Summary
The next slate ofMarvelsuperhero games will likely stay away from one popular design trend, as games that follow this trend have not been performing very well either critically, financially, or both. To maintain profitability and brand superiority,Marvelcould choose to instead double-down on the creative direction of its best-selling games, such asMarvel’s Spider-Man 2.
Upcoming Marvel games built aroundcharacters like Wolverinehave a good chance to be the status quo for quite some time, as solo adventures seem to be resonating with gaming audiences more than the team-up stories that are so prominent in modern superhero-based films and TV series. Indeed, when discussing the biggest superhero gaming flops, titles likeMarvel’s Avengers,Suicide: Kill the Justice League, andGotham Knightsare often the first to crop up, with all three games suffering from both poor reviews and disappointing sales. Even ensemble superhero games that landed well with critics, likeGuardians of the GalaxyandMarvel’s Midnight Suns, haven’t sold as well as publishers were likely hoping. This could turn the tides further in favor of solo superhero adventures.
Marvel Games Could Avoid Superhero Teams Moving Forward
Why Marvel Might Be Bearish About Pursuing Superhero Team-Up Games
Even well-designed superhero ensemble games likeGuardians of the Galaxyhave struggledto meet sales expectations, and the reasons behind this are somewhat unclear. Some have speculated thatMarvel’s Avengers, with its technical issues and problematic monetization, poisoned the well when it comes to superhero team-up games. There could be some truth to this, as the recentSuicide Squadgame certainly repeats many of the same mistakes asAvengers, possibly confirming the suspicions of apprehensive consumers.
The success of the MCU may have also had a negative impact on these sorts of team-up games. Audiences have been inundated with superhero ensembles for over a decade, with both Marvel and other studios attempting to recapture the fanfare and novelty of 2012’sAvengersfilm. After so many years of this, team-up superherogames likeSuicide SquadandAvengersmay not have the same appeal to general audiences, who may be looking for more straightforward, focused stories and gameplay.
Single-Hero Games Have Been More Successful for Marvel
When it comes to contemporary superhero games, it’s hard to argue that any studio has seen more consistent success than Insomniac Games. The threeMarvel’s Spider-Mangames have all performed spectacularly in terms of both sales and critical acclaim, paving the way for future releases likeMarvel’s WolverineandArkane’s promisingBladegame. These games are all built around a single hero, and are no doubt looking to recreate the sense of immersion and fantasy-fulfillment inherent in theSpider-Mangames, where the story and gameplay work in tandem to create a coherent, polished gaming experience. These games may appeal to players more than those featuring multiple heroes, as there’s less of a chance that gameplay mechanics and narrative can be equally strong and diverse across multiple playable characters.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2could be considered a team-up game, but it’s a bit different, as both playable Spider-Men are designed to have the same abilities and deal with similar issues in the narrative.
Comparing the success of theMarvel’s Spider-Mangames to the likes ofMarvel’s Avengersmight make the decision to avoid ensemble superhero games seem like a no-brainer. However, the Marvel brand could be missing some opportunities, as there is definitely potential ingames featuring teams like the X-Menand the Fantastic Four. Of course, there’s nothing inherently wrong with the concept of aMarvelgame with an ensemble cast, as long as it is well-crafted and motivated by more than pure profit.
Marvel’s Blade
Marvel’s Blade is in development at Arkane Lyon, which developed Deathloop and Dishonored. It is a mature single-player third-person adventure game set in Paris, where players take on the role of the titular and beloved comic book hero.
