5 Best Games Like Midnight Fight Express

Midnight Fight Express has been kicking up quite the storm over on Game Pass these last two weeks, giving fans a right ol' boot up the backside in its brutally challenging but irresistibly rewarding brawl-heavy campaign. Since its release, beat 'em fans have been embarking on a virtual expedition in search of the next closest thing. As luck would have it, there are quite a few titles that ring a similar bell, many of which can be found on Game Pass, PlayStation Plus, and Amazon Luna.

As expected of the top-down brawler, Midnight Fight Express brings a thick layer of high-octane combat to an explosive punch-drunk plotline. Like other games of its kind, its gameplay mostly revolves around button-mashing combos, dynamic arsenals, and a heavy helping of dumb luck. If that's the sort of thing that gets your blood flowing, then you'll definitely get a kick out of these five titles.

5. My Friend Pedro

My Friend Pedro is a cheesy beat 'em up brawler that blends flat one-liners with adrenaline-fueled button-mashing combos. Loaded with a stupidly addictive combat system, this side-scrolling gem comes with two smoking barrels worth of chaotically entertaining action. And the best part is, it's based around a gun-toting banana with a thirst for bullets and, well, banana-themed items.

In My Friend Pedro, you take on the role of an unnamed hoodlum with a somewhat checkered past. After waking up in a city alley with no memory of the day before, you must follow your conscience, something that just happens to be a banana, to help paint a picture of what happened prior to your blackout. In order to do so, you'll have to shovel through a series of mercenaries, all of whom share one common goal of wanting to claim your life for reasons you simply cannot comprehend. It's weird, and yet so oddly satisfying. Words alone can't really explain it, to be honest.

4. Hotline Miami

Hotline Miami is a tough-as-nails beat 'em up series that meshes a solid top-down retro art style with a heart-pounding electro soundtrack. Like Midnight Fight Express, players are invited to play their part in a high-octane bullet hell, a place where masked rebels and drug lords fuel the criminal underworld and wreak havoc on anything within spitting distance.

Hotline Miami follows an unmanned protagonist, one whose purpose is to answer random phone calls and eliminate key players in a secret underground organization. To dismantle the hierarchy, players must use a combination of stealth and brute force to whittle down the ranks, one thug at a time. With that, you can expect plenty of bullet frenzies, unhinged action, and a ludicrous amount of sickeningly sweet anthems.

3. Streets of Rage 4

Streets of Rage is an absolute powerhouse of a beat 'em up brawler series, and it'd be criminal to give it anything other than a thumbs up for such a list. Similar to Midnight Fight Express, the game revolves around action-heavy street brawls and swift story progression. Just like its 1991 original, the fourth entry refuses to let up on the brakes, and it's very touch-and-go from the moment you tap in.

Streets of Rage 4 is the long-awaited sequel to the classic beat 'em up series. Once again, players assume the role of one of three legacy characters: Axel Stone, Blaze Fielding, or Adam Hunter. As one of the above, fighters must endure waves of merciless attacks and battle to reach a series of checkpoints, using a range of weapons and combos to overcome the city's biggest brutes. It's beat 'em up 101, and we're all for it.

2. Sifu

Sifu is an all-round fantastic entry to the beat 'em up genre, and quite possibly one of the best to fuse martial arts into the combat mix. Thanks to its addictive freeflow style, the gameplay itself is leaps and bounds ahead of its rivals. And honestly, if you're after a solid alternative to Midnight Fight Express, then it's an absolute must.

Sifu employs a similar combat style to Midnight Fight Express, in the fact that you can use not only your fists to overcome your enemies, but the environment itself. So, if you fancy knocking somebody out with a chair, then you're in for a real treat. Sifu is not only ridiculously fun, but it's also a pretty remarkable cinematic experience to behold. Hand-in-hand, it's an essential part of any die-hard gamer's library.

1. The Warriors: Street Brawl

The Warriors: Street Brawl is a classic side-scrolling beat 'em up brawler created by CXTM. Similar to the cult-classic movie, The Warriors must bop their way across New York in an attempt to restore peace. From Manhattan to Coney Island, the gang must endure the city's elite in order to survive. That, of course, means going toe-to-toe with multiple bat-wielding thugs and bottle-clanging greasers.

The Warriors: Street Brawl isn't quite up to the same level as Midnight Fight Express in terms of fluid combat mechanics. That said, it brings a lot to the table, and it's a whole lot of fun in small bursts. Plus, it's a fantastic addition to The Warriors franchise, serving only to compliment an already phenomenal cinematic work of art that is still very much celebrated to this day. So there's that.

So, what's your take? Do you agree with our top five? Are there any games you'd recommend playing this fall? Let us know over on our socials here or down in the comments below.