em up inspired by the 1980s arcade original, is heading to the Amstrad CPC. The game features 6 levels, boss battles, and a graphical style consistent with the developer's previous work. It will be available in 64 KB and 128 KB versions, with a release date yet to be announced.
What happens when story serves art direction in Absolum - Narrative Notebook #2
This article explores how the narrative in Absolum serves its art direction, prompting players to engage with the environment for gameplay purposes. Developers Dotemu, Guard Crush Games, and Supamonks use environmental storytelling and quests that direct players to specific locations without UI navigation, encouraging close observation of visuals. This contrasts with games like Hades II, where narrative and art are less directly tied to moment-to-moment gameplay mechanics.
Review: Marvel MaXimum Collection (PS5) - A Retro Comic Book Beat-'Em-Up Bonanza
Marvel MaXimum Collection is a retro compilation featuring several comic book beat-'em-up titles, headlined by Konami's excellent X-Men: The Arcade Game. While not every game is a standout, the collection offers a compelling mix of superhero brawlers with excellent quality-of-life features like rollback netcode, rewind, and save states.
Takeover 2, the Sequel to The TakeOver, Is Coming to Steam in Late 2026
Pelikan13 has announced Takeover 2, the sequel to their 2019 beat 'em up game The Takeover. The new title is scheduled to launch on Steam in September 2026, with potential console versions to follow. The original game was released on Steam in 2019 and later on PlayStation and Nintendo Switch in 2021.
Takeover 2, the Sequel to The TakeOver, Is Coming to Steam in Late 2026
Pelikan13 has announced that Takeover 2, the sequel to the beat 'em up game The Takeover, will be released on Steam in September 2026. While the original game was released on Steam in 2019 and later on PlayStation and Nintendo Switch in 2021, the sequel is initially launching on PC with potential console versions to follow.
GDC 2026 | Highlights from Atari
Atari showcased several upcoming titles at the 2026 Game Developers Conference, including the remaster SiN: Reloaded, the beat 'em up Jay and Silent Bob: Chronic Blunt Punch, the action-adventure REPLACED, and the 3D platformer Bubsy 4D. Developers were present to demo the games and answer questions about their features and release plans.
The VR beat-em-up TaVRns Takedown, is now available on Steam and Meta platforms
VR Studio LDLC has announced the worldwide launch of their VR beat-em-up game, TaVRns Takedown. The game is now available on PC via Steam and Meta platforms.
Review: Marvel Maximum Collection (Switch) - A Decent Nostalgia Cake With A Konami Cherry On Top
The Marvel Maximum Collection on Nintendo Switch offers a compilation of retro Marvel titles, with Konami's X-Men: The Arcade Game being the standout inclusion due to its multiplayer and faithful port. While other games like Silver Surfer and Captain America and The Avengers have their merits, the collection's overall quality ranges from good fun to frustrating, driven primarily by nostalgia rather than an assembly of gaming's finest.
What We Played – Crimson Desert, Rushing Beat X & Screamer
Several individuals share their recent gaming experiences across a variety of titles. Crimson Desert is noted as phenomenal by some, while others find it less engaging. Other games discussed include Kena: Bridge of Spirits, Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown, Sovereign Syndicate, Sephiria, Rushing Beat X Return of Brawl Brothers, The Pale Beyond, South of Midnight, Resident Evil Village, Screamer, Marathon, Ghost of Tsushima: Legends, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Project Songbird, Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, and Pokémon FireRed.
TaVRn’s Takedown, the New VR Beat ’Em Up from VR Studio LDLC, Is Out Now on Steam and Meta
VR Studio LDLC has released TaVRn’s Takedown, a virtual reality beat 'em up set in the Naheulbeuk universe, on Steam and Meta platforms. The game features chaotic tavern brawls, a cast of notable voice actors, and marks the first VR title in the franchise.
TaVRn’s Takedown, the New VR Beat ’Em Up from VR Studio LDLC, Is Out Now on Steam and Meta
VR Studio LDLC has released TaVRn’s Takedown, a virtual reality beat 'em up set in the Naheulbeuk universe, on Steam and Meta platforms. Players engage in chaotic tavern brawls, utilizing strategy and improvisation to defeat enemies and bosses. The game features a diverse voice cast, including Cécile Corbel, Corin Nemec, and actors from Baldur's Gate 3.
Dotemu's Acclaimed Rogue 'em Up Absolum Now Available on Xbox, Game Pass
Dotemu's roguelite beat 'em up Absolum is now available on Xbox and PC Game Pass. The game, co-developed with Guard Crush Games and Supamonks, previously launched on PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5. Absolum features branching pathways, quests, and challenging bosses, blending classic brawler mechanics with roguelite replayability.
Absolum Hits Game Pass And It’s One You Shouldn’t Miss
Absolum, a fantasy beat 'em up with roguelite elements, has launched on Xbox Game Pass for Xbox Series X|S and PC. Developed and published by Dotemu, the game features fast-paced combat, branching paths, and co-op gameplay. Its inclusion on Game Pass makes it easily accessible for subscribers.
Rushing Beat X: Return of Brawl Brothers Review Goofy Story, Fantastic Combat | COGconnected
Rushing Beat X: Return of Brawl Brothers is a sequel to three 2D beat 'em ups originally developed by Jaleco for the Super Nintendo. The game features a goofy story alongside fantastic combat.