AlthoughMarvel Comicshas been around since 1939, its characters didn’t really penetrate the mainstream until the last 15 years or so. While the general public knew ofDC villains like The Joker and Lex Luthor, the same probably couldn’t be said for the likes of Thanos or Galactus. However, with theMarvel Cinematic Universebeing the most popular film franchise in the world right now, Marvel’s villains are starting to become a little more well known.
Now, the mainstream public are aware of countless Marvel heroes and villains, ranging from household names like Iron Man and Captain America, to even the most obscure characters like Black Knight and Starfox. With Marvel being so successful at the moment, it’s only a matter of time before the gaming world starts to pump out Marvel game after Marvel game. Thankfully, there’s plenty of inspiration to draw from, and there areplenty of Marvel villainsthat could feature in great video game experiences.
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Loki
One of the most popular “villains” of theMCU, Loki would be the perfect fit for a stealth action game. As the young trickster god, players could sneak through Odin’s palace hallways, hiding behind ornate pillars andpranking Asgardian soldiers. As the story progresses, and Loki gets older, the stealth gameplay could evolve alongside the character and narrative, granting Loki more powers and abilities relating to his illusion magic.
A potential Loki game could take some inspiration from the dormantThiefseries, using its first-person stealth gameplay as a basis for Loki’s own particular brand of sneaking. The theoretical game could also look to Arkane’s titles, namelyDishonoredandDeathloop, and their range of magic abilities. For instance,Deathloop’s “Shift” abilitywould fit a Loki game perfectly, giving the player the ability to dart around the map with magic. Loki could also use his illusion powers to make doubles of himself, or use his powers to make himself temporarily invisible.
Ego The Living Planet
While he was only briefly seen in full planet form inGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Ego would actually make for a pretty great park-builder/sim game. Players could control Ego, using his celestial powers to grow life and ensure that his planet reaches perfection. Once the planet has been cultivated enough, the player could then try to spread their planet’s life to the rest of the galaxy, turning the game from aSimsorPlanet Coaster-like experience into more of a 4X strategy game.
Green Goblin
While fans of Spider-Man have gotten to play as wall-crawler countless times, and have even gotten the chance toleap around Manhattan as Venom, there have only been one or two instances where players could actually control Spidey’s nemesis, Green Goblin. A Green Goblin game probably wouldn’t offer any revolutionary gameplay, but its traversal mechanics could be pretty unique, with Goblin’s iconic glider being the basis of the character’s in-game movement.
Green Goblin’s host of pumpkin-related gadgets and weapons would surely make for some varied combat sequences, and the game could put the focus on aerial combat, controllingmore like anAce Combatgame thanMarvel’s Spider-Man. Narratively, the game could put the focus on Norman/Harry’s dissociation from their actions, with the Goblin serum causing memory loss, possibly tying into some subversive gameplay elements.
Taskmaster
Taskmaster may not have had the bestcinematic debut inBlack Widow, but the character is still beloved among many fans, and for good reason. Taskmaster’s primary ability, photographic reflexes, allows them to memorize and imitate the fighting styles of anyone they come across, which could make for one incredibly varied video game.
With inspiration from games likeMortal ShellandNobody Saves the World, Taskmaster could act like a blank slate character who only has a basic set of skills and moves. The player would then unlock new forms throughout the game, unlocking the ability to fight like the heroes they’re facing off against. By the end of the game, the player would be able to switch between all the Avengers' different fighting styles, chaining combos together using a variety of Hawkeye, Black Widow, and Spider-Man’s moves, for example.
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Magneto
A game that could takeWatch Dogs' initial promise of “you can hack everything,” and actually deliver on that concept,a Magneto gamein which players could manipulate every aspect of their surroundings would be unbelievably unique. On the surface, the game could have fairly simple third-person action mechanics, with standard Magneto abilities like pushing and pulling enemies, and throwing objects around the environment.
On a deeper level, a Magneto game could give players control over every single object that contains metal. While some objects could be used simply as throwable weapons, using similar mechanics to something likeStar Wars: Force Unleashed, some metallic objects could be used in more inventive ways, like what can be seen in the “too much iron in your blood” scene fromX-Men 2.
Winter Soldier
A potential Winter Soldier game set during the Cold War could be pretty compelling. Using gameplay heavily inspired by theHitmanseries, a Winter Soldier game could task players with executing a range of Hydra assassinations, all onvarious S.H.I.E.L.D. membersor some of Marvel’s lesser known, older heroes. Players could use either stealth or brute force during missions, with the Winter Soldier’s proficiency with snipers making him the perfect long-range silent killer and his heavy metallic arm making him just as effective at close range.
Thanos
Marvel did an excellent job at making the Infinity Stones look absolutely devastating duringInfinity WarandEndgame, but they also looked really fun to use. While a few games have tried it over the last few years, likeFortniteandevenGod of War, the full potential of a Thanos game in which he wields the Infinity Gauntlet has not yet been realized.
The game would have an immediate narrative and gameplay hook that sees Thanos needing to findthe Infinity Stones. It’s simple, but it’s effective, and it is all the motivation a player needs to seek out the largest power in the galaxy. As players progress through a potential game, the more Infinity Stones they find, the more powerful they could become, granting powerful purple lasers, time-bending abilities, and powers that can change the fabric of reality.
Galactus
Probably anMCUbig bad later down the line, Galactus is a giant, world-eating entity that often can’t really be stopped, just tricked and pushed away for a bit. He may not be able to provide a game full of intricate mechanics, but aKatamari-type of gamemight be pretty fun, especially if a tongue-in-cheek tone is used.
Marvelfans could go from planet to planet, consuming each one and growing increasingly bigger until entire galaxies can be eaten. To spice up the gameplay a little, the player could come into contact withvarious Marvel heroesas they try to stop Galactus from eating the universe.
