Marvel's Midnight Suns
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''Marvel's Midnight Suns'' is a 2022
tactical role-playing game Tactical role-playing game (abbreviated TRPG), also known as strategy role-playing game or (both abbreviated SRPG), is a video game genre that combines core elements of role-playing video games with those of tactical (Turn-based tactics, turn-b ...
developed by
Firaxis Games Firaxis Games, Inc. is an American video game developer based in Sparks, Maryland. The company was founded in May 1996 by Sid Meier, Jeff Briggs, and Brian Reynolds (game designer), Brian Reynolds following their departure from MicroProse, Meie ...
and published by 2K. The game features comic book characters from multiple
Marvel Comics Marvel Comics is a New York City–based comic book publishing, publisher, a property of the Walt Disney Company since December 31, 2009, and a subsidiary of Disney Publishing Worldwide since March 2023. Marvel was founded in 1939 by Martin G ...
properties, such as
Midnight Sons The Midnight Sons are a team of supernatural superheroes appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Including Ghost Riders Danny Ketch and Johnny Blaze, Blade, and Morbius, the original team first formed as part of the ''R ...
,
Avengers Avenger(s) or The Avenger(s) may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Marvel Comics universe * Avengers (comics), a team of superheroes **Avengers (Marvel Cinematic Universe), a central team of protagonist superheroes of "The Infinity Sag ...
,
X-Men The X-Men are a superhero team in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer/editor Stan Lee and artist/co-plotter Jack Kirby, the team first appeared in Uncanny X-Men, ''The X-Men'' #1 (September 1963). Although initial ...
, and Runaways. Players are able to create their own superhero named "The Hunter", who must lead other characters to rebel against
Lilith Lilith (; ), also spelled Lilit, Lilitu, or Lilis, is a feminine figure in Mesopotamian and Jewish mythology, theorized to be the first wife of Adam and a primordial she-demon. Lilith is cited as having been "banished" from the Garden of Eden ...
, the "mother of demons" as she attempts to bring her master, Chthon, back to life. Combat in the game is
turn-based Timekeeping is relevant to many types of games, including video games, tabletop role-playing games, board games, and sports. The passage of time must be handled in a way that players find fair and easy to understand. In many games, this is don ...
and mixed with
deck-building A deck-building game is a card game or board game where construction of a deck of cards is a main element of gameplay. Deck-building games are similar to collectible card games (CCGs) in that each player has their own deck. However, unlike CCGs, t ...
. Between combat missions, players manage their base of operations called "The Abbey" which they can walk around in a third-person view, research upgrades, interact with the game's cast of characters and build friendships with them.
Marvel Games Marvel Games is the licensing and publishing brand for video games based on Marvel Comics, Marvel properties, and is also the video game division of Disney Interactive. Before the incorporation of Marvel Games, video games based on Marvel propert ...
approached Firaxis Games for the development of a new Marvel project in 2017, after being impressed by their work on the modern ''
XCOM ''XCOM'' (originally called ''X-COM'') is a science fiction video game franchise featuring an elite international organization tasked with countering alien invasions of Earth. The series began with the strategy video game '' UFO: Enemy Unknown' ...
'' games. Initially, the team attempted to apply the ''XCOM'' gameplay formula, such as a focus on
cover system Cover or covers may refer to: Packaging * Another name for a lid * Cover (philately), generic term for envelope or package * Album cover, the front of the packaging * Book cover or magazine cover ** Book design ** Back cover copy, part of ...
and
permadeath Permadeath or permanent death is a game mechanic in both tabletop games and video games in which player characters who lose all of their health are considered dead and cannot be used anymore. Depending on the situation, this could require the p ...
, on ''Midnight Suns'', though they were scrapped as they realized that they did not make thematic sense in a game centered on powerful superheroes. Its deck-building gameplay was inspired by games such as ''
Slay the Spire ''Slay the Spire'' is a 2019 roguelike deck-building game developed by the American indie studio Mega Crit. It was published by Mega Crit for its initial PC release and by Humble Bundle on home consoles and mobile. The game was released in early ...
