Marvel's Midnight Suns is the new game coming from XCOM developer Firaxis Games. A cinematic trailer dropped during Gamescom for the new Marvel game gave players a rough idea of what to expect when it releases. The turn-based RPG gathers over a dozen Marvel heroes and a new character called The Hunter to take on the villain Lilith, Mother of Demons. While the basis for Marvel's Midnight Suns might not be the most familiar to fans, it stands a strong chance of being unique amongst the crowd.
The Marvel gaming scene has become rather populated in recent years. The PlayStation-exclusive Spider-Man series has been a hit so far, while Marvel's Avengers has had a more rocky reception from fans and critics. With all the AAA console releases and mobile games, Marvel has developed a strong foothold in the gaming industry. Midnight Suns is the latest big-budget Marvel game to be announced, and it could arguably stand out as one of Marvel's most distinctive titles yet.
Midnight Suns' Comic Book Origins
The comic book inspiration for Midnight Suns comes from a 1992 Ghost Rider comic arc, where Ghost Rider, Morbius, Blade, and a bunch of other heroes band together. The heroes are tasked with taking down Lilith, who's planning on world domination. While this may sound like familiar comic book territory, the subject matter is quite dark. It revolves around demons, necromancy, and ancient sorcery. The eponymous Midnight Sons is a group of warriors who are said to hold the key to defeating Lilith and her evil powers. With this unique combination of heroes and this lesser-known villain influencing Marvel's Midnight Suns, the game is off to a good start to carve out its own appeal.
What's Known About Marvel's Midnight Suns
Midnight Suns is a turn-based RPG, which offers something different from modern Marvel games, which are primarily action-adventure titles. Players will take on the role of The Hunter, a brand new and highly customizable character. Gamers will also team with a varied group of Marvel heroes, including familiar faces like Iron Man and Captain America, and some who aren't in the public eye as much, like Blade and Ghost Rider. From a pure gameplay perspective, Midnight Suns could be very different from anything Marvel has on offer at the moment. Firaxis, the developer behind the XCOM series, is an experienced team when it comes to creating turn-based games.
The game will also offer a more diverse team than the likes of Marvel's Avengers. While some familiar heroes will be playable, characters like Magik, Nico Minoru, and Robbie Reyes' Ghost Rider will be prominent characters. These superheroes aren't as well known as the likes of Iron Man, but Midnight Suns could be an opportunity to skyrocket their popularity. By appealing to even the most casual Marvel fans with the inclusion of heroes like Wolverine and Captain America, the other characters will surely benefit from increased levels of interest. Similarly, the villain, Lilith, is relatively unknown in the pantheon of Marvel baddies, and she too could cultivate a following from her appearance in Midnight Suns.
With Firaxis at the helm of Midnight Suns, a unique cast of characters, and turn-based RPG gameplay, this could be one of the most unique Marvel games yet. Adapting an unfamiliar comic series from the early 90s is a bold move, and it's certainly one that could pay off. It remains to be seen how good the quality of the final game will be, but Marvel is taking a shot in the dark with these characters and this storyline. Marvel's Midnight Suns is shaping up to be a unique experience in the Marvel game catalog.
Marvel's Midnight Suns will launch in March 2022 on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.