# Streets of Rage
**Streets of Rage** is a side-scrolling beat 'em up video game series created by Sega, beginning with a 1991 [Sega Genesis](https://www.edgepedia.org/sega-genesis) (Mega Drive) title in which former police officers fight their way through crime-ridden city streets. The series ran as a trilogy on the Genesis, went on hiatus for more than 25 years, and returned in 2020 with *Streets of Rage 4*, developed by three external studios. It is known in Japan as **Bare Knuckle** (ベア・ナックル).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First release | *Streets of Rage*, Sega Genesis/Mega Drive, 1991[1](https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/streets-of-rage-review/1900-6166213/) |
| Genre | Side-scrolling beat 'em up (brawler), 1–2 players[2](https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/71164/manuals/08%20SOR1_PC_MG_EFIGS_US_v6.pdf?t=1549028540) |
| Original premise | Three ex-cops, Adam Hunter, Axel Stone, and Blaze Fielding, clean up their city with hand-to-hand street fighting[1](https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/streets-of-rage-review/1900-6166213/) • [3](https://blog.playstation.com/archive/2020/04/30/streets-of-rage-4-how-three-studios-revived-the-legendary-beat-em-up-series/) |
| Japanese title | Bare Knuckle; rebranded Streets of Rage for the western release[3](https://blog.playstation.com/archive/2020/04/30/streets-of-rage-4-how-three-studios-revived-the-legendary-beat-em-up-series/) |
| Composer | Yuzo Koshiro, whose electronic soundtracks are a defining part of the series[4](https://www.mclibre.org/descargar/docs/revistas/wireframe/wireframe-64-en-202207.pdf) |
| Hiatus and return | Trilogy ended in the mid-1990s; *Streets of Rage 4* arrived in 2020, 26 years after the third game[3](https://blog.playstation.com/archive/2020/04/30/streets-of-rage-4-how-three-studios-revived-the-legendary-beat-em-up-series/) |
| *Streets of Rage 4* developers | Dotemu (production, game design), Lizardcube (art direction), Guard Crush Games (programming)[3](https://blog.playstation.com/archive/2020/04/30/streets-of-rage-4-how-three-studios-revived-the-legendary-beat-em-up-series/) |
## Origins
Streets of Rage was Sega's answer to Capcom's Final Fight, the arcade beat 'em up that dominated the genre at the time[1](https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/streets-of-rage-review/1900-6166213/). According to producer Noriyoshi Ohba, after development of *The Super Shinobi* was complete he discussed ideas with composer Yuzo Koshiro for a "Street Karate" game, referencing titles such as *Double Dragon* and *Final Fight* and detective television shows including *Starsky & Hutch* and *The A-Team*[5](https://segabits.com/blog/2016/08/06/sega-retrospective-streets-of-rage-25-years-of-beat-em-up-greatness/). The project began under the working title **D-SWAT**, where the D stood for Dragon[5](https://segabits.com/blog/2016/08/06/sega-retrospective-streets-of-rage-25-years-of-beat-em-up-greatness/).
The first game casts the player as one of three ex-police officers fighting criminal gangs on foot, using both bare-knuckle attacks and picked-up weapons such as knives, pipes, baseball bats, and glass bottles[1](https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/streets-of-rage-review/1900-6166213/). Instead of the health-costing desperation attack common in the genre, players summon a police car whose officer fires a rocket at on-screen enemies, a limited-use attack unavailable in the final indoor stage[6](https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/genesis/454496-streets-of-rage/reviews/116697). The game supports two-player cooperative play and offers a choice of endings through dialogue with the final boss[6](https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/genesis/454496-streets-of-rage/reviews/116697).
## The Genesis trilogy
The original game was followed by *[Streets of Rage](https://www.edgepedia.org/streets-of-rage-video-game) 2* in 1992, which reviewers credit with the series coming into its own after the first title stood in [Final Fight](https://www.edgepedia.org/final-fight)'s shadow[7](https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/streets-of-rage-2-review/1900-6171365/). Streets of Rage 2 was primarily designed and art-directed by Ayano Koshiro, then 22 years old, while her composer brother Yuzo is most often linked to the game's creation[8](https://www.gameanim.com/2020/04/21/streets-of-rage-2-art-and-design-docs/). Its soundtrack, like that of the first game, is regarded as a defining part of the series[4](https://www.mclibre.org/descargar/docs/revistas/wireframe/wireframe-64-en-202207.pdf).
*Streets of Rage 3* followed on the Mega Drive, completing the trilogy[3](https://blog.playstation.com/archive/2020/04/30/streets-of-rage-4-how-three-studios-revived-the-legendary-beat-em-up-series/). After the trilogy, the series went dormant for more than 25 years[9](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/action-movies/streets-of-rage-movie-moves-forward-with-sonic-writers-and-the-director-behind-one-of-netflixs-most-underappreciated-westerns/).
