10 Best Beat-Em-Up Games On Nintendo Switch 2023

Learn the 10 best beat-em-up games on Nintendo Switch, SwitchArcade Special Edition.

Friends, in today’s SwitchArcade Special Edition, we have another list of the best of the best for you. This time, we’re examining our top Nintendo Switch beat ’em up titles. To clarify what we’re talking about, these are games where the main gameplay involves moving through stages and chopping off the heads of all the goons you encounter.

Depending on where and when you are from, they are also known as belt-rollers or brawlers. One-on-one fighting games have their list; we do not include them. The games are our favorites in the genre and are not presented in any particular order. Share yours in the comments if you’d like.

The 10 Best Beat-Em-Up Games on Nintendo Switch: SwitchArcade Special Edition

The Nintendo Switch has quickly become one of the most popular consoles, with a vast library of games spanning multiple genres. One genre that has a special place in the hearts of gamers is the classic beat-em-up. These games have been around since the early days of video gaming and have evolved over time to include more complex gameplay mechanics and stunning graphics.

In this special edition of SwitchArcade, we have compiled a list of the 10 best beat-em-up games available on the Nintendo Switch. These games offer a nostalgic trip down memory lane for veteran gamers while providing a new and exciting experience for younger players. With fast-paced action, engaging storylines, and various characters and settings, these games will provide hours of entertainment for any gamer.

Streets of Rage 4 ($24.99)

After more than two decades of waiting, SEGA fans were skeptical when a new Streets of Rage game was announced. It didn’t make use of fake retro pixels. Either SEGA or Ancient wasn’t creating it. How could it possibly uphold the series’ legacy? When it was finally released, almost everyone was happy. Street of Rage 4 is an excellent example of where beat-’em-ups should be in the contemporary era while paying homage to its historical roots. It has impressive looks and audio quality, plays flawlessly, and offers enough variety to keep you returning for more.

Capcom Beat’ Em Up Bundle ($19.99)

There was a time when the beat-’em-up genre ruled the gaming industry, but it has recently made a slight comeback. And Capcom was one of the top developers of these games at the time. Seven of Capcom’s best arcade brawlers are combined in the Capcom Beat’ Em Up Bundle, including fantastic art galleries, online multiplayer, and the option to select your preferred region for each game. The focus of everything, however, is on the games themselves. One of the genre’s early big stars was Final Fight, and later games like Armored Warriors and Battle Circuit demonstrate just how far Capcom pushed things. This set offers incredible value for those who want to return to the arcade days.

River City Girls ($29.99)

The Kunio-kun/River City gang’s traditional designs are abandoned in River City Girls in favor of some stunning, astoundingly animated new ones, making it another example of a contemporary sequel to a classic franchise. The music complements those images as well. While I don’t think it’s a complete success, it’s a lot of fun. The gameplay is an earnest attempt to build upon the model River City Ransom laid down all those years ago. The game’s abundance of Easter Eggs and covert allusions to earlier titles in the Double Dragon and Kunio-kun/River City series certainly helps.

Mother Russia Bleeds ($14.99)

Mother Russia Bleeds is a very dark game in contrast to the cartoony vibe of Streets of Rage 4 and River City Girls. Unfortunately, sometimes. The enemies you kill don’t simply collapse, flicker, and disappear. They pass away in a horrifying way, which is made worse if you take some drugs to hype yourself up. The narrative is equally as gloomy as the imagery. If you don’t mind that material, this place has a great beat-up. The action is engaging, and you frequently encounter new circumstances that call for novel approaches. Apart from a few of the final battles I don’t particularly like, this is a distinctive and incredibly satisfying entry.

Fight’ N Rage ($19.99)

Making a beat-’em-up that at least plays well may seem easy if you don’t think about it too much. A good beat-em-up, however, has a lot going on underneath, as with every genre. Things that are essentially invisible to the player but are essential to the game’s enjoyment.

Fight’ N Rage succeeds where so many other games fall short in these areas. The enemies employ an exciting variety of tactics without being cheap, the fighting has depth and oomph, and despite the presentation not being as beautiful as some games, it captures the desired look. Fight’ N Rage is a fantastic way to relieve stress because one of the best things about a good game in this genre is how your stress melts away with every hit you land.

Wulverblade ($19.99)

Games like Streets of Rage, Double Dragon, River City, and Final Fight dominate the beat-’em-up genre. Unsurprisingly, many contemporary efforts use a similar theme and have you navigate city streets while battling gangs. Back then, SEGA’s Golden Axe was another well-known title in the genre, and not many current brawlers share the same atmosphere.

Wulverblade has your ticket if you want a contemporary game featuring violent ancient warriors using lethal weapons against their foes. This is another highly violent entry on the list, so be aware that your limbs will fly as you swing your powerful blades.

SEGA Genesis Classics ($29.99)

Speaking of Golden Axe, here is one more collection that I felt compelled to include. About fifty games are included in this collection, some of which are classic beat-em-ups, even though only a tiny percentage of them are beat-em-ups. You can spend hours kicking butts and calling people names by playing the Streets of Rage trilogy, the Golden Axe trilogy, Alien Storm, and Comix Zone. These classic games try to incorporate contemporary conveniences, like save states and online multiplayer. Although the emulation in this collection is far from perfect, beat-’em-ups are less problematic than high-speed platformers. It’s a great way to play some of the genre’s best games for the first time or revisit old favorites.

The Ninja Saviors: Return of the Warriors ($19.99)

Except for this one, every other game on this list employs a distorted viewpoint that grants you complete freedom of movement in any direction.

Although The Ninja Saviors only support one plane of play, you will never feel hemmed in by a lack of offensive or defensive possibilities. In this game, you can play as one of five robot ninjas and fight through increasingly difficult stages. The power difference between your character and an average person is enormous. You’ll need to adjust your strategy as stronger, faster, and smarter foes enter the fray. Your arsenal of options, fortunately, is comparable to that of a one-on-one fighter. You can sink your teeth into this game, and there’s a lot of room for experimentation, thanks to the different play styles afforded by the other characters.

Double Dragon Neon ($14.99)

The Lee brothers are primarily responsible for the beat-’em-up genre, but it’s fair to say that the quality of their adventures was frequently all over the place. Leaning heavily on its association with 1980s pop culture, Double Dragon Neon was an attempt to revive the brand after many years of comparatively relative dormancy. It appears as good as you would hope when WayForward is in charge. Although it doesn’t quite measure up to some of the other games on this list in terms of action, this Double Dragon game is still strong. It experiments with some novel mechanics and goes overboard with its setting and plot. Undoubtedly a memorable experience that is ideal for sharing with a friend.

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game – Complete Edition ($14.99)

This movie tie-in, published when Hollywood attempted to make Scott Pilgrim the Next Big Thing, has no business being as entertaining as it is. It heavily borrows gameplay elements from River City Ransom. Although that’s a good starting point, it would have been nice if this game had built upon it more. It still makes up for it with an incredible presentation, though. The soundtrack is arguably the game’s best aspect, and the graphics are simultaneously retro and modern. It’s a little bit gritty, but so is the game that served as its inspiration. However, I will include any game where defeated foes detonate into mounds of loonies and toonies somewhere on my list.

That concludes the list! No Castle Crashers, I’m sorry. That will have been the eleventh game on the list if that helps. But these are merely our favorites. What are some of your favorite beat ’em up games for the Nintendo Switch that we might have missed? Please post a comment below and tell us!