Side-scrolling beat ’em ups have been enjoying a bit of a renaissance lately. Games like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge and other modern throwbacks have reminded players just how satisfying it can be to punch, kick, and combo your way through waves of enemies with friends. Now Scott Pilgrim is stepping back into the genre once again with Scott Pilgrim EX.
Based on the beloved Scott Pilgrim comic universe, the game leans heavily into its chaotic energy, quirky humor, and over-the-top fights. The question is whether Scott Pilgrim EX stands out in today’s beat ’em up lineup or if it struggles to keep pace with some of the faster, more refined entries in the genre.
Gameplay
At its core, Scott Pilgrim EX is exactly what you’d expect from a classic beat ’em up. You move through levels, fight waves of enemies, string together combos, and occasionally face off against bigger boss encounters. The combat system is simple and approachable, making it easy to jump in and start throwing punches right away.
That said, the gameplay pacing can feel noticeably slower compared to other modern beat ’em ups. Games like Cosmic Invasion feel snappier and more responsive, while Scott Pilgrim EX takes a more deliberate approach to combat. Some players may enjoy the heavier rhythm, but if you’re used to the faster tempo of recent genre hits, the slower pace can stand out.
The game clearly shines when played with others. Like many titles in the genre, the design strongly encourages co-op play, letting players team up and clear levels together. The cooperative chaos adds a lot of fun to the experience and helps smooth over some of the pacing issues that become more noticeable when playing alone.
Graphics & Design
Visually, Scott Pilgrim EX absolutely nails its aesthetic. The game embraces a comic-book-inspired art style that feels perfectly aligned with the source material. Characters pop off the screen with expressive animations, exaggerated attacks, and colorful environments that look like they were pulled straight from the pages of a graphic novel.
The soundtrack is another standout element. It’s energetic, stylish, and fits the tone of the Scott Pilgrim universe incredibly well. The music helps drive the action forward and keeps the game feeling lively even during longer combat sequences.
Feedback
While the core concept works well, Scott Pilgrim EX does struggle with pacing. The slower gameplay becomes more noticeable the longer you play, and because the game runs fairly long for a beat ’em up, that pacing can start to drag in later stages.
Another challenge is the solo experience. While technically playable alone, the game clearly isn’t balanced with single-player in mind. Enemies can overwhelm you quickly, and some sections feel unnecessarily difficult without a teammate to share the load. Beat ’em ups traditionally shine in co-op, but here the gap between solo and multiplayer enjoyment feels particularly wide.
Final Verdict
Scott Pilgrim EX delivers a stylish beat ’em up experience that captures the personality and charm of the Scott Pilgrim universe. The comic-inspired visuals and excellent soundtrack are clear highlights, and the game can be a lot of fun when played with friends. However, the slower combat pacing and the difficulty of playing solo hold it back from feeling as smooth as some of the genre’s recent standouts. If you can grab a player two (or three), you’ll likely have a much better time.
Looking for more games to add to your backlog? Be sure to check out our 2026 Video Game & Tech Release Calendar, where we track every major release across PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
