

Developed by Jordan Mechner for Brøderbund Software.
Karateka is a 1984 beat'em up video game by Jordan Mechner, and was his first game created while attending Yale University. It was originally programmed for the Apple II, and was later ported to several other home computers and early gaming consoles. The game was published in North America by Brøderbund, and in Europe by Ariolasoft. The player controls an unnamed protagonist who is attempting to rescue his love interest, the Princess Mariko, from Akuma's castle fortress. The game exhibits a combination of a side-scrolling platform and fighting game elements. The player uses punches and kicks to defeat Akuma and his guards and make his way deeper into the fortress. The game, as with most at the time of development, lacked checkpoints or the ability to save the game, making it a challenge to complete in a single sitting. Karateka has been well-received, particularly for its realistic animations used for the game's characters. The game was considered a breakthrough success for Mechner, and would eventually result in his development of the Prince of Persia franchise. A high-definition remake, spearheaded by Mechner, was released as a downloadable title for the Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, with planned ports for the iOS and Wii U systems.

Fighting / Hack and slash/Beat 'em up / Arcade / Action
The console version of Tekken 3, which adds more content to the original arcade game, such as new characters and additional game modes. With hidden features, faster gameplay, and new characters, the PlayStation version of Tekken 3 seeks to give you the fight of your life.

Fighting / Role-playing (RPG) / Hack and slash/Beat 'em up / Action / Fantasy
Dissidia Final Fantasy is a 3D-arena fighting game with RPG elements featuring 20 characters, heroes and villains, from the first 10 final fantasy games summed by the god of discord and the goddess of harmony to fight over the fate of the world.

Fighting / Hack and slash/Beat 'em up / Action / Historical
"Bushido" is the soul of Japan - an ancient honor code deeply followed by samurai warriors for centuries. Plunge into real world battles across vast 3D environments that you can run, slice and tear through. Sword matches become unbelievably real where one critical blow is the mean difference between death and victory.

Fighting / Hack and slash/Beat 'em up / Adventure / Action
The original arcade version of "Double Dragon II" is essentially an improved version of the first game. The biggest change in the game's controls are in the replacement of the original's punch and kick buttons with two directional-based attack buttons (Left Attack and Right Attack) similar to Renegade. Pressing the attack button of the player's current direction will do a standard series of punches, while pressing the opposite attack button will perform a back kick. A few new moves are added as well, including a Hurricane Kick. Like in the original game, the arcade version of Double Dragon II is divided into four missions: a heliport, a lumber storehouse, a wheat field, and the new hideout of the boss. Each stage has its own boss character with his own theme. After defeating Willy (the final boss from the original game) in the fourth stage, the player will confront a double of their own character for the game's final battle. If two players reach the end together, then both will each to have to face their own clone for the final battle.

Fighting / Hack and slash/Beat 'em up / Action
The two greatest martial arts heroes of all time are back -- in SUPER DOUBLE DRAGON, an all-new adventure with awesome new moves, impossible new missions, and a hair-raising new cast of enemies! Marian, a beautiful policewoman, is a student of Kung Fu and part-time assistant instructor at the martial arts training school run by Billy and Jimmy Lee. A narcotics investigator, she has disappeared while attempting to infiltrate the rughtless criminal mob known as the Black Shadow Warriors. It will take all your incomparable fighting skill and knowledge to find and rescure Marian. Alone, or with the help of your brother, you must face the fearsome onslaught of the Shadow Warriors with the fabled power and ferocity of the DOUBLE DRAGON!

Fighting / Hack and slash/Beat 'em up / Adventure / Action
Double Dragon is a 1987 beat 'em up video game developed by Technōs Japan and distributed by Taito for arcades across Asia, North America and Europe. It is the first title in the Double Dragon franchise. The player character has a repertoire of martial arts techniques which they can perform using the joystick and three action buttons (kick, jump, and punch) individually or in combination. Techniques range from basic punches and kicks to more elaborate manoeuvres like hair-grabbing moves and elbow strikes. When playing with another player, one can assist the other by grabbing their partner's opponent from behind. Caution should be taken, though, as some enemies can do the same thing to the players. The player begins the game with a certain number of extra lives and a life gauge which depletes as the player takes hits. If the life gauge runs out or the time limit reaches zero, the player will lose a life. There is a small variety of enemy characters that the player will face through the course of the game. Certain enemies carry melee weapons, which can be knocked out of their hands and picked up to use against them. Available weapons include baseball bats, whips, throwing knives, and dynamite; in addition, rocks, oil drums, and boxes can be found in certain places. The game is divided into four stages or "missions," consisting of a city slum, a factory, the woods, and the gang's hideout. The game normally ends if a single player defeats the final boss alone. However, if two players complete the game together, they are forced to fight each other to determine who will win Marian's affections.

Fighting / Hack and slash/Beat 'em up / Action
A 2D fighting game adaptation for GameBoy of the original arcade Double Dragon released in 1987. This version features gameplay similar to the NES version, but with completely different level designs and all of the main character's moves available from the start. The enemies are the same as the NES version, but some of the characters such as Abobo and Chin were given new techniques. The main game mode is still single player, although the game ends after the fight with Willy, with Jimmy not appearing in the main game.

Fighting / Hack and slash/Beat 'em up / Arcade / Action
Double Dragon Advance is a side-scrolling beat 'em up game developed by Million and published by Atlus for the Game Boy Advance. Released in 2003, it serves as an enhanced remake of the original Double Dragon arcade game, incorporating elements from the entire Double Dragon series. The game follows brothers Billy and Jimmy Lee as they battle through various stages to rescue Marian from a dangerous gang. It features new levels, enemies, and moves not found in the original version, along with improved graphics and expanded combat mechanics.