Tribute Games Did It Again
The devs behind this cosmic nostalgia bomb are Tribute Games, the same crew who gave us Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge. That game was an absolute love letter to the 90s arcade era - and this time, they’ve cranked the dial all the way to “Excelsior.”
Where the Turtles gave us seven playable characters (eleven with DLC) That all played pretty much the same, Marvel Cosmic Invasion is packing a whopping 15 characters, each with distinct playstyles. Captain America brawls and hurls his shield across the screen. Storm takes to the air, raining down lightning. Spider-Man swings, webs, and quips his way across levels. They don’t just look different; they play different.
And it gets better: each player controls two heroes at once, swapping between them mid-combo, triggering wild tag-team attacks, and unleashing screen-clearing ultimates that feel like pure Saturday morning cartoon chaos.
The Demo That Sold Me
So far, we only have two demo levels and nine playable characters - but wow, what a taste test.
It’s everything you’d want: fast-paced, colorful, loud in the best way. Tribute nailed that perfect arcade rhythm where every hit feels like it lands, and every boss fight pushes you just to the edge of your last “continue.”
And the nostalgia is ridiculous. Playing as Wolverine in the brown-and-yellow suit, leaping onto enemies and shredding through them with his claws, just feels right. Blasting energy beams as Nova against swarms of alien insects? Also feels right. It’s like these characters were born for arcade cabinets, and we’re only now getting the game they always deserved.
Why This Works
It’s easy to dismiss retro-style brawlers as “nostalgia cash grabs,” but Marvel Cosmic Invasion proves it’s more than that. This isn’t just “remember arcades?” fan service - it’s an actual, polished, modern game that just happens to wear a 90s jacket.
Tribute understood the assignment: give us the feel of pumping quarters into a glowing cabinet surrounded by our friends, minus the quarters (and minus the big kids yelling at you to get off their machine).
One more round
The full game isn’t out yet, but based on the demo? I’m all in. I can’t wait to unlock the full roster, fight the bosses, and dig through every pixel for Easter eggs. This game isn’t just a callback - it’s a resurrection of the arcade spirit.
So yeah, I’ll say it: Marvel Cosmic Invasion might be the best thing to happen to superhero games since Spider-Man PS4.
And if you don’t believe me? Download the demo and try it for yourself. Just don’t blame me if you suddenly crave pizza, neon carpets, and the sound of 50 other kids screaming at the Tekken cabinet behind you.
You can download the Demo here
