Streets of Rage 4

Review by eFreeware

If you grew up hammering buttons through side-scrolling brawlers, Streets of Rage 4 is likely the Android game you have been waiting for. Playdigious has brought the 2020 console and PC title to mobile as a paid release, and it picks up the series 25 years after the last entry. You get a full arcade campaign, a roster of fighters to unlock and a soundtrack built for the genre.

The premise is simple: a new crime syndicate has taken over the streets and corrupted the police, and your only weapons are your friends and your fists. That setup is delivered through hand-drawn comic-inspired visuals and updated fight mechanics rather than a straight rehash of the 16-bit originals. The result is a brawler that respects the past without feeling like a museum piece.

The game costs $8.49 upfront, with no ads and optional in-app purchases for the Mr. X Nightmare DLC. That pricing model puts it in a different bracket from free-to-play arcade titles, and the content volume reflects that. If you want a brawler you can pick up for a few minutes at a time or sink an evening into, this is built for both rhythms.

Hand-drawn art and a soundtrack that carries the mood

The most immediate thing about Streets of Rage 4 is how it looks. The art direction is hand-drawn and comic-inspired, with animations that the developer describes as juicy and effects that pop during combat. That style extends to the environment design across the 12 stages, which move through different parts of the city rather than repeating the same alleyway.

The soundtrack is another strong point. Olivier Deriviere and Yuzo Koshiro contributed to a new electro score, and the game also lets you switch to the Streets of Rage 1 and 2 soundtracks if you prefer the original chiptune feel. That option sits alongside a Retro Pixel graphics toggle, so you can play the whole thing with a modern look or a deliberately old-school one.

For players who remember the originals, those retro options are more than a novelty. They let you experience the new stages with the visual and audio language you grew up with, which is a thoughtful touch. The modern presentation is the default, but the game does not force it on you.

Fighting mechanics and the character roster

Combat is built around updated mechanics rather than a simple port of the old system. You have your standard punches and kicks, but the game adds depth through juggling, wall bounces and special moves that reward timing and positioning. The developer says the fight mechanics are new, and the aim is clearly to give experienced brawler players something to master beyond button mashing.

You start with a small set of fighters and unlock up to five new playable characters as you progress. The roster includes emblematic faces from the series alongside new additions, and each one plays differently enough that switching between them changes how you approach a stage. There are also up to 13 alternative retro characters to unlock, which are cosmetic swaps that let you fight as pixel-art versions of the cast.

The campaign runs across 12 stages, each with its own layout and enemy mix. Boss fights punctuate the progression, and the difficulty curve is designed to push you toward learning the special moves rather than relying on the same combo. If you have played a beat 'em up before, the controls will feel familiar, but the new mechanics give you reasons to experiment.

Story, Training and Arcade modes

The game splits its content across three main modes. Story mode is the full campaign, with cutscenes and a narrative thread that ties the stages together. Arcade mode strips out the story and challenges you to get through the game with a limited number of lives, which is the closest thing to the original arcade experience.

Training mode is where you can practice combos and learn the timing for special moves without the pressure of a full run. It is a useful addition for anyone who wants to improve before tackling higher difficulties or the Arcade mode. The three modes together give the package a decent amount of replay value beyond a single playthrough.

There are also secret retro levels to find, which add a layer of discovery for completionists. These are not signposted, so you will need to explore the stages carefully if you want to see everything. That kind of hidden content is a nice nod to the era the series comes from.

The Mr. X Nightmare DLC

The Mr. X Nightmare DLC continues the story after the main campaign. Axel, Blaze and the rest of the crew train with Dr. Zan, who has built a simulation from the remnants of Mr. X's brain to prepare them for future threats. It is a framing device that justifies the new content rather than a full sequel.

The DLC adds three new playable characters, a Survival mode with weekly challenges, and character customization that lets you build your own fighting style with new moves. There are also new weapons and enemies to deal with. The weekly challenges give Survival mode a reason to come back to, since the objectives change on a regular schedule.

The character customization is the most interesting part for players who like to tinker. Being able to assemble a move set rather than picking a fixed fighter adds a layer of personalization that the base game does not offer. If you enjoy the core game, the DLC is a straightforward way to extend it.

Mobile controls, performance and compatibility

Playdigious has redesigned the interface for mobile, and the game supports controllers. For a beat 'em up, a physical controller is likely to be the better way to play, since touch controls can struggle with the precision that juggling and special moves require. The revamped interface suggests the developer has put thought into how the game works on a smaller screen.

Google Play Games achievements are supported, which gives you another set of goals to chase if you like that kind of thing. The game is rated Teen, and it runs on Android devices. Multiplayer does not work on Intel or AMD devices, a technical limitation. If you were hoping to play with others on a device with that kind of chip, that feature will not be available.

The game was released on May 20, 2022, and the most recent update in September 2026 brought minor bug fixes, polish and routine maintenance. That suggests the developer is still keeping the game working on current Android versions.

Who this brawler is built for

This is a game for people who already like beat 'em ups and want a substantial one on their phone. The hand-drawn art, the soundtrack and the unlockable roster give it the feel of a full release rather than a stripped-down mobile port. If you have fond memories of the Streets of Rage series, the retro options and the returning characters will land well.

It also suits players who prefer a one-time purchase over a free-to-play structure. The $8.49 price and the absence of ads mean you are paying for the whole package up front, with the DLC available separately. That model tends to attract players who want to know what they are getting rather than grinding through a currency system.

The game works for short sessions and longer ones. Arcade mode and the weekly Survival challenges are good for a quick run, while Story mode and the DLC give you something to work through over time. If you want a brawler that respects your time and does not nag you for money, this is a strong candidate.

A worthwhile brawler for players who want the full package

Streets of Rage 4 is a confident mobile release of a well-regarded beat 'em up. The hand-drawn art, the electro soundtrack and the updated fight mechanics give it a distinct identity, and the retro options make it feel like a celebration of the series rather than a replacement. The three main modes and the unlockable characters provide a solid amount of content for the price.

The main considerations are the upfront cost and the controller question. At $8.49 with no ads, it is priced as a premium game, and the DLC is an additional purchase. The multiplayer limitation on Intel and AMD devices is also worth checking against your hardware if that feature matters to you. For everyone else, the single-player campaign and the Survival mode offer plenty to do.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys brawlers and wants a polished one on Android. It is not a casual tap-to-attack game; it expects you to learn its systems and rewards you for doing so. If that sounds like your kind of thing, Streets of Rage 4 is easy to recommend.

What's new in version 1.4.14

Thanks for playing Streets of Rage 4! This update brings minor bug fixes, polish, and routine maintenance to ensure smooth gameplay on the latest Android devices.