Affiliate disclosure: This guide contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate and Anbernic affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
Beat 'em ups are made for handhelds. A stage takes a few minutes, the controls are simple, and the action is pure satisfaction. Walk right, hit things, grab the roast chicken out of a barrel, repeat. Many of the best brawlers also support co-op, so a Bluetooth controller and a friend turn your handheld into a shared couch classic.
We frame all of this around games you already own and want to preserve.
Affiliate disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate and Anbernic affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
The Genre Kings
Streets of Rage 2 (Genesis) — The gold standard. Perfect pacing, a legendary soundtrack, and combat that still feels great. If you play one brawler, make it this.
Streets of Rage 4 (modern) — A modern sequel that honors the classics while adding depth. Gorgeous hand-drawn art and excellent co-op.
Final Fight (arcade, SNES) — The brawler that set the template. The arcade version is the one to play, and it holds up.
Streets of Rage (Genesis) — The original is still a great time, with a fantastic soundtrack and tight design.
Golden Axe (Genesis, arcade) — Fantasy brawling with magic and mountable beasts. A classic for short sessions.
Arcade Greats
The Simpsons Arcade Game (arcade) — A beloved licensed brawler with four-player chaos. Pure fun. Great with friends.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time (arcade, SNES) — One of the best licensed brawlers ever made. Fast, funny, and endlessly replayable.
X-Men (arcade) — The famous six-player cabinet brawler. A blast in co-op, with huge sprites and personality.
Captain Commando (arcade) — A Capcom classic with a wild cast. Solid combat and a great pace.
Alien vs. Predator (arcade) — One of the deepest 2D brawlers Capcom ever made. Excellent combat and atmosphere.
Deep Cuts and Variety
Guardian Heroes (Saturn) — A genre-bending brawler RPG from Treasure with branching paths and combos. A cult classic worth seeking out.
Dragon's Crown (PS3, Vita) — A gorgeous side-scrolling brawler with RPG depth. Excellent solo and co-op. Needs a more capable handheld.
Battle Circuit (arcade) — A colorful, fast Capcom brawler with light RPG elements. Underrated and fun.
Knights of the Round (arcade) — A Capcom brawler with leveling and blocking. A bit deeper than most of its era.
Sengoku 3 (Neo Geo) — One of the best brawlers on the Neo Geo, with fluid combat and great speed. A standout.
Best Handhelds for Beat 'em Ups
Co-op is half the fun, so look for a handheld that pairs well with controllers. These are the picks.
The
handles all the classic 2D brawlers and supports Bluetooth pads for co-op. For HDMI-out to a TV plus a second controller, the turns into a tiny couch console. Add an for a friend.Related Guides
- 25 Best Local Multiplayer Games for Handhelds — more co-op picks
- 20 Best Neo Geo Games for Handhelds — Sengoku 3 and more
- Best Handhelds with HDMI Out — play brawlers on the big screen
- How to Pair a Bluetooth Controller — set up co-op
Related reading
GuideGuideGuide