I’ve always had a soft spot for Scott Pilgrim, since there are few franchises that capture the chaotic energy of gaming culture. Bryan Lee O’Malley’s cult comic series has always lived somewhere between indie romance, absurdist comedy, and video game logic (which are basically my three favourite things in the world). Characters level up after fights, enemies explode into coins, and dramatic life moments are often resolved with a well-timed punch. These elements make the series almost perfect for video games, and back in 2010, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game became something of a cult classic: a colourful, challenging beat ’em up that combined retro arcade design with gorgeous pixel art and an unforgettable soundtrack. Years later, fans are still talking about it.
Fast forward to 2026, and we enter Scott Pilgrim EX, a new entry that attempts to build on that legacy rather than recreate it. The game takes the familiar side-scrolling brawler formula and expands it with new mechanics, a broader story, and a deeper roster of playable characters. And what do we get? A game that feels instantly recognizable to longtime fans while still offering enough fresh ideas to justify its existence. It doesn’t reinvent the genre, but when everything clicks, mostly when the combos flow, and the music kicks in, it reminds you exactly why people fell in love with Scott Pilgrim in the first place. And no, you don’t need to do a deep dive on the series or movie to get into this game (I do recommend it, though).
A universe built on game logic
If you’ve never encountered the Scott Pilgrim universe before, the premise sounds like something someone dreamed up after an all-night gaming session. Think Ready Player One meets Pixels, but even more absurd and chaotic. And what do you get? Well, a story about Scott Pilgrim, a 23-year-old bassist in a Toronto garage band called Sex Bob-Omb. His life is already a mix of awkward relationships, indie music culture, and slacker humor when he meets the mysterious Ramona Flowers. And like with all good 2000/2010 movie plots, there’s just one small problem. To date Ramona, Scott must defeat her seven evil exes, each one more ridiculous than the last. It’s that premise that drives the original comics, the film adaptation, and the earlier game. Scott Pilgrim EX doesn’t simply retell that story. Still, instead, it expands the universe with a new narrative built around strange distortions appearing throughout Toronto, glitches in reality that cause old enemies and bizarre new threats to appear. Without spoiling too much, the story leans into the idea that Scott Pilgrim’s world already operates on “video game rules.” Characters acknowledge the weirdness of coins appearing after fights or the sudden reappearance of villains who were supposedly defeated. Very meta, but it works extremely well, mostly due to the tone that remains exactly what fans expect: sarcastic, awkward, and occasionally absurd. Dialogue is filled with the same dry humour and slightly uncomfortable social exchanges that defined the comics and the movie (with Michael Cera!)
It’s not a story that will leave you emotionally devastated or philosophically enlightened, but it fits the universe perfectly, and more importantly, it gives you a reason to start punching your way through Toronto. And for the love of the Scott Pilgrim universe, do a deep dive into the comics, movie, and series; you won’t be disappointed.
Punch first, ask questions later
When I booted up Scott Pilgrim EX, it reminded me of the good old days playing the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Arcade game on the NES. And that makes sense, since this modern title is still a classic side-scrolling beat ’em up. Think Streets of Rage, River City Ransom, or even Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge, if you want to talk about more ‘modern’ titles. You move through stages from left to right, clearing groups of enemies with punches, kicks, grapples, and special attacks. Early on, the combat feels intentionally simple: basic combos, a few special moves, and a dodge mechanic to avoid incoming attacks. But as the game progresses, the system starts to open up and even gives you a sort of open world.
Enemies begin appearing in larger groups, some with shields, others with ranged attacks or powerful grabs. Suddenly, positioning matters more. Button mashing stops being enough. During one early stage in downtown Toronto, I found myself completely surrounded by enemies after charging in too aggressively. A skateboard-wielding enemy stunned my character while another launched a flying kick that sent Scott sliding across the pavement. It was chaotic, but also exactly the kind of frantic arcade moment the genre lives for.
