The Toxic Avenger and his mutant crew are heading back to Tromaville in a new gameplay trailer for Toxic Crusaders, Retroware’s upcoming beat-’em-up based on the 1991 animated series. The latest footage offers another look at the retro-inspired action, but after years of delays, the game still doesn’t have a confirmed release date.
The trailer debuted during The MIX Fall Online Showcase on October 16, showing Toxie and his allies battling Dr. Killemoff and the Radiation Rangers. The side-scrolling combat features pixel-art environments, combos, and boss fights, with the latest footage showing off stages including a diner and a junkyard.
Toxic Crusaders continues the story of the short-lived cartoon, which followed a group of mutated heroes defending Tromaville from pollution and the forces of evil. Retroware is working with Troma Entertainment on the game, bringing the franchise back in a format inspired by classic arcade brawlers.
Players can choose from seven characters: Toxie, Nozone, Junkyard, Major Disaster, Headbanger, Yvonne, and Mrs. Junko. Each fighter has their own abilities, and the game supports local co-op for up to four players.
The game also reaches beyond the animated series for inspiration. Stages and appearances draw on other Troma productions, including Class of Nuke ’Em High and Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead. That gives the game a chance to bring more of the studio’s cult-film history into the world of the Toxic Crusaders.
The road to release has been a long one. Toxic Crusaders was announced in March 2023 with a planned release that year. A later release window also passed, and the latest trailer still doesn’t provide a firm launch date. For fans who have been following the project since its announcement, the new footage is another sign of progress, but it leaves the biggest question unanswered.
The game is planned for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam. A demo is already available on Steam for anyone who wants to try the beat-’em-up ahead of its eventual release.
For now, Toxie and the gang are still gearing up for another round of mutant mayhem. When they’ll finally make it to consoles and PC remains to be seen.
