Thus far, fans know extremely little about Marvel’s Wolverine. While the talent behind the game is promising, as a Spec Ops: The Line writer is involved alongside the team that made Spider-Man: Miles Morales, fans have only seen a brief teaser for the title. While there are some nods to Madripoor and The Incredible Hulk hidden in the background, gamers only really get to see Logan preparing for a bar fight.
With so little shared about the PS5 game’s narrative, Marvel’s Wolverine can go in any direction with its story. A gritty adventure where Logan keeps to himself is possible, as is one where he runs into friends and foes with ties to the X-Men. However, one particularly good approach could see him paired with Laura Kinney, AKA X-23. Not only would the appearance of Logan’s clone and adoptive daughter suit Insomniac’s style, but it would also help the game follow in the footsteps of some of the biggest PlayStation exclusives.
Why Marvel’s Wolverine Featuring X-23 Would Work Well
In recent years, Laura Kinney has really come into her own as a character. Not only has she become Wolverine herself and had some standout comic runs in the role, but a young version of the character featured in the critically acclaimed Logan. With most seeing this as the best Wolverine film by far, and Laura’s relationship with her adoptive father being a huge part of that success, highlighting their bond in the game would not be too shocking.
Insomniac would be free to choose whether it positions Laura as a pre-teen or teenager, as both portrayals could make for an interesting dynamic. Regardless of which route it takes, the developer could make good use of a companion for Wolverine if the game takes a linear approach. X-23 could be used for puzzles, team-up moves, and to give Logan someone to converse with on his journey.
Sony’s exclusives have already perfected the art of parent-child relationships, too. The critical and commercial success that was God of War 2018 is a good example of this, as the game used Atreus to make Kratos more interesting and add some extra depth to combat. The Last of Us is another clear example of this, with the bond between Joel and Ellie regularly celebrated as one of the best pairings in gaming. A father-daughter relationship would fit the Sony mold, setting up a powerful story that sees Logan’s rugged personality softened up a bit through his time with Laura.
The introduction of X-23 could mirror the use of Miles Morales in the Marvel’s Spider-Man games, too. She could mostly serve as an ally, with players only controlling her in brief sections but mainly playing as Logan. After being mentored by the original Wolverine throughout the game, she could strive to become a hero in her own right. This could lead to a spin-off like Spider-Man: Miles Morales, with X-23 getting her own game for players to enjoy after they have seen her origin story. Both characters could then be playable in Marvel’s Wolverine 2, following the successful approach of Marvel’s Spider-Man even further.
Obviously, this is purely speculation, as there is nothing suggesting that X-23 will feature in Marvel’s Wolverine. Still, incorporating the character would allow Insomniac to craft a game resembling something like God of War while also setting up a major franchise like Marvel’s Spider-Man. With the conversations between Laura and Logan sure to make the story more engaging, too, it is hard not to see the upsides of incorporating X-23.
Marvel’s Wolverine is currently in development for PS5.