'', while its social elements were inspired by
Japanese role-playing game While the early history and distinctive traits of role-playing video games (RPGs) in East Asia have come Video games in Japan, from Japan, many video games have also arisen Video games in China, in China, Video games in South Korea, developed ...
s such as ''
Fire Emblem is a Video games in Japan, Japanese fantasy tactical role-playing game franchise developed by Intelligent Systems and published by Nintendo. First produced and published for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1990, the series currently con ...
'' and ''
Persona A persona (plural personae or personas) is a strategic mask of identity in public, the public image of one's personality, the social role that one adopts, or simply a fictional Character (arts), character. It is also considered "an intermediary ...
''. Narratively, the game was inspired by Saturday morning cartoons, and '' Rise of the Midnight Sons'' and '' Inferno'' its the comic book events that influenced the game's setting and characters. ''Midnight Suns'' released for
PlayStation 5 The PlayStation 5 (PS5) is a home video game console developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It was announced as the successor to the PlayStation 4 in April 2019, was launched on November 12, 2020, in Australia, Japan, New Zealand, North ...
,
Windows Windows is a Product lining, product line of Proprietary software, proprietary graphical user interface, graphical operating systems developed and marketed by Microsoft. It is grouped into families and subfamilies that cater to particular sec ...
, and
Xbox Series X/S The Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S are the fourth generation of consoles in the Xbox series, succeeding the previous generation's Xbox One. Released on November 10, 2020, the higher-end Xbox Series X and lower-end Xbox Series S are part o ...
on December 2, 2022.
PlayStation 4 The PlayStation 4 (PS4) is a home video game console developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Announced as the successor to the PlayStation 3 in February 2013, it was launched on November 15, 2013, in North America, November 29, 2013, in ...
and
Xbox One The Xbox One is a home video game console developed by Microsoft. Announced in May 2013, it is the successor to Xbox 360 and the third console in the Xbox#Consoles, Xbox series. It was first released in North America, parts of Europe, Austra ...
versions were released on May 11, 2023. A
Nintendo Switch The is a video game console developed by Nintendo and released worldwide in most regions on March 3, 2017. Released in the middle of the Eighth generation of video game consoles, eighth generation of home consoles, the Switch succeeded the ...
version was also planned but later canceled. The game received generally positive reviews from critics, with critics praising the game's strategic gameplay, narrative, and its focus on relationship building with Marvel heroes. Its writings, however, have been criticised. It was nominated for Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year at the annual D.I.C.E. Awards. Despite the game's strong critical reception, it was a
commercial failure Failure is the social concept of not meeting a desirable or intended objective, and is usually viewed as the opposite of success. The criteria for failure depends on context, and may be relative to a particular observer or belief system. One ...
for its publisher. Firaxis released four
downloadable content content (DLC) is additional content created for an already released video game, distributed through the Internet by the game's publisher. It can be added for no extra cost or as a form of video game monetization, enabling the publisher to gain ad ...
packs, which follows the Midnight Suns as they fight against
Dracula ''Dracula'' is an 1897 Gothic fiction, Gothic horror fiction, horror novel by Irish author Bram Stoker. The narrative is Epistolary novel, related through letters, diary entries, and newspaper articles. It has no single protagonist and opens ...
and his forces of
vampire A vampire is a mythical creature that subsists by feeding on the Vitalism, vital essence (generally in the form of blood) of the living. In European folklore, vampires are undead, undead humanoid creatures that often visited loved ones and c ...
s.


Gameplay

''Midnight Suns'' is a
tactical role-playing game Tactical role-playing game (abbreviated TRPG), also known as strategy role-playing game or (both abbreviated SRPG), is a video game genre that combines core elements of role-playing video games with those of tactical (Turn-based tactics, turn-b ...
. Players take the role of "The Hunter", the child of
Lilith Lilith (; ), also spelled Lilit, Lilitu, or Lilis, is a feminine figure in Mesopotamian and Jewish mythology, theorized to be the first wife of Adam and a primordial she-demon. Lilith is cited as having been "banished" from the Garden of Eden ...
, as they lead a selection of heroes in various missions to defeat her. Combat is
turn-based Timekeeping is relevant to many types of games, including video games, tabletop role-playing games, board games, and sports. The passage of time must be handled in a way that players find fair and easy to understand. In many games, this is don ...
