Support NeoGAF

[adamsapple]

Game Information

Game Title: MARVEL Cosmic Invasion

Platforms:

• PlayStation 5 (Dec 1, 2025)
• PlayStation 4 (Dec 1, 2025)
• Xbox Series X/S (Dec 1, 2025)
• Nintendo Switch (Dec 1, 2025)
• PC (Dec 1, 2025)

Trailer:

Review Aggregator:

OpenCritic - 82 average - 81% recommended
Metacritic - 79 average - based on 17 reviews (PC version)

Critic Reviews


But Why Tho? - Charles Hartford - 7.5 / 10

Marvel Cosmic Invasion delivers fast, fun action with only a few hiccups. Despite these stumbles coming with some of its biggest moments, the game still offers a lot of good times, especially if you are a Marvel fan.

CBR - David Jagneaux - 9 / 10

Just about everything about Marvel Cosmic Invasion is so smooth and sublime, I fear it may have ruined my ability to go back and play some of my favorite genre classics like Streets of Rage 2 and Knights of the Round—it's just that good.

CGMagazine - Zubi Khan - 6 / 10

Marvel Cosmic Invasion is a perfectly fine game, one that pays homage to not only the beat-em-up genre but takes clear inspiration from seminal titles such as Marvel vs. Capcom 2.

COGconnected - Jaz Sagoo - 85 / 100

Quote not yet available

ComingSoon.net - Tyler Treese - 9 / 10

Marvel Cosmic Invasion lives up to the rich history of superhero beat 'em up games. Full of charm and plenty of depth, it winds up being a blast whether you're playing alone or with a group of friends.

Console Creatures - David Pietrangelo - 9 / 10

It's often hard to iterate and improve on a genre that's been around for decades, but Marvel Cosmic Invasion makes the most of that opportunity. It might feel like you've done this song and dance before, but with a deep and otherworldly story, a great cast of characters, and excellent visuals and music, it's an absolute blast to play.

Console-Tribe - Luca Saati - Italian - 75 / 100

Marvel Cosmic Invasion is a 2D beat 'em up that perfectly captures the spirit of classic arcades, enriched by nostalgic pixel art and a cast of iconic superheroes well characterized. The campaign offers an enjoyable experience with a good dose of fan service, which is amplified by the use of co-op play. However, after yet another game of this genre from Dotemu, the need for something new in terms of gameplay begins to be felt, and the Cosmic Swap mechanic alone is not enough to ward off the specter of the typical repetitiveness of the genre. Furthermore, the longevity is rather short and does not help the low replay value keep the game memorable on one's console after completing the campaign.

DualShockers - Jake Valentine - 9 / 10

In an era that has more options than ever for co-op gaming, Marvel Cosmic Invasion is well worth your time and money, whether you're looking to spend a weekend together gaming or keep coming back to see everything the game offers.

Game Rant - Nick Rodriguez - 8 / 10

Marvel Cosmic Invasion soars with stunning visuals, slick beat-em-up gameplay, and an inventive lineup of diverse comic book characters.

GameGrin - Alana Dunitz - 9.5 / 10

MARVEL Cosmic Invasion is a love letter to all Marvel fans. The game's roster has classic and new heroes that jump into the beat 'em up action. This title is so much fun!

GameSpew - Richard Seagrave - 9 / 10

Aside from some minor issues, more often encountered when playing alone, Marvel Cosmic Invasion is one of the best beat 'em ups currently available, and an absolute treat for Marvel fans.

Gameffine - Jay Krishnan - 83 / 100

Marvel Cosmic Invasion delivers on its promise: a soulful tribute to the Marvel Universe wrapped in a competent, if a bit by-the-book beat 'em up package. Dynamic combos flow effortlessly, seamless co-op supports up to four players with drop-in/drop-out, stunning sprite work captures comic authenticity, and the OST fits the controlled chaos perfectly. Adding one or two more game modes could cement its longevity beyond the short campaign.

GamerFocus - Julián Ramírez - Spanish - 7.3 / 10

Marvel Cosmic Invasion is a very simple beat 'em up that offers immediate fun without much fuss. It boasts a fantastic cast of playable characters and lots of love for the comic book universe, despite a mediocre story loosely inspired by the Annihilation saga. Veteran gamers might be disappointed by the lack of difficulty, few incentives to use different strategies, and lack of innovation in a genre that is becoming increasingly repetitive.

GamesRadar+ - Scott McCrae - 4 / 5

You can play as any character duo you like in any level; however, each level has an intended duo.

GamingBolt - Ravi Sinha - 9 / 10

A loving homage to the Marvel Comics of old, a fitting adaptation of the Annihilation Saga and an incredible beat 'em up in its own right, Marvel Cosmic Invasion is simply fantastic.

IGN - Will Borger - 7 / 10

The stages and enemies aren't going to blow you away, but Marvel Cosmic Invasion's tag team action still has the juice.

Loot Level Chill - Adam Cook - 8.5 / 10

Marvel Cosmic Invasion offers loads of variety in its stages and playable heroes, and is another stellar entry into the beat 'em up genre.

