Play Streets of Rage Online

Streets of Rage is that classic Sega Genesis beat 'em up where you pick one of three ex-cops—Axel, Blaze, or Adam—and punch your way through waves of thugs to take down the crime lord Mr. X. The controls are dead simple: attack, jump, or call in a police car to blast everything on screen (which never gets old).

Each character feels different—Adam hits like a truck but moves slow, Blaze is quick but her punches lack weight, and Axel’s somewhere in between. You’ll figure out fast who suits your style. The levels are your typical left-to-right brawler setup, except for a couple where you go up or down, like the elevator stage where you’re chucking goons off the sides between floors.

There’s something satisfying about grabbing a pipe or a knife off the ground and just wrecking guys with it. And when you’re low on health, nothing’s more relieving than spotting a turkey hidden in a trash can. It’s got that perfect arcade feel where you can just pick it up and start swinging.