, mixed with
deck-building A deck-building game is a card game or board game where construction of a deck of cards is a main element of gameplay. Deck-building games are similar to collectible card games (CCGs) in that each player has their own deck. However, unlike CCGs, t ...
. Each hero, including the Hunter, has their own customizable deck of eight cards. At the start of each mission, players choose three heroes to take into battle, with their decks combined into one that is to be drawn from each round. In each turn, players have three Card Plays, two opportunities to redraw cards, and a chance to move and reposition one of their heroes. The heroes will automatically move to attack their enemy after a card is chosen. There are three types of cards: Attack cards deal damage to enemies, some of which have a "knockback" effect, allowing players to push them towards environmental hazards or other allies for additional damages. Skill cards play a support role, such as healing characters, redrawing cards, and applying status effects on both the heroes and enemies. Heroic attacks are powerful attacks that resemble the iconic abilities of each hero. Using Heroic attacks consumes "Heroism", a resource that is generated through using Skill and Attack cards. Players can also take advantage of items in the battlefield to launch environmental attacks, which consume Heroism but does not consume a card. Combat typically occur in an arena where the player's squad of heroes must battle several waves of enemies. Some cards have a "quick" property, which refunds a card play to the squad if the card defeats an enemy. This allows players to chain the use of several cards together without using any card play. The base game includes 13 playable characters (
Blade A blade is the Sharpness (cutting), sharp, cutting portion of a tool, weapon, or machine, specifically designed to puncture, chop, slice, or scrape surfaces or materials. Blades are typically made from materials that are harder than those they a ...
,
Captain America Captain America is a superhero created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby who appears in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in '' Captain America Comics'' #1, published on December 20, 1940, by Timely C ...
, Captain Marvel,
Doctor Strange Dr. Stephen Vincent Strange is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Steve Ditko, the character first appeared in ''Strange Tales'' #110 (cover-dated July 1963). Doctor Strange serves as ...
,
Ghost Rider Ghost Rider is the name of multiple superheroes or antiheroes appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Marvel had previously used the name for a Western character whose name was later changed to Phantom Rider. The first s ...
,
the Hulk The Hulk is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in the debut issue of '' The Incredible Hulk'' (May 1962). In his comic book ...
, the Hunter,
Iron Man Iron Man is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Co-created by writer and editor Stan Lee, developed by scripter Larry Lieber, and designed by artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby, the character first appearan ...
,
Magik Magik (Illyana Nikolaievna Rasputina) (Russian language, Russian: Ильяна Николаевна Распутина) is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Len Wein and artist Dave Cock ...
,
Nico Minoru Nico Minoru, briefly known as Sister Grimm, is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created in 2003 by writer Brian K. Vaughan and artist Adrian Alphona, the character debuted in '' Runaways'' #1 (July 2003). ...
,
Scarlet Witch The Scarlet Witch is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in The X-Men #4 in March 1964, in the Silver Age of Comic Boo ...
,
Spider-Man Spider-Man is a superhero in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, he first appearance, first appeared in the anthology comic book ''Amazing Fantasy'' #15 (August 1962) in ...
and
Wolverine The wolverine ( , ; ''Gulo gulo''), also called the carcajou or quickhatch (from East Cree, ''kwiihkwahaacheew''), is the largest land-dwelling species, member of the family Mustelidae. It is a muscular carnivore and a solitary animal. The w ...
), with four additional characters (
Deadpool Deadpool is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Fabian Nicieza and Rob Liefeld, the character first appeared in ''New Mutants'' #98 (December 1990). In his comic book appearances, Deadpool is ...
,
Morbius Morbius (born Michael Morbius, also known as Morgan Michaels, Morbius the Living Vampire and Nikos Michaels) is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Roy Thomas and originally designed by pen ...
,
Venom Venom or zootoxin is a type of toxin produced by an animal that is actively delivered through a wound by means of a bite, sting, or similar action. The toxin is delivered through a specially evolved ''venom apparatus'', such as fangs or a sti ...
and
Storm A storm is any disturbed state of the natural environment or the atmosphere of an astronomical body. It may be marked by significant disruptions to normal conditions such as strong wind, tornadoes, hail, thunder and lightning (a thunderstor ...
