It’s been quite some time since Superman had the spotlight all to himself in a video game. Yes, the Man of Steel has made plenty of appearances as a playable character over the years, featuring in games like Injustice, the LEGO Batman series, and MultiVersus. However, he hasn’t embarked on a solo digital escapade since the release of Superman Returns back in 2006.
With Batman already establishing himself as the face of an entire gaming series and Wonder Woman gearing up for her own solo journey thanks to Monolith, it feels long overdue for Superman to take center stage in a major AAA title. Plus, with James Gunn’s new Superman project just around the corner, the timing seems ideal. While some fans question whether a solo Superman game would work, there is a classic DC villain who could provide the perfect narrative hook to unleash the full might of the Man of Steel.
### Brainiac Would Be The Perfect Villain for a Superman Game
Enter Brainiac, one of Superman’s most enduring and popular foes. Since making his debut in the 1958 issue of Action Comics #242, Brainiac has undergone numerous transformations, but certain elements of his character remain constant across different comic book timelines.
Key among his arsenal are two gadgets: a nearly impenetrable force field and a powerful shrinking ray capable of reducing entire cities to miniature scale. Brainiac collects these cities in glass containers and, convinced that their knowledge is best kept by him, often obliterates the planet from which the city came. In some storylines, he’s even responsible for the doom of Superman’s home planet, Krypton, having shrunk and captured the city of Kandor.
This intriguing city-shrinking gimmick could solve a common issue in developing a standalone Superman game: handling his immense range of powers while maintaining a believable, interactive world full of civilians. By placing Superman in a shrunken city devoid of civilian life, the game could allow players to fully exploit his powers. Imagine soaring through structures, leveling environments, and unleashing chaos free from worry about bystanders—that’s the kind of gameplay experience only a villain like Brainiac could afford.
Interestingly, this concept isn’t too far removed from the infamous Superman Nintendo 64 game, where Lex Luthor traps Superman in a virtual Metropolis. However, even in that simulation, rescuing civilians was part of the experience.
### There’s One Downside to Using Brainiac Right Now
However, there’s a potential snag in featuring Brainiac as a central villain. While undeniably one of Superman’s most formidable rivals, his recent portrayal in the gaming world might dampen enthusiasm. In Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, Brainiac technically plays a villainous role, although he only steps into the limelight in the game’s closing moments. Unfortunately, this iteration left many players underwhelmed.
The problem wasn’t with the voice performance but with his lackluster role in the game’s narrative and an anticlimactic boss fight that failed to do him justice. This depiction didn’t do any favors for Brainiac’s reputation and may have left a sour taste for some gamers, especially given that content updates repeatedly recycled his boss battle with minimal tweaks.
Ultimately, while Brainiac offers a cinematic and compelling narrative hook for a Superman game, developers would need to carefully navigate his current gaming baggage. If done right, though, it could finally deliver the Superman solo adventure fans have long been waiting for.
