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- River City Girls
The 25 Best PlayStation 5 Beat 'em Up Games
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Vote on the PlayStation 5 beat 'em up games that offer the most fun, quality, and replayability.
Beat 'em up games have always thrived on their ability to deliver fast-paced action, memorable characters, and a satisfying sense of impact with every punch thrown. This genre has seen a real resurgence on PlayStation 5, with developers reimagining classic side-scrolling brawlers through vibrant visuals, deeper combat systems, and modern multiplayer features. From pixel-perfect homages to arcade favorites to stylish new experiments that blend RPG elements and witty storytelling, the PS5 lineup offers something for every type of brawler fan.
What sets this generation apart is just how much personality and variety these games bring to the table. Whether it’s jaw-dropping hand-drawn animation, clever upgrade systems, or inventive co-op modes that let friends jump into the fray together, these beat 'em ups deliver more than just nostalgia. Each title carves out its own place in the genre by offering unique mechanics and fresh spins on classic gameplay, making the PlayStation 5 a great home for anyone looking to throw down in style.
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- Brok the Investigator
1Brok the Investigator
How this beat 'em up game stands out on the PS5:
BROK the InvestiGator mixes classic side-scrolling brawling with point-and-click adventure mechanics, creating a “Punch n’ Click” experience that’s pretty rare in the genre. With its cartoon-inspired visuals and RPG elements, the game lets you solve puzzles and fight through enemies however you want, offering plenty of freedom and replay value. Its blend of action, exploration, and story-driven choices makes it a cool pick for players looking for something different in their beat 'em ups.
What the game is about:
Brok is an innovative adventure mixed with beat 'em up and RPG elements. In a grim world where animals have replaced mankind, what kind of detective will you be?- Released: 2022
- Developer: COWCAT
- Genres (Video game): Point-and-click, Fighting, Puzzle, Hack and slash/Beat 'em up, Adventure
- Publisher: COWCAT
- Platform: Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Android, iOS
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- Castle Crashers
How this beat 'em up game stands out on the PS5:
Castle Crashers keeps things lively with its chaotic four-player co-op, colorful hand-drawn art, and a blend of beat ‘em up action and light RPG elements. Leveling up your character, collecting wild animal companions, and discovering new weapons give every playthrough something new to chase. The game’s sense of humor and fast combat help it remain a favorite for those who want both fun and depth in their brawlers.
What the game is about:
This four player RPG adventure will let you hack, slash, and smash your way to victory. Featuring hand-drawn characters, Castle Crashers delivers unique hi-res illustrated visuals and intense gameplay action. Play with up to three friends and discover mind-boggling magic and mystery in the amazing world created just for you!- Released: 2008
- Developer: The Behemoth
- Genres (Video game): Role-playing (RPG), Hack and slash/Beat 'em up, Adventure, Indie
- Designers: Tom Fulp
- Publisher: The Behemoth
- Platform: PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Mac
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- Ninja Gaiden Black
How this beat 'em up game stands out on the PS5:
Ninja Gaiden set a new bar for action games with its fast, fluid combat and demanding difficulty that rewards skillful play. The game’s technical polish, sharp visuals, and deep fighting mechanics make every battle feel intense and satisfying. It remains a favorite for anyone who wants their beat 'em ups to deliver both challenge and style in equal measure.
What the game is about:
In Ninja Gaiden Black you can reprise the role of Ryu Hayabusa, ninja extraordinaire. This sequel to Ninja Gaiden supplies a new story and new missions, plus two more difficulty settings and cinematic cut scenes that provide background about the protagonist. Ninja Gaiden Black also incorporates the additional content from Hurricane Packs 1 and 2 and includes unlockable content such as the original arcade version of Ninja Gaiden.- Released: 2005
- Developer: Team NINJA
- Genres (Video game): Hack and slash/Beat 'em up, Adventure
- Publisher: Tecmo
- Platform: Xbox
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- Guacamelee!
How this beat 'em up game stands out on the PS5:
Guacamelee! blends fast-paced beat 'em up action with clever platforming and Metroidvania-style exploration, creating a flow that keeps things fresh from start to finish. The game’s colorful art, lively humor, and inventive combat abilities, like transforming into a chicken or shifting between worlds, give every brawl and puzzle a unique twist. Drop-in co-op play adds even more fun, making it a favorite for anyone craving both challenge and creativity in their brawlers.
