Double Dragon Co-op
Nintendo Entertainment System · Beat 'em Up
River City Ransom
Certified classic Co-op
| System | Nintendo Entertainment System |
|---|---|
| Released | 1989 |
| Genre | Beat 'em Up |
| Developer | Technos Japan Corp. |
| Publisher | Infogrames |
| Players | 1–2 players (co-op) |
| Commitment | Quick session (Under an hour, or endless arcade fun) |
| Legacy | Certified classic · legacy score 15 |
Developed by Technos Japan Corp. and published by Infogrames, River City Ransom arrived on the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1989 as a beat 'em up. Depending on the region, you may also know it as Street Gangs.
It landed about 4 years into the NES's life. Other notable NES releases from 1989 include Mother, Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse and DuckTales. Among the 20 NES beat 'em ups in our database, it ranks #1 by legacy score.
Technos Japan Corp. also made Nintendo World Cup, Double Dragon and Double Dragon III: The Sacred Stones for the NES.
River City Ransom supports up to 2 players, including cooperative play, which makes it a strong pick for playing with a friend.
Pick it if…
- you want to fight, blast and test your reflexes
- you have time for a quick session (under an hour, or endless arcade fun)
- you want a game to beat together with a friend
- you want to experience one of the NES's defining games
Maybe skip it if…
- you want depth and variety over simple, satisfying brawling
What playing River City Ransom is like
Beat 'em ups send you down scrolling streets fighting waves of thugs with punches, kicks, throws and grabbed weapons. Most can be finished in a single sitting and shine with a second player.
Tip for newcomers: Avoid getting surrounded: keep enemies on one side of you and save your special attacks for crowds. Bring a friend if the game supports co-op.
River City Ransom cheats & codes
119 codes on file (Game Genie, Action Replay, Emulator memory codes). Here are a few Game Genie codes to start with:
| Start With Double Every Attribute! | TOSNAVYE |
|---|---|
| Increase Stamina To 99 | LVNYIVYL |
| Player 1 Starts With Double Money | AGENAYAZ |
| Player 2 Starts With Double Money | AGOYYYAZ |
| Player 1 Starts With $100 Extra | PAENIYAA |
| Player 2 Starts With $100 Extra | PAONGYAA |
River City Ransom walkthroughs & guides
Stuck, or want to go deeper? These trusted sites have full walkthroughs, completion times and more for River City Ransom.
If you like River City Ransom, the Matrix also picks…
Double Dragon II: The Revenge Deep cut
Renegade Deep cut
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Classic
Bad Dudes Vs. DragonNinja Deep cut Co-op
P.O.W.: Prisoners of War Classic
Trojan Deep cut
Playing NES games today
NES games are short on paper but often famously tough, so expect to replay levels and learn patterns. Many first-party titles are available through Nintendo Switch Online, original cartridges remain easy to find, and you can play backups of games you own in an emulator such as Rec0m88.
River City Ransom FAQ
When did River City Ransom come out on the NES?
River City Ransom was released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1989.
Who made River City Ransom?
It was developed by Technos Japan Corp. and published by Infogrames.
Is River City Ransom multiplayer?
Yes. River City Ransom supports up to 2 players, including co-op play.
How long does River City Ransom take to play?
As a beat 'em up, River City Ransom typically falls into the "Quick session" category: under an hour, or endless arcade fun. Your time will vary with skill and how much you explore.
Read more about River City Ransom on Wikipedia. Facts on this page are compiled from the open libretro database and Wikidata; "legacy score" reflects how widely a game is documented across Wikipedia's language editions. Spotted an error? Let us know.