Comic book heroes are more popular than ever, especially in the video game market. With games likeMarvel Rivalsand Insomniac’sMarvel’s Spider-Manseries, it’s easy to wonder why there aren’t any DC products to compete against the Marvel stranglehold. The answer is thatDC actually did try to make a game in the same spirit asMarvel Rivalsin the 2010s, but it failed before too many players were even aware of its existence.
Marvel has found massive success for their comic book heroes in video games, while DC has been significantly less lucky in the medium. Recent years have seen games focused on smaller groups of heroes and villains, like 2024’sSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leagueand 2022’sGotham Knights,coming out to poor reviews with critics and players alike.There was once an attempt to create a multiverse-themed experience for playersto take on any number of DC characters online. The game wasInfinite Crisis, but it sadly faded away after failing to capture an audience.
Does DC Have A Game Like Marvel Rivals?
A Similar Title Once Existed In The Mid 2010s
In short, DC did once have a game similar toMarvel Rivalsin its intent to utilize the huge roster of characters available from its long history. The game wasInfinite Crisis,a 2015 title that launched in March and closed down the same year in August. Gameplay-wise,Infinite Crisiswas completely different fromMarvel Rivals, asInfinite Crisiswas a MOBA (multiplayer online battle arena), rather than a third-person hero shooter. The genre was and is defined by games likeDOTA 2andLeague of Legends, which have curated enduring popularity.
Infinite Crisiswas made by Turbine, a studio with experience creating MMORPGs, and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.
Infinite Crisishadalmost thirty characters to choose from, while certain characters like Batman, The Joker, and Green Lantern had multiple versions.Infinite Crisisdid include some interesting variations on the characters, like Gaslight Batman and Atomic Poison Ivy. These characters from unique multiverses were fun, but not interesting enough to attract players.
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Infinite Crisis,likeMarvel Rivals, followed a game template that was familiar to its audience. WhileMarvel Rivalshas taken the hero shooter format of games likeOverwatch(andthe character rate ofLeague of Legends),Infinite Crisistook on the MOBA genre without too many interesting additions. Although developers may have been trying to attract players by keeping things familiar, it instead raised the question of why switching away from a game that someone had already sunk hours into to essentially the same game but with Batman or Superman would be worthwhile.
Infinite Crisis Struggled, & Was Ultimately Shut Down
Low Player Numbers And A Lack Of Faith
Infinite Crisis, in its short-lived moment, was a basic MOBA. While it did have a more unique setting, including iconic DC locations from places like Gotham City,the game failed to prove why players should abandon more well-established gamesin favor of essentially the same thing with a DC skin. The concept was enough to attract an initial wave of players, but other technical issues in its first weeks meant not too many stuck around. According toSteamDB, the Steam release peaked at 6,961 players at the very beginning and went downhill from there.
A few major issues preventedInfinite Crisisfrom gaining momentum with a player base. For one, the game’s heroes were unbalanced, which made for a frustrating experience. Additionally, in the short time thatInfinite Crisisexisted, it failed to give its quickly dwindling community a ranked mode, which is a must for a MOBA-loving crowd.The lack of players also quickly became one of the biggest problems forInfinite Crisis, since the game didn’t add any bots to pad their matches. Multiple game types exacerbated the issue, spreading the already thin number of players across too many modes.
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Unfortunately for the game, higher-ups lost faith in the game after a few months in 2015 and shut the game down. The main reason for the game to sunset was the lack of a playerbase, likely due to the flooded MOBA market at the time. Perhaps ifInfinite Crisishad had some more time to squash its bugs, implement bots to shorten queues, and mature with additions to its gameplay, the game could’ve seen a rise to success.
By comparison,the failure ofInfinite Crisisdoes make the success ofMarvel Rivalseven more exceptional. Both titles were hero-themed games released into flooded markets of their respective game types, butMarvel Rivalshas managed to become successful thanks to offering an experience that felt uniquely worthwhile to hero shooter fans.
Will DC Try A New Game Like Marvel Rivals?
Making Direct Competition Might Not Be The Right Move
Marvel Rivalshas had massive success since its release, and while DC fans might desperately want their own equivalent,it’s likely better that DC doesn’t try to release a direct competitor. If DC did release its own version, meaning another third-person hero shooter, it would just run into the same issuesInfinite Crisishad, namely hitting a market with far too much competition. Even if DC created a unique take on the genre, it would have to fight for player’s time between games likeApex Legends, Overwatch 2,and, obviously,Marvel Rivals.
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While DC hasn’t had too much success in the video game world recently, perhaps it would be best for them to copy the success of a different Marvel title. DC is no stranger to single-player action games, especially with thesuccess of theBatman: Arkhamgames, so perhaps it would be best if it followed the recent success of games like Insomniac’sMarvel’s Spider-Manseries.Going back to simple single-player titles, rather than attempting to create a multiplayer, battle-pass-focused mess likeSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, could allow players to enjoy the iconic characters in story-focused games.
Big hitter characters like Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, and Aquaman could all easily support their own titles, or a studio could play it safe and start another Batman series.Any new game should scale back and focus on a fun single-player experiencerather than try to mimicMarvel Rivals.With so many misses in the past few years, DC needs a surefire title to bring in fans, new and old.