The progression system plays a big role here. Defeated enemies drop coins that can be spent in shops scattered throughout the levels. These shops offer stat boosts, new equipment, and items to restore health and power, enabling more specialized attacks. It’s a mechanic that feels straight out of River City Ransom, and it works incredibly well here. I found myself replaying earlier stages just to farm coins and unlock stronger abilities before tackling tougher encounters (especially the late game bosses, which are quite a challenge if you haven’t been levelling up your stats).
Boss Battles that steal the show
Let’s talk boss fights, because this is where the comics and movies shone, and this is also where Scott Pilgrim EX really shines. Each boss encounter feels like a small spectacle, often blending humour with surprisingly creative mechanics. Think dinos, a goth vampire in not-Castlevania style, and even a full-blown mech, straight out of the new Gundam anime. Each comes with its own crazy entourage and storyline that fit the universe. It’s the kind of over-the-top design that perfectly matches the tone of the Scott Pilgrim universe. Oh, and don’t get me wrong, the boss fights aren’t all sunshine and roses, because they are also the place where co-op gameplay becomes particularly fun (or friendship destroyers). When I did some couch-co-op with my eldest, we spent several minutes trying to coordinate attacks during one particularly chaotic battle, only for someone (it wasn’t me, I swear) to accidentally trigger an explosive environmental hazard that knocked us down and almost ended the battle. Yes, it sucked, but moments like that are part of the charm, too.
Seven fighters, but no unlock grinding
One thing that might surprise longtime beat ’em up fans is that Scott Pilgrim EX doesn’t hide its roster behind unlock conditions. From the moment you start the game, all seven (ha) playable characters are available. No secret requirements, no story completion gates, just pick whoever you want and start swinging. And don’t you worry, switching between characters is just as easy. At any point, you can return to Scott and Ramona’s house in the Suburbs hub area and swap fighters before heading back out into the city. Each character also has their own progression path, unique stats to improve, and individual endings to discover, which adds a lot of replay value if you’re curious about how every storyline plays out. And honestly, you’ll probably want to try them all.
The roster is impressively balanced, and there isn’t a truly “bad” character here; every fighter has their own strengths, quirks, and playstyle. Still, after spending several hours experimenting with each of them, some clearly stand out more than others, depending on how you like to approach combat. Here’s how the lineup roughly stacks up:
Ramona Flowers
Ramona is categorized as a mid-range fighter, and that description fits her playstyle perfectly. She mixes quick kicks with swings of her oversized hammer, while occasionally pulling strange items out of her famous subspace bag. Her heavy attacks lean heavily into that gimmick. One move sees her dive into the bag and instantly pop out behind an enemy for a surprise strike, while another lets her bounce forward using the hammer like a pogo stick. Her special ability temporarily transforms her into Super Ramona, triggering a flashy burst attack that damages nearby enemies.
Roxie Richter
Ramona’s former partner, Roxie Richter, brings a completely different energy to the battlefield. Fittingly described as the game’s ninja-style character, Roxie fights using a combination of fast punches and deadly katana strikes. Her whirlwind slash is particularly useful for chaining combos together and controlling crowds, while another move lets her disappear in a cloud of smoke before reappearing above opponents. Be sure to use her to tackle another certain Ninja.
Lucas Lee
If subtlety isn’t your thing, Lucas Lee might be exactly what you’re looking for. Scott Pilgrim’s skateboard-riding rival plays the role of the roster’s resident tank character. He’s slower than most fighters, but he compensates with heavy hits that can send enemies flying across the screen. Lucas incorporates his skateboard into several attacks, including a brutal upward flip that deals serious damage. Another move sends him charging forward with a barrage of strikes, though the timing can be tricky, and it occasionally fails if enemies step out of range.
