20 Greatest Ever Beat Em Up Video Game Characters

GET OVER HERE... And read our comprehensive list of fighty characters.

The beat 'em up game is different from many other genres of video game, in that most of them can be picked up and played by just about anyone, regardless of age or experience. Yes, many games do open up considerably to skilled players, but at a base level, just about anyone can start pressing buttons, trying out tactics and score a KO eventually, and that's what's so great about the genre. Most gamers can probably name a few dozen fighting game characters off the top of their head easily, and here, we've tried to decide who the top 20 fighters of all time are. By nature of popularity, it's fair to say that most of our entrants come from the Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter and Tekken series, though we have of course included a few surprises to keep things fresh. It's a subject liable to cause arguments, so let me know if your favourite fighter didn't make the cut, or if you think one of these 20 just isn't worthy...
 
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Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes). General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.