Marvel Cosmic Invasion Review (Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S & PC)

Every now and then, a game shows up that just wants to be fun, and Marvel Cosmic Invasion fits that perfectly. It’s a short, punchy pixel-art beat-’em-up from Tribute Games and DOTEMU, the same duo behind Shredder’s Revenge. The game carries that same “simple but exciting” energy. If you’ve played classic arcade brawlers, you’ll feel right at home. It’s all side-scrolling chaos, big flashy moves, and that satisfying, slightly messy button-mash feel. Cosmic Invasion brings nothing heavy or complicated, just enough to make the game feel fresh without losing that old-school charm. Now, let’s jump right into its review.

Comic-Book Adventure

The campaign in Cosmic Invasion is short, about three to four hours, but it never feels rushed or dull. It moves quickly, and a big reason for that is how little time it spends on heavy exposition. This isn’t a game trying to match the MCU. It feels more like a Saturday-morning cartoon where you hop from planet to planet, punch waves of bad guys, and watch Annihilus throw a cosmic tantrum in the background. The story is goofy in a fun way, full of little nods for long-time comic fans, but still simple enough for younger players or anyone who just knows the basics of Marvel.

Now, the real charm comes from how much the game leans into Marvel’s weird side. Of course, you get the usual headliners like Spider-Man, Iron Man, Black Panther, and Captain America. But you also get characters like Nova, Phoenix, She-Hulk, and Cosmic Ghost Rider. It’s a nice mix. It never goes deep enough that casual players get confused, but it adds just enough oddball heroes to make the roster feel fresh. It’s the kind of lineup that makes comic readers smile because they’ve seen these characters get overlooked for years.

Unlocking characters is also fun. Most of them show up as bosses first. You fight them, win, and then they join your team. It feels like the classic Smash Bros. There’s something cool about battling Phoenix or Venom, learning their moves, and then getting to use those moves yourself right after.

The stages keep that same Marvel energy. One moment, you’re dealing with waves of symbiotes. Next, you’re walking through a bright pixel-art version of Genosha. Later, you’re in weird cosmic zones lit up with neon colors. None of it takes itself too seriously, and that’s the point.

Punches and Powers

Combat is really where Cosmic Invasion shines. The moment-to-moment action is tight, punchy, and just plain fun. Anyone can pick it up and start mashing buttons, but there’s enough depth under the hood for players who actually want to dig in and learn the system. It hits that sweet spot where simple play still feels good, but skillful play feels great.

Additionally, every hero plays like their own little flavor of chaos. They all come with basic attack strings, dashes, jump attacks, grabs, and a handful of special mechanics tied to their style. Spider-Man swings in with slick web pulls and acrobatic follow-ups. Venom throws out huge grapples that make enemies bounce like toys. Iron Man stays mobile, mixing beams with airborne strikes. Phoenix is basically a walking explosion who solves most problems by blowing up the entire screen. It’s refreshing to play a beat-’em-up where characters don’t blur together; these heroes actually feel different, not reskinned clones.

The dodge-and-counter system adds another nice layer. You don’t need it if you just want to cruise through the campaign, but it feels great when you start using it on purpose. A well-timed counter isn’t just proper, it looks cool. The animations are so clean and flashy that you’ll want to trigger them just to watch them go off again.

But the real star of the combat is the tag system. You pick two characters and can swap between them instantly with a single button. It’s super fast, super smooth, and opens the door for all kinds of ridiculous combos. You can juggle an enemy in the air as Spider-Man, tag mid-string, and finish the combo as Iron Man. Some characters even have special tag-in attacks, so you can improvise on the fly and mix things up however you want. 

The Cosmic Matrix

Progression systems in beat-’em-ups are always tricky, because you want depth without bogging things down. Cosmic Invasion takes a very middle-ground approach, and it works for this kind of game. Moreover, characters level up together after missions, unlocking small stat boosts like increased health and attack power. That said, the game is, however, not an RPG, and it’s not pretending to be one. These upgrades feel like small incentives to keep switching characters instead of sticking to a single favorite for the whole campaign.

Additionally, every level has optional challenge objectives meant to encourage experimentation. One stage might challenge you to defeat enemies using Iron Man’s beam attacks, while another pushes you to land a certain number of grabs with Venom or score a specific combo count. These are simple yet smart additions that give completionists something to chase without forcing players into tedious repetition.

Then there’s the Cosmic Matrix, a sort of unlockable hub where you spend “cosmic cubes” earned from missions. This acts like a stripped-down version of Mortal Kombat’s Krypt, letting players unlock music tracks, arcade mode modifiers, palette swaps for heroes, and assorted extras. It’s quick, clean, and doesn’t require hours of grinding. If anything, the only complaint is that there aren’t more palette swaps. Beat-’em-ups practically beg for ridiculous alternate colors, so it feels like a missed opportunity.

If you’re the kind of player who wants to see everything the game offers, you can stretch it to 15–20 hours. Most players, especially those focused on one or two playthroughs, will probably land closer to six to eight hours. It’s not a massive fighting game, but everything it includes feels deliberate and polished.

The Pixel-Art

Tribute Games once again shows why they’re some of the best in the business when it comes to pixel art. Cosmic Invasion looks fantastic from the first punch to the last boss. The character animations are smooth, expressive, and full of personality. Iron Man’s dive-punch landing feels dramatic in the best way. Venom’s transformations look both cool and a little creepy. And Spider-Man’s acrobatic swings translate surprisingly well into chunky pixel form.

Enemies are just as fun to look at. They all have clear shapes and attack styles, which helps you read the action even when the screen is completely packed. The backgrounds might be my favorite part, though. Every area pops with color and little visual touches that make the world feel alive. It’s one of those games where you can pause almost anywhere and still find something neat in the environment. It’s a great reminder of how far pixel art has come, even in 2024 and beyond.

The soundtrack backs everything up with a ton of energy. It’s more into retro, but not in a way that feels dated. It’s lively, punchy, and keeps you in the fighting rhythm. Additionally, the sound effects hit hard, too. Punches thud with weight, beams crackle just right, and special attacks come with that crunchy arcade-style blast that makes them feel extra satisfying. The whole presentation is tuned to match the “modern arcade” vibe the game is going for.

Performance is rock solid as well. On PS5, everything runs silky smooth, even when the action gets completely ridiculous. Beat-’em-ups live or die on responsive inputs, and this one feels tight from start to finish. Even with four players swapping characters while explosions fill the screen, the game never stutters or slows down. It’s clean and exactly what this game style needs.

Verdict

At the end of the day, Marvel’s Cosmic Invasion does exactly what it needs to do. It’s fun, fast, and easy to jump into. It leans into the comic-book side of Marvel, not the movie side, and that gives it a lighter, more playful feel. This is the kind of action game players pick up when they want something exciting without a big-time commitment.

Of course, the campaign is short. But it never drags or pads itself out. The roster feels fresh, the pixel art looks amazing, and the tag system adds a ton of style to the fights. Co-op is a blast too, turning the whole thing into loud, silly chaos in the best possible way. 

Of course, the game has flaws. Some missions repeat the same ideas, especially if you play everything in one stretch. A few characters are clearly stronger than others, so the balance can feel uneven. And if you’re hoping for deep progression or long-term customization, you won’t find much of that here. 

Ultimately, the game keeps things simple, for better or worse. Even with those issues, Cosmic Invasion is easy to recommend. If you enjoy beat-’em-ups or just want a bright and quirky Marvel game, this one is worth your time. It’s the kind of game you pick up when you just want to relax, punch some villains, and enjoy a couple of hours of pure, colorful fun.