WhileMarvel’s Spider-Manand theBatman: Arkhamgames did not invent the concept, they set the new standard for how open-world games featuring superheroes should be made. As a result, fans are now being blessed with more games in the future, such asMarvel’s Bladeand theWonder Womangame by Monolith Productions.
Superhero games have no reason to stop there. Both Marvel and DC feature a multitude of heroes and even villains that could be translated into a new open-world game. With advancements in technology and game development, even the comic book characters that have had games in the past deserve a second chance.
10Thor
God Of War Laid The Ground Work
With his ability to fly and nine mystical realms to explore, Thor seems ideal for a big-budget action game. If anything,God Of War: Ragnarokproved that a Thor game is possiblewith its take on Norse mythology. On top of that,Marvel’s Avengersmay have been a flop, but character gameplay was far from the issue, with Thor being one of the most fun to control.
Add in villains such as Loki, Amora, Executioner, and maybe even Gorr The God Butcher, and Thor has so much potential to be its own epic franchise in the gaming world. Mixing Nordic fantasy and science fiction could also make for eye-popping visuals.
9The Flash
Super Speed Games Are Not Impossible
Whether it’s Barry Allen, Wally West, or Jay Garrick, The Flash deserves a chance to shine in gaming asone of DC’s greatest speedsters. IfMax Payneor evenSuperhotcan simulate what it feels like to move at incredible speeds, then a game about The Flash is possible, especially in a massive open world like Central City.
The Flash would even feature his own built-in fast-travel system, allowing him to zip from one side of the city to another in a second. On top of it all, the Flash has some of DC’s greatest villains that deserve the spotlight, from Captain Cold to the Reverse Flash.
8The Punisher
Punisher Is Ripe For An FPS
Take a gun-toting vigilante like Frank Castle and give him brutalfirst-person shooter gameplay akin toDoomorBulletstormand an open-world environment like theBorderlandsfranchise. The result would probably be a ridiculous power fantasy game, but that’s what would make it so fun.
The Punisher may be a dark and tragic character and the story could explore his flawed existence and that he’s not that different from those that he kills. However, gamers would also have a chance to enjoy pure first-person carnage candy as they run and gun through a city or wasteland or whatever open-world environment they would choose for the scourge of the underworld.
7Green Lantern
In Brightest Day, In Blackest Night
When recruited into the Corps, a Green Lantern is in charge of protecting every single planet in a sector. So, this could lead to Green Lantern being able to explore a plethora of planets in a sector, whether it’s Hal Jordan and John Stewart of Sector 2914 or, for a twist, have the player become a brand new customized Lantern and given the freedom to patrol a new sector à laNo Man’s Sky.
The real test for game developers would be how to handle the willpower constructs that Green Lanterns can build using their Power Rings. In the comics, the only limit that a Green Lantern has is their imagination, so maybe there could be a way to allow players to create their own constructs for attacks and special moves.
6Daredevil
Spider-Man Combat Meets Ace Attorney
After being directly referenced inMarvel’s Spider-Mangames by Insomniac studios, many were expecting Daredevil to get a spin-off in that universe, but instead, it was Wolverine. Daredevil still has a chance since his acrobatic style of fighting and traversal could borrow a lot from the Spider-Man games while still having a unique twist to it.
Since Wolverine proves that Insomniac is unafraid to adapt darker characters, a Daredevil game could earn an M-rating with the likes of Kingpin, Bullseye, and Typhoid Mary as threats. As a bonus, the Daredevil game could feature courtroom drama that could requireDetroit: Become Human-level decision-making.
5Teen Titans
DC’s Next Generation Of Heroes
Instead of settling for one character, DC could take whatGotham Knightsattempted to do with multiple characters and expand upon it with the Teen Titans. There are many generations of Titans to pick from, but arguably the most famous would beDick Grayson as the first Robinor Nightwing, Cyborg, Starfire, Speedy, Raven, Kid Flash, Wonder Girl, Aqualad, and Beast Boy.
With the right gameplay, Teen Titans has the potential to be a very repayable title where players can see how different an entire playthrough as Cyborg is compared to a playthrough as Starfire. To make things better, Teen Titans has so many characters, that it would allow co-op to be even better than inGotham Knights.
4Captain Marvel
Marvelous Galactic Adventures Await
The strongest woman in the galaxy was almost playable inMarvel’s Avengersbefore the game was discontinued. So, she deserves a second chance but on her own, flying through space and saving planets big and small from the scum of the universe with a pet alien cat at her side.
A Captain Marvel game could easily be Marvel’s version ofMass Effect, where players control what Carol Danvers says,with player choices that matteras she builds trust across different civilizations and factions. Add villains like Hala The Accuser, multiple planets to explore, and impactful combat that mixes melee and energy attacks; Marvel could have their next giant game franchise.
3Aquaman
Ocean Open Worlds Could Break New Superhero Ground
The world of Aquaman is so vast and technology has come so far that ocean-based games are now common, as shown inSubnauticaor evenThe Legend Of Zelda: The Wind Waker. Since Aquaman proved to be a successful character in movie form and was a show-stealer in the Injustice games, it seems ideal to give him a solo adventure.
From undersea cities to perilous islands, Aquaman can fight against many monsters and villains, including Black Manta, Ocean Master, and King Shark. Perhaps, DC could take a page from the open-worldSoulslike games such asElden RingandStar Wars Jedi: Survivorand bring it to an aquatic adventure.
2Venom
Spider-Man 2 Paved The Way For A Spin-Off
After getting just a small taste of what Venom was capable of inMarvel’s Spider-Man 2, fans are excited by the possibility of a Venom game withthat same level of storytelling. From conjuring massive symbiote weapons to devouring humans alive, Venom is the ultimate anti-hero for an open-world video game.
ThePrototypegames began as a sequel toSpider-Man: Web Of Shadowswith Venom as the main character, but that project was scrapped and reinvented into Prototype. In a way, it proves that a Venom story in an open-world setting can work in the right hands, especially sinceMarvel’s Spider-Man 2does tease the potential for Venom to have a spin-off.
1Superman
Decades Overdue For A Proper Game
Superman is the godfather of superheroes who started the sensation of comic books and their adaptations that still exist to this day. While he has had games in the past, there hasn’t been a standalone Superman game in almost twenty years when he deserves the chance to shine, just like theBatman: Arkhamgames.
Sadly, Superman has spent more time as a villain in video games between Injustice andSuicide Squad: Kill The Justice League. The Man Of Steel has waited long enough to receive a game where players can explore Metropolis, Warworld, or even Apokolips. If God Of War can allow gamers to control a literal god, then Superman should not be a problem.