Manual dos Games - Roberto Paggi - Portuguese - 8 / 10

Marvel Cosmic Invasion is more than just an homage or a game propped up by nostalgia; it's a game that not only explores characters who are far from the company's spotlight, but also delivers a co-op-focused experience with relatively robust mechanics and an incredible amount of content for fans.

Nintendo Life - Tom Massey - 8 / 10

Pure cartoon fun, and all the better for it, Tribute Games has not only totally honoured the source material, but delivered one of the best arcade Marvel games ever made. The aesthetic is beautiful, and the effort involved in creating such a varied cast of beat-'em-up protagonists is admirable.Yes, there are areas for improvement, and some of its combat-feedback oversights feel like missed opportunities. But if you primarily want multiplayer action, to unlock and grind and level up your cast, and to get knee-deep in Marvel mayhem, it's right on the money. If you're working through its single-player Story campaign, you're likely to get bored before the end owing to its ease, but unlock Hard Difficulty and Cosmic Invasion becomes all it was destined to be.

NintendoWorldReport - Neal Ronaghan - 9 / 10

The Cosmic Swap mechanic lets you play as more characters while adding a lot of depth and strategy. The lively spritework pops off the screen like it is a comic book come to life (it kind of is), emboldened by the stellar voice work and banger of a soundtrack. Cosmic Invasion rules.

PSX Brasil - Marco Aurélio Couto - Portuguese - 90 / 100

Marvel Cosmic Invasion is pure nostalgia, embodied in one of the most fun beat'em ups of today. It's a must-have title for all generations of Marvel fans due to its huge variety of characters, combat system full of possibilities, and guaranteed fun thanks to a cooperative mode suitable for all ages.

Pizza Fria - Rodrigo Mendes Arbex - Portuguese - 9 / 10

MARVEL Cosmic Invasion is one of the best surprises of the year and easily one of the most complete beat 'em ups ever made under the Marvel label.

PlayStation Universe - Garri Bagdasarov - 7.5 / 10

With plenty of characters and great combat, there is a lot to love about Marvel Cosmic Invasion. The fantastic visuals and sound design shine through from Tribute Games and Dotemu. It's just a shame that the game's difficulty spikes and lack of extra lives in the campaign hold it back. Thankfully, the Arcade Mode more than makes up for the game's shortcomings, with great modifiers that let you enjoy the game however you want.

Prima Games - Ali Hashmi - 8 / 10

Marvel Cosmic Invasion is another fun beat 'em up from Tribute Games that does not reinvent the wheel but delivers a polished and enjoyable 2D action experience. It's easy to pick up, with plenty of variety in characters, each with their own entertaining specials and secondary attacks for endless combo potential, especially in co-op. The animation is consistently excellent, and the art direction does a great job of honoring the source material. While the levels lack some mechanical variety, there are plenty of incentives to replay the campaign and unlock everything.

Push Square - Sammy Barker - 8 / 10

Marvel Cosmic Invasion does little to surprise, but it executes excellently on its retro beat-'em-up ambitions. Depth perception can be a problem, but we like how the tag-team format gives the game a bit more of a chaotic feel, especially during local and online co-op sessions. And we also appreciate how each superhero handles slightly differently, adding a lot of replay value to a brawler that already has a relatively robust content offering.

Saving Content - Scott Ellison II - 4 / 5

MARVEL Cosmic Invasion is such a blast, it also serves as an introduction to Marvel, beat'em ups, arcade games, and so much more. Tribute Games has done so much right here, nails the superhero landing with ease to please fans, and even make new ones. There's a richness of value to be found with its unlockable characters, modes, palettes. MARVEL Cosmic Invasion with an impressive display of talent and execution on what's to be the last don't miss recommendation of the year.

SmashPad - Danreb Victorio - 4 / 5

Marvel Cosmic Invasion is exactly the kind of fun you should expect from a Marvel video game no matter what era you're living in. Like I said in my review of TMNT: Shredder's Revenge three years ago, Marvel Cosmic Invasion is a reminder that with the right approach, seemingly outdated genres can be more than relevant today. Tribute Games has done it again.

TechRaptor - Austin Suther - 8.5 / 10

Marvel Cosmic Invasion is another fantastic beat 'em up from developer Tribute Games. With a large cast of heroes and the tag-team system, Cosmic Invasion offers a fresh experience for fans of the genre.

The GameSlayer - Callum Marshall - 8 / 10

"Marvel Cosmic Invasion is another modern meets retro classic under the Dotemu umbrella. It offers classic comic-book violence with an arcade feel, and a bucket-load of fan service for Marvel fans to look out for as they attempt to save the cosmos. However, above all, the hero tag-team feature feels like a revolution, making even single player runs feel like co-op chaos, which is also an option if you fancy it. It lacks a truly spectacular narrative, and could do with bespoke difficulty settings, but all in all, this is a superb Beat-em-up that does Stan Lee's band of freaks proud."

