Arcade Beat 'Em Up Games Ranked

Beat 'em ups are the arcade genre that hogs the cabinet: three or four people crammed in front of one machine, scrambling for items, busting out co-op supers, and gambling on hidden stages. Capcom's CPS-1/CPS-2 and IGS's Knights of Valour series defined what Chinese-speaking players expect from a "beat 'em up." In the GGEMU Arcade library, more than 46 titles can be classified as beat 'em ups; the following are ranked byframe data and game feel, co-op depth, and hidden-content replayability.

Arcade Beat 'Em Ups — S Tier

Game	Platform	Frame Data / Game Feel Highlights	Co-op Depth
Cadillacs and Dinosaurs	CPS-2	Throws have 8 frames of invincibility; Mustapha's slide has a 3-frame startup; boss move design is worth studying just by watching	Four characters with clearly defined roles; two-player co-op screen-clear attack
Knights of Valour	IGS	Summoned generals vary widely in performance; the Heavenly Scroll release has recovery frames that can be canceled	4-player co-op + hidden rooms; farm items by replaying the same stage

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Cadillacs and Dinosaurs — Mustapha combo and throw frame data

Warriors of Fate — 4-player co-op and hidden rooms

Arcade beat-'em-up A-tier

Game	Developer	Highlights
Captain Commando	Capcom CPS-1	Baby's special move + 4-player co-op; Baby Head's firepower coverage
Knights of the Round	Capcom	Level-up move changes; Arthur and Percival perform differently
Final Fight	Capcom	The origin of the beat-'em-up formula: multiple characters + combined super moves + item stealing
The Punisher	Capcom	Two-player co-op + mixed gunplay; high boss fight density
Warriors of Fate	Capcom	Three Kingdoms generals + horseback combat; Guan Yu is a well-rounded fighter

Arcade Beat-'Em-Ups, Tiers B–D (Complete List)

