- Publisher: Tribute Games
- Release Date: Mar 3, 2026
- Also On: Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X
- Critic score
- Publication
- By date
- Unscored
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Mar 3, 2026Scott Pilgrim EX is everything fans of the cult classic game could have hoped for, taking the concept and expanding it into something extraordinary.
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Mar 6, 2026Scott Pilgrim EX could have relied entirely on nostalgia but instead, it experiments. Not every experiment feels perfectly tuned. The segmented mission flow may divide purists, and the narrative plays within comfortable boundaries rather than pushing emotional stakes further. Yet these are measured risks in pursuit of evolution rather than stagnation. Scott Pilgrim EX stands as a confident sequel. It respects its legacy, sharpens its mechanics, and dares to expand its scope. For fans of cooperative brawlers and character-driven action games, it represents one of the more compelling genre entries in recent years.
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Mar 3, 2026While it could do a better job of explaining some of its mechanics, could be a little more complex in its combo-crafting, and doesn’t have the best keyboard controls, Scott Pilgrim EX is still an excellent beat-’em-up game set in the iconic comic book universe. Best enjoyed with friends, this game can still be played and appreciated solo, especially for die-hard fans of Scott Pilgrim.
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Mar 3, 2026Overall, I really enjoyed Scott Pilgrim EX and think that Tribute Games Inc. did an amazing job! It may not be the same team that developed the first game, but I hope that fans of the franchise enjoy it nonetheless. There’s mayhem, multiplayer, and a whole lot of enemies to brawl. I don’t have much to complain about, and the game genuinely surprised me with how much I enjoyed it. Typically, I don’t go for side scrolling beat ’em ups. This one takes that genre and does so much more with it.
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Mar 3, 2026In Scott Pilgrim EX, you can truly feel the care that the developers at Tribute Games poured into every character, scenario, enemy, and boss. It is a sequel that respects its roots while remaining unafraid to evolve, representing a massive leap forward compared to the first title. It perfectly blends everything a high-quality beat ‘em up needs with the franchise’s signature nerdy humor. It is an unexpected and extremely fun way to expand Bryan Lee O’Malley’s universe, being literally impossible not to laugh throughout the journey or to have a blast with its nonsensical plots and over-the-top bosses. Ultimately, it is the perfect kind of beat ‘em up for a pizza night with friends – and this one even comes with a bit of extra spice to make things even more interesting. The only major downside is that its main story is too short, and I finished it wanting even more.
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Mar 3, 2026Sixteen years after the original game, Scott Pilgrim EX builds upon what made the first one so great. From challenging and unique boss fights to a fun story that fits in the Scott Pilgrim universe, this is a game that's not only a love-letter to the source material, but does a great job of standing out on its own.
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Mar 3, 2026The Scott Pilgrim universe has a naturally good vibe that captures the urban brawling and traversal of a River City brawler better than most of them. It’s a nonstop gauntlet of funny little refrerences and in-jokes, but it’s carried by such a solid cast, fun moves, and ridiculous fights that it’s easy to appreciate whether you know much about Scott Pilgrim or just want to punch goons.
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Mar 3, 2026Scott Pilgrim EX takes a beloved formula and boldly restructures it. The blend of interconnected exploration, refined brawling, and engaging RPG mechanics creates an experience that honors its roots while feeling distinctly modern.
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Mar 3, 2026Scott Pilgrim EX takes the beloved franchise into new pixelated heights, offering fans of the 2010 original a worthy sequel to jump into, Mario-style.
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Mar 16, 2026Scott Pilgrim EX is a fun game to play. It has a good-sized roster and variety in the characters' movesets. It has some compromises in making it a Metroidvania map system, but it does make it a different experience in the genre.
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Mar 16, 2026While the price may be a hard ask for some, I highly recommend giving Scott Pilgrim EX, especially if you’re a fan of Scott Pilgrim or the beat-em-up genre. I can only hope that, considering the way the game ends, we get a follow-up at a later date. Whether if its with DLC, a sequel, a new anime, a new film, or even a new comic, I will be there no matter what to see how Scott Pilgrim’s “precious little life” continues.
