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Introduction
Superhero video games have come a long way since the early days of rudimentary titles on platforms like the Atari 2600 and Nintendo Entertainment System. Today, they are a dominant force in the gaming industry, with critically acclaimed AAA releases that push technical boundaries and provide interactive experiences that rival Hollywood blockbusters.
The first superhero video game is widely considered to be Superman for the Atari 2600, released in 1979. Developed and published by Atari, Inc., it was a simple action game that involved flying through the sky to repair bridge damage done by Lex Luthor. While incredibly basic by today‘s standards, it was a commercial success, selling over 1 million copies.[^1]
As gaming hardware became more advanced, so too did the ambition and scope of superhero games. Landmark titles like Batman: The Video Game (1990) on the NES, Spider-Man and Venom: Maximum Carnage (1994) on the SNES and Genesis, and Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes (1999) in arcades wowed players with their graphics, gameplay, and fan service.
Fast forward to the present, and superhero games are a pillar of the industry. The Batman: Arkham series alone has sold over 30 million copies worldwide as of 2021.[^2] Marvel‘s Spider-Man, released in 2018 for the PlayStation 4, sold a staggering 3.3 million units in just its first 3 days of release.[^3] Both of these franchises have seen highly successful sequels since.
So why are superhero games so popular? For one, they tap into the power fantasies and wish fulfillment inherent to the superhero genre. Players get to BE Spider-Man swinging through New York City, or Batman swooping down on criminals in Gotham. Superhero games turn us into modern gods with abilities far beyond normal humans.
Moreover, the best superhero games combine tight gameplay mechanics, fan service, compelling stories and characters, and bleeding edge technical elements. Let‘s take a closer look at 15 superhero titles that exemplify this perfect storm:
Game | Release Year | Metacritic Score | Copies Sold |
---|---|---|---|
Batman: Arkham City | 2011 | 96 | 12.5 million |
Marvel‘s Spider-Man | 2018 | 87 | 13.2 million |
inFAMOUS 2 | 2011 | 83 | 1.19 million |
X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse | 2005 | 84 | 1.83 million |
Injustice 2 | 2017 | 88 | 1.5 million |
Prototype | 2009 | 79 | 2.1 million |
Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 | 2011 | 80 | 1.2 million |
The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction | 2005 | 84 | 1.42 million |
LEGO Marvel Super Heroes | 2013 | 83 | 4.84 million |
Viewtiful Joe | 2003 | 93 | 275,000 |
Freedom Force | 2002 | 90 | 350,000 |
Marvel‘s Guardians of the Galaxy | 2021 | 80 | 1 million |
Spider-Man 2 | 2004 | 93 | 4.85 million |
inFAMOUS: Second Son | 2014 | 80 | 1 million |
Astro Boy: Omega Factor | 2003 | 85 | 160,000 |
As you can see, these titles have achieved both critical acclaim and commercial success. But what‘s going on under the hood? How do developers translate superhero abilities into satisfying game mechanics?
According to Kurt Bieg, longtime designer at Insomniac Games who worked on the studio‘s Spider-Man titles, it‘s all about feel and controls. "From the very beginning of working on Marvel‘s Spider-Man, we focused on two key things: the swing mechanic and the combat. Getting those to feel just right was crucial," he said in a 2019 interview.[^4]
Bieg and the team accomplished this by starting from the fundamentals – swinging had to be 100% physics-based. "Keeping the swinging totally physical and not animated was very challenging but it resulted in a unique feel and gave skilled players a ton of control. Each swing is a result of their inputs rather than matching an animation."
This technical approach – focusing on the core of what makes the hero unique and building the gameplay systems around that – is a common thread in the best superhero games. Batman: Arkham Asylum pioneered its "Freeflow" combat system to capture the Dark Knight‘s martial arts prowess. Prototype‘s parkour-inspired movement allowed you to seamlessly run up buildings and glide over streets as the shape-shifting Alex Mercer.
Advances in AI and machine learning are also being leveraged to make superhero games more immersive and dynamic. The Nemesis System introduced in Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor (2014) and its sequel created unique, procedurally-generated enemies that would evolve based on the player‘s actions. This type of emergent, forever game is well-suited to capturing the feeling of an ongoing superhero saga.
"I think the future of superhero games involves creating more intelligent and responsive worlds with the help of AI," said Geoff Harrower, former AI programmer at Monolith Productions who worked on Shadow of Mordor. "Imagine a Gotham City that feels truly alive and reacts to your choices as Batman, with criminals getting more savvy and developing rivalries or vendettas against you. That‘s the dream." [^5]
Recent superhero games are already showing glimpses of this ideal. Marvel‘s Spider-Man and its spin-offs feature a bustling Manhattan that includes dynamic crimes and events transpiring in real-time as you swing through the city. Thanks to complex AI systems, the world seems to carry on whether you engage with it or not – just like the beloved comic stories that inspired it.
So where do superhero games go from here? The short answer is they will only get bigger, bolder, and more ambitious as technology advances. PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X titles like Marvel‘s Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Gotham Knights are harnessing the power of the latest hardware to deliver visual fidelity and immersion on a whole new level.
Furthermore, the superhero genre is poised to expand in gaming as it has in film and TV. We will likely see a more diverse array of characters and stories being explored, pulling from the lesser-known corners of Marvel, DC, and indie comic universes. Imagine an open-world game starring Ms. Marvel and her shapeshifting abilities, or a cerebral mystery title where you play as Moon Knight‘s different personalities.
The possibilities are endless and exciting. As long as the gaming industry has talented developers with a deep love and respect for the source material, superhero games will continue to thrive – and in doing so, bring joy to millions while pushing the technical envelope of the medium.
Conclusion
From their humble beginnings on the Atari 2600 to the mind-blowing AAA epics of today, superhero video games have had an incredible trajectory. They are a testament to the enduring power of the characters and stories that originated in the comic book panels, and the brilliance of the game creators who have adapted them into captivating interactive entertainment.
For many players, superhero games represent a perfect synergy of gameplay, graphics, narrative, and unbridled fun. They are journeys of empowerment that make us feel capable of amazing, impossible things. And as development techniques and technologies evolve, these experiences will only get richer and more immersive.
At the same time, superhero games are a business – and a highly lucrative one at that. The numbers don‘t lie; marquee titles regularly generate millions of copies sold and dominate the sales charts upon release. This success has solidified the superhero genre as a cornerstone of gaming, ensuring a steady stream of high-profile releases for the foreseeable future.
If you have even a passing interest in superheroes or just great video games, the titles mentioned in this article are a perfect place to start. Each one provides a unique take on the classic characters and stories while delivering top-notch gameplay. Dive into Arkham City to become the Batman, or swing through New York in Marvel‘s Spider-Man. The choice is yours, hero.
But this is only the beginning. As the gaming medium grows and evolves, so too will superhero games. And you can bet that players will be there every step of the way, controller in hand, ready to save the day.