Marvel’s Spider-Man 2has been released to universal acclaim from both critics and fans. The game, which sees you play as Peter Parker andMiles Moraleswhile protecting New York from supervillains such as Lizard, Kraven The Hunter, andVenom, has firmly establishedInsomniac Gamesas a powerhouse in superhero gaming.
Having already announced aWolverinegame within the same world of theirSpider-Man, Insomniac Games could potentially create gaming’s answer to theMCU, but which heroes should get their own game, and what could those games look like?
1Daredevil
Already teased by Spider-Man 2’s game director,Daredevilis an obvious choice for Insomniac to adapt next, as Matt Murdock and Peter Parker have teamed up before in comics, animations, and even recently in Spider-Man No Way Home.
The game could potentially play similarly to Marvel’s Spider-Man games. However, Daredevil could play more like aBatman Arkhamgame, with you using his heightened senses in more stealth-based action. Additionally, incorporating playable Matt Murdock sections in which the player tries to win court cases would certainly make a Daredevil game a unique gaming experience.
2Hellboy
Insomniac could blend both their Spider-Man andRatchet & Clankexpertise to deliver an outstanding Hellboy game. The game would likely be a survival horror shooter akin toResident Evil 4,Dead Space, or evenGears of War.
Obviously, if this game were to exist, it wouldn’t tie in with Spider-Man due to Hellboy being a Dark Horse property. Also, Embracer Group’s acquisition of Dark Horse Comics means the likelihood of Insomniac adapting Hellboy for gamers is extremely low. This being said, the acquisition almost guarantees a Hellboy game will materialize soon, with fans hoping their favorite chocolate-loving half-demon is treated similarly to Spidey.
3Deadpool
Yet another common Spidey collaborator, the merc with a mouth, may already have his own game. However, due toDeadpool’s increased popularity and middling reviews for the existing game and the rights issues surrounding it, a Deadpool game would be a smash hit in the capable hands of Insomniac.
The game would likely work best as a hack-and-slash game with genre-bending elements to match Deadpool’s fourth-wall-breaking comedy. A smart decision would be to debut Deadpool in Insomniac’s Wolverine game to coincide with Deadpool 3, but only time will tell if this is true.
4Black Panther
EAhas already announced that a single-player Black Panther game is in the works, developed by a brand-new company, Cliffhanger Games. Although this makes it highly unlikely that Insomniac will make their own game around the hero, many would agree their anticipation of that prospect would be much less cautious.
Black Panther lends himself perfectly to both stealth and fast-paced combat, plus the world of Wakanda would bring a much-needed dose of African representation to the gaming world. Should Insomniac gradually grow their Spider-Man series into anAvengersgaming franchise, a Black Panther would be perfectly within their wheelhouse.
5Nightcrawler
With Wolverine getting his own Insomniac game, it would be easy to assume the game could feature appearances from certain members of the X-men, teasing future gaming possibilities. One fan favorite, and thus far, underutilized member that would make for an outstanding gaming experience would be Nightcrawler.
The game would likely focus on hardcore stealth gameplay, akin to earlyAssassin’s Creedentries, seeing gamers utilize Nighcrwaler’s teleportation ability to strategically take down his enemies in a similar fashion to Miles Morales. It’s a risky prospect due to Nightcrawler being a much more niche hero. This being said, the potential he possesses for a great game cannot be denied.
6Blade
Marvel’s mainstream popularity could be argued to have begun with Wesley Snipes’ Blade trilogy. With Blade’s big screen return on the horizon and fan demand for him at a high, a Blade video game is a no-brainer. However,BethesdaandArkaneLyon beat Insomniac to the punch by announcing a game at the2023 Game Awards. Although this makes a Blade game highly unlikely,PlayStationgamers would still love to see what Insomniac would do with The Vampire Slayer.
Blade would make for a stylish action horror game that could blend together sword-fighting combat akin to eitherDevil May CryorGhost of Tsushimawhile integrating some horror elements, as seen in the Batman Arkham series, or lean harder into a more survival horror genre, like the best entries in theResident Evil series.
7Doctor Strange
Having collaborated with Spider-Man in his recent MCU outing, Doctor Strange would make for an intriguing video game spin-off for the web-slinger, and who better to do this than the company behind the dimension-hopping, game of the year nominee,Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart.
A Doctor Strange game would showcase Insomniac’s full abilities in what would be their most ambitious game ever. With magic-based combat and the possibility of exploring multiple open worlds, Doctor Strange, if done right, could potentially produce one of the greatest games of all time.
8Ant-Man
While most open-world games aim to deliver big open worlds, it would be a refreshing approach to explore a smaller, similarly vast world, and an Ant-Man game could deliver that perfectly. With Paul Rudd’s take on the character bringing the character into the mainstream, plus the recent success ofObsidian’sGrounded, an Ant-Man game could be a possibility.
Insomniac have already played with different-sized playable characters in the Ratchet and Clank series. Still, an Ant-Man game would push them further as they play with Ant-Man’s size-shifting ability seamlessly while exploring the depths of the world underground. As Grounded has recently demonstrated, there is an abundance of horrors to be unearthed, so the game could also flirt with horror elements.
9Superman
WhileBatmanand Spider-Man have both been blessed with exceptional gaming adaptations, the Man of Steel has yet to get the same treatment, so a good Superman game is long overdue. As many would agree, perhaps the most enjoyable element of Insomniac’s Spider-Man is web-swinging; thus, it would be great to see them do the same forSuperman’s flying abilities.
The game could feature a combat system similar to that ofRocksteady’s Batman Arkham games, with flying bringing the potential for sky-based missions, as well as an enormous map the size of a country to explore. It’s about time Superman got the justice he deserves, and with James Gunn’s Superman Legacy on the horizon, what better time for a man of steel game than now?
10The Avengers
Avengers Endgame became the highest-grossing movie of all time, displaying that the ultimate form superhero content can take is a team-up of Earth’s mightiest heroes.Crystal Dynamics Avengers gamesold well initially but ultimately didn’t turn a profit due to underwhelming fans with repetitive gameplay and lack of content. The story ofCrustal Dynamic’s game proves there is a lot of potential for an Avengers game. It just needs to be in the hands of a reliable developer such as Insomniac.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and even Ratchet & Clank Rift Apart have proved Insomniac can handle multiple playable characters; the challenge would be making each Avenger’s move set distinctive and different. With Wolverine announced, Insomniac could be following suit with the MCU by dealing with each hero individually first, which is a smart move, but would mean this game won’t come for a while. However, if Insomniac follows on the path they are on and makes enough standalone games, an Avengers game would be almost a game of the year guarantee.
