Skip to main content
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+ The Games, Movies, TV & Comics You Love
flag of UK
UK
flag of US
US
flag of Canada
Canada
flag of Australia
Australia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
  • Newsletters
    • Total Film
    • Retro Gamer
    • Newsarama
Total Film
  • home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • View Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
  • Newsletters
    • Total Film
    • Retro Gamer
    • Newsarama
Total Film
Gaming Magazines
Gaming Magazines
Why subscribe?
  • Subscribe from just £3
  • Takes you closer to the games, movies and TV you love
  • Try a single issue or save on a subscription
  • Issues delivered straight to your door or device
From$12
Subscribe now
Trending
  • Pokemon Legenda Z-A
  • Golden Joystick Awards 2025
  • New Games for 2025
Don't miss these
Spider-Man 2 PC
Action Games The 10 best superhero games that you should play today
Best video game heroes
Games The 25 best heroes in games of all time
Marvel's Wolverine mask
Games Upcoming Marvel games, from the new Iron Man game to Marvel's Wolverine
Invincible VS
Fighting Games "Has anyone heard the budget for Grand Theft Auto 6? It's like three Trey Parker and Matt Stone deals": Invincible creator says the series is getting a fighting game because "open-world games are expensive"
Upcoming video game movies - Five Nights at Freddy's
Movies Every upcoming video game movie you need to know about
Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra screenshot of Captain America facing off against Black Panther
Action Games Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra – Everything we know so far about the upcoming superhero game
Batman Arkham
Action Games Former Assassin's Creed director who also worked on Arkham Origins joins Rocksteady, sparking more hopes for a new Batman game
Predator: Concrete Jungle
Games An Assassin's Creed or Uncharted-style Predator game is something Prey and Predator: Badlands director Dan Trachtenberg is "desperate for" and no, he hasn't forgotten the series' PS2 game rated 47 on Metacritic
Phantom Blade Zero trailer screenshot of main character standing in gray background
Action RPGs There is no Chinese GTA, veteran dev says, but Black Myth: Wukong was the starting shot for a stampede of AAA games made in China: "We have to make the games ever better"
Daredevil faces away from the camera in his Marvel Rivals character reveal trailer.
Third Person Shooters Marvel Rivals' Daredevil continues the trend of caked up heroes in NetEase's shooter, and his actor says it's so the attorney can "distract the supports," obviously
Marvel's Wolverine
Action Games Wolverine's mature-rated violent bliss is the palette cleanser I need after years playing Spider-Man's wholesome action
Best action games - God of War screenshot of Kratos facing off with a giant white dragon, holding a human head in one hand
Action Games 25 Best action games you can play right now
Angela brandishing her spear in Marvel Rivals promo art
Marvel Comics The new Marvel Rivals Vanguard Angela has a real-world history that's even wilder than her comic book story
A man is handcuffed in Ananta by a police officer with bright pink hair, from the PlayStation gameplay trailer
Open World Games GTA and Spider-Man are big shoes to fill, but Ananta producer decides to raise expectations even higher with Marvel Avengers comparisons: "They are the protagonists of their own stories"
Marvel Rivals Season 4 angela and daredevil fighting with spirit animals
Third Person Shooters All Marvel Rivals upcoming characters and leaks for Season 3 and beyond
  1. Games
  2. Action

Comic book heroes that deserve AAA games

Features
By Henry Gilbert published 5 November 2013

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

We need a hero!

We need a hero!

Batman and Spider-Man are no doubt the most famous superheroes in the world, starring in some of the most popular films of all time, along with a handful of great games. However, while they've both appeared in titles that worthy of their fame, so many other costumed characters are in desperate need of a game to match their potential. Even a slightly underwhelming Bat-adventure like Batman: Arkham Origins is better than almost every other game starring a hero from Marvel or DC Comics. And were sick of standing by and doing nothing!

Weve collected the heroes that are most deserving of a game thats at least as good as Arkham Origins. Wed even settle for a slightly middling game that fits thematically, like the humorous Deadpool from earlier this year. These guys and gals would translate wonderfully into a digital medium, if only the right publisher would give them a chance.