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Mar 6, 2026Scott Pilgrim EX is a strong follow-up to the nearly 16-year-old original beat-em-up that builds on most of its ideas. Though the format is a bit less enjoyable than a more straightforward game in this genre would be, the amount of passion for the source material and the satisfying feel of combat should be more than enough to make this a worthwhile buy for fans of Scott Pilgrim, beat-em-ups, or an especially solid purchase for fans of both.
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Mar 4, 2026If this is the first beat’em up you’ve picked up in a while, I’m sure you’ll have a great time. Although I have to admit for me, having played other beat’em ups prior to Scott Pilgrim EX, it feels like it leans on its IP a little too much and doesn’t really do anything that innovative. That said, if a buddy called me up to help them in their run, I will have no qualms with showing up with my fully powered crew to flex on the robots, vegans and demons that are besieging my friends. To tie back to my opening statement, perhaps it’s time for me to take a breather from beat’em ups, however I will be the first in line if there is a second chance to pick up the premium editions of this title…simply because I need to put it next to the premium editions of the first game.
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Mar 3, 2026Scott Pilgrim EX is a great beat 'em up that gets almost everything right. The combat is dynamic and exciting, the world is gorgeous and filled with references to other video games, and light RPG systems that made progression more enjoyable than I expected. It can feel a little too simple at times overall, and I had some trouble lining up my attacks, but it never detracts from the gameplay and is still fun, especially when you have another friend to play with.
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Mar 3, 2026Scott Pilgrim EX is a great game built for a very specific crowd. Its deliberate arcade-style beat ’em up design limits broad appeal, but fans of the genre, art style, or IP will find little to complain about. It’s cheesy, wacky, unapologetically retro, and simply EXceptional.
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Mar 3, 2026Scott Pilgrim EX is yet another fantastic effort from Tribute Games, and fans should breathe easy. It’s a worthy follow-up to a beloved brawler, retains the trappings fans loved about its predecessor, and suceeds at being an all around great game in its own right. This is an easy thumbs up for me, and those looking to fill their evening with a solid beat ’em up experience will surely find that here. Sometimes, it can be worth the wait.
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Mar 3, 2026Scott Pilgrim EX is a wild ride that’s taking a new approach to how we play through beat ’em ups. The roster of fighters stands out as one of the best in recent memory and provides a ton of great variety, while the wild and wacky depiction of Toronto and alternate dimensions looks fantastic! This is a great way to pick up and play a game that tries out something new in the genre while bringing beloved characters to the forefront in an adventure only the Scott Pilgrim universe can provide.
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Mar 3, 2026The switch to an “open world” does bring with it some hiccups, but Scott Pilgrim EX is still a great beat 'em up in the tradition of its predecessor. It’s an assault on the senses in all the right ways, and having Scott Pilgrim creator Bryan Lee O’Malley on board as a writer (along with Scott Pilgrim Takes Off co-creator BenDavid Grabinski) ensures that this universe is handled with all the care and love that fans hope. At $30, some might call it short, but when you see how much variety is packed into the design, you understand that Tribute Games pushed itself as much as possible.
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Mar 3, 2026Scott Pilgrim polishes up the fighting mechanics while still feeling very much in the spirit of the original. EX conveys a different kind of vibe, but it's just as potent and, importantly, fun to experience.
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Mar 3, 2026Scott Pilgrim EX takes everything that was great about the first game – the combat, the music, the beautiful pixel art – and throws it into an all-new adventure rammed with game references. The open-world structure and relatively short length won't be to everyone's tastes, but if those aren't a problem to you then it's a must-have.
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Mar 9, 2026We expected nothing less from Tribute Games, which once again manages to deliver a well-rounded and complete beat 'em up that, while not reaching the high heights of the genre, but it won't disappoint fans of the genre.
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Mar 3, 2026Scott Pilgrim EX is a palatable fresh helping of retro beatdown goodness, but it's too brief and easygoing to deliver more fun than its inspirations or its best contemporaries.
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Apr 17, 2026Scott Pilgrim EX delivers satisfying beat 'em up combat and a breathtaking pixel art aesthetic. However, its small world map and repetitive exploration hold it back from greatness. Although the soundtrack and character variety excel, the unbalanced progression system and lack of replayability prevent it from reaching the heights of the studio's previous masterclasses.
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Mar 30, 2026A successful sequel to the comic book 2D retro beat 'em up action game will entertain you, but it could have been more extensive.