) released as DLC. Each hero has their own unique skills and abilities, and plays different roles in combat. For instance, Scarlet Witch specializes in abilities that can deal area of effect damage, Blade has cards that allow him to attack enemies and drain their
health Health has a variety of definitions, which have been used for different purposes over time. In general, it refers to physical and emotional well-being, especially that associated with normal functioning of the human body, absent of disease, p ...
, and Magik is essential for
crowd control Crowd control is a public security practice in which large crowds are managed in order to prevent the outbreak of crowd crushes, affray, fights involving drunk and disorderly people or riots. Crowd crushes in particular can cause many hundre ...
as she can reposition enemies by sending them through portals. Players can customize the Hunter and their
superpowers Superpower describes a sovereign state or supranational union that holds a dominant position characterized by the ability to exert influence and project power on a global scale. This is done through the combined means of economic, military, tec ...
from over 40 different abilities. The Hunter has three types of abilities: Light skills focus on supporting the team and generating heroic points; Dark abilities deal powerful damage to enemies at the cost of the Hunter's health or heroic points; Power skills provide a balanced mix between offense and defense. In addition, the neck collar and the suit the Hunter is wearing also grant him passive perks. While the Hunter exists as a blank state for the player, players can align them towards the light side or the dark side for role-playing purpose through ability usage and interacting with other heroes. Players can also play as The Hunter's pet Hellhound Charlie in specific missions. Between combat missions, players manage their base of operations called "The Abbey" which they can walk around in a
third-person view In video games, third-person (also spelled third person) is a graphical perspective rendered from a fixed distance behind and slightly above the player character. This viewpoint allows players to see a more strongly characterized avatar and is ...
to explore the grounds and interact with other heroes. At the Forge, players can analyze gamma coils collected from each mission, and unlock new cards for the heroes who participated in the preceding mission. Some missions also reward players with "artifacts"; analyzing them raise the research level, allowing players to upgrade the Abbey with new rooms and areas, and build an item station that allows players to craft single-use items for combat. In the yard, the Hunter can spar with other heroes, heal injured characters, and upgrade their cards. Upgrading cards requires the player to have at least two copies of the same card, and consumes "essence", which are also earned through missions or recycling duplicated cards. Mods can also be applied to each cards to add additional perks. Players can also send characters for Hero Ops through the C.E.N.T.R.A.L. workstation, and start main and optional missions by accessing the Mirror Table at the War Room. At night, players can interact with other heroes, or participate in a "Hangout" or a "club meeting". Players must select the activities that cater to the interest of a hero to gain maximum friendship. Purchasing an appropriate gift, as well as choosing the response that align with that hero's morality, will further boost the friendship XP gained in a hangout. With a high relationship level, the hero will open up themselves to the Hunter, and unlock additional costumes, the hero's legendary skills, and challenge levels. The area surrounding the Abbey can also be explored. As players progress, they will gain "Words of Power", which allows the Hunter to use magical powers to open up blocked paths. Through exploration, players will encounter optional puzzles, treasure chests, Tarot Card
collectible A collectable (collectible or collector's item) is any object regarded as being of value or interest to a collector. Collectable items are not necessarily monetarily valuable or uncommon. There are numerous types of collectables and terms t ...
s, and Havens, which are locations for special Hangouts.


Synopsis

Hydra scientist Doctor Faustus uses dark magic and science to resurrect
Lilith Lilith (; ), also spelled Lilit, Lilitu, or Lilis, is a feminine figure in Mesopotamian and Jewish mythology, theorized to be the first wife of Adam and a primordial she-demon. Lilith is cited as having been "banished" from the Garden of Eden ...
in the hopes of using her to help Hydra conquer the world. Six months later, a star called the "Midnight Sun" approaches Earth, destabilizing magic and heralding the return of Lilith's master, Chthon.
Doctor Strange Dr. Stephen Vincent Strange is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Steve Ditko, the character first appeared in ''Strange Tales'' #110 (cover-dated July 1963). Doctor Strange serves as ...
and
Tony Stark Iron Man is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Co-created by writer and editor Stan Lee, developed by scripter Larry Lