It's been a while since any fighting games featuring Marvel characters were released – the last one being Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite in 2017. However, this is about to change with Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls from fighting game experts Arc System Works and Sony Interactive Entertainment.
Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls is a 4v4 tag-team fighting game developed by the fighting game experts at Arc System Works, creators of Dragon Ball FighterZ and Guilty Gear Strive, in collaboration with Sony Interactive Entertainment and Marvel. Beneath its anime-inspired, comic-book-style graphics lies a deep and dynamic combat system. The control scheme comprises three normal attacks, character-specific special attacks that alter depending on directional inputs, and dedicated macro buttons. Additionally, the Assemble button allows players to call on other team members for assists and tag-team extensions during a fight.
Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls © Arc System Works, Sony Interactive Entertainment, Marvel
Players assemble teams of four characters. The entire team shares a single health bar. Once this is empty, the match is over. At the start of a match, players can only use their primary character and a single assist fighter. During combat, the Tōkon gauge charges up and can be used for spectacular 'Assemble' combos - essentially an assist mechanic. Players gradually gain access to their full team by fulfilling certain mid-match conditions, such as 'Wall Breaks' (spectacular, interactive stage transitions), which are triggered by performing a combo or high-damage move in the corner of the arena. A Skill Gauge enables fighters to perform more powerful EX attacks or a cinematic Ultimate Skill. For newcomers, there is an option to trigger combos automatically. This system is intended to help beginners, but it specifically rewards players who learn the mechanics manually, as automatically triggered combos deal less damage than manually triggered ones. Additionally, they often deplete the gauge automatically, resulting in an expensive move. When playing against human opponents, these combat strategies are predictable, but the system is excellent for introducing new players to the genre. However, anyone wishing to climb the online leaderboards or hold their own against advanced players in local Versus mode will lack the necessary flexibility and power if they rely on rush combos.
Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls © Arc System Works, Sony Interactive Entertainment, Marvel
The different movesets have been adapted very well to each character, in a coherent way. They all feel different to play and have unique abilities, playstyles and backstories. For example, Wolverine and Black Panther rely on pressure in close combat, whereas Iron Man and Star-Lord tend to keep their opponents at a distance. The Hulk can withstand a lot of punishment, Magik uses teleportation portals and Deadpool often breaks the fourth wall with his humorous attack moves. Sometimes so much happens on screen simultaneously that it’s hard to follow the flow of the match. The initial roster comprises 20 characters.
The game's five thematic groups are designed to help players navigate the story mode and reflect the lore of the Marvel Universe. In normal gameplay, players can mix and match characters as they wish. However, when putting together a team, players should consider how well the characters' attacks complement each other, for example by thinking about how a ranged fighter can support a melee fighter. As is common in fighting games, additional characters are available via downloadable content.
Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls © Arc System Works, Sony Interactive Entertainment, Marvel
Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls features offline content, including Episode Mode, local Versus mode (also against the CPU), Training Mode, All-Star Arena (a classic arcade mode with roguelike elements or a survival variant), Character Guides and more. Episode Mode blends motion-comic storytelling with action-packed battles in which the Champion of the Universe hosts a cosmic tournament. The Arcadia Rumble mode (a chaotic party mode) is also fully playable offline with optional online features. There is also an open lobby to socialise in between battles, as well as online casual and ranked matches and private lobbies.
The combat, variety of fighters and audiovisual impact are all outstanding in Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls. However, the PC version suffers from technical issues, such as performance problems, frame drops, micro-stuttering, high CPU load and rollbacks during online matches, which particularly impact the multiplayer experience. Although initial patches have been released, the issues have not yet been fully resolved. A PlayStation account (not available in all countries) and an internet connection are required to access the online lobby, private rooms, ranked and casual matches, player profiles, and other online features. Furthermore, the game does not run on Linux and is therefore not compatible with the Steam Deck.
Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls © Arc System Works, Sony Interactive Entertainment, Marvel
Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls was released on 6 August 2026 for PC and PlayStation 5 by Sony Interactive Entertainment aka PlayStation. In addition to the Standard Edition (€69.99), a Digital Deluxe Edition (€94.99) is also available. This includes the Year 1 Character and Stage Pass, offering access to four additional playable characters and a new playable stage after release. It also includes Howard the Duck as a lobby avatar and Cosmo as a lobby companion. The Ultimate Edition(€109.99) includes the Storm Punk Rock Costume, the Spider-Man 'Advanced Suit 2.0' Costume, the Iron Man Classic Costume, the Captain America Classic Costume, the Doctor Doom Supreme Ruler Costume, and the Animated Chromatic colour unlock for all 20 launch characters.
Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls is a powerful and engaging fighting game that is very well produced. However, it still suffers from technical issues on PC.
