Castle Crashers & 9 Other Best Beat-Em-Ups on Switch, Ranked

The Switch is a retrogamer’s dream come true; not only does it offer classic Nintendo titles, but a wealth of retro-inspired genres, as well. Marching off to the right side of the screen taking on gangs of bad guys, thugs, and bosses might seem a bit repetitive to some, but, to fans of the beat-em-up genre, it can be hours of glorious arcade action.

Taking to the mean streets of some 16-bit city or just slogging through hordes of enemies to get to the final boss has been a gaming tradition since the days of the NES, and the Nintendo Switch is no different.

10 River City Ransom

River City Ransom is one of the most underappreciated titles for the NES. The plot is minimal; the player must save his girlfriend and the city from the clutches of a villain named Slick—nothing overly complicated. But, it’s the little things that make this game stand out.

Along with the standard beat-em-up gameplay, the title features a few RPG elements, as well. Players can buy food and upgrades from shops along the way. With enough grinding, their eight-bit hero can pack a serious punch.

9 The Ninja Saviors: Return of the Warriors

It’s a remake of a forgotten classic of the arcades, but it’s a phenomenal beat-em-up that begs to be played. Ninjas are frequent videogame protagonists, especially in arcade titles, but, when the ninjas in question are self-aware robots with incredible powers, things get pretty awesome.

Walk left-to-right and take out a selection of soldiers and other thugs to take on an evil dictator, that’s a familiar beat-em-up plot. But, the use of robot ninjas and their assortment of weapons and abilities is certainly a notable feature.

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8 Earth Wars

Where the previous entities are cookie-cutter archetypes of the genre, but Earth Wars brings a different flavor to the table. With a price tag of $4.50, it definitely offers more than some of the full-priced competitors.

Players assume the role of mech-suited soldiers who hack, slash, and shoot their way through hoards of alien enemies, collecting their body parts and making them into new weapons and upgrades. It’s like Monster Hunter meets Odin Sphere.

7 Double Dragon: Neon

Double Dragon was two things; a giant of the beat-em-up genre, and a definite product of the 80s. So, it’s only appropriate that a reboot/remake of the game represents those two powerful influences. That all being said, it doesn’t feel like it left the arcade.

Double Dragon: Neon is a perfect recreation of the beat-em-up classic to a fault. The gameplay is basic, but the story and visuals are definitely entertaining. If players are looking for something simple that scratches their arcade itch, this is pretty much what the doctor ordered.

6 Streets of Red

Where the last entry was an homage to the 80s, Streets of Red is a tribute to the entire genre as a whole. Not only does the game offer a classic beat-em-up experience, but its roster of characters offers up different playstyles for different gamers.

Hacking and slashing through swarms of zombies will never go out of style, and this game offers it up in 50 shades of crimson. The horror-inspired theming and tongue-in-cheek references to slasher flicks and classic video games will always make players smile.

5 Sega Genesis Classics Collection

Not only does the collection feature immortals like Sonic the Hedgehog and other awesome Sega Genesis games but it also features champions of beat-em-up namesake like Golden Axe and the phenomenal Streets of Rage. These pillars of the genre are must-plays for classic gaming fans.

Along with the Shinobi series, this compilation of classics features the entirety of both the original Golden Axe and Streets of Rage games and their sequels. It’s simply a matter of pick-your-poison.

4 Streets of Rage 4

After cutting one’s teeth on the original three entries in the Sega collection, the fourth entry in the iconic beat-em-up series has, at last, come to players a full 26 years after its last installment.

All the classic characters, enemies, and environments from Streets of Rage are back, but with a beautiful comic-book-inspired art style and a few upgrades to the familiar formula. Simply put, it’s a game that any fan of the series or the genre should feel right at home with.

3 Castle Crashers

Of course, if the player’s appetites are more suited for screwball comedies and multiplayer madness, the answer to that notion lies with the iconic Castle Crashers. Smash the bad guys, collect the loot, rescue the princesses, rinse and repeat.

The single-player experience is fun on its own, but, when other players get in on the action, it becomes a madhouse of medieval mayhem. With loads of enemies, bosses, weapons, and other things to unlock and explore, Castle Crashers is one game that won’t get old anytime soon.

2 Capcom Beat-Em-Up Bundle

When it comes to arcade beat-em-ups, Capcom is the king. Thanks to this little collection of action-packed titles, players can now enjoy a fine selection of what the company had to offer from the days of tokens and high scoreboards.

From the granddaddy of the genre, Final Fight, to lesser-known titles like King of Dragons and Armored Warriors, this package has everything a beat-em-up fan could want. Who wouldn’t want an arcade in their pocket?

1 Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World: The Game

If there was ever a contender for the perfect beat-em-up title, it’s Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World The fan-favorite title not only serves as a sensational beat-em-up, but its RPG elements, upgrades, and unlockables pay glorious tribute to the games that came before, many of which are on this list.

As one of six playable characters from the film and comic series of the same name, players help Scott win the 16-bit heart of Ramona and defeat her army of Evil Exes. It’s addictive, it’s challenging, and it’s just plain good, arcadey, fun.

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