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Beat 'em up hidden gems on Steam
Every game here is tagged Beat 'em up on Steam, sits between 1,000 and 5,000 reviews, is rated at least 80% positive, and carries a catch drawn from its own negative reviews. All 31 of them. How these pages are made.

Going Under90% positive from 4,091 reviews20209% finish itDeck Verified
Satirical dungeon crawler where you use office junk as weapons in procedurally generated dungeons. Explore failed tech startups and fight their cursed employees.
What players likedPlayers compare it to Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Hades, praising its charming art, writing, and startup parody.
The catchSharp office satire wrapped around clunky combat and a camera that hides enemies.
Games like Going Under →

Shank90% positive from 4,025 reviews201025% finish itDeck Playable
A 2D sidescrolling beat-em-up with a weapon-based combo system and a violent grindhouse feel. It features shooting and slashing through enemies for bloody revenge.
What players likedPlayers praise its fun beat 'em up gameplay and variety of weapons, despite its short length.
The catchCombat is repetitive button mashing against spongy enemies and goes stale fast.
Games like Shank →
This is an action-adventure game with a crime drama story. Players explore detailed Japanese cities, engage in street brawls, and manage a baby.
What players likedPlayers praise its emotional story as a fitting end to Kiryu's saga, often comparing it favorably to Yakuza 0.
The catchCombat is slow and floaty with few heat actions, a clear downgrade on earlier entries.
Games like Yakuza 6: The Song of Life →
River City Girls is a 2D beat-'em-up with local co-op. Players punch, kick, and use weapons to fight through city districts, gaining skills and power-ups.
What players likedPlayers praise its gorgeous art style, amazing music, and fun combos in this charming beat 'em up.
The catchDifficulty spikes sharply, with brutally hard bosses
Games like River City Girls →
This is an action-adventure game featuring detective investigation and martial arts combat. Players go undercover in a high school to solve a mystery, balancing legal defense with revenge.
What players likedPlayers praise Lost Judgment as one of the best "Yakuza" games, with an incredible story, refined combat, and engaging characters.
The catchThe main story is a dragged out letdown that makes finishing it feel like a chore.
Games like Lost Judgment →

Rampage Knights93% positive from 3,608 reviews20156% finish itDeck Playable
This is a cooperative roguelike beat 'em up with randomized dungeon crawling and hero progression. Players fight monsters in a magical forest and ruined castle, collecting gear and spells.
What players likedPlayers praise "Rampage Knights" as an enjoyable game reminiscent of "Skul: The Hero Slayer" and "Wulverblade."
The catchRuns repeat the same items, rooms and enemies with no progression carrying over.
Games like Rampage Knights →

Shank 282% positive from 3,600 reviews201216% finish itDeck Verified
Shank 2 is a 2D side-scrolling brawler with a fast-paced, brutal combat loop. It features a multi-weapon system and cooperative survival mode.
What players likedPlayers praise its brutal, stylish action as a banger beat 'em up, smoother than its predecessor.
The catchIt is a step down from the first game, with clunky delayed controls and a bad dodge.
Games like Shank 2 →

Fight'N Rage91% positive from 3,189 reviews20179% finish itDeck Verified
A classic 2D side-scroller beat'em up with local co-op. It features simple controls for complex combos and multiple endings.
What players likedPlayers praise its intuitive controls, fluid hitboxes, consistent art, and engaging progression, feeling like a polished, hidden gem.
The catchDifficulty comes from enemy spam that crowds the screen until your character vanishes.
Games like Fight'N Rage →