What the game is about:
"Guacamelee! is a Metroid-vania style action-platformer set in a magical Mexican inspired world. The game draws its inspiration from traditional Mexican culture and folklore, and features many interesting and unique characters. Guacamelee! builds upon the classic open-world Metroid-vania style of games, by adding a strong melee combat component, a new dimension switching mechanic, and cooperative same-screen multiplayer for the entire story. The game also blurs the boundaries between combat and platforming by making many of the moves useful and necessary for both of these. Travel through a mystical and mysterious Mexican world as a Luchador using the power of your two fists to battle evil. Uncover hidden wrestling techniques like the Rooster Uppercut, and Dimension Swap to open new areas and secrets." Guacamelee! was later released on PC under the name "Guacamelee! Gold Edition" with the DLC included and has an updated version called "Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition" with an expended story, 2 new areas, and a new boss.- Released: 2013
- Developer: Drinkbox Studios
- Genres (Video game): Platform, Puzzle, Hack and slash/Beat 'em up, Adventure, Indie
- Publisher: Drinkbox Studios
- Platform: Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 3, Mac, PlayStation Vita
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- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection
How this beat 'em up game stands out on the PS5:
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection brings together a bundle of classic TMNT beat 'em, updated with helpful features like save states, rewind, and online play. This collection is packed with nostalgia, but the new quality-of-life tweaks and access to rare behind-the-scenes art make revisiting these arcade brawlers even better for both newcomers and longtime fans. Few collections capture the spirit and charm of old-school co-op action quite like this one, making it a highlight for anyone who loves the genre’s roots.
What the game is about:
In the 1980s and 1990s, the world was green and full of pizza. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles took over the airwaves, movie screens, toy aisles… and, of course, video games, thanks to Konami's top-selling series of critically acclaimed TMNT titles. In 2022, Digital Eclipse and Konami brought every arcade, home console, and handheld game in the original series back to fighting form in the Cowabunga Collection. 13 games, plus their original Japanese versions, make Cowabunga a definitive look back at the Turtles' original run at the top. A variety of Enhancements for each game let players manipulate difficulty settings, lives, and other functions to play the games the way they want to. Digital Eclipse's signature Watch Mode lets players jump to any point in the game and start playing. The extensive Turtles' Lair is a Technodrome-sized archive of fascinating Turtle memorabilia. Its centerpiece is over a thousand pages of never-before-seen, intricately detailed design documents pulled from Konami's archives, giving players an inside look at how games of the 1980s and 1990s were created. The Lair is also filled with game boxes, full manuals, magazine advertisements, a soundtrack player, comic book covers, TV show screenshots, and much more. Finally, a unique Strategy Guide replicates the fun of reading through a 1980s video game magazine, with helpful tips, historical trivia, secret moves, detailed maps, and video tutorials for every game in the collection.- Released: 2022
- Developer: Digital Eclipse
- Genres (Video game): Fighting, Platform, Hack and slash/Beat 'em up, Adventure, Arcade
- Publisher: Konami
- Platform: PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5
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- Mother Russia Bleeds
How this beat 'em up game stands out on the PS5:
Mother Russia Bleeds delivers a gritty, ultra-violent take on the beat 'em up formula, inspired by classics like Streets of Rage and Double Dragon. Its brutal combat, intense pixel art style, and raw soundtrack come together for an experience that feels both nostalgic and shockingly visceral. The addition of a drug mechanic for health and power-ups adds extra tension to every fight, making it a wild ride for fans looking for something more hardcore in the genre.
What the game is about:
Mother Russia Bleeds is an ultra-violent co-op brawler overflowing with an unmistakable style and unforgettably brutal action for up to four players at once. Set in an alternate U.S.S.R, the story centers on a desperate crew of imprisoned street fighters that must overcome an oppressive criminal authority and crippling drug addictions through any means necessary. Battle solo or alongside friends locally and online in an exceptional story mode campaign or harden your resolve in a multitude of formidable challenge and versus modes.- Released: 2016
- Developer: Le Cartel Studio
- Genres (Video game): Fighting, Hack and slash/Beat 'em up, Indie, Arcade
- Publisher: Devolver Digital
- Platform: Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch
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