Page 1 of 10
Page 1 of 10
Fantastic Four

Fantastic Four

Hows this for a multiplayer focused game: One character is a super strong rock man, one can shoot fireballs, one can throw invisible force fields, and one can stretch far enough to span the entire screen. That accounts for each member of the Fantastic Four, a sci-fi squad of adventurers that have had worse luck with games than theyve had with movies. But all that could change with one multiplayer-focused, third-person beat-em-up.

The most important thing in an FF game is that each character has a very unique skill set that the stages are built around. Fantastic Four is built on a family dynamic, so the game should always have all four characters on screen, whether theyre controlled via an online buddy or AI. And FFs archenemy, Doctor Doom, is the perfect game adversary, given his love of attacking the team with hundreds of robots before throwing them into death traps.

Page 2 of 10
Page 2 of 10
Aquaman

Aquaman

Think Aquaman sucks? Thats hes useless out of water? That hes a loser who spends all day talking to fish? If you still define Aquaman by his appearance on Super Friends, you clearly havent been reading his comics lately. Aquaman is a badass King of the Oceans that will stab Darkseid in the face, and has risen above being the butt of lame jokes. He somehow became the coolest member of the Justice League, which makes him more than deserving of a game.

The biggest issue with an Aquaman game is that some portion has to take place underwater, and underwater levels are almost always terrible. To cut down on that, we propose that most of the ocean gameplay be kept to a hub area that AM uses to travel to different parts of the world to fight crime. And whether underwater or on dry land, Aquaman needs deep melee controls built around his trident--sort of like Batmans fisticuffs in Arkham, except AM can also call a shark to bite off your head.

Page 3 of 10
Page 3 of 10
Hawkeye

Hawkeye

Well admit that Hawkeye was the most boring teammate in The Avengers, but Hawkeye is having a renaissance of sorts in his offbeat comic adventures. In his solo books, Hawkeye is living his life as Clint Barton in stripped-down stories of crime-fighting away from the Avengers. Barton saving the lives of his neighbors from slumlords and douchey Eastern European crime lords might not be as colorful as fighting Loki, but the sparse look makes it stand out in the world of comics. And the same would be true for a video game, if they incorporated muted palette and sketch-like character designs.

Though we dream of a cel-shaded open world game done in that style, its unrealistic to think Marvel would ever spend that much on a Hawkeye game, so lets translate the intentionally flat look to a 2D downloadable action game. Think Mark of the Ninja, only with boomerang arrows. To keep the action varied, how about the occasional detective level starring Clints pet, the lovable Pizza Dog? If done right, Pizza Dog could be better at solving mysteries than Professor Layton and Phoenix Wright combined.

Page 4 of 10
Page 4 of 10
Superman

Superman

This being from another world may be faster than a speeding bullet and can leap tall buildings in a single bound, but hes also the one with the worst luck when it comes to video games. Superman has appeared on systems as early as the Atari, but his adventures were either barely average to the worst games ever made. For a character that just reached his 75th anniversary, its about time he got a good game--but how do you make one for a character thats all but invincible?

Despite all the advancements in gaming hardware, Supermans powers are still too god-like to accurately show in action. EAs Superman Returns had a smart idea by having Supermans health bar represent the well-being of Metropolis, playing up Supes' role as protector and bypassing his indestructibility. The next Superman developer should run with that novel idea for a sandbox game, but find a way to not make it as boring as EA did. Replacing Brandon Routh as Superman would definitely help with that.

Page 5 of 10
Page 5 of 10
Wonder Woman

Wonder Woman

Superman may be overdue for a good game, but Wonder Woman is in desperate need of any visibility outside of comics. DC may say that shes part of The Trinity alongside Batman and Superman, but its hard to believe it based on her lack of media appearances beyond her campy 1970s show. Who knows when Princess Diana will get her own film, but a kickass game would remind people why she deserves one.

Given Wonder Womans roots in Greek mythology, God of War is a great inspiration to start with. WW is as strong as Superman and more of a natural-born fighter than Batman, so the brutal combat would fit her like an indestructible bracelet. Wed be willing to bet she can tear off Medusa heads even faster than Kratos can.

