As a kid, I always yearned to play superhero games on my console. After all, controlling your favorite superhero has always been a fun idea, and video games have historically done that.
However, amidst licensing issues, many of these games have become vaporware, with no real way of enjoying them in a legitimate method. With the recent success of a particular Marvel movie, here are seven different superhero games that should make a comeback.
The Best Superhero games that need to return
1) Deadpool
Before High Moon Studios became a support team for Call of Duty games and Call of Duty Warzone, they worked in some great video games, like the two Transformer games. Their last actual video game was their adaptation of the Merc with the Mouth – Deadpool!
Deadpool featured an original storyline, the entire premise being Deadpool working with High Moon Studios to create his own superhero game.
What resulted from that is an utterly chaotic hack-and-slash and shooter hybrid experience. It had fourth-wall breaks and popular X-Men characters joining the cast. With Deadpool and Wolverine gaining immense success, it is time for this game to return. And yes, Nolan North voices Deadpool in this. Or did Deadpool hire Nolan North to voice himself?
2) X-Men Origins: Wolverine
This particular entry might make some people question me. After all, this is a movie tie-in game, and those have licensing problems. But the PS3, Xbox 360, and PC version of X-Men Origins: Wolverine is one of the best Wolverine games we’ve got. The game follows the movie’s storyline for the most part, but its developers also take some creative liberties to feature some original elements in it.
Origins: Wolverine follows Logan and his early days, showing us how he became the iconic Wolverine we all know and love. It is incredibly violent and has satisfying gameplay. Hugh Jackman also reprises his Wolverine role, which is a bonus.
If you ask anyone, this is one of the most well-beloved superhero games out there, and one you unfortunately cannot play. With Insomniac Games’ Wolverine still years away, this game could make its comeback with how popular the superhero genre is slowly getting.
3) X-Men Legends
In the old PlayStation 2 era, Raven Software cracked the code of a superhero-themed action RPG with X-Men Legends. It featured an original storyline where you play the game from the perspective of a young mutant girl, Allison. It also featured the typical X-Men and Brotherhood tussle.
The game allowed you to form a team of four characters, with 15 characters available to choose from, complete various missions, and level them up. Leveling up the X-Men gave access to multiple power-ups and in-game rewards like comic-book covers, danger room scenarios, etc.!
X-Men Legends was one of the well-regarded superhero games and X-Men games, and it would go on to feature a sequel that was bigger and better in all accords!
4) The Punisher
Anyone who loves superhero games in some form or another has known or even played the third-person Punisher game.
Over the years, it has become a well-beloved video game you cannot officially play. The game is a mix of the 2004 movie starring Thomas Jane (who also voices Punisher in-game) and two comic-book runs of the character.
It is a typical third-person shooter, which is highly violent because it is a Punisher game. It also came with glory kills before the 2016 Doom popularized it, and you can throw your enemies around quite literally.
Unfortunately, this one has a lower chance of getting re-released out of every game we’ve mentioned on this list. Volition, the developer of this game, has unfortunately shut shop as of last year.
5) Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions
Before the Insomniac Games made strides with the gaming audience with their Spider-Man games, Activision studios like Raven and Treyarch produced memorable experiences.
One such game was Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions, which worked with the idea of a multiverse before the Into the Spiderverse movies.
In this game, you work with Madame Web as you play Spider-Man and four variants across four dimensions. Each dimension comes with its unique art style and unique gameplay.
And, it is overall the one last great Spider-Man game before Insomniac Games tried their hands with the web-slinger.
6) Spider-Man: Web of Shadows
Another Spider-Man game that is a divisive entry in this list is Spider-Man: Web of Shadows. It is a rather mediocre experience in the Spider-Man games. However, it deserves flowers because it tries unique ideas with an otherwise simple Spider-Man experience.
The game starts during a Venom invasion of New York City and quickly devolves into Spider-Man bonding with the Symbiote and gaining the choice of switching between both suits.
And it doesn’t end there; as a player, you can make your Spidey the friendly neighborhood we are accustomed to or a symbiote-influenced menace. You also meet other Marvel characters like Luke Cage, Black Cat, Wolverine, etc.
Sure, the gameplay is slightly clunkier than any modern Spider-Man game, but the ideas the game uses make it one of the superhero games that should return!
7) Marvel: Ultimate Alliance
The final entry to our superhero games list is another action RPG that celebrates the Marvel franchise. Marvel: Ultimate Alliance features over 38 different Marvel superheroes who team up to fight against classic supervillains like Dr. Doom, MODOK, Masters of Evil, etc.
Gameplay-wise, it plays similarly to the X-Men Legends games; you select four characters, go on missions, collect experience points, and level up your superhero, unlocking skills and better powers.
Interestingly enough, Activision briefly re-released this game on Steam some years back before delisting it again. And in recent years, Koei Tecmo made a third game exclusively for Nintendo Switch. Hence, this is one of those games that certainly need another revival.
