Gaming has seen an explosion of games based on comic book characters, though Harley Quinn has yet to receive her very own title. The time is right for her to receive one, as her character is enjoying great popularity thanks to successful films like Birds of Prey. Furthermore, Harley Quinn's personality and her wacky arsenal of weapons lend themselves well to the world of gaming.
Although Quinn was introduced to the world as the Joker's partner in crime, she has grown to become an independent character capable of raising mayhem on her own. Her ability to feign sanity also gives her an edge over the Joker in certain situations. No studios have announced that they are developing a Quinn game, though gamers can look forward to other comic-based titles based on beloved characters like Wolverine, Spider-Man, and Wonder Woman.
Who Is Harley Quinn?
For a few years now, superheroes have been enjoying the limelight in pop culture. However, despite the great diversity present among both heroes and villains, the scene has been mainly dominated by male figures. Everybody loves characters like Spider-Man and Batman, but there are a good number of female characters that also deserve some attention. Fortunately, heroines like Wonder Woman have not been neglected, and she is receiving a triple-A game from Monolith Productions.
As far as villains go, the situation has been fairly similar, with figures like the Joker and Venom hogging the stage. In this testosterone-fueled environment, Harley Quinn has managed to break out and make a name for herself. Quinn was originally imagined as a humorous henchwoman for the Joker, though her larger-than-life personality made it impossible to not give her a recurring role. Since her first appearance in 1992, Quinn has gone on to grow a large fan base, and she has become far more than the Joker's arm candy.
Quinn is loved for her zany sense of humor and her unpredictable, erratic tendencies. Those that underestimate her soon realize their terrible mistake, as Quinn has several tricks up her sleeves. In addition to being flexible and agile, she is also a genius mastermind and a skilled manipulator. Usually, she carries a comically large mallet, though she has been seen with a host of other gag weapons. Although she is ruthless, she has a soft side she shows to the Joker and her pet hyenas, Bud and Lou.
The Rise of Harley Quinn
Harley Quinn has been enjoying renewed popularity, in part thanks to Margot Robbie who has breathed new life into the character through her performances in Birds of Prey, Suicide Squad, and The Suicide Squad. In Birds of Prey, Quinn takes a central role as she finds herself being hunted down by Gotham City's meanest villains following her breakup with the Joker. The audience is treated to Quinn's usually wackiness, though it is revealed that she also has a sensitive and caring side buried deep down.
The character's popularity has also been boosted by the animated series Harley Quinn. It follows Quinn and her adventures with Poison Ivy who eventually becomes her lover. The show has been a hit with fans, with many praising its dark humor and accurate portrayal of the titular lead, who is voiced by Kaley Cuoco. After three successful seasons, HBO has confirmed that a fourth is on the way.
Quinn will be getting more screen time with the Joker sequel, titled Joker: Folie à Deux. This time around, Lady Gaga will be playing Quinn. Although not much is known about the upcoming film, which is set to release in 2024, its title reference the phenomenon of shared psychosis between two people, which suggests that Quinn may have a large role alongside the Joker. With the character's popularity as high as it is, the stage seems set for a AAA game starring Quinn.
Harley Quinn in Gaming
Throughout the years, Quinn has appeared in a few video games. Most notably, she makes cameos in titles such as Batman: Arkham Asylum and Batman: Vengeance where she is voiced by Arleen Sorkin. She is also a playable character in the Injustice series, and she offers comic relief in the Lego: Batman series. Though these appearances are appreciated, she hasn't been given the chance to take center stage as she deserves.
Quinn's zany assortment of weapons would make for some fun gameplay. In the past, she has been seen with baseball bats, jack in the boxes, bazookas, and a host of other clown-themed instruments of torture. Getting her character right would be no easy task, as Quinn's flexibility and slinky movements would also need to be replicated. A Quinn game would also be a great opportunity to further explore the relationship between her and Poison Ivy. Though this did happen in the animated series, it has been criticized for perpetuating some harmful LGBT+ tropes. This could be mended within a game featuring Quinn and her supervillain partner.
There are a few studios that seem like they would do a good job with Quinn. Insomniac would make a good pick due to its experience with superhero games, though the studio has shown itself to favor Marvel characters. NetherRealm would not be a bad choice either, as they have experience with Quinn through Injustice. However, tackling a game starring her would be a different matter entirely, especially if the game had to veer outside the fighting genre.
It would be best for a Harley Quinn game to come sooner rather than later, as the character is currently enjoying a spotlight in pop culture thanks to the animated series and the films surrounding her. The gaming world has also shown that it has a near unquenchable thirst for comic-based games, so long as they're well-made. In the hands of the right developers, Quin could easily compete with titans like Spider-Man and Batman in the gaming world.