Highlights

  • Marvel's Midnight Suns' life sim mechanics were a standout feature, adding depth to superhero interactions.
  • Firaxis found the perfect balance between life sim and superhero adventure, but the title proves that a new game fully set within the life sim genre could work.
  • A Marvel life sim game, like a superhero version of The Sims, could be refreshing. Romances and more fleshed-out decoration options could help such a title shine.

Two years ago, Firaxis surprised everyone with its addition to the Marvel universe, Marvel's Midnight Suns. The game combined strategical card-based combat with XCOM-like gameplay for an experience unlike any Marvel game before it. Although it ended up being a commercial letdown, it was a critical success and is regarded by some as one of the best superhero games in years. Because of that, some of Marvel's Midnight Suns best concepts deserve to live on in some fashion.

While another turn-based deck-building Marvel game could be fun, the true standout of Marvel's Midnight Suns was its unexpected life sim mechanics. Throughout the adventure, players had to grow closer to different Marvel characters through a variety of social encounters. This not only helped break up the core gameplay, but it also made these characters far more than superpowered beings. And since it worked out extremely well here, another studio should really consider taking those life sim mechanics even further in a new type of Marvel video game.

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A Marvel Life Sim Could Give Fans Something Truly Special

Marvel's Midnight Suns Dabbled in the Life Sim Genre

In Marvel's Midnight Suns, players took control of The Hunter, a fully customizable hero who was the sole offspring of Lilith. They were in charge of the Midnight Suns and would call the shots from their base of operations, known as the Abbey. This Abbey served as the central hub of the game, with players spending a lot of time between missions there. They could train, upgrade cards, open decks, explore the grounds to collect all sorts of resources, and upgrade it with all sorts of new modules. And as they did this, they would also grow closer to all the Marvel superheroes in the process.

The entire game ran on a day-night cycle, with each day offering new conversation opportunities with the heroes. These conversations let them learn more about the characters while also increasing their bond. Additionally, heroes would grow closer to the player if they took them out on missions, participated in different nightly activities, trained with them, and gave them different gifts. As their bond grew, players would unlock new costumes, cards, and opportunities. This made it a vital part of the game's progression, and because of Firaxis' writing, they are also a fan-favorite feature.

It is Time for a Studio to Fully Explore the Marvel Life Sim Concept

Marvel's Midnight Suns showed that a life sim could work within the context of the Marvel universe, and now a studio just needs to take the concept to the next level. One of the best ways to do this may simply be taking what Firaxis did and expanding upon it with new heroes, deeper bonds, and more activities to engage with. Firaxis already seemed to strike the perfect balance between life sim and an exhilarating superhero adventure, so building upon that would likely result in another fun adventure. But, if another developer took the life sim elements even further and made a game fully set within that genre, it could be truly special.

While making a Marvel game like The Sims or Animal Crossing may be incredibly risky, it could also be really fun. Letting players build their own little home while interacting with some of the most iconic heroes around sounds like a great relaxing experience. Romance could be on the table as well, which is something that Midnight Suns skipped. Of course, there would have to be the occasional super villain shenanigans to stay in line with the theme of the Marvel universe, but they do not have to be world-ending like Marvel's Midnight Suns was. Instead, they could simply result in tiny little challenges that need to be conquered, like many other life sim games before it.

A Marvel life sim game is likely not on the horizon, but based on Marvel's Midnight Suns' reception, it really should be. As other superhero games go for the classic action-adventure genre, doing something like this would be a breath of fresh air in an increasingly crowded market. Even if such a game were a relatively short experience, if a developer knocked the concept out of the park, it would still be a nice treat for fans of the franchise.