TheGamer - George Foster - 4 / 5

Whether you're stuck comparing every brawler to TMNT for the rest of time like me or not, Cosmic Invasion is still a great experience that proves once again that Tribute is the best there is at what it does - and what it does best is very nice.

TheSixthAxis - Adrian Burrows - 5 / 10

Having found Tribute Games' previous release, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge, to be one of the best scrolling beat 'em ups I'd ever played, I had high expectations for Marvel Cosmic Invasion. How could Shredder's Revenge with Marvel characters go wrong? Sadly, Marvel Cosmic Version is entirely OK but fails to be anything more than that.

Video Chums - A.J. Maciejewski - 8.4 / 10

My gaming chum and I had a wonderful time with MARVEL Cosmic Invasion so if you enjoy beat 'em ups then playing this gem of a game is a must. In fact, I think I'll put a little cape on my physical copy when it arrives in March.

Worth Playing - Cody Medellin - 9 / 10

As mentioned before, Marvel Cosmic Invasion is a very good title, and Tribute Games shows that it knows how to do a beat-'em-up well. The additions to the standard brawling mechanics make it a deep game for those wanting an evolution in the genre, but it remains simple enough for button-mashers to enjoy. The game runs at a good length and initially seems easy, but that changes once you start unlocking the modifiers. The amount of unlocks and challenges provide completionists with a good reason to return again and again.

Xbox Achievements - Richard Walker - 90%

Marvel Cosmic Invasion is the work of developer Tribute Games, the studio that, in 2022, brought us Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Rev...

Xbox Tavern - Jamie Collyer - 9.2 / 10

MARVEL Cosmic Invasion is yet another fantastic brawler, with excellent combat complimented by the dual character switching and combos, some brilliant A/V work, and plenty of reason to play it through multiple times. Some difficulty spikes ruin the flow a little, but get some buddies in and you're in for a real treat with MARVEL Cosmic Invasion.

XboxEra - Nick Baker - 8 / 10

While I don't quite feel like Marvel Cosmic Invasion hits the dizzying heights achieved by Shredder's Revenge and Streets of Rage 4, this is still an excellent chapter in the recent renassiance of the scrolling beat 'em up genre and well worth your time whether you're a Marvel fan or a scrolling beat 'em up fan. But obviously a must buy if you're both...like me!

ZTGD - Terrence Johnson - 9 / 10

With its inclusion in Game Pass Ultimate (a shame we have to differentiate) it's definitely worth checking out.

 

[Spukc]

I might get absolum instead shame

 

[Pey.]

Here's my review (6.5/10) with some screenshots & full playthrough video: https://www.pcmrace.com/2025/12/01/marvel-cosmic-invasion-review/

 

[MacReady13]

I might get absolum instead shame

WHAT?! Game is getting good reviews. Plus, why not get both? Both are cheaper games.

 

[MiguelItUp]

I'll definitely check this out soon enough, maybe Absolum first.

 

[Mr Hyde]

Is this game like that Turtles beat em up/brawler? Shredder's revenge.

 

[DenchDeckard]

ooooh, Think im gonna grab this.

 

[nikos]

Definitely going to try this, especially since it's on Game Pass.

 

[Spukc]

WHAT?! Game is getting good reviews. Plus, why not get both? Both are cheaper games.

I know i'm a huge xmen fan.
Loved the turtles game and capcom marvel games are my jam.

This just seems a bit off fing love the pixel art too.

Can't put my finger on it sorry

 

[Kacho]

Will grab on sale lateron. The roster is very unimpressive. Lots of random "but why" picks in there.

 

[Ultralow35]

Easy download on Gamepass save some money love this type of game

 

[Punished Miku]

I'm not expecting much. Characters look a little chubby.

I'll give it a whirl tonight though. Beat em ups are almost always fun even if a bit mid. Didn't know this was the TMNT devs.

 

[Reizo Ryuu]

game doesn't seem to be working properly for me on the xbox app, the only option is play with cloud atm, no install.

 

[Schmick]

Gamepass keeps winning

 

[MacReady13]

Gamepass keeps winning

How? With price rises? And not owning games?

 

[Spukc]

Looking at absolum i hate the shitty flash game look. Same as their other game.

But the gameplay looks lit.

Ugh..

 

[adamsapple]

game doesn't seem to be working properly for me on the xbox app, the only option is play with cloud atm, no install.

Give it an hour or so, maybe it's not fully 'live' live yet.

 

[Herbspiceguy]

I'm down for a good beat 'em up, but I can't stand the semi-SD stylized characters. Same reason I skipped the TMNT game.

Konami did it right in the 90's. Why fuck it up?

 

[Kacho]

I'd kill for a new Bucky O'Hare

 

[NeonDelta]

This had completely slipped my mind. Remember it being revealed but then wiped from memory.

 

[Spukc]

Had some money left over on switch 2
The intro video is fucking potato quality on switch 2 i kid you not. Youtube 2006.

Crt filter looks solid

 

[ssringo]

I'm having fun. Works on Deck though I did have one crash after a game over (going after challenges to the detriment of my hp).