Streets of Rage is a beat 'em up that Sega developed and published for the Mega Drive. It came out in Japan as Bare Knuckle on 2 August 1991, in North America on 18 September 1991 and in Europe in October 1991. Noriyoshi Ohba directed it, and Yuzo Koshiro's soundtrack draws on house, techno, R&B and hip hop. Two players can fight through the game together.
Sega also made reduced versions for the Game Gear (1992) and, for PAL regions only, the Master System (1993). Both cut content, and the Master System version is single-player.
The game has been re-released many times, from the Wii Virtual Console and Steam to the Sega Genesis Classics compilation. The 2013 3DS version, 3D Streets of Rage, adds stereoscopic 3D and a mode that recreates the Japanese Bare Knuckle version. One compilation skipped it: the North American GameCube version of Sonic Gems Collection left it out to avoid an E10+ rating.1
Names and releases
| Region | Title on the box | Platform | Date | Publisher | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NA | Streets of Rage | Genesis | Sep 18, 1991 | Sega | 1 |
| NA | Streets of RageSources give 31 December 1992 or just December 1992 | Game Gear | December 1992 | Sega | 1 |
| NA | Streets of RageVirtual Console | Wii | Feb 19, 2007 | Sega | 1 |
| NA | Streets of RageNo two-player mode | iOS | Sep 14, 2009 | Sega | 1 |
| NA | 3D Streets of RageSega 3D Classics; same day in Europe | Nintendo 3DS | Dec 19, 2013 | Sega | 1 |
| JP | ベア・ナックル 怒りの鉄拳 | Genesis | Aug 2, 1991 | Sega | 1 |
| EU | Streets of Rage | Genesis | October 1991 | Sega | 1 |
| JP | ベア・ナックル 怒りの鉄拳 | Game Gear | Nov 27, 1992 | Sega | 1 |
| EU | Streets of Rage | Game Gear | 1992 | Sega | 1 |
| EU | Streets of RagePAL regions only | Master System | June 1993 | Sega | 1 |
| JP | ベア・ナックル 怒りの鉄拳Virtual Console | Wii | Feb 27, 2007 | Sega | 1 |
| EU | Streets of RageVirtual Console | Wii | Mar 2, 2007 | Sega | 1 |
| WW | Streets of RageSteam, standalone and in SEGA Mega Drive Classics Pack 4 | Windows | Jan 26, 2011 | Sega | 1 |
| JP | 3Dベア・ナックル 怒りの鉄拳Sega 3D Classics | Nintendo 3DS | Aug 21, 2013 | Sega | 1 |
| WW | Sega Genesis ClassicsCompilation, also on PS4 and Xbox One (Sega Mega Drive Classics in PAL regions) | Switch | May 29, 2018 | Sega | 1 |
| WW | Streets of RageNintendo Switch Online (Sega Genesis library); sources give 10 or 11 April 2025 | Switch | April 2025 | Nintendo | 2 |
Also known as: ベア・ナックル 怒りの鉄拳 JP3Bare Knuckle JP33D Streets of Rage WW13Dベア・ナックル 怒りの鉄拳 JP3
Box art by region
NA Streets of Rage 
EU Streets of Rage 
JP ベア・ナックル 怒りの鉄拳
Box art © its publishers, shown to identify each release. Scans: libretro-thumbnails.
Version differences
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TextJPNA/EU
The twin bosses of round 5 are called Onihime and Yasha in Japan and Mona and Lisa abroad.3
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ContentGame Gear
The Game Gear version drops Adam and the special attack, has five rounds, and needs a link cable for two-player play.1
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ContentMaster System
The PAL-only Master System version is single-player, shortens the music and intro, has its own round 6 boss and shows only two enemies on screen at once.1
Translations
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English Official
Sega1991Genesis · Japanese versionReleased · complete
Sega released it in English as Streets of Rage in North America and Europe in 1991.1
Where to play legally today
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Nintendo Switch Online Subscription
Streets of Rage (SEGA Mega Drive - Nintendo Switch Online)
Mega Drive/Genesis version
Checked: 2026-10-134nintendo.com
Reception
Streets of Rage topped the UK Mega Drive chart on release and was among Sega's best-selling games as of 1992. Reviewers praised its graphics, two-player mode, moves and Yuzo Koshiro's house- and techno-influenced soundtrack; Mega ranked it sixth among the best Mega Drive games.1
Sources
Checked: 2026-10-13Text reviewed: 2026-10-13
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