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Scott Pilgrim EX Reimagines the Beat ’Em Up Formula
Following its appearance during the latest Nintendo Direct, Scott Pilgrim EX has received a dedicated gameplay overview that offers a clearer look at how Tribute Games is expanding the series beyond traditional side-scrolling brawling. Rather than following a linear, stage-based structure, the game transforms Toronto into a connected, explorable city filled with quests, secrets, and branching paths.
The new footage highlights a more adventure-driven approach, where combat remains central, but exploration plays an equally important role. Players are encouraged to move freely between districts, uncover optional challenges, and engage with NPCs who offer quests that send players across the city. Progress is no longer defined by simply moving left to right, but by how thoroughly players engage with Toronto’s many interconnected spaces.
A City Built for Exploration and Chaos
Toronto itself functions as more than just a backdrop. The city is packed with familiar Scott Pilgrim landmarks, video game references, shops, and brawl-friendly environments that reward curiosity between fights. Completing side objectives and exploring off-the-beaten-path areas unlock new rewards, making downtime between encounters feel purposeful rather than incidental.
Combat remains fast, exaggerated, and expressive, but the open layout allows fights to break out in unexpected places. Boss battles, environmental interactions, and hidden encounters are woven directly into the world, giving each area its own rhythm and identity. Tribute Games appears intent on ensuring that exploration feels just as meaningful as landing combos.
A Growing Roster Built for Co-Op Play
Scott Pilgrim EX supports up to four-player co-op, with players choosing from a roster that blends core protagonists with unexpected allies. Scott Pilgrim and Ramona Flowers return as central figures, joined by fan-favourite characters such as Roxie Richter, Lucas Lee, Matthew Patel, and Robot-01. One additional playable character has been teased but remains unannounced.
Each character features a distinct moveset inspired by their appearances across the franchise, encouraging experimentation and team composition. As players progress, characters can be upgraded to better handle tougher enemies and more demanding encounters, reinforcing the game’s RPG-like progression systems within a classic brawler framework.
A New Story Rooted in the Scott Pilgrim Universe
Narratively, Scott Pilgrim EX introduces an original storyline that sees members of Sex Bob-omb kidnapped and their instruments stolen as Toronto falls under siege from demons, robots, and militant vegans. Scott and Ramona’s journey takes them across the city, from urban streets to beaches and even through time itself.
The story has been co-written by creator Bryan Lee O’Malley alongside Tribute Games, with new music from series mainstay Anamanaguchi.
Scott Pilgrim EX launches on March 3 for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2.
