Can Marvel Tokon, 2XKO, and Invincible VS Bring Back the Golden Age of Fighting Games?
The recent wave of fighting game announcements has brought an unexpected subgenre back into the spotlight: tag team fighters. Discover why these cooperative brawlers are making a comeback and what these new titles promise for the future of competitive play.
An Unexpected Fighting Game Renaissance
Let's be honest - the fighting game community is hungry for something fresh. The current landscape has grown stagnant, with major franchises facing various challenges:
- Tekken 8 struggling with balance issues and community dissatisfaction
- Mortal Kombat 1 appearing abandoned after its Definitive Edition release
- Guilty Gear Strive remaining as the lone active 2D anime fighter
- Fatal Fury underperforming despite critical acclaim
- Street Fighter 6's latest season failing to deliver impactful meta changes
The scene desperately needs chaotic, unpredictable energy - exactly what these new tag fighters promise to deliver. With Marvel collaborating with Arc System Works, Invincible getting a Killer Instinct-style treatment, and Riot's long-awaited 2XKO update, the timing couldn't be better for this subgenre's resurgence.
Why Now? The Perfect Time for Tag Fighters' Return
Tag fighters have been absent from the spotlight since Dragon Ball FighterZ's 2018 release. The genre has lacked a standout successor to Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 (UMvC3), widely considered the pinnacle of tag team fighting games. Other attempts like Marvel vs Capcom Infinite disappointed fans with inferior visuals and roster choices.
Niche titles like BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle and Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid failed to capture mainstream attention, whether due to limited appeal or unconventional mechanics.
Understanding Tag Fighter Appeal
What defines a tag fighter? These games typically feature:
- 2v2 or 3v3 team formats
- Assist mechanics letting teammates attack while controlled character remains active
- Deeper strategy through team composition and synergy
The magic lies in crafting perfect team dynamics. UMvC3's legendary "MorriDoom" team (Morrigan/Doctor Doom/Vergil) demonstrated how character roles could combine devastatingly. Morrigan handled zoning, Doom provided pressure assists, while Vergil served as the ultimate comeback character.
Other creative teams proved lower-tier characters could shine through perfect synergy, like Phoenix Wright teams capitalizing on evidence collection mechanics or Tron Bonne comps maximizing super combo chains.
The New Generation of Tag Fighters
Four major titles are poised to revitalize the genre:
2XKO
Riot Games' free-to-play League of Legends fighter promises simplified special inputs while maintaining deep team mechanics. Despite development since 2016, the game still lacks a concrete release window - a missed opportunity given Riot's esports expertise.
Hunter X Hunter NEN IMPACT
Scheduled for July 2025 release, this 3v3 fighter from UMvC3 veterans brings the beloved manga's battles to life. With assists, tag supers, and creator pedigree, fans anticipate the same high-octane gameplay that made Marvel 3 legendary.
These upcoming titles could finally break the fighting game community's current stagnation by delivering the chaotic, creative combat that made tag fighters so beloved.