After setting the bar for arcade-inspired beat 'em ups with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge, Dotemu and Tribute Games are aiming to bring brawlers to a wider audience with tag-team fighting based on one of the most iconic comic book universes in Marvel's Cosmic Invasion.
In Marvel Cosmic Invasion, the immortal supervillain Annihilus launches an attack across the galaxy, threatening all life. Earth-born and cosmic fighters must now join forces in a star-spanning adventure to defeat the Annihilation Wave. In this arcade-style, tag-team brawler, players fight their way through the streets of New York City and the depths of the Negative Zone to stop Annihilus from spreading death across the cosmos.
The game features classically inspired, side-scrolling combat. The roster includes 15 playable heroes, some of whom are extremely well-known Marvel characters from popular franchises, while others are less well-known. These include Captain America, She-Hulk, Rocket Raccoon, Wolverine, Spider-Man, Storm, Phyla-Vell, Venom, Nova, Black Panther, Beta Ray Bill, Cosmic Ghost Rider, Silver Surfer, Phoenix and Iron Man. Both the pixel design of the characters and the animations are outstanding. The combat gameplay is satisfying, with an impressive level of detail. There are two game modes: campaign and arcade. The latter has unlockable modifiers to make things more challenging.
Phoenix and Iron Man in Marvel Cosmic Invasion © Dotemu, Tribute Games, Marvel Games
Each character has their own set of moves, ranging from parrying and melee combat to ranged attacks and rising attacks, as well as many elements based on the comic book originals. The repertoire is more extensive and varied than in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge, but this is also because the heroes are more diverse than just the four Turtles. Players choose two heroes for each level and can instantly switch between them with the Cosmic Swap System. This allows them to capitalise on the heroes' distinct superpowers and special attacks to create unique team-ups and dish out devastating damage. Additionally, numerous power-ups, passive improvements (bound to the Hero Level) and rewards can be unlocked. However, the game itself, along with its combat and combo systems, remains at an arcade level. This makes it more accessible and ideal for couch co-op. Those who enjoy complex combos may not get their money's worth.
The estimated playing time for a run in which players focus solely on the most important aspects is three to five hours. If players concentrate on the main path and extras, they can expect to spend seven hours. Completionists can expect to be busy for 20 hours. Marvel Cosmic Invasion can be played solo or in local and online co-op mode with up to four players, with drop-in/drop-out functionality and crossplay.
Marvel Cosmic Invasion © Dotemu, Tribute Games, Marvel Games
Marvel Cosmic Invasion is developed by Tribute Games. The Montreal-based studio was founded in May 2011 by former Ubisoft employees Jonathan Lavigne and Jean-François Major, who both worked on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for Game Boy Advance and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, among other titles. They released their first Tribute Games title, Wizorb, on Xbox 360 in September 2011. This was followed by Mercenary Kings, Curses 'N Chaos, Ninja Senki DX, Flinthook and Panzer Paladin. They are also the developers of the million-seller Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge (2022), which was published by Dotemu in partnership with Nickelodeon.
"I'm quite sure I speak for the whole team at Tribute Games when I say we are profoundly honored to work on Marvel Cosmic Invasion. This project allows us to pay homage not only to the iconic MARVEL characters but also to the classic arcade games that shaped our love for gaming. We approach this cherished license with the utmost respect, infusing every pixel with the care and passion it deserves. We once again set out to modernize and push forward the genre while respecting what made the classics great. We couldn’t ask for better partners at Marvel and Dotemu who both understand and share our passion. They amplify our dream for this project." Jean-François Major, Tribute Games CEO and co-founder
The game's publisher is Dotemu, as well as Gamirror Games in China and other Chinese-speaking regions. The French company is part of Pullup Entertainment and specialises in revitalising legendary pop culture franchises across video games, TV and cinema by releasing original PC and console (indie) games. Dotemu has developed and published a number of global top-sellers, including Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge, Streets of Rage 4 and Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, as well as their first own IP, Absolum, which sold over 200,000 copies in its first week of release. Dotemu's development and publishing work has also supported the release of the critically acclaimed Metal Slug Tactics, Windjammers 1 and 2, Pharaoh: A New Era, Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap, and more. Battlestar Galactica: Scattered Hopes is scheduled for release in early 2026, with additional projects planned for 2026 and beyond.
She-Hulk, Rocket Raccoon in Marvel Cosmic Invasion © Dotemu, Tribute Games, Marvel Games
"Marvel Cosmic Invasion celebrates a universe that’s enthralled our team since childhood, and the genuine honor of being entrusted with this incredible roster also begins a new era for Dotemu’s work with the best entertainment franchises in the world. Marvel Cosmic Invasion is truly a lifetime in the making – and after witnessing Tribute Games' unwavering devotion to the fans and passion for beloved characters firsthand throughout the development of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge, we knew teaming up with them for a modern evolution of arcade-style MARVEL action was the only choice." Cyrille Imbert, CEO of Dotemu
"At Marvel Games we feel privileged to make games that we ourselves want to play. Our whole team are huge fans of Tribute and Dotemu's work, so it was inevitable that we'd assemble with them to bring players the ultimate Marvel Beat' em Up, Marvel Cosmic Invasion - a game we can’t wait for players to dig into!" Haluk Mentes, Head of Marvel Games
Marvel Cosmic Invasion was released on 1 December 2025. December 2025, and will be available to purchase from digital storefronts on PC, PlayStation 4|5, Switch & Switch 2 and Xbox X|S for €29.99. The game will also be available in physical editions on 13 March 2026 for distribution worldwide, excluding Asia. The Standard Edition for the PlayStation 5, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch will cost €39.99; the Switch 2 edition (full cartridge format) will cost €49.99. The Deluxe Edition for PlayStation 5, Xbox and Nintendo Switch will cost €59.99 and €69.99 for the Nintendo Switch 2 (full cartridge format). The Deluxe Edition includes a physical copy of the game, a special Deluxe Edition box, a SteelBook, a 543x338 mm poster featuring the main cast of the game, 15 135x170 mm art cards spotlighting each starring fighter and their powers with holographic effects, and sticker sheets spanning the game's 15 playable fighters.
Following Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge, Marvel Cosmic Invasion is another retro arcade beat 'em up from Tribute Games and Dotemu, boasting an impressive licence.