Page 6 of 10
Page 6 of 10
Daredevil

Daredevil

As we mentioned before, both Spider-Man and Batman have had great games, proving that street-level heroes work great for action games. So why hasnt Daredevil, the samurai of New York City slums, appeared in one yet? DD swings around The Big Apple just as much as Spidey, but Daredevil is also just as skilled in hand-to-hand combat as Batman. If Marvel really wants to rip off the Arkham games, DDs grittier feel fits better than any of their other heroes.

In fact, Daredevils radioactively heightened senses would make more sense with Batmans Arkham ability. Daredevil could actually sense an attack behind him or find a clue buried in a crime scene; Detective Mode is basically how the blind Daredevil always sees the world. When you really think about it, Batman has starred in the perfect Daredevil games. Its about time Matt Murdock stole them back.

Page 7 of 10
Page 7 of 10
Hawkgirl

Hawkgirl

Like how Batman flies around a city, beating the crap out of drug dealers and arms merchants? Well, replace the Batarangs and grappling hooks with Nth metal wings and a mace, and you've got Hawkgirl. Yes, we could go with Hawkman as well, but superheroines need more representation in gaming--and Hawkgirl has far more personality than her stuffy male counterpart.

Hawkgirl is usually seen alongside the Justice League, protecting the people of the fake Louisiana city of St. Roch. She isnt as forgiving as Batman when it comes to crime, often beating the crap out of crooks with a large array of weapons that would make for great in-game unlockables. The only real issue holding her back is a forgettable rogues gallery that includes such criminal masterminds as Shadow Chief and Gentleman Ghost. Maybe she could just borrow a few of Batmans bad guys?

Page 8 of 10
Page 8 of 10
Green Lantern

Green Lantern

GL almost had a good game with the movie tie-in Rise of the Manhunters, and there were some good Green Lantern missions in DC Universe Online. But were not ready to settle when hes so close to greatness. With so many Earth-bound heroes in games, Green Lanterns ideal adventure would embrace his sci-fi roots, with him meeting aliens and battling ancient evils. Hmm, that sounds so familiar

Green Lantern has been an outer space cop before the developers of Mass Effect were even born, so we dont see anything wrong with the ringslinger taking it back. And just like Mass Effects Shepard being whoever you want, your Green Lantern could be any of the 3,000 members from the galaxy-spanning Lantern Corps. And while the scale and setting might fit Mass Effects, the combat could get way crazier, seeing as Green Lanterns ring can create anything he imagines. Sounds like the ultimate Omnitool.

Page 9 of 10
Page 9 of 10
Holding out for a hero...

Holding out for a hero...

Those are our picks for deserving supermen, but we're betting you have your own favorites that are primed for video game stardom. Please share your favorites in the comments!

Need to read more about comic books? Read our history of Batman games to the best and worst of Batman adventures and then find out the 9 greatest comic book games that dont star superheroes.

Page 10 of 10
Page 10 of 10
CATEGORIES
Android iPad iPhone PC Gaming Wii-u Nintendo PlayStation PS4 Xbox Xbox One Platforms Mobile Gaming
PRODUCTS
Batman: Arkham Origins Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate Amazing Spider-Man 2 Injustice: Gods Among Us DC Universe Online Deadpool: The Game
Henry Gilbert
Henry Gilbert
Social Links Navigation

Henry Gilbert is a former GamesRadar+ Editor, having spent seven years at the site helping to navigate our readers through the PS3 and Xbox 360 generation. Henry is now following another passion of his besides video games, working as the producer and podcast cohost of the popular Talking Simpsons and What a Cartoon podcasts. 

See more PC Gaming Features
Read more
Spider-Man 2 PC
The 10 best superhero games that you should play today
 
 
Best video game heroes
The 25 best heroes in games of all time
 
 
Marvel's Wolverine mask
Upcoming Marvel games, from the new Iron Man game to Marvel's Wolverine
 
 
Invincible VS
"Has anyone heard the budget for Grand Theft Auto 6? It's like three Trey Parker and Matt Stone deals": Invincible creator says the series is getting a fighting game because "open-world games are expensive"
 
 
Upcoming video game movies - Five Nights at Freddy's
Every upcoming video game movie you need to know about
 
 
Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra screenshot of Captain America facing off against Black Panther
Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra – Everything we know so far about the upcoming superhero game
 
 
Latest in Action
GTA 6
GTA 6 theory crafting reaches the next level as one fan thinks the next trailer's release date has been under our noses for months
 
 
God of War Ragnarok
God of War Ragnarok lead says AAA studios should "diversify into double-A and single-A, and then perhaps indie" even if blockbuster releases result in "potentially really large" payoffs
 
 
Red Dead Redemption 2
As Red Dead Redemption 2's reveal trailer turns nine years old, fans look back at the worst reactions to it: "The main character seems completely tasteless"
 
 
Assassin's Creed Shadows screenshot showing female protagonist Naoe
Former Assassin's Creed boss says he "did not make that choice" to leave Ubisoft after 20 years – the company "decided to transfer the leadership… to someone closer to its new organizational structure"
 
 
Rubinite trailer screenshot of a purple hand reaching for a red eye
I played the top-rated Soulslike in Steam Next Fest to see what the fuss is about – turns out it's not a Soulslike but a boss rush with amazing combat, and I see what the fuss is about
 
 
Team Ico pitched Shadow of the Colossus to Sony with placeholder music from Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man: "Later on, we found out that was actually the theme music"
 
 
Latest in Features
Josh O'Connor as JB in The Mastermind
The Mastermind is a brilliantly frustrating anti-heist movie that defies expectations, and it's one of my favorite movies of the year
 
 
Phyre stands in front of Seattle in Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2
Step aside Duskbloods, Dawnwalker, and Bloodlines 2 – somebody give me a Buffy the Vampire Slayer RPG to commemorate the series' revival
 
 
A pink-haired trainer faces Yveltal in Pokemon Legends: Z-A.
Pokemon Legends Z-A and Arceus are true successors to the classic Pokemon games I first fell in love with
 
 
All the Helsmiths of Hashut Army Set models laid out on a wooden table
Which Warhammer Helsmiths of Hashut models should you buy for your army? I've made all them, so here's what I think
 
 
Storm, Wolverine, Nova, and Spoider-Man fight bug enemies on the streets in Marvel Cosmic Invasion
I spent an undisclosed but fireable amount of time playing games at work, and here are my 10 Steam Next Fest demos you shouldn't miss before they're gone
 
 
Disney Lorcana Fabled box, boosters, dice, and dial on a wooden surface
If you want to get into Disney Lorcana, Fabled is your golden ticket
 
 
  1. The lighthouse looks across a vista in Keeper
    1
    Keeper review: "One of the most wonderfully bizarre games I've ever played – a stunning slice of magic"
  2. 2
    Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 review: "My dream vampire RPG has been staked – this blunt-toothed sequel is just a boring, linear action brawler instead"
  3. 3
    Ball x Pit review: "Vampire Survivors and Breakout collide in this brilliant roguelike ball basher that struggles with repetition"
  4. 4
    Pokemon Legends: Z-A review: "Fast fluid real-time fights and a world worth exploring make this finally feel like the anime come to life"
  5. 5
    Little Nightmares 3 review: "An overly safe, uneven, and half-baked follow-up where co-op is a hindrance instead of the evolution it should've been"
  1. Tron: Ares
    1
    Tron: Ares review: "Misses out by swapping the Grid for the real world"
  2. 2
    One Battle After Another review: "One of the best studio movies in years and an instant classic"
  3. 3
    The Conjuring: Last Rites review: "Not bold or memorable enough for the Warrens' final chapter"
  4. 4
    Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle review: "Roars past Mugen Train as Demon Slayer's best adventure yet"
  5. 5
    The Long Walk review: "One of the best Stephen King adaptations ever made"
  1. Splinter Cell Deathwatch
    1
    Splinter Cell: Deathwatch review: "A pale imitation of the long-dormant stealth franchise"
  2. 2
    Marvel Zombies review: "A fun expansion of the What If episode with delightful MCU Easter eggs and truly gross R-rated kills"
  3. 3
    Gen V season 2 review: "As strong as the first season, if not stronger"
  4. 4
    Wednesday season 2 part 2 review: "Ortega shines, but it's a zombie who steals the entire show"
  5. 5
    Peacemaker season 2 review: "Darker and sadder than the first year, but there's still a lot of fun to be had with the 11th Street Kids."

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...