## The long gap and fan projects
During the hiatus, Sega declined to commission a fourth installment, and fan projects filled the gap. In 2011 Sega asked for the removal of *Streets of Rage Remake* (SoRR), a fan-made remake, stating that it supports fans interested in its games but must protect its intellectual property; *Streets of Rage 2* was released on iOS the following day at 2.39 euros[10](https://www.lemonde.fr/jeux-video/article/2011/04/15/streets-of-rage-le-remake-qui-ne-sera-jamais_5989061_1616924.html). The Dutch team Senile Team, creators of the freeware brawler *Beats of Rage*, said they made their game because it seemed increasingly unlikely that Sega would produce a fourth installment[11](https://www.thedreamcastjunkyard.co.uk/2017/06/developer-interview-senile-team.html?showComment=1497969840096).
## Streets of Rage 4
*Streets of Rage 4* launched on April 30, 2020, for [PlayStation 4](https://www.edgepedia.org/playstation-4), [Nintendo Switch](https://www.edgepedia.org/nintendo-switch), Xbox One, and PC, the first new entry in 26 years[3](https://blog.playstation.com/archive/2020/04/30/streets-of-rage-4-how-three-studios-revived-the-legendary-beat-em-up-series/). Three studios shared the work: Dotemu, a Paris-based retro publisher, handled game design and general production; Lizardcube, which had made the visual overhaul of the 2017 *Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap* remake, directed the art; and Guard Crush Games, whose 2015 brawler *Streets of Fury* impressed the partners, handled programming[3](https://blog.playstation.com/archive/2020/04/30/streets-of-rage-4-how-three-studios-revived-the-legendary-beat-em-up-series/) • [12](https://www.siliconera.com/streets-of-rage-4-interview-throwing-hands-with-guard-crush-lizardcube-and-dotemu/). Guard Crush reused and improved its custom engine from *Streets of Fury* to get a head start[12](https://www.siliconera.com/streets-of-rage-4-interview-throwing-hands-with-guard-crush-lizardcube-and-dotemu/).
**Design philosophy.** Lead game designer Jordi Asensio said the team wanted a straightforward, old-fashioned beat 'em up, then added modern solutions to old frustrations without losing the series' roots[3](https://blog.playstation.com/archive/2020/04/30/streets-of-rage-4-how-three-studios-revived-the-legendary-beat-em-up-series/). One example is the special-move economy: in *Streets of Rage 2* a special move cost a small amount of health, and *Streets of Rage 3* introduced a cooldown bar for free specials; *Streets of Rage 4* instead removes a small amount of health that regenerates if the player lands hits before being struck, opening aggressive, combo-heavy playstyles[3](https://blog.playstation.com/archive/2020/04/30/streets-of-rage-4-how-three-studios-revived-the-legendary-beat-em-up-series/). Star moves replaced the old police call with a directional screen-clearing attack that can also extend combos[3](https://blog.playstation.com/archive/2020/04/30/streets-of-rage-4-how-three-studios-revived-the-legendary-beat-em-up-series/).
**Characters.** Axel Stone and Blaze Fielding return alongside Adam Hunter, absent since the first game, plus two newcomers: Cherry Hunter, a fast, aerial fighter who bounces off enemies and attacks with her guitar, and Floyd Iraia, a slow, strong "ranged grappler" whose telescopic grapple made him the first series character who can walk while holding an enemy[3](https://blog.playstation.com/archive/2020/04/30/streets-of-rage-4-how-three-studios-revived-the-legendary-beat-em-up-series/). Art director Ben Fiquet redesigned Axel with a beard and a bulkier build, a deliberate leap for fans[3](https://blog.playstation.com/archive/2020/04/30/streets-of-rage-4-how-three-studios-revived-the-legendary-beat-em-up-series/). The team also studied the enemy design of *Streets of Rage 2*, built around the synergy of Galsia, Signal, and Donovan, and declined to bring back the flying enemy Jet because he was not vulnerable to combos[3](https://blog.playstation.com/archive/2020/04/30/streets-of-rage-4-how-three-studios-revived-the-legendary-beat-em-up-series/).
**Music and modes.** Olivier Deriviere served as main composer, with original composers Yuzo Koshiro and Motohiro Kawashima contributing boss and level themes, and additional guest composers each scoring a specific scene[3](https://blog.playstation.com/archive/2020/04/30/streets-of-rage-4-how-three-studios-revived-the-legendary-beat-em-up-series/). The game offers two-player online-style co-op and, for the first time in the series, four-player local co-op, in which players deal less damage individually and repel each other like magnets[3](https://blog.playstation.com/archive/2020/04/30/streets-of-rage-4-how-three-studios-revived-the-legendary-beat-em-up-series/). Extra modes include leaderboards per stage and character, a Mania difficulty acting as a New Game+, an Arcade mode with limited lives, and Boss Rush[3](https://blog.playstation.com/archive/2020/04/30/streets-of-rage-4-how-three-studios-revived-the-legendary-beat-em-up-series/). Unlockable retro characters let players progress through the original *Streets of Rage* gameplay from 1 to 3 in chronological order[13](https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2020/12/feature_the_making_of_streets_of_rage_4_by_the_people_who_made_it_happen).
## Legacy
The series is one of the genre's reference points: the beat 'em up genre's standout 16-bit titles are commonly listed as Taito's *Double Dragon*, Sega's *Streets of Rage*, and Capcom's *Final Fight*[14](https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/final-fight-streetwise-review/1900-6145222/). *Streets of Rage 4* helped launch a wave of arcade revivals across the following years[9](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/action-movies/streets-of-rage-movie-moves-forward-with-sonic-writers-and-the-director-behind-one-of-netflixs-most-underappreciated-westerns/), and Guard Crush's engine from the game was later reused for the 2025 beat 'em up *Absolum*[15](https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/absolum-interview-how-the-beat-em-ups-developers-created-four-fabulous-characters/).
A film adaptation is in development at Lionsgate, with *Sonic the Hedgehog* writers Pat Casey and Josh Miller writing the script after [John Wick](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-wick) creator [Derek Kolstad](https://www.edgepedia.org/derek-kolstad) departed the project, and Jeymes Samuel, director of *The Harder They Fall*, attached as director; the film is currently undated[9](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/action-movies/streets-of-rage-movie-moves-forward-with-sonic-writers-and-the-director-behind-one-of-netflixs-most-underappreciated-westerns/). Sega's fiscal-year presentations also list a new *Streets of Rage* game with title and launch date to be determined, licensed out[16](https://www.segasammy.co.jp/cms/wp-content/uploads/pdf/en/ir/20260512_q4_presentation_en.pdf).
## References
1. [Streets of Rage Review, GameSpot](https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/streets-of-rage-review/1900-6166213/)
2. [Streets of Rage PC manual, Steam](https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/71164/manuals/08%20SOR1_PC_MG_EFIGS_US_v6.pdf?t=1549028540)
3. [Streets of Rage 4: How three studios revived the legendary beat 'em up series, PlayStation.Blog](https://blog.playstation.com/archive/2020/04/30/streets-of-rage-4-how-three-studios-revived-the-legendary-beat-em-up-series/)
4. [Wireframe magazine issue 64, Final Vendetta review](https://www.mclibre.org/descargar/docs/revistas/wireframe/wireframe-64-en-202207.pdf)
5. [SEGA Retrospective: Streets of Rage, SEGAbits](https://segabits.com/blog/2016/08/06/sega-retrospective-streets-of-rage-25-years-of-beat-em-up-greatness/)
6. [Streets of Rage Review, GameFAQs](https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/genesis/454496-streets-of-rage/reviews/116697)
7. [Streets of Rage 2 Review, GameSpot](https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/streets-of-rage-2-review/1900-6171365/)
8. [Streets Of Rage 2: Art And Design Docs, Game Anim](https://www.gameanim.com/2020/04/21/streets-of-rage-2-art-and-design-docs/)
9. [Streets of Rage movie moves forward, GamesRadar](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/action-movies/streets-of-rage-movie-moves-forward-with-sonic-writers-and-the-director-behind-one-of-netflixs-most-underappreciated-westerns/)
10. [Streets of Rage, le remake qui ne sera jamais, Le Monde](https://www.lemonde.fr/jeux-video/article/2011/04/15/streets-of-rage-le-remake-qui-ne-sera-jamais_5989061_1616924.html)
11. [Developer Interview: Senile Team, The Dreamcast Junkyard](https://www.thedreamcastjunkyard.co.uk/2017/06/developer-interview-senile-team.html?showComment=1497969840096)
12. [Streets of Rage 4 Interview: Throwing Hands With the Devs, Siliconera](https://www.siliconera.com/streets-of-rage-4-interview-throwing-hands-with-guard-crush-lizardcube-and-dotemu/)
13. [The Making Of Streets Of Rage 4, Nintendo Life](https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2020/12/feature_the_making_of_streets_of_rage_4_by_the_people_who_made_it_happen)
14. [Final Fight: Streetwise Review, GameSpot](https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/final-fight-streetwise-review/1900-6145222/)
15. [Absolum interview, PC Gamer](https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/absolum-interview-how-the-beat-em-ups-developers-created-four-fabulous-characters/)
16. [Fiscal Year Ended March 2026 presentation, Sega Sammy](https://www.segasammy.co.jp/cms/wp-content/uploads/pdf/en/ir/20260512_q4_presentation_en.pdf)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Video games and digital play › Games and gameplay › Game genres › Action, adventure, and role-playing games › Beat 'em up (brawler) games*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 18, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license