Firaxis Games' 2022 title Marvel's Midnight Suns, a strategy RPG that blended XCOM-like tactical combat with deep character-building, demonstrated the potential for the Marvel Cinematic Universe's supernatural corner. Despite not achieving blockbuster sales, the game received critical acclaim and successfully showcased how characters like Ghost Rider, Blade, Magik, and Nico Minoru could integrate into larger MCU narratives.
The game's narrative centers on Lilith, the mother of demons, who aims to awaken an elder god. Players assume the role of The Hunter, Lilith's child, who teams up with the titular Midnight Suns to thwart her plans. A significant portion of the game involves exploring The Abbey, the team's base of operations, which serves as a hub for uncovering lore and developing relationships with the various heroes. While the game does not feature romance options, this exploration provides players with a comprehensive introduction to the more occult side of the Marvel universe.
The tactical gameplay features turn-based combat on smaller, distinct levels. The game's card-based system for hero abilities, initially a point of contention, ultimately revealed significant depth and empowered players in their command of these super-powered individuals. A key success of Marvel's Midnight Suns was its ability to convincingly portray characters like Ghost Rider and Blade working alongside more mainstream heroes such as Captain America, Iron Man, and Spider-Man.
This successful integration suggests that similar pairings could translate well into MCU blockbusters, potentially paving the way for more supernatural-themed films. The game provides a valuable primer for these characters and their associated lore, especially with a Ghost Rider movie on the horizon and speculation about a Midnight Sons project.
It is worth noting that the game primarily features the Robbie Reyes iteration of Ghost Rider. While this version of the character has appeared in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., the actor likely to portray Ghost Rider in the MCU, Ryan Gosling, may be more aligned with the Johnny Blaze version, who plays a smaller role in the game. The prospect of Gosling's Ghost Rider eventually teaming up with Mahershala Ali's Blade in a cinematic adaptation of the Midnight Suns remains a point of fan anticipation.
Even if future MCU films focus more narrowly on specific characters' mythologies, villains like Lilith and Cthulhu could still make their way into the cinematic universe. Marvel's Midnight Suns offers an entertaining experience with a strong narrative, making it a worthwhile play for those seeking to familiarize themselves with these elements before their potential onscreen appearances. The game is currently available on PS4, PS5, Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X, with a current sale price of $10.49 on consoles.