Best Co-Op Beat 'Em Up Games

The multiplayer side-scrolling beat ‘em-up was a popular genre in arcades and consoles during the 1980s and the 1990s. The simplicity of moving through stages and beating up waves of enemies tapped into the popular vigilante, martial arts, and sword and sorcery film genres. The fun of playing together with friends and family in co-op multiplayer is perfect for the beat ‘em-up genre.

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Players can drop in during a gaming session and dive into a game without worrying too much about learning complicated controls. Games like Streets of Rage and Final Fight are designed to be easy to pick up and enjoy. This article will outline some of the best beat ‘em ups that can be played with a friend.

6 Final Fight 3

Terrific Sequel In One Of Capcom's Best Beat 'Em Up Franchises

Capcom’s Final Fight series sat next to Sega’s popular Streets of Rage series as one of the best arcade brawlers of its time. Like Sega’s vigilante beat 'em up, Final Fight is a side-scrolling fighter that can be played solo or cooperatively with a friend.

Its gameplay was a refinement of its predecessors, but Final Fight 3 is one of the deepest and most replayable entries in the genre, thanks to its Street Fighter-style super moves, branching story, and multiple endings. Final Fight originals Guy and Haggar return for the third outing and are joined by new characters Dean and Lucia.

5 Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles Of Mystara

Two Classic D&D Beat 'Em Ups In One

Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara is a double pack featuring Tower of Doom and its sequel, Shadow Over Mystara. Both titles originally launched in 1994 and 1996 respectively, and offered more depth for side-scrolling beat ‘em-up fans. Both games feature a Dungeons & Dragons story with branching paths and light RPG elements into a compact fighting game with beautifully animated characters and battles.

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Players can choose typical D&D classes like, a cleric, fighter, thief, magician, elf, and dwarven warrior. Narrative choices change the levels, and the characters feel and play differently but in a way that complements each other in co-op games. The replay value shines in multiplayer and solo modes as the characters feel vastly different to play, and the narrative design still feels revolutionary for the genre compared to modern titles like Streets of Rage 4.

4 Golden Axe 2

A Superior Sequel In The Golden Axe Trilogy

• Platform: Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, Switch - The Golden Axe Trilogy is part of the Mega Drive/Genesis Ultimate Collection on PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One.
• Released: 1992 (NA)
• Developer: Sega

Golden Axe is a series of beat ‘'em-ups where the action is focused on fantasy-based heroes and villains. The games borrow a lot from the Conan franchise, but fans of the sword and sorcery genre that was popular in the 1980s after the Conan the Barbarian film will find a lot of similarities to other classics like Beast Master and Red Sonja.

The 1991 classic Golden Axe 2 features the returning characters, Ax Battler, Gilus Thunderhead, and Tyris Flare. The warriors must defeat the new villain Dark Guld and his clan of fighters who stole the Golden Axe and are terrorizing the land. Golden Axe 2 features improved animations, combat mechanics, and magic effects. The side-scrolling slash ‘em-up features seven levels and a duel mode, where the player picks their hero to fight in one-on-one battles against villains of Golden Axe 2. The Golden Axe is set to make a comeback along with other Sega classics.

3 The Warriors

Brutal Movie Tie-In From Rockstar

The Warriors is a beat ‘em-up based on the 1979 cult classic of the same name. Rockstar developed it and managed to capture the feel and atmosphere of the original movie while fleshing it out with better character development and a story that works with the movie. Some of the cast returned to reprise their roles for the game, like James Remar and Dorsey Wright.

It’s a 3D brawler where a second player can join the fight against rival gangs. The Warriors has a selection of story missions to fight through, hidden missions that offer more backstory, and unlockable combo and moves to keep the action going. While it wasn’t a visually impressive title at launch, the stylized art design adds authenticity to the game. However, The Warriors shines the most in the audio design and voice acting.

2 Streets Of Rage 4

Incredible Modern Sequel To Classic Series

Streets of Rage 4 is both an homage to the arcade classics and a sequel for the fans. It also serves as an excellent and modern introduction to the beat ‘em-up genre, thanks to its eye-catching visuals, accessible gameplay, and fun cooperative gameplay. The story is set ten years after the events of Streets of Rage 3 and features new antagonists with the Y Twins, the children of Mr. X.

Streets of Rage 4 features 12 stages to work through with series originals like Axel and Blaze making a return and two new characters, Cherry and Floyd to mix things up. Other Streets of Rage characters appear as the story progresses, with unlockables, and challenging combat playing in solo and multiplayer modes.

1 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge

Stunning Beat 'Em Up With The Iconic Turtles

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge is a terrific throwback to the classic 1980s series and the 1991 classic arcade beat ‘em-up Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time. It features the original voice cast for Turtles from the 1987 cartoon series. Shredder’s Revenge features a substantial story mode with imaginative and beautifully designed levels and excellent boss fights.

The co-op gameplay is superb with assisted team moves and combos that are easy to pull off. Its accessibility and simplistic but fun gameplay make Shredder’s Revenge such a great game and perfect for fans of classic arcade beat ‘em-ups and newcomers. It’s a nostalgic experience that feels fresh, challenging, and full of surprising and creative moments.

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By  Ana Micaela Leite Scheidemantel