Abandonware DOS title

Beat 'em ups (aka brawlers) sorted by title, from Z to A

A beat 'em up video game, also known as a brawler, is a genre of action video games that focuses on close combat fighting against multiple enemies. In these games, players control a character who must battle through hordes of enemies using hand-to-hand combat or melee weapons.

Beat 'em up games often feature side-scrolling or 2D gameplay. Players move across the screen, progressing through levels or stages, while encountering waves of enemies. The primary objective is to defeat all the enemies and progress further in the game.

These games usually provide a variety of moves and attacks, including punches, kicks, throws, and special abilities or power-ups. Sometimes, beat 'em ups allow cooperative multiplayer, where two or more players can join forces to fight enemies together. Classic examples of beat 'em up games include Double Dragon, Golden Axe, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Most popular beat 'em up games

zyclunt-01

Zyclunt

DOS1995 Phantagram
Zyclunt is a side-scrolling action game developed and published by Phantagram in 1995. The game is set in a dystopian future where incurable diseases and a rise in criminal activities have brought society to the brink of collapse....
xmen-madness-murderworld-01

X-Men: Madness in Murderworld

DOS1989 Paragon Software
vixen-01

Vixen

DOS1988 Intelligent Design
the-simpsons-04

The Simpsons

DOS1991 Konami
The Simpsons Arcade Game, developed and published by Konami, is a classic side-scrolling beat-'em-up that became highly popular in arcades during the early '90s. Players take on the roles of the Simpson family members: Homer,...
terminator2judgement-1

Terminator 2: Judgment Day

DOS1991 Syntetic Dimensions
Terminator 2: Judgment Day is one of the many adaptations of the Terminator franchise. This one is based on the movie of the same name, but it's not as good as the movie, according to critics. Terminator 2 is an action game develo...
targhan-02

Targhan

DOS1989 Silmarils
sword-of-honour-03

Sword of Honour

DOS1993 Dynafield Systems International
surf-ninjas-07

Surf Ninjas

DOS1994 Creative Edge Software
shinobi-splash

Shinobi

DOS1989 Sega
robocop-2

Robocop

DOS1989 Data East
Robocop is an abandoned beat 'em up / run and gun shooter game developed and released by Data East in 1989 for a number of platforms, including DOS. Robocop is a conversion from an arcade game released by Data East in 1988 an...
renegade-1

Renegade

DOS1988 Technos Japan
onslaught-07

Onslaught

DOS1990 Arc Developments
ninja-rabbits-4

Ninja Rabbits

DOS1992 Villa Crespo Software
ninjagaiden-splash

Ninja Gaiden

DOS1990 Tecmo
Ninja Gaiden, released in 1988 for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and later to other platforms, is a side-scrolling action-platformer developed by Tecmo. It follows the story of Ryu Hayabusa, a skilled ninja on a quest fo...
ninja-mastetronic-03

Ninja

DOS1986 Acclaim Entertainment
lorna-04

Lorna

DOS1990NSFW Topo Soft
last-action-hero-01

Last Action Hero

DOS1993 Psygnosis
karateka-2

Karateka

DOS1986 Broderbund
Karateka is a martial arts themed action / fighting game released by Broderbund in 1986 for DOS. Karateka is the first game designed by Jordan Mechner, the father of the Prince of Persia franchise. Karateka was also publ...
ninja-rabbit-returns-02

International Ninja Rabbits

DOS1991 Flair Software
ikari-warriors-3-04

Ikari III: The Rescue

DOS1990 SNK Corporation
hulk-01

Hulk

Windows XP/98/952003 Radical Entertainment
goldenaxe-3

Golden Axe

DOS1991 Sega
Golden Axe is a classic arcade game developed by Sega and released in 1989. It's a side-scrolling beat 'em up game set in a fantasy world where players choose one of three characters: a barbarian, a dwarf, or an amazon, each with ...
fallen-angel-03

Fallen Angel

DOS1989 Emerald Software
double-dragon-2-03

Double Dragon II: The Revenge

DOS1988 Technos Japan
double-dragon-3-02

Double Dragon 3: The Rosetta Stone

DOS1992 East Technology Corp.
doubledragon-1

Double Dragon

DOS1988 Technos Japan
crime-wave-03

Crime Wave

DOS1990 Access Software
cougar-force-01

Cougar Force

DOS1990 Coktel Vision