Invincible, Robert Kirkman’s comic book-turned-Prime Video animated show, will join the fighting game ranks in 2026 as Invincible VS. Like the also-upcoming Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls, Invincible VS is a team-focused title, but its license and development crew affords it a bloodier, more over-the-top spin on superhero and supervillain battles. After playing a hands-on demo at Evo 2025, it’s now on my short-list of games I can’t wait to play next year.
Controls and Combat
The three-versus-three fighter is being developed by Quarter Up, a studio featuring former members of Double Helix Games, the team behind the excellent Killer Instinct (2013). And like that game, Invincible VS has sharp, combo-heavy gameplay with similar hitstun animation. You battle using simplified controls that reduce the input learning curve and cater to casuals, or take up classic controls that leverage more traditional buttons and motions. (The latter option was announced during Evo, to the cheers of many in attendance). The button layout comprises Light Attack, Medium Attack, Heavy Attack, Dash, Assist 1, and Assist 2, which make for an intuitive way to enter battle.
Regardless of how you play, Invincible VS has satisfying, hard-hitting combos that result in glorious, Mortal Kombat-like bloodletting. If you’re familiar with the comic book or show, you know what to expect in terms of gore. However, the game includes a Content Creator mode that cuts the bloodshed on the streamer’s side in order to appease platform holders like Twitch and YouTube, companies with a rich history of demonetizing violent video game footage. So, you needn’t worry about losing revenue should you decide to stream Invincible VS matches.
(Credit: Quarter Up)
The fighter has the double jumps, snapbacks, and launchers that you’d expect from the genre, but you can unleash a move-improving Boost by tapping Medium and Heavy. This briefly enhances move, letting you turn a standard super into an EX super or greatly increase your dash speed. By mixing Boost into your combat flow, you enhance the offensive possibilities.
Tag fighting names are beloved for their chaotic natures, which see multiple characters popping normals, specials, or supers, and Invincible VS is no different. The downside to that wildness is exploitable attack loops that lead to infinities. However, Quarter Up built anti-infinite tech into the backend to avoid a character getting stuck in an offensive cycle, much like Marvel Tokon and Skull Girls. On that note, the action resets to neutral once a team member dies to avoid the incoming fight getting caught in a mix-up attack, like in Dragon Ball FighterZ.
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Deep Gameplay Mechanics
Assist Breakers, moves that call in an assist character to free your point character from a combo string, also reverse the tide of attack. Assist Breakers don’t cost meter, but they put the assisting characters on a cooldown, so use the technique wisely. Likewise, Counter Tags are defensive moves that let you break an offensive flurry from your opponent’s point and assist characters. However, the person controlling the offensive pair can cancel the attack if they suspect a Counter Tag is coming, creating a bait situation that opens the door to a big combo. In a way, it’s similar to Killer Instinct’s Combo Breaker/Counter Breaker dynamic, though focused on active tag attacks. I liked the cat and mouse strategy it created in the heat of battle.
In addition, Invincible VS has a cool way to prevent time-outs and keep its aggressive play going: Sudden Death. When the round clock hits zero, all your resources (meter, health from teammates) get poured into your main’s health bar, transforming the game into a one-versus-one fighter in overtime. The last person standing takes the win. Sudden Death is a great counter to people who like to run out the clock.
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Similar to Marvel Tokon, Invincible VS lets you knock a foe from one stage to another, deftly creating the feel of superhuman fisticuffs. It also has destructible environments and character battle damage that lasts the duration of the brawl, which conveys the brawls’ violence. Quarter Up will include rollback netcode, an essential for lag-free, online multiplayer bouts.
Coming in 2026
Invincible VS is shaping up to be yet another noteworth entry in the suddenly packed tag fighter genre. Keep an eye out for further Invincible VS impressions between now and its debut on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S in 2026.
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About Jeffrey L. Wilson
Managing Editor, Apps and Gaming
