When Marvel Games first started taking the gaming scene more seriously, many assumed that all of its projects would be massive AAA titles with realistic visuals and developed by major studios. However, the entertainment giant has shown a willingness to explore diverse concepts and refreshing genres. With the teams from Tribute Games and Dotemu, an original, fresh beat ’em up is coming in the form of MARVEL Cosmic Invasion.
Featuring dynamic combat combos and dazzling pixel art, this planet-hopping adventure is positioned as a love letter to the Marvel Universe, as we can clearly see from the announcement trailer.
After Annihilus has launched an unprecedented attack across the galaxy, all life hangs in the balance, and you must play your part in saving the day from New York City to the depths of the Negative Zone. Players will take control of some of Marvel’s most iconic superheroes, including Nova, Spider-Man, Wolverine, Phyla-Vell, Captain America, and Storm, as they battle against the forces of the primary antagonist — Annihilus. In total, there are 15 playable heroes.
Beyond standard combat, the game also incorporates a tag-team system, allowing players to switch between characters mid-fight, utilising unique combos and special attacks for each hero. Additionally, MARVEL Cosmic Invasion supports both online and offline cooperative multiplayer, ensuring that players can enjoy the action with friends.
The art direction is also great to look at, with the retro stylings clear with the stunning, full-colour pixel art designs. Dotemu has certainly been very busy in the revival of 2D games, with another project, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, in the works and set for a Summer 2025 release.
Marvel has confirmed that MARVEL Cosmic Invasion is slated for release in 2025. However, a specific launch date has yet to be announced. The game will be available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
