Much like the SNES itself, the "beat 'em up" fighting subgenre's now little more than a fondly remembered relic of the past. While it has seen at least a minor comeback with revamps of Rare's Battletoads and the anticipated Streets of Rage 4, it's far removed from the golden era of the 16-bi🀅t age.
Consoles of the early 90s seemed to have an endless supply of these smashingly fun romps. The SNES is particularly well-represented in terms of great beat em ups, making fo꧒r optimal choices when looking to "kick it" with a friend or sibling.
Join us a𒆙s we mash and bash our way through the SNES' library and cover the 10 best beat 'em ups for the console.
10 ꦯBattletoads & Double Dragon
The crossover between martial artists and mutant muscular toads seems like an unlikely one. Though it makes sense given the similar styles of these button-mashing beat 'em ups. Rare takes the helm of this amusing clash of IPs, creating a colorful sidescroller that blends the best of both worlds. You've got the more traditional DD sensibilities fused with the satisfying zaniness of🤪 Rare's property.
You and a friend can pick between Billy or Jimmy from Double Dragon, in addition to the appealingly-named Zitz, Pimple, and Rash from Battletoads.
While it's not too well known these days, the NES version wꦇas na🐷med by Nintendo Power as the second-best game of '93 for the console.
9 Batman Returns🎀 𒈔
Taking the epic superhero themes of Batman and company and fusing them with Final Fight mechanics, Batman Returns is a surprisingly solid beat 'em up. Though its quality isn't too shocking given , the studio behind greats like Turtles in Time, helmed the SNES version.
Really, about the only thing missing from this Batman 🐽gem is its unfortunate lack of multiplayer. Regardless, this💛 film-based fighter offers some enjoyable beat 'em up gameplay, thanks to tight mechanics, rich backdrops, and colorful foes.
8 💦 Final Fight 2
Not knowing what to expect with 🐼this one - it managed to be a𝐆 surprise hit, and like many on our list, its replay value is off the charts.
Capcom's side-scrolling brawler provides an entertaining stroll through rich environments across the world. The game is the first in the series to offer co-op, and aside from bothersome friendly-fire, it proves solid and enjoyable. Eℱach of the 3 characters have their own dynamic and fighting style, adding subtle depth to the game.
7 𝕴 ❀ Captain Commando
Many regard beat '♔em ups as entertaining romps - especia🌊lly when it comes to the co-op gameplay. Yet, some have pointed to occasional repetition. Luckily, Capcom's delightful sci-fi game from '91 avoids this with its slew of scenarios and creative baddies.
As a butt-kicking robotic fighter, you'll be traversing a number of colorful settings that range from spaceships to circuses. You can also pick �𝕴�from a slew of other fighters, each with distinct styles and weaponry.
Foes likewise take on a hodgepodge of themes and mechanics, keeping you on your toes throughout. Captain Commando tosses a range of motifs into a blender, and the result is an amusing, 𒁃creative beat 'em up.
6 Spider-Man An▨d Venom: Maximum Carnage 🦹
Superhero properties seem to lend themselves to the beat 'em up genre, especially with a niওmble, swift hero like Spider-Man.
Software Creations offers a great sidescrolling fighter, which is so fun and visually cool you almost w🐻on't care that you can't play with a friend. This '94 fighter draws you in with its stylized comic book graphics and traps you in its web with its pummeling of action and neat Spider-Man themes.
The appealingꩲ visuals keep this from feeling too stock, as does the 𓃲satisfying ability to climb walls and swing around with your trusty web.
5 🙈 Super Double Dragon
The Double Dragon franchise had already made a name for itself back on the NES, in a cruder, more humble 8-bit form. And while it's tough to match the classic nature of those titles, this sequel tosses you into more visually charming 16-bit dojos. This comes complete with more active, exciting settings like a casi♊no, a city slum, and even atop a moving truck.
In this 4th ins♓tallment, you also have more fleshed out mechanics com💟pared to the predecessors - as Billy and Jimmy are given different fighting abilities and mechanics. Though it dates back to '92, it still knocks out much of the competition in terms of beat 'em ups.
4 ♛ Knights Of The Rou♐nd
The concept of a Medieval-style beat 'em up seems like a no brainer - yet it's one that hasn't often been explored. Luckily, Capcom had this cool idea covered, with their '91 arcade and SNES fighter, Knights of the Round.
Not only you do get the fun and lav♚ish themes of King Arthur and his knights, but the studio infuses depth with light role-playing elements to advance your fighter. And just like a real knight, blocking is emphasized as much as sword-hacking, which is rewarded with satisfying counter-attacks.
This really is one of the holy grails when it comes to co-oꩲp titles on SNES.
3 The King Of Dragons ꦇ
This is both a favorite of fighting fans and a coveted item for SNES collectors, as it's one of the more rare and pricey games for the console. It's easy to see why it's so valued, given the richnes🧸s and entertainment value in the gameplay.
This fantasy-based fighter takes on the vibe of Golden Axe while injecting a crisper, fast-paced Final Fight feel. At the same time, light RPG elements and customization add some nuance, offering a rare co-op romp for SNES that's 🌼both detailed and fun.
2 Final Fight 3 ꧑ 🐎
This is one of those classics series that just seemed to get better and better, which each entry adding depth and substance. Rather than a trio of fighters, this time we get to choose between 4, with Guy marking his return after his Final Fight 2 absence.
New moves are included which add to♌ your versatility, and you'll even get to choose between branching pathways.
You'll be walloping and tossing foes across Metro City as you seek to do away with the Skull Cross gang. This is truly a Capcom fist-throwing fighter a🎀t its best.
1 𝕴 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles In Time
Coming off the more lukewarm efforts for NES, Konami dazzled TMNT and Nintendo fans with its definite version of an already awesome beat 'em up. 1992's Turtles in Time proved faithful to Turtles lore and style while granting addictive co-op g♛ameplay that anyone can get into.
Turtles IV hooks you from start to finish as you traverse colorful environments throug🍌h time and hack your way to the Technodrome. The fun ability to toss Foot Soldiers into the screen keeps things exciting, as do the imaginative scenes and epic boss fights.