In recent years, Marvel video games have been ramping up. A natural response to the success of the MCU, fans have seen Earth’s Mightiest Heroes adapted through Marvel’s Avengers and experienced the cosmic side of the universe through Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy. Marvel’s Spider-Man allowed players to swing through New York, while Marvel’s Wolverine will soon showcase Insomniac’s version of Logan.
Before all these Marvel games, though, there was Deadpool. The 2013 game came at a time when the character had not yet reached his peak popularity, as all fans had seen of him on the big screen was the deeply flawed Wade Wilson in X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Since then, Ryan Reynolds has brought the character to a whole new audience through some hilarious films, and with a new chapter on the way, it is about time that another attempt is taken at a Deadpool-focused video game.
Why a New Deadpool Game Should Happen
High Moon Studios’ Deadpool game was far from perfect, as many criticized the repetitiveness of the gameplay - and rightfully so. However, the title did prove that Deadpool’s humor translates perfectly to the world of video games. From fourth wall breaks acknowledging trophy notifications to repeatedly tapping a button to slap Wolverine, the game nailed its comedic aspects, and a new title could look to the nearly nine-year-old game for inspiration in this area.
As for making gameplay less repetitive, a new Deadpool game would need to focus on mixing in mechanics that differ from the usual combat. Outside of a few brief deviations, players were shooting and slicing nonstop in the original Deadpool game. In a new game based on the character, a developer could lean into his absurd levels of regeneration, making players sever one of their arms and control it to solve a puzzle or adding in a funny section where Deadpool has baby-sized limbs like in the movies. Much like Marvel’s Spider-Man’s stealth missions provided gameplay variety, a new Deadpool game would have to mix in different kinds of gameplay.
With Ryan Reynolds’ version of Deadpool being so popular, it could be worth getting the actor to reprise his role inside a game. Ryan Reynolds has made it very clear that he loves playing the Merc with a Mouth, as he often wears the suit in random promotional videos on his YouTube channel or to hype up unrelated films like Free Guy. While Nolan North was a solid Deadpool, fans have grown attached to Reynolds, so getting him involved in a game would instantly get eyes on the product.
MCU tie-in games have untapped potential, and while it remains to be seen if Marvel Studios will ever experiment with the idea, Deadpool would be an excellent character to start with. Ryan Reynolds’ version of the character could see his fourth wall-breaking taken to a new level by not only walking into the world of the MCU, but by entering the realm of games as well. Using the same version of Deadpool that fans have been watching for years could allow him to reference the films freely, providing a very different experience from the comic-focused approach the first game took. Fans could experience his time travel adventure that was touched on at the end of Deadpool 2, leading to a ton of over-the-top scenarios that fill in the gaps before the next film.
Deadpool is more popular than ever, ensuring that another video game based on Wade Wilson would be a success. If Ryan Reynolds were interested, fans would surely love to play a game starring his Deadpool, though even a new version of the anti-hero would be welcome. The original game was solid despite its lack of gameplay variety, though it was ahead of its time. With Deadpool 3 coming soon, another Deadpool game could release alongside it to capitalize on the hype, all-but-guaranteeing its commercial success.