The Best 3D Beat 'Em Up Games

As a seasoned gamer with a soft spot for beat ’em up games that pack a punch, I’ve had the pleasure of diving into some truly spectacular combat experiences. Among these, there are three titles that have left an indelible mark on my gaming journey – Sleeping Dogs, Midnight Fight Express, and Sifu.

The beat ’em up genre is one of the oldest video game genres still kicking around in the modern day. With roots in arcade brawlers such as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles In Time, these games are often 2D side-scrollers that feature charming pixel-art graphics, co-operative play, and intuitive combo-based melee combat.

3D beat ’em up games have evolved significantly in today’s gaming landscape. Nowadays, players can enjoy a wide variety of these action-packed titles, such as Yakuza 0 and Sifu, which offer thrilling combat experiences. These are some of the top 3D beat ’em up games available right now.

6 Die Hard Arcade

An Unhinged Old-School Beat ‘Em Up

Platform(s): PlayStation, Sega Saturn, Arcade
Released: 1996
Developer(s): Sega AM1, Sega Technical Institute
Genre: Beat ‘Em Up

This vintage arcade brawler, regrettably hard to access nowadays, has a tenuous connection to the Die Hard movie series. It boasts an intricate move library reminiscent of contemporary fighting games. The game, known as Die Hard Arcade, showcases endearing low-poly 3D characters and a nostalgic aesthetic that’s quite appealing. Given the resurgence in low-poly modeling, this aspect is unlikely to deter many enthusiasts.

As I dive into the world of Die Hard Arcade, it’s all about the thrill of smashing my way through a zany building filled with foes sporting sour attitudes and hidden fighting prowess. The game is structured as a maze of connected rooms, bound together by cinematic moments that frequently include quick-response events. After all these years, this classic game still holds up thanks to its balance between chaotic yet controllable gameplay and solid brawling mechanics.

5 Going Under

A Scrappy Beat ‘Em Up Dungeon Crawler

One of the attractive features of Going Under is its adorable, vibrant, and fashionable design. This game also stands out due to its amusing satire of tech startups, as well as its main selling point – its tough, action-packed brawling gameplay that emphasizes environmental interaction and the plentiful weapons available. Going Under is a 3D roguelike dungeon-crawler where combat centers around fighting, with an emphasis on utilizing the environment and the numerous weapons scattered throughout.

In the game ‘Going Under’, almost anything you find can be utilized as a weapon, but wisely and within limits, which contributes to its fast-paced and entertaining combat. Winning depends more on being nimble and inventive, rather than meticulously planning a tactical setup. Players are primarily concerned with clearing rooms filled with hostile enemies while minimizing damage received. This is particularly crucial because every potential weapon in ‘Going Under’ has a set durability and will eventually break, so players can’t solely depend on a single powerful weapon during their playthrough.

4 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate

A Roguelite TMNT Beat ‘Em Up

The game resembles Supergiant Games’ popular title, Hades, in terms of hack-and-slash/beat ’em up style, but despite some similarities, they are distinct games. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate leans more towards the beat ’em up genre due to its loosely structured storyline and emphasis on intricate combat scenarios, cooperative brawling, and tight fighting encounters.

The game titled “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate” is an engaging roguelite that retains the endearing qualities of its origin, offering players a lively, action-packed gaming experience. Despite the combat not being hand-to-hand, the emphasis on unique skill sets instead of numerous weapons keeps the game fundamentally centered around the “beat ’em up” genre.

3 Sleeping Dogs

Open-World Brawling In Hong Kong

Sleeping Dogs, with a style reminiscent of Hong Kong films and boasting an engaging narrative within an open world, is an exceptional 3D brawler game. In Sleeping Dogs, players take on the role of an undercover police officer battling crime in Hong Kong, offering intense, hand-to-hand action that makes every fight exciting and enjoyable.

In addition to its intense combat sequences, Sleeping Dogs offers environmental takedowns which are extremely gratifying when performed, enhancing each fight and making it feel even more immersive. Similarly to the Batman Arkham series, Sleeping Dogs may occasionally degenerate into rapid button-pressing, but usually, players are compensated for their strategic moves with well-timed inputs.

2 Midnight Fight Express

A Cinematic Isometric Indie Brawler

Platform(s): PC, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch
Released: 2022
Developer(s): Jacob Dzwinel
Genre: Beat ‘Em Up

As a fervent admirer, I can confidently say that the cinematic flair and seamless, instinctive close-quarters fighting from an isometric angle make “Midnight Fight Express” a thrilling, combo-centric journey that strongly echoes the spirit of timeless action films. This game boasts an impressive arsenal of both melee and ranged weapons, yet it’s the hand-to-hand combat that truly shines at the heart of “Midnight Fight Express.

In simple terms, the intense battles with dramatic finishes inspired by martial arts set in Midnight Fight Express offer a highly immersive experience, and every fight feels unique due to the variety available. Though the game’s visual style is impressive, it’s the combat that truly defines and holds up Midnight Fight Express, making it more than capable of standing alone as an enjoyable gaming experience.

1 Sifu

A Stylish Third-Person Kung-Fu Brawler

In simpler terms, the game known as “Sifu” offers a visually stunning and entirely movie-like encounter, thanks to its exceptional design. It’s effortless to dive into the action due to this meticulous art direction. However, what truly sets Sifu apart is arguably its exceptional cinematic beat ’em up fighting sequences.

For enthusiasts of martial arts films, particularly those who appreciate the hand-to-hand combat scenes in movies like John Wick and Sifu, the video game Sifu offers a gameplay experience that closely mirrors these cinematic adaptations. Unlike complex fighting games, Sifu is more straightforward, but it boasts an array of combos to cater to various playstyles, with upgrades adding even more strategic depth. What truly sets Sifu apart, though, is its unique age system, where the protagonist grows older each time they die, rather than losing the game altogether. However, this aging process can have adverse effects, such as reducing their health.

2024-09-23 05:33

The Best 3D Beat ‘Em Up Games