Summary
Marvel’s gaming endeavors have always thrived on variety, whether it’s a wide range of genres or a plethora of playable superheroes. From strategy games likeMarvel’s Midnight Sunsto the family-friendly fun of theLEGO Marveltitles,Marvelfans have had no shortage of video games to choose from over the last few years. These offerings are only going to continue growing as EA has entered a deal with Marvel to produce three new titles, two of which have already been revealed. Both games are still a long way away, but it already has many Marvel fans wondering what EA’s third Marvel game will be.
EA’s Marvel games have followed a patternso far as their lead superheroes focus on characters who have yet to get the solo, AAA treatment in recent years. Developer Motive is making an Iron Man game, and Cliffhanger is developing a title that focuses solely on Black Panther, leaving EA’s third game wide open. While there’s certainly no shortage of Marvel heroes that EA could adapt into a single-player adventure, only a few could truly anchor a well-rounded experience. One hero that could be the strongest candidate is Marvel’s god of thunder, Thor.
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Why Thor Would Be A Good Choice For EA’s Third Marvel Game
When it comes to developing a video game around a comic book character, three things need to be taken into consideration. First, the abilities of that hero have to translate to consistently enjoyable gameplay. Then, that hero needs to have enough personality, a wealth of villains, and a history of compelling storylines to help support a full-fledged video game narrative. Lastly, and in some ways most importantly, that hero needs to be popular enough to generate enough interest for fans to pick up the game at all. Whenlooking at Thor as a character, as well as his recent prevalence, he checks almost all of these boxes.
In terms of gameplay, Thor’s powers as the Asgardian god of thunder open up a lot of possibilities. While the game itself isn’t fondly regarded,Marvel’s Avengerslaid the blueprint for how Thor can work in combat. Thor’s hammer, Mjolnir, makes him a strong brawler who can take on multiple enemies at once with ease. His control over lightning also allows for ranged combat, and both of these combat options could be upgraded to turn Thor into an unstoppable force. If EA were to make an open-world Thor game, it could also leveragethe flying mechanics ofAnthemto make flying as Thor feel smooth.
When it comes to a strong story, Thor has already proven to be a superhero who can support a compelling narrative. From his constant feuding with his brother Loki to his escapades with other Marvel heroes, Thor has been at the center of some thrilling storylines. EA would have substantial source material to work with, even if it decided to take inspiration fromThor’s adventures in the MCUand their unmemorable tie-in games associated with Thor. Thanks to the MCU, Thor is also a household name, and with the added popularity of Norse stories in the gaming industry, a Thor-centered game would likely garner a fair amount of interest among gamers.
There’s no telling who exactly EA’s nextMarvelgame will focus on, but it’s hard to deny how much potential there is in a title that gives Thor the spotlight. Of the most popular Avengers, he historically hasn’t received much love from game developers, so it would certainly have the potential to be a game unlike anything comic fans have ever played before. Whether it’s a more linear experience likeMarvel’s Guardians of the Galaxyor an open-world adventure that lets players explore the nine realms,EAwould be wise to consider a Thor game for its third Marvel title.
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