Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls is Arc System Works’ answer to the Marvel vs. Capcom series, filling the void that Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite left almost 10 years ago. After the success of Marvel Games projects in other genres – from Insomniac’s Spider-Man series to the popular hero shooter Marvel RivalsMarvel Tokon: Fighting Souls is bringing these beloved comic book characters back to the arena in a new tag fighting game.

The way that Marvel Tokon is handling tag battles is perfect for an IP centered around teams and alliances like Marvel. It has already proven its potential to be one of the most innovative approaches to tag fighting in the genre, bolstered by its cast of Marvel heroes and villains. However, there is one team of heroes established in the Marvel universe that would fit Marvel Tokon’s gameplay more than any other: the Fantastic Four.

Marvel Rivals Marvel Tokon Two Sides Same Coin
How Marvel Rivals and Marvel Tokon Fighting Souls are Two Sides of the Same Coin

Aside from their shared IP, Marvel Rivals and the recently announced game, Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls, are clearly two complementary halves.

By 

Marvel Tokon’s 4v4 Tag Battles Revolutionize the Genre

Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls is introducing an interesting premise. Many tag fighting games give players the option of 2v2 or 3v3 battles, both of which have been adopted by Marvel vs. Capcom in the past. Upping the ante, Marvel Tokon uses a 4v4 system, differentiating itself from other titles in the genre. While this could be daunting, the development team has assured fans that they will not be expected to fully learn the movesets of all the characters on their team, but the potential to do so is still there for competitive players.

Tag battles aren’t new territory for Arc System Works, either. 2018 saw the release of two tag fighters from the company, BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle and Dragon Ball FighterZ, which are 2v2 and 3v3 fighting games, respectively. Marvel Tokon is an evolution of Arc System Works’ previous games, innovating the genre to allow for a team of up to four playable characters at a time. Though the methods of tagging in these other characters remain unknown, it will undoubtedly allow players of all skill levels to showdown against the Marvel cast in a cinematic and spectacular fashion.

Collage of various characters in Marvel Tōkon Fighting Souls
8 Characters Confirmed To Be In Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls

Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls is a fighting game set to release in 2026, featuring a roster that includes characters like Iron Man and Ms. Marvel.

4v4 Fights are the Perfect Entry Point for The Fantastic Four

Marvel's First Family’s First Fighting Game

The 4v4 tag system may seem peculiar at first, but there could be a good reason for this number. Specifically, this number of characters in a single team could open the doors for the Fantastic Four to join. While there have been some games featuring the Fantastic Four, Marvel’s first family has yet to make an appearance in a fighting game. Since this game would allow for each member to appear in a single team, this could be the perfect way to introduce them to the genre.

It is confirmed that Doctor Doom will be playable in Marvel Tokon, to the delight of Marvel vs. Capcom fans. His inclusion in past Marvel fighting games has made him iconic, so much so that Doctor Doom’s foot dive was referenced in Fortnite. He has become a fan favorite among fighting game fans, but as a primary antagonist in Fantastic Four comics, the omission of the series’ heroes is noticeable. Including all four of them in Marvel Tokon to face off against Doctor Doom could be rewarding for players and comic fans alike.

If the Fantastic Four make their fighting game debut in Marvel Tokon, there are some fighting game archetypes that they could each fill. While players may draw similarities between Ms. Marvel and Mister Fantastic, their playstyles could be differentiated by Kamala’s ability to manipulate her mass, meaning Reed’s moves can focus more on his elasticity. The Thing could also add some much-needed diversity to the cast of Marvel Tokon, as his stature would make him the perfect grappler.

The Human Torch could function much like Storm appears to, using his elemental powers to zone opponents out and control space. Invisible Woman’s invisibility could present problems for both the player and opponents, but could be a major benefit as an assist. Her shielding abilities could also give the team more defensive options.

Tokon Could Use The Fantastic Four’s Newfound Popularity

The Fantastic Four has made a major comeback in recent years, making its Marvel Cinematic Universe debut in The Fantastic Four: First Steps on July 25, 2025. General audiences are likely already familiar with these heroes, and while The Fantastic Four: First Steps is not an origin story, the movie will get fans acquainted with their powers and personalities. To take advantage of the excitement about the movie and the increasing popularity of The Fantastic Four characters, they could be included in Marvel Tokon’s roster.

Marvel Rivals also gave The Fantastic Four a boost, with the game's first season being centered around these heroes. After staggering the release of each member, players are now able to use each of them within one team. The groundwork set by Marvel Rivals to include the Fantastic Four in a game has made the family special again, making it a great opportunity to add them to Marvel Tokon’s cast.

The Fantastic Four have taken a much more prominent role in Marvel comics recently. In particular, Reed Richards is a major character in the Ultimate Universe comics, acting as both a hero and a villain. One of Mister Fantastic’s Marvel Rivals skins is The Maker, allowing players to take on the appearance of the villain during matches. Marvel Tokon could similarly draw inspiration from The Ultimates comics for a Doctor Doom recolor, but to fully emphasize the importance of The Fantastic Four, they could all be added as unique fighters instead.

Marvel Tokon’s new approach to tag battles helps the game to stand out among others in the genre, granting access to a new way to play with 4v4 tag battles. To make the best use of this, making the Fantastic Four playable would really bring the idea of a 4-person team home. There is a lot of pressure on the Fantastic Four right now, but if done right, Marvel Tokon could use the team to its advantage.

Rating block community and brand ratings Image
Marvel Tokon Tag Page Cover Art
Display card tags widget
Fighting
Display card system widget
Systems
Display card community and brand rating widget Display card open critics widget Display card main info widget
Released
2026
Developer(s)
Arc System Works, Marvel Games, PlayStation Studios
Publisher(s)
Arc System Works, Marvel Games, PlayStation Studios
Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer, Local Multiplayer
Cross-Platform Play
Yes
Display card main info widget end Display card media widget start
Marvel Tokon Fighting Souls Press Image 1
Display card media widget end

WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info

Franchise
Marvel
Number of Players
1-2 players
Steam Deck Compatibility
Unknown
Genre(s)
Fighting
Platform(s)
PlayStation 5, PC