Superhero video games have always been hit or miss, but they’ve mostly been hits during the past two decades. Yes, there have been major failures likeSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, but there have also been the wildly popularMarvel’s Spider-Manseries andMarvel Rivals, and even moremodest successes likeMarvel’s Midnight Sunsindicate that superhero source material is ripe for all manner of adaptations.
But even amid this burgeoning superhero game renaissance, one popular hero has yet to get the game adaptation he deserves:Daredevil. Indeed, the star of the critically acclaimed Netflix show and theDaredevil: Born Againreprisal on Disney+ has never led a modern AAA game, despite the obvious potential of such an adaptation. With the character regaining mainstream visibility thanks to the success ofBorn Again, now might be the perfect time to get the ball rolling on aDaredevilvideo game—a proper one.
Why the World Needs a Daredevil Video Game
Daredevil Would Slot Nicely Into the Video Game Medium
One of the issues with making a superhero work in a video game is how they feel to play in light of their at-times godlike abilities. This is whySuperman has been so famously difficultto adapt to the interactive medium: he is simply too powerful to make for fun gameplay, as he can simply cut through 99% of threats like a hot knife through butter. Even relatively weaker characters like Spider-Man require a great deal of suspension of disbelief for their games to work, as although the Wall-Crawler could knock out just about any human enemy with a single punch, that wouldn’t make for a very fun game.
But Daredevil, like Batman, is an unaltered, flesh-and-bone mortal. His exceptional abilities stem from his willpower and dedication to improving himself, alongside a dash of madness, perhaps. On top of setting the stage for any number of relatable stories, this character premise could facilitate satisfying gameplay. While many would argue that they want to be as powerful as possible in their games, it’s actually theopposite feeling that makes gaming fun: being faced with a challenge and having to master a game’s mechanics to succeed is what satisfaction is born from. It may be easier to design such satisfying systems around an “underpowered” character like Daredevil.
Marvel Has Been Branching Out with Video Game Adaptations
Few would disagree that a Daredevil game would be exciting, but whether this prospect is realistic is a different story. After all, Daredevil might be growing more popular thanks toBorn Again, but the decision-makers at Marvel and Disney might not view him as a particularly viable franchise lead. New and inventive superhero games sound much more promising to gamers than to risk-averse businesspeople looking to maximize growth for shareholders. Such individuals could very well vote to double-down on the likes ofSpider-Man—a proven IP in the video game space— rather than branch out with anuntested character like Daredevil.
Gaming executives may also be a bit more bearish about superhero adaptations inthe wake of games likeSuicide SquadandGotham Knights.
These factors are important to consider, but it’s also worth noting how aggressive Marvel seems to be getting in the gaming space. There are the previously mentionedMarvel’s Spider-Mangames, but also several upcoming projects, including ones starring Wolverine, Black Panther, and Blade, a character with far less modern cultural relevance than Daredevil. With so much investment in the ever-growing games industry, there’s no reason to doubtMarvel’s potential willingness to bet on Daredevil.
Marvel
Marvel is a brand associated with a wide array of popular superhero comics, movies, television shows, and merchandise. The company owns the rights to popular characters like The Avengers, Spider-Man, Black Panther, Deadpool, and many more.