Zeno Clash86% positive from 3,186 reviews20097% finish itDeck Playable
First-person brutal melee combat in a punk fantasy world. Explore a surreal story and defeat waves of enemies.
What players likedZeno Clash is a unique first-person melee game with a distinct style and intriguing alien world.
The catchMelee combat plays clunky and janky, with hits that often fail to connect.
Games like Zeno Clash →
This is a top-down brawler with brutal melee combat and a unique kill system. Players use fists, weapons, and the environment to fight through waves of enemies.
What players likedPlayers praise its solid combat, reminiscent of Arkham, with satisfying power-ups, despite a lack of story depth.
The catchFun early, then devolves into repetitive enemy-spam and tedium
Games like Redeemer: Enhanced Edition →
Existential open-world beat'em up with school sim elements. Explore a town, engage in brawls, and experience a coming-of-age story.
What players likedPlayers praise its melancholic mood and story, comparing it to a life sim where you can beat people up.
The catchIt explains almost nothing, so you wander aimlessly or reach for a guide.
Games like The friends of Ringo Ishikawa →
This is a 2D beat 'em up with fighting game elements. Players dash through Tokyo, level up characters, and battle enemies in co-op or versus modes.
What players likedPlayers praise this fun, simple beat-'em-up for its easy combat and addictive gameplay, making it a highly recommended purchase.
The catchIt frequently hangs on a black screen at startup and never loads.
Games like Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds Classic →
Cooperative action RPG with a unique color-barrier combat system and a Pick 2 quick-switch mechanic for solo play. It emphasizes teamwork and strategic combo attacks.
What players likedPlayers praise Full Metal Furies as an amazing, diverse, and tactical co-op gem with funny dialogue and great art.
The catchEnemies carry colour coded shields that only one specific character can break.
Games like Full Metal Furies →
This is a collection of classic 2D action fighting and shooting games. Players engage in combat, acquire weapons, and utilize movement mechanics.
What players likedPlayers praise this collection as a fun, nostalgic return to classic flash games from their childhood.
The catchThe port stutters badly and locks to a tiny window, so the browser version runs better.
Games like Crazy Flasher Series 2021 →
This is a fast-paced, two-button arcade brawler focused on rapid combat and skill progression. It offers quick bursts of intense kung fu action with a unique, fluid fighting system.
What players likedPlayers praise this simple, responsive, and addicting game for its satisfying combat and short-burst, infinite replayability, similar to the first game.
The catchAutomatic flashy animations take control away mid fight and break the rhythm.
Games like One Finger Death Punch 2 →
A hyper-kinetic brawler where players use environmental objects and martial arts to fight waves of enemies before sunrise. It features a skill tree for combat upgrades and a variety of weapons.
What players likedPlayers praise this brutal, fast-paced beat 'em up as a fun, content-rich love letter to Sifu and Sleeping Dogs.
The catchThe back half collapses into gimmick levels, gun spam and cheap one-shot bosses.
Games like Midnight Fight Express →

No More Heroes83% positive from 2,559 reviews20214% finish itDeck Unsupported
Action hack-and-slash with a unique combat system. Players fight ranked assassins, train, and do odd jobs in a stylish, over-the-top world.
What players likedPlayers praise its unique, bizarre, and fun hack-and-slash gameplay, often comparing it to DMC for its wacky moments.
The catchThe PC port crashes often, and with manual saves only that means lost progress.
Games like No More Heroes →
This is an arcade-style beat 'em up where players fight Nazis using unique character combat styles. It offers fast-paced, over-the-top action with a retro feel.
What players likedPlayers praise its nostalgic 80s arcade beat 'em up feel, reminiscent of classic side-scrolling fighters, for its over-the-top action and unique style.
The catchNot a real beat em up, just a shallow two button timing game with no movement.
Games like Kung Fury: Street Rage - Ultimate Edition →
This is a collection of classic arcade fighting and beat 'em up games featuring Marvel and Capcom characters. It offers online multiplayer, co-op, and beginner-friendly features for accessible retro action.
What players likedPlayers praise this collection as a fun, fantastic, and amazing fighting game experience, especially for MvC2 and The Punisher.
The catchThe interface and control setup are clumsy, with remapping and input problems throughout.
Games like MARVEL vs. CAPCOM Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics →
Capcom's two D&D arcade beat 'em ups, Tower of Doom and Shadow over Mystara, with four-player drop-in online co-op, class picking, and House Rules toggles like infinite item durability.
What players likedPlayers praise this compilation of faithful D&D arcade beat 'em ups for its incredible pixel art and online multiplayer.
The catchController support is broken or missing and the keyboard controls cannot be rebound.
Games like Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara →
This is a co-op scrolling beat 'em up with platforming and mini-games, featuring a retro pixel art style and Bud Spencer/Terence Hill-style fighting. It offers a humorous, action-packed experience with plenty of brawls.
What players likedPlayers praise its nostalgic movie callbacks and soundtrack, comparing it to a slapstick spaghetti western beat 'em up.
The catchRepeated same-hit combat against too many enemies
Games like Bud Spencer & Terence Hill - Slaps And Beans →
This is a 2D beat-'em-up with co-op play. Players punch enemies, level up, and recruit allies in a larger, nonlinear city.
The catchLong stretches of backtracking and fetch quests separate the actual fighting.
Games like River City Girls 2 →
A 2D action platformer with combo-driven combat and a graphic novel art style. Players fight corrupted leaders in a fast-paced, visually gruesome quest for vengeance.
What players likedPlayers praise this bloody 2D hack-and-slash for its smooth performance, distinct art, and engaging, challenging gameplay.
The catchConstant screen shake and blur make the action hard to see, with no option to disable.
Games like The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile →

Mr. Shifty88% positive from 1,724 reviews201718% finish itDeck Unsupported
Top-down action game with a one-hit-kill mechanic. Players teleport through obstacles and enemies for fast-paced stealth combat.
What players likedPlayers praise the impactful combat and fun level design, enhanced by the quickly recharging teleport ability.
The catchFrequent crashes wipe your level progress and force a restart from the beginning.
Games like Mr. Shifty →

FIGHT KNIGHT92% positive from 1,666 reviews2021Deck Verified
First-person dungeon crawler with real-time grid-based melee combat. Explore unique zones, solve puzzles, and punch your way to victory.
What players likedPlayers praise its unique button-mashing combat, retro visuals, and excellent music, offering a challenging yet rewarding experience.
The catchConstant random encounters break up long puzzles, and dying loses all unsaved progress.
Games like FIGHT KNIGHT →
This is a roguelite beat 'em up with tag-team combat. Players choose two characters to switch between for strategic combos.
What players likedPlayers praise it as the best Double Dragon since The Revenge, a competent beat 'em up with fun roguelite elements and diverse characters.
The catchCo-op is broken, with online that fails to connect and sessions full of desyncs.
Games like Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise Of The Dragons →

Charlie Murder96% positive from 1,625 reviews201712% finish itDeck Verified
This is a 2D beat 'em up RPG where players fight enemies, collect loot, and use special moves. It features a punk rock aesthetic and cooperative multiplayer.
What players likedPlayers praise Charlie Murder as a highly recommended game, often comparing it to Castle Crashers.
The catchOnline co-op is wrecked by desync and crashes, so multiplayer barely functions.
Games like Charlie Murder →
This is a collection of seven classic arcade beat 'em up games featuring cooperative multiplayer and adjustable difficulty. Players punch and kick their way through waves of enemies in side-scrolling action.
What players likedPlayers praise this super solid collection of legendary games for being tons of fun with no busts.
The catchDRM was added after purchase without disclosure, which many buyers refuse to accept.
Games like Capcom Beat 'Em Up Bundle →
This is a remastered collection of classic arcade-style run-and-gun shooters. Players blast through waves of enemies with customizable options for an intense, action-packed experience.
The catchThe newly added content is full of AI generated art never mentioned on the store page.
Games like Commando Collection →

BOMJMAN86% positive from 1,387 reviews202024% finish it
Action-adventure game with melee and ranged combat. Players fight crime and corrupt officials with unique, smelly abilities.
The catchThe brawling is shallow, with mushy hit detection and no real combos or tactics.
Games like BOMJMAN →

KIBORG86% positive from 1,353 reviews20251% finish itDeck Verified
KIBORG is a brutal, fast-paced beat 'em up roguelike with cybernetic limb replacement and weapon combat. Players fight through hordes of inmates to escape a futuristic prison.
What players likedKiborg is a fun roguelike with fast-paced combat reminiscent of Arkham Asylum or Ninja Gaiden, offering permanent upgrades and a compelling story.
The catchCombat feels stiff, clunky and unresponsive rather than free flowing.
Games like KIBORG →