River City Ransom

What if a beat 'em up turned into an RPG? River City Ransom posed this question back in 1989 and answered it so cleverly that we still feel its influence today. This is not just another brawler — it is an open city where every punch pays off.

The foundation is, of course, the fighting: the duo of scrappers Alex and Ryan brawl their way through the city streets, pummeling gangs of youths. But defeated enemies leave money behind, and you spend it in shops scattered around the city. Food, books, potions — all of it permanently raises your stats and, best of all, unlocks entirely new combat strikes and special techniques. Little by little you grow from a weak youth into an unstoppable pummeling machine.

The city is open and explorable, you can move around it freely, hunting for shops and secret spots. That gives the game an unusual freedom and depth that linear brawlers never knew. Add to that the disarming humour, the slightly cheeky tone and the option to go through the entire city in two-player co-op — the fun multiplies.

River City Ransom is part of the sprawling Japanese Kunio-kun series by studio Technōs, which spawned dozens of sports and action spin-offs. This particular installment, though, became the most beloved and cult-revered in the West.

Its DNA — the combination of action with RPG progression, spending money on permanent upgrades, an open world — is found in countless later games. River City Ransom was simply timeless and inspiring in a way no one expected in 1989.

Why play: A genre-defining combination of beat 'em up and RPG with an open city, humour and co-op — an influential cult favourite that ages remarkably well.