Invincible VS, developed by Quarter Up and published by Skybound Games, brings the hyper-violent aesthetic of the hit animated series to a fast-paced, accessible 3v3 fighting game released on April 30, 2026, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
A Brutal Adaptation of the Source Material
Crimson-stained fists lay siege to my face. My mask torn, my resolve in question, I ride out the torturous combo until an opening finally presents itself. Omni-Man is too slow to block as I deliver a series of strikes that knock him into the air before bringing him crashing back to the ground in an explosion of blood. The opening brawl of the game’s story mode is over, my dad is defeated, and I’m [Invincible title card appears].
It doesn’t take long to see that Skybound Games’ Invincible VS faithfully adapts the hyper-violent source material from Image Comics. This 3v3 fighter is equally as blood-spattered as the Amazon Prime Video series, with every playable character eligible to be reduced to a scarlet pulp should the battle go the way of the opposition. As a fan of the franchise, I feel right at home in developer Quarter Up’s work, at least initially.
Navigating Power Levels and Gore
Playing as Conquest, Anissa, and Omni-Man – my go-to triumvirate – there’s a natural order to obliterating the likes of Allen the Alien and Rex Splode. After all, the three Viltrumites are as close to godhood as fighters in the Invincible canon can get, at least for the timeframe the game seems to be set in, which doesn’t appear too far off season four of the animated show. But, it’s hard to take losing one of my trio to Cecil Stedman or Titan. Not to throw shade at the two characters because they’re both great, but these moments emphasize the importance of suspending disbelief when playing Invincible VS.
This isn’t the first fighting game to work with problematic power level matchups, but the liberal application of viscera makes the whole thing feel comedic. When watching the Invincible series, the gore is vital to the story beats. But here in Invincible VS? Well, it’s quite funny when Atom Eve turns Battle Beast into a shower of offal. This lack of impact is a good thing; I can’t imagine enduring a fighting game where every loss was emotionally devastating.
Luckily the game cleverly addresses this. Characters routinely smacktalk each other before bouts, with dialog varied based on the relationship between the fighters, and often tongue-in-cheek. My current favorite is when Omni-Man asks Invincible what he’ll have in 500 years, only for the latter to retort with “The memory of kicking your ass.”
Gameplay Mechanics: Simple yet Strategic
Invincible VS uses a pretty simple move list in comparison to the lengthier input sequences seen in the likes of Tekken or Street Fighter, but its fundamentals still take cues from other four-button fighters. Playing on PS5, the square button produces a light attack, triangle gives a medium hit, circle is a heavy blow, and X activates a special attack. Combining some inputs initiates other actions like a grab, while holding R2 can boost the damage of certain moves. Tapping L1 or L2 will call in a teammate to assist you, or you can swap over by holding the relevant input down for a few beats.
Comboing is just as straightforward, including a Dragon Ball Fighterz-like auto-combo when repeatedly using the square button, which unleashes a climactic special attack at the end if you have enough charge. These grand slam finishers call back to the show, and my favorite is Nolan flying his opponent face first through buildings in a red-tinted cityscape before dropping an enormous rock on them.
Mechanically, the core combat pillar of Invincible VS is rhythm. You have to choose when to use a strike or call in a teammate, often tying these actions into wider sequences. If you’re on the receiving end of a beatdown then you can summon an ally to break you out of your foe’s combo.
Modes and Performance
The result is a fighting game that feels less intimidating from the off. In addition to the story mode, which can be played through on normal or hard difficulties, there’s also an arcade mode offering several ladders. The Viltrumite difficulty is especially challenging because your team members’ health bars don’t fully reset between bouts.
It’s a good thing Invincible VS has a comprehensive training mode, teaching you everything from the basics to advanced combat techniques. Online play is also available, with casual and ranked options. During the review period, I was delighted to say I suffered no lag or similar issues during my few PvP encounters.
Cast Discrepancies and Final Verdict
One noticeable deviation from the streaming series is the acting cast. Steven Yeun, who plays Invincible in the Prime Video series, doesn’t return for the game, with Aleks Le taking on the title role instead. Likewise, Seth Rogen and Walton Goggins also don’t feature – leading to some immersion-breaking moments when Allen and Cecil speak – although some of the show’s names are present, including the great J.K. Simmons as Omni-Man.
Invincible VS is a joyfully gory fighting game adaptation that smartly dilutes the emotionally hard-hitting storytelling of its source material in order to serve up high-stakes combat. If you’ve come to Invincible VS in pursuit of the same emotional impact you’d find in other Invincible media, you may feel disappointed, but the more easygoing energy present in the fighting game is a justified and welcome change of pace.
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