Scott Pilgrim
As you might expect, Scott himself sits squarely in the middle of the roster. He’s the game’s classic all-rounder: solid damage, balanced speed, and a versatile move set that doesn’t lean too heavily toward any one mechanic. Scott’s combat style focuses primarily on punches and kicks, though he also pulls out his guitar for one of the game’s most satisfying special attacks—an area-of-effect blast that clears space around him in a flash of sound waves. Scott also has one of the most reference-filled move sets in the game. Fans will notice callbacks to moments from the comics and animated series, including his iconic Power of Love sword and signature headbutt attack. If you’re starting, Scott is easily the best character to learn the game’s combat systems with.
Matthew Patel
Matthew Patel might not be the most famous villain in the Scott Pilgrim universe, but in Scott Pilgrim EX, he’s easily one of the most entertaining fighters to play. His combat style combines flamboyant martial arts with supernatural abilities, including bursts of flame and mystical attacks. Matthew’s heavy attacks are particularly fun. One unleashes a dramatic, explosive clap that clears enemies around him, while another summons a demon hipster chick to attack opponents for him. Yes, it’s exactly as ridiculous as it sounds.
Robot-01
Before playing Scott Pilgrim EX, Robot-01 was the character I was most sceptical about. A robotic fighter in a game full of indie rockers and comic book villains felt like an odd fit. But after a few stages, Robot-01 quickly proved to be one of the roster’s biggest surprises. His move set is incredibly varied. Between chainsaw swings, energy blasts, and heavy mechanical punches, Robot-01 has a tool for almost every situation.
Gideon Graves
At the top of the roster sits Gideon Graves, and it doesn’t take long to see why. The mastermind behind the League of Evil Exes isn’t just a major figure in the story, since he’s also one of the most well-rounded fighters in the game. Gideon’s basic attacks combine quick punches, sword strikes, and kicks that flow effortlessly into each other. His speed makes him extremely effective at maintaining combo pressure. Simply put, Gideon feels like the most complete character in the entire roster.
Even though some characters clearly shine brighter than others, the real strength of Scott Pilgrim EX’s roster lies in its variety. Each fighter feels different, and swapping characters regularly keeps the combat fresh. Over the course of my playthrough, I found myself rotating between several favourites depending on the stage or mood. And honestly, that experimentation is part of the fun, because no matter who you pick, chances are you’ll still end up delivering plenty of stylish beatdowns across Toronto.
Pixel Art that pops
For those who have read a lot of my reviews, you probably know that I’m a sucker for pixel art. And visually, Scott Pilgrim EX is absolutely gorgeous and fits right into my ‘sucker for it’ category. The game builds on the iconic pixel art style of its predecessor while adding more fluid animations and detailed environments. Characters express emotion through exaggerated animations, and attacks have satisfying visual impact. Oh, and it’s not just the characters; the whole of Toronto itself feels alive. Neon signs flicker in the background, pedestrians react to fights and destruction happening nearby, and observant players will notice countless references to the comics hidden throughout the levels. The soundtrack also deserves praise. While the original game’s music became legendary among fans, EX still delivers an energetic mix of chiptune-inspired tracks and indie rock influences that fit the series perfectly. At times, I found myself pausing to listen to the background music during certain stages. I even racked up some old bands I used to listen to in the 2010s, just to get back into that mindspace.
Conclusion
So, to conclude! Scott Pilgrim EX follows the beat ’em up genre without pushing its boundaries, and honestly, it doesn’t need to. Instead, it focuses on delivering exactly what fans want: fast-paced brawling, memorable characters, stylish pixel art, and a soundtrack that keeps the energy high from start to finish. There are a few rough edges, though, since some stages feel slightly longer than they need to be (especially with the quest directions being a bit ambiguous sometimes), and multiplayer combat can occasionally become visually overwhelming. But those issues rarely get in the way of the game’s core strengths. At its best, Scott Pilgrim EX captures the feeling of sitting on a couch with friends, controllers in hand, laughing at the ridiculous chaos unfolding on screen. And sometimes, that’s exactly the kind of game you need.
