IGN Chats with Marvel Games on the Timeless Charm of '90s-Style Beat 'Em Ups

Marvel Cosmic Invasion is a smash hit. With 1.5 million players, Tribute Games' '90s-inspired beat 'em up follows in the successful footsteps of its nostalgia-driven predecessor, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge. Both games are go-to pick-up-and-plays in my home, where my eight-year-old son and I often grab Xbox controllers and fire up the Xbox Series S for quick sessions. Local co-op is a blast—I get a nostalgic rush as someone who grew up playing beat 'em ups in arcades with friends, while my son enjoys a similar experience with me at home. As for Marvel Cosmic Invasion, he has plenty of questions, like: What is Beta Ray Bill, and why does he have Thor's axe?

Marvel Cosmic Invasion is no accident for Marvel Games. In a video interview, executive producer Eric Monacelli and product development manager Brian Marquez explain that the team aimed to create a game for people like me. They hoped parents would play Marvel Cosmic Invasion with their kids, sparking cross-generational gaming magic. Beat 'em ups are the perfect genre for that, and the '90s are trendy again. I'll savor the '90s revival as long as it lasts!

Read on for insights into the development of Marvel Cosmic Invasion, how Marvel Games selects video game characters, and why there's plenty more beat 'em up action on the horizon.