Tier	Game	Developer / Year	Gameplay Highlights
S	Cadillacs and Dinosaurs	CAPCOM · 1993	A side-scrolling beat 'em up arcade game based on the comic series Xenozoic Tales, in which players fig
S	Knights of Valour	IGS · 1999	A side-scrolling beat 'em up arcade game set during the Three Kingdoms period of China, in which players ch
A	Tenchi wo Kurau II	Capcom · 1992	A side-scrolling beat 'em up arcade game in which players battle through feudal China as one of five wa
A	Double Dragon II: The Revenge	Technōs Japan · 1988	Double Dragon II: The Revenge is a side-scrolling beat 'em up arcade game and the direct sequel to t
A	Oriental Legend	IGS · 1997	A side-scrolling beat 'em up arcade game featuring Chinese mythology and fantasy elements.
A	Captain Commando	CAPCOM · 1991	A classic arcade beat-'em-up where players control futuristic superheroes fighting crime in Metro City
A	Final Fight	CAPCOM · 1989	Side-scrolling beat 'em up arcade game where players fight through Metro City's criminal underworld
A	Knights of the Round	Capcom · 1991	A side-scrolling beat 'em up arcade game set in the Arthurian legend, where players choose from thre
A	The Punisher	Capcom · 1993	A side-scrolling beat 'em up arcade game based on the Marvel Comics character The Punisher, featurin
B	Knights of Valour	IGS · 2003	A side-scrolling beat 'em up arcade game set in ancient China where players control martial artists
B	Warrior	CAPCOM · 1993	A side-scrolling beat 'em up arcade game where players battle through feudal China as one of five wa
B	Golden	Sega · 1989	A classic side-scrolling fantasy beat 'em up arcade game where players choose from three heroes to b
B	Violent	Konami · 1993	Violent Storm is a side-scrolling beat 'em up arcade game in which players battle through urban environments.
B	Knights	IGS · 2000	A side-scrolling beat 'em up arcade game in which players fight through waves of enemies in a Three Kingdoms setting.
B	Arabian	SEGA · 1992	Arabian Fight is a side-scrolling beat 'em up arcade game set in an Arabian Nights fantasy world where players battle through hordes of enemies.
B	Spider-	Sega · 1991	A side-scrolling beat 'em up arcade game in which players control Spider-Man to battle villains and rescue hostages.
B	Mystic	Konami · 1993	A side-scrolling beat 'em up arcade game in which players control one of four ninja warriors fighting a
C	Alien v	Capcom · 1994	A side-scrolling beat 'em up arcade game in which players choose to fight as a Colonial Marine, a Preda
C	Crime C	Taito · 1989	A side-scrolling beat 'em up arcade game in which players fight through urban crime-ridden streets agai
C	The King of Dragons	Capcom · 1991	A side-scrolling fantasy action game in which players choose from one of five character classes to batt
C	Guardia	WINKYSOFT · 1995	A side-scrolling beat 'em up arcade game featuring a team of heroes battling evil forces with special
C	Ninja B	Irem · 1993	A side-scrolling beat 'em up arcade game featuring baseball-themed ninjas battling evil forces to re
C	Underco	IREM · 1992	A side-scrolling beat 'em up arcade game where players control one of three super-powered undercover
C	Double	Technōs Japan · 1987	A classic side-scrolling beat 'em up arcade game where players control martial artists Billy and Jim
C	Teenage	KONAMI · 1989	Join the four pizza-loving heroes in a fast-paced side-scrolling brawler, battling through city stre
C	Ninja Commando	Technōs Japan · 1993	Shadow Force is a side-scrolling beat 'em up arcade game where players control one of three cyborg n
D	Teenage	KONAMI · 1990	Travel across time with the Turtles in this action-packed arcade brawler, battling iconic villains t
D	SENGOKU	SNK · 1993	SENGOKU 2 is a side-scrolling beat 'em up arcade game set in feudal Japan where players battle super
D	Night S	DATA EAST · 1993	Night Slashers is a horror-themed side-scrolling beat 'em up in which players take control of one of three monsters.
D	D.D. Crew	SEGA · 1991	D.D. Crew is a side-scrolling beat 'em up arcade game in which players control members of a construction crew.
D	Pretty	BANPRESTO · 1995	a side-scrolling beat 'em up arcade video game
D	Captain	Data East · 1991	A classic arcade beat 'em up in which players control Captain America, Iron Man, Vision, or Hawkeye to battle
D	ULTRAMAN	Banpresto · 1991	A side-scrolling beat 'em up arcade game based on the Ultraman franchise, where players control the
D	Ninja K	UPL · 1987	Ninja Kid II is a side-scrolling action platformer arcade game where players control a young ninja o
D	Vendetta	KONAMI · 1991	Vendetta is a classic side-scrolling arcade beat-'em-up where players fight through waves of street
D	Battle	Rare · 1994	Arcade beat 'em up game featuring the Battletoads characters in a cooperative side-scrolling action
D	Splatte	Namco · 1988	A side-scrolling beat 'em up horror game in which the player controls a masked protagonist fighting
D	Top Hun	SNK · 1994	A colorful side-scrolling action platformer and beat 'em up in which the space bounty hunters Roddy and Cat
D	BAD DUD	Data East · 1988	A side-scrolling beat 'em up arcade game in which two players control martial artists on a mission to r
D	Armored	CAPCOM · 1994	A side-scrolling mecha beat 'em up in which players pilot giant robots called Variant Armors, cust

Beat 'em ups: Boss AI and 1CC survival essentials

• Cadillacs and Dinosaurs Boss Mode: In Stage 2, Slice's slash has a 12-frame wind-up, and Mustapha's slide can pass through attacks; the Final Boss's laser sweep has safe spots to stand.
• Knights of Valour Secret Rooms: Entering Stage 2 requires a specific combination of items; after Zhuge Liang uses Soul Summon, his fireball has the largest coverage area.
• Famous General Fusion: With four players on the same screen, the fusion super has the longest invincibility frames, making it ideal for breaking a boss's guard window.
• The Punisher's Two Characters: Nick and Duke can swap control of the field, and in gunfight stages you should prioritize clearing out ranged enemies.

How Is This Ranked?

Dimension	Data Source	Weighting
Control Feel and Frame Data	CPS community frame data tables, Fightcade replays	35%
Co-op and Character Differences	Four-player clear videos, hidden route wikis	30%
Stage / Boss Design	Speedrun leaderboards, 1CC community	20%
Arcade Installations and Online Popularity	GGEMU Play and a Look at Chinese Arcades	15%

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