The side-scrolling beat ’em up genre is going through somewhat of a renaissance at the moment.
If you’d have told us ten years ago that there’d be a Streets of Rage 4 and countless other new games that let us move right, stopping only to pummel enemies, we’d have loved your enthusiasm but also thought you were a bit mad. But here we are. And if you want to get in on the action, we’ve assembled a short list of games like Streets of Rage on PS5 to make it a little easier.
All of the games on this list are side-scrolling beat ’em ups that we’ve spent considerable time with. Even better, they’ve kept us thoroughly entertained. Some of them are a little bit different – perhaps they have open world elements, for example, or feature creatures rather than crime-fighting vigilantes. But regardless, if you love Streets of Rage, we’re sure you’ll love these too.
If you want more games like Streets of Rage, check out our list of PS4 games. They’re all playable on PS5 thanks to backwards compatibility, after all.
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1. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles aren’t strangers to the side-scrolling beat ’em up genre – they’ve featured in many over the years. Shredder’s Revenge, however, is by far the best yet.
Whether you want to play as Raphael, Donatello, Leonardo or Michelangelo, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge has you covered. Although you can play as the likes of Splinter, April O’Neil and Casey Jones, too. Whoever you choose, there’s a lengthy story mode to tackle, or you can jump into arcade mode that’s more streamlined.
It’s the fluid, chaotic and utterly brilliant gameplay of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge that makes it a must-play though. It puts a smile on your face from beginning to end, whether you play it alone or with others. So, if you’re after games like Streets of Rage on PS5, make sure you pick this up.
Read our review of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge
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2. Fight’N Rage
Considering it’s been made by just two people, Fight’N Rage is pretty spectacular.
This side-scrolling beat ’em up, complete with retro visuals and a brilliant soundtrack, has three characters for you to play as, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. Earn coins by playing, though, and you can unlock many enemies to take control of, too. And that’s not all, you can also unlock new modes, skins, and more.
What particularly stands out about Fight’N Rage is its branching story. Depending on your choices and actions, you might discover new stages to play through. Needless to say, this is easily one of the best side-scrolling beat ’em ups available right now regardless of format. Just make sure you master its parry mechanic, otherwise you might have a hard time.
Read our review of Fight’N Rage
3. River City Girls 2
We quite liked River City Girls, but this sequel improves upon it in every single way.
Its visuals are charming, its soundtrack makes you want to bop, and the gameplay is meaningfully improved. Misako and Kyoko are joined by their boyfriends and some quest characters in this outing, adding more variety. And as if that wasn’t enough, combat systems have been refined, and more moves are on offer.
It’s the open world and RPG elements here that will either draw players or put them off. Some will find that they add a lot of depth to the game, while others will possibly see it as just adding extra backtracking and faff. In any case, River City Girls 2 is undoubtedly one of the best games like Streets of Rage on PS5.
Read our review of River City Girls 2
4. Jitsu Squad
Like your side-scrolling beat ’em ups over the top? Jitsu Squad might just be the one for you.
Featuring a cast of four anthropomorphic animals, Jitsu Squad prides itself on its fast-paced combat. In no time at all you’ll be performing crazy combos as hordes of enemies fill the screen. And when hitting enemies with your weapons isn’t fun enough, there are a wealth of special abilities and pick ups to make use of, making the action even more chaotic.
It has some issues – there’s no drop-in, drop-out co-op, for example. But if you like your games to have beautiful visuals, engaging gameplay and unexpected sense of humour, there’s a lot to like here.
Read our review of Jitsu Squad
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5. Final Vendetta
We were frustrated by Final Vendetta when we played it for review. It showed a lot of promise, but ruined it in numerous ways.
Since launch, however, Final Vendetta has received numerous updates that have made it much better. It’s gameplay has been tweaked to make it fairer and more enjoyable. A new easy difficulty level has been added, too. And so now, whether you’re familiar with the side-scrolling beat ’em up genre or not, it’s easy to have some fun with it.
What particularly stands out about Final Vendetta is its soundtrack, which is absolutely fantastic. Ultimately, fans of the likes of Streets of Rage and Final Fight will lap this up.
Read our review of Final Vendetta
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6. Dawn of the Monsters
Would you believe that one of the best games like Streets of Rage on PS5 has you playing as a giant monster? You better.
In Dawn of the Monsters you play as one of multiple giant creatures. It’s a case of fighting fire with fire, with them being the last line of defence when other gargantuan monstrosities attack. Regardless, this plays like any other side-scrolling beat ‘m up, only weapon you can pick up include entire buildings.
There’s a sizeable campaign to beat here, and a mod system that allows you to tweak the capabilities of your chosen monster. If you’re after something a little bit different, we think you should give it a go.
