Thanks to the likes of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, superheroes are practically everywhere these days. The franchise may be faltering a bit, but successes likeDeadpool and WolverineandMarvel Rivalsshow thatMarvel’s expansive catalog of characters will not be going anywhere anytime soon. Even though DC has not had a massive hit in a while, it too is showing no signs of slowing down asthe DCU has kicked off. While that is great for fans of these IPs, it also seems to be coming at the expense of original superhero tales.
For years, the video game industry had its own superhero franchises alongsideMarveland DC titles. But recently, it seems like said titles have taken a backseat to new adventures with Marvel or DC’s titular characters. That means that instead of getting to explore a world likeInfamous, players are being put into the shoes of Spider-Man. Even though those experiences are a lot of fun, those original stories should still get their chance to shine.
Non-Marvel and DC Superheroes Deserve Their Time in the Spotlight
The Industry Used to Have a Couple Original Superhero Tales
There was a time when many studios were attempting to craft their own superhero franchises within the video game space.Radical Entertainment had thePrototypeseries, Sucker Punch was taking players on wild adventures throughInfamous, and Xbox Game Studios gave players immense power through itsCrackdownfranchise. Alongside those came all sorts of online experiences, includingCity of HeroesandChampions Onlineand other franchises such asSaints Roweven tapped into the market withSaints Row 4.
It seemed like wherever players looked, there was a superhero game waiting for them. While not every game was fantastic, there was a lot of fun to be had here. Many players stillconsider theInfamousseries to be the bestsuperhero titles on the market, there really has not been a game likePrototype, and that firstCrackdownwill forever be fondly remembered. However, even with that success, the days of said franchises seem to be over.
Those Tales Seem to be Getting Phased Out for Marvel and DC Characters
Most of these series have not had a new entry in a little while now, with most feeling like they will never see the light of day again. ThePrototypeseries has not been heard from since 2012, Sucker Punch has not touchedInfamoussinceInfamous First Lightin 2014, andCrackdown 3seemingly killed that franchiseback in 2019. Additionally,City of HeroesandChampions Onlinehave shut their doors while theSaints Rowfranchise tried completely reinventing itself in 2022, which resulted in the studio closing down.
Instead of getting those original tales, players are being treated to Marvel and DC titles. Sony has set asideInfamousin favor ofMarvel’s Spider-Man,Arkane is hard at work onMarvel’s Blade, and online titles such asMarvel Rivalshave seemingly cornered the shooter market. DC also has a plethora of adventures in the works, with the likes of Monolith’sWonder Womanlooming on the horizon. While that all sounds like a lot of fun, it should not come at the expense of the other franchises.
Those original superhero franchises could still shine alongside the bigger Marvel and DC brands. Of course, they will likely not get as much attention since they are not from the big comic book companies. Those franchises could still give players something special; not only were they able to deliver fantastic superhero experiences, but they also did things that these other titles have not done.
