Toxic Crusaders Gameplay Trailer Drops a Radioactive Beatdown at The MIX Showcase
The mop-wielding mutants are back—and they’re messier, meaner, and more pixel-perfect than ever.
Today, Toxic Crusaders erupted from the ooze with a brand-new gameplay trailer, revealed during The MIX Summer Game Showcase. Developed and published by Philadelphia-based indie label Retroware, this modern throwback beat-’em-up is slinging sludge on consoles and Steam in Q3 2025—and it’s bringing a mutated mob of Saturday morning nostalgia with it.
📺Watch Out, Tromaville—Toxie’s Back in Town
Clocking in at just under 90 seconds, the new gameplay trailer delivers a turbo-charged hit of retro arcade vibes. It shows off the game’s vibrant pixel art, fluid animation, and chaotic co-op combat as the Toxic Crusaders battle across 10 gnarly stages. From alleyways soaked in slime to chemical factories full of goons, the team is out to mop the floor with the villainous Dr. Killemoff and his army of Radiation Rangers.
One major highlight is the character-switching mechanic, allowing players to tag between two characters mid-battle. Whether you’re laying radioactive smackdowns as Toxie or tossing sludge as Nozone, this new feature opens the toxic tap on combo potential and team synergy.
“Watch as the Toxic Crusaders slap the sludge out of Dr. Killemoff’s scummy Radiation Rangers.” – Retroware
🎨 Seven Mutants, Four Players, and Unlimited Ooze
Built with local co-op in mind, Toxic Crusaders lets up to four players team up for a side-scrolling slugfest straight out of the ‘90s. Fans of the original cartoon will instantly recognize the seven playable pugilists—Toxie, Headbanger, Nozone, Junkyard, Major Disaster, Yvonne, and even Mrs. Junko. Each character features unique moves and abilities, offering plenty of variety whether you're playing solo or couch-co-op style.
While the original Toxic Crusaders cartoon only aired for a single season back in 1991, Retroware’s game continues its legacy with an all-new storyline full of radioactive riffs, tongue-in-cheek humor, and toxic puns galore.
A Love Letter to Troma Fans
Retroware is no stranger to cult followings. Like their upcoming release Neon Inferno, Toxic Crusaders blends old-school gameplay with modern design sensibilities, wrapped in a visual style that would make any CRT screen weep with joy. Think bright, exaggerated environments, expressive character sprites, and plenty of slime-soaked spectacle.
Fans of Troma Entertainment will appreciate the game's faithful tribute to the franchise’s irreverent tone, complete with callbacks to the show’s world of industrial corruption, anti-pollution heroes, and over-the-top villains. It's a radioactive reunion that celebrates the absurd in all the right ways.
And yes—Toxic Crusaders is getting a physical release via Limited Run Games, alongside its digital debut. Poster collectors and retro enthusiasts, rejoice.
📅Mark Your Calendar: SDCC 2025 Announcement Incoming
If you can’t get enough of Tromaville’s finest, don’t miss Retroware’s upcoming appearance at San Diego Comic Con on July 26, where the team promises a major announcement for Toxic Crusaders. Whether it’s a release date drop, new character reveal, or something more… we’ll be tuning in.
☢️ About Toxic Crusaders
The Toxic Crusaders are back to defend Tromaville against Dr. Killemoff and his smog-spewing minions. With seven playable mutants and four-player local co-op, this arcade brawler brings pun-filled action to a pixelated world inspired by the 1991 cult cartoon. Face off against waves of Radiation Rangers, mop through colorful stages, and soak in the nostalgic sludge of Troma’s wildest universe.
🧪 Key Features Recap
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Co-op Chaos: Up to four players can team up for couch co-op madness.
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Seven Playable Pugilists: Each with distinct moves and toxic traits.
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Tag Team Combat: Swap between characters on the fly for combo mayhem.
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Cartoon-Inspired Campaign: A story set after the original ‘90s cartoon.
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Pixel-Perfect Art: Bright, animated visuals soaked in style (and sludge).
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Physical & Digital Launch: Coming Q3 2025 via Steam, consoles & Limited Run.