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Mar 3, 2026While this return to the Pilgrimverse offers longtime fans only narrative crumbs, its brawls are first-rate.
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Mar 3, 2026Scott Pilgrim EX is just a really dumb, fun adventure through the streets of Toronto. Though it has some hiccups, you fall in lesbians with its combat, art direction, and writing.
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May 7, 2026Scott Pilgrim EX delivers a chaotic retro-inspired adventure packed with time travel, alternate dimensions, and countless nods to classic arcade games. Its stylish pixel art, varied soundtrack, co-op gameplay, and diverse cast make for an entertaining beat-'em-up experience, though repetitive enemy waves before bosses and occasional combat frustrations hold it back from true greatness.
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Mar 9, 2026If, like me, you enjoyed Scott Pilgrim as a kid, and always wanted more of this unserious, nerdy franchise, then Scott Pilgrim EX is a perfect dose of pixel graphics, evil exes, and enemies that burst into coins when they're defeated.
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Mar 3, 2026I admire the fact that Tribute Games embraced the River City style with Scott Pilgrim EX, as it really makes this beat’em up more of an adventure. The artistic direction and soundtrack are perfect too, and the combat flows well. I do wish the story were stronger and some of my favorite characters from the previous game had been playable, and the presence of launch bugs that can affect multiplayer is a downer. But at the very least, after a patch or two, those gameplay issues should be fixed.
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Mar 3, 2026Fans of Bryan Lee O'Malley's comics or the star-studded 2010 Edgar Wright film will find all of their favorites and more in Scott Pilgrim EX, the latest licensed collab from Tribute Games. The beat-em-up is enjoyable to play, but difficulty and connection issues can hamper the short-lived experience.
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Mar 10, 2026While the music and gameplay have evolved with the times, in terms of narrative, Scott Pilgrim EX plays it way too safe. Though written by series creator Bryan Lee O’Malley, there’s none of the edge that secured Scott Pilgrim its original cult following. Our cast have, for the most part, worked out their differences. There’s no David v Goliath here, no antagonist that forces Scott and his pals to grow amid the messiness of bad relationships. Scott’s other friends appear in fun cameos and cat-meos, but the story is a silly, shallow adventure that feels like a side quest, the kind of game Scott would stay up all night playing before missing his shift at work.
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Mar 3, 2026The core combat is still fun and fans of Scott Pilgrim will have a good time getting together and seeing all the references, but there are simply better beat ‘em ups available for you to brawl your way through.
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Mar 3, 2026Maybe that's the main takeaway. Scott Pilgrim EX certainly looks nice and feels warmly familiar, its hero roster is superb, and they're all fun to control and well differentiated. A playthrough is short and sweet at a few hours if you’re not too distracted, and there’s even a New Game+. But there's otherwise not much here that stands out, and the game lacks any impressive set pieces or water cooler moments, with nothing approaching the multi-stage Gideon boss fight in the original.
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Mar 3, 2026Scott Pilgrim EX is nothing more than satisfactory. Brawling through dozens of adversaries can be quite enticing, especially with a friend. However, every other element falls flat with areas, enemies, bosses and levelling ending up a big regression from other contemporary beat ’em ups. Likewise, fans of Scott Pilgrim will be pleased by the plethora of visual tributes. But the narrative and dialogue of EX come across as purely referential and lack a heart of their own.
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Edge MagazineMar 19, 2026Control is also stodgy and unreliable. [Issue#422, p.123]
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| This publication has not posted a final review score yet. | |
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Mar 3, 2026I can respect the drive to innovate here. After all, Scott Pilgrim’s long-term staying power is built on reinvention. You get the sense that Tribute isn’t comfortable just being known as a novelty act that recreates arcade nostalgia for popular IP. There’s a real attempt to bring the beat-'em-up genre forward in the same way that Absolum successfully pulled off last year with its roguelike infusion, but Scott Pilgrim EX overcomplicates an elegant formula without putting forth a big picture “why?” If this is a game that’s so indebted to the classics Scott Pilgrim was inspired by, why deconstruct and then reconstruct it all in this way? If you’re going to forego a heartfelt script full of thematic weight to focus on the language of play instead, that design needs to communicate something of its own to fill the space. Without it, Scott Pilgrim EX’s heart is lost in a sea of low-hanging video game references.
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