In the last 20 years, superheroes have continued to conquer the world of entertainment. While superhero comics have remained steadily popular for almost a century now, superhero movies got their first big break in the early 2000s thanks tomovies likeX-MenandSpider-Man. In the late 2000s, Christopher Nolan’sDark Knighttrilogy proved that a more grounded superhero story could work on the big screen, and around the same time, the MCU started laying its foundations. Now, the superhero genre is the biggest in blockbuster entertainment, and with that popularity also comes the rise of projects that look to satirize and parody the genre, and no one does it quite likeThe Boys.
Based on the somewhat divisive comic book series created by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson,The Boyshas become a household name thanks to the ongoing Amazon live-action adaptation. LikeWatchmenbefore it,The Boysoffers a more cynical take on the superhero genre, satirizing modern-day capitalism and the current political landscape all through the lens of larger-than-life superhero action. WithThe Boyshaving just wrapped up its penultimate season, it seems like the perfect time for a video game adaptation. With enough care and attention, it could be something truly diabolical.
A Video Game Based on The Boys Could Be Something Special
The Boys' Tone Lends Itself Well to a Video Game Adaptation
One ofThe Boys' most defining features is its tone. In general,The Boysis quite a grounded show, with its plot often focusing on ground-level espionage and sabotage. But with superheroes being a primary focus of the show,The Boysalso has an electrifying sprinkle of absurdity. When combined,The Boys' toneis something wholly unique, delivering a story with realistic stakes against a backdrop of otherworldly action. This tone would suit a video game adaptation surprisingly well, essentially being a mix ofGrand Theft Auto’s grittiness andSaint’s Row’s farcicality.
Another key feature ofThe Boys' brand is its over-the-top violence. With four seasons now under its belt,The Boys' extreme and frequent violence is starting to lose its impact somewhat, but a video game could give it the fresh spin it needs to remain shocking. Putting players directly in charge ofThe Boys' gruesome violencecould also pave the way for a whole new layer of commentary and satire for the franchise.
A Boys Video Game Adaptation Has No Shortage of Possibilities
There’s no shortage of possibilities when it comes to creating a video game adaptation ofThe Boys, with there now being multiple seasons, comics, and spinoffs to borrow from. Probably the biggest decision aBoysvideo game adaptationwould need to make is who the game’s playable protagonist would be. The two most obvious choices are either a non-powered member of the titular CIA team who needs to go up against The Seven with little to no resources, or a Supe who’s joined forces with them. A third option would be a mix of the two, giving players access to Temp V in certain missions to put them on equal footing with their super-powered adversaries.
The setting would be another major choice aBoysvideo game adaptation would need to make. The most obvious and fitting setting would be a large metropolitan area like the show’s New York City, but there is an opportunity to use a historical setting like the one about to be explored in theupcomingBoysspinoff,Vought Rising.
