Tribute Games has been the undisputed king of the throwback arcade beat-’em-up for well over a decade now. From crafting the unforgettable and inspired Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World game under Ubisoft, to spinning off and creating nostalgic modern classics like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge, no studio is recreating the magic of 90s coin-ops the way Tribute is.
This year, the Montreal-based studio is ready to do what it does best once more, this time in a fictional universe synonymous with old-school arcade gaming. Marvel Cosmic Invasion is a gorgeous 2D side-scroller that looks like a modern sequel to Konami’s 1992 X-Men game, expanded to include the MVPs of the entire Marvel universe. And while the game may look like a loving send-up of some timeless fan-favorites, it offers enough variety and combat depth to make this one an all-timer in its own right.
