Marvel boasts a rich and vibrant legacy within the beat ’em up genre. This is quite logical—superheroes in eye-catching costumes taking down a group of thugs is typically perceived as an enjoyable experience, regardless of the medium. However, it has been some time since we encountered a genuinely outstanding super-powered beat ’em up, and I am excited to announce that this might soon change with Marvel Cosmic Invasion—a title that seems poised to become a timeless classic in the genre.

Marvel Cosmic Invasion is developed by Tribute Games, the studio responsible for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge – a pivotal title in the recent renaissance of beat ‘em ups. This team already has substantial experience in the genre, yet Marvel Cosmic Invasion distinctly feels like a progression from Shredder’s Revenge, introducing its own creative concepts and persona. If you’ve watched a trailer for Marvel Cosmic Invasion and thought, “That looks impressive,” I assure you that playing it feels even more thrilling.

To address the obvious first, this game looks stunningly beautiful at every corner. Each sprite is animated with exquisite detail, and there’s an incredible amount of intricacy woven into the backgrounds of each individual screen, which is intentional, as noted by the Dotemu representative who led us through the demo. As you battle through the streets of New York, you might spot overturned hot dog carts and deserted Daily Bugle trucks emitting wisps of smoke.

“Marvel Cosmic Invasion—a title that seems destined to become a timeless classic in the genre.”

Next, you find yourself on a helicarrier, where S.H.I.E.L.D. agents hunker behind barriers, randomly firing shots at foes while you pummel the minions. Naturally, this all unfolds to a high-energy soundtrack that elevates the adrenaline.

Many of the fundamental mechanics in Marvel: Cosmic Invasion resemble those in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge, so if you’ve played the latter, you’ll feel quite at ease. Up to four players control different characters in a side-scrolling format, with each hero possessing a unique move set. You fight through multiple screens and waves of enemy grunts before confronting the stage’s boss—classical beat ’em up elements. However, the brilliance of Cosmic Invasion stems from its outstanding presentation and the fluidity of its combat.

There are a staggering 15 playable characters in Marvel: Cosmic Invasion, and each one feels distinctly different. While that might appear to be the standout feature, the true highlight is Cosmic Invasion’s remarkable tag-team system. Each player selects two heroes and can interchange between them at any moment. The timing of when to use the tag system enables intricate combos and special moves with each character—making every combination feel entirely distinct.

“But the brilliance of Cosmic Invasion stems from its outstanding presentation and the fluidity of its combat.”

For my demo, I chose Captain America and Spider-Man, and I’m pleased to share that Marvel: Cosmic Invasion perfectly captures Cap’s shield throw. As Cap, I could ricochet my shield among enemies, stunning them, then effortlessly switch to Spidey and swing in for a lengthy combo. Spider-Man’s special, of course, allows him to unleash web balls to strike enemies from a distance and temporarily entangle them.

Every character has a specific focus in battle—Wolverine unleashes a barrage of blows that can strike multiple foes, Nova can soar and effortlessly deal with airborne enemies, and Venom can physically lift and throw adversaries. Discovering synergy between characters is exhilarating, and that was merely with the limited options I had a chance to experience. I’m already envisioning how all 15 characters may synergize.

Marvel: Cosmic Invasion possesses all the elements of a superb beat ’em up, and although there have been previous tag-team titles, I struggle to recall one that feels superior to this. It’s a game I don’t need to experience further—I’ll be there on day one.

Marvel Cosmic Invasion is set to launch in 2025 on PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.