About a decade ago, the general public had minimal knowledge of Marvel's extensive catalog of comic book heroes and villains. Aside from worldwide icons like Spider-Man and the X-Men, the majority of Marvel characters were relative unknowns to most of the world. However, with the introduction of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, some once-obscure characters are becoming mainstays of the genre, such as the Guardians of the Galaxy. And with Disney+ starting to roll out some new shows, more obscure characters are going to get their chance in the spotlight, characters like Moon Knight.
A mercenary who died and was resurrected by the Egyptian moon god Khonshu, Marc Spector turns to a life of vigilantism when he returns to the United States. Taking on the moniker of Moon Knight, Spector acts as the Fist of Khonshu, avenging the innocent. With abilities similar to Batman's, such as powers of deduction, the use of high-tech gadgets, and a proficiency in martial arts, it's a little odd that Moon Knight hasn't been the lead character in a video game yet. But that's not to say that Moon Knight hasn't appeared in video games at all.
All of Moon Knight's Playable Appearances
Though he hasn't appeared in his own game, Moon Knight has cropped up here and there over the years as a playable character. The first documented playable appearance of Moon Knight is in the Wii, Xbox 360, and PS3 versions of the 2006 classic Marvel Ultimate Alliance. Coming a few years before the MCU would make its debut, Ultimate Alliance was the first exposure many players got to some of Marvel's lesser known characters.
Alongside the likes of Luke Cage and Deadpool, Moon Knight stood out amongst the rest of the Ultimate Alliance cast that was otherwise filled with icons like Captain America, Spider-Man, and Iron Man. Though the combo-focused, beat-em-up gameplay was solid, this game is mainly remembered for its ambition, bringing together over 140 characters from the Marvel universe, and letting the player take control of over 20 of them.
Players taking control of Moon Knight in Marvel Ultimate Alliance get access to all the weapons and moves a fan of the anti-hero would expect. Moon Knight's staff, nunchucks, and throwable Crescent Darts are all here, along with some other martial arts attacks that rip through the bosses surprisingly well.
Moon Knight returns in the Switch-exclusive Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3 as part of the Marvel Knights DLC. All of his weapons and martial arts movesets make a return as well, albeit made to look much flashier. Moon Knight isn't the most powerful character in the game, but his animations and special attacks do make him a worthwhile addition to the team.
Moon Knight also made a playable appearance in the 2012 Facebook and mobile gameMarvel Avengers Alliance. Part of the Secret Avengers team in this game, players could take control of Moon Knight during the game's turn-based battles. The gameplay was pretty barebones, and the graphics weren't great, but it's one of the few instances where Moon Knight is playable.
Another game that put players in Moon Knight's boots, Marvel Heroes was a free-to-play MMO that ran from June 2013 to November 2017. Though it was met with low reviews upon its initial release, Marvel Heroes brought a steady stream of new content and fixes to the game over time, turning it into a solid Marvel-themed MMO. Here, players could switch up Moon Knight's appearance, giving him his Mr. Knight costume, his Secret Avengers look, his Earth X outfit, and a few others.
Marvel Contest of Champions, the iOS and Android fighting game, also gives players the opportunity to take control of Moon Knight. Moon Knight is handled pretty uniquely in this title, with his attacks growing in power if there's a new moon, and being more vulnerable if it's a full moon. In Contest of Champions, Moon Knight is equipped with his Crescent Darts, and his truncheon.
Another mobile game, this time a top-down brawler, Marvel Future Fight also has a playable Moon Knight. This game gives players three distinct versions of the character to choose from: a standard Moon Knight, an armored variation, and Mr. Knight. According to many players, the Mr. Knight variation is one of the best combat-focused characters in the game.
The most recent Marvel mobile game to feature a playable Moon Knight, Marvel Strike Force is another turn-based experience. All of Moon Knight's traditional arsenal is here, along with some health buffs that emphasize the character's durability in the comics.
Moon Knight also makes appearances in all the LEGO Marvel series of games, including LEGO Marvel Superheroes, LEGO Marvel Superheroes 2, and LEGO Avengers. In these games, Moon Knight's primary attacks come from his staff and throwable Crescent Darts, and he can glide using his cape.
Other Moon Knight Video Game Appearances
Along with his playable appearances, Moon Knight has also popped up in a few video games over the years as a supporting character. One of his most memorable appearances is in the rather divisive Spider-Man: Web of Shadows, where he appears at the start of the game to help Spidey take down Black Cat and Kingpin.
Moon Knight also makes an appearance during Hawkeye's story ending in Marvel Vs. Capcom 3, as a part of the West Coast Avengers. A Troy Baker-voiced Moon Knight takes center stage in one of Pinball FX 2's Marvel DLC packs, where he is shown to fight with some of his most common adversaries, such as Morpheus and Midnight.
A teenage Moon Knight appears in the terribly-received Avengers Academy game, acting as one of the unlockable heroes that players can add to their own campus. It may not be the most glamorous history, but Moon Knight has had a solid presence in the video game landscape, at least in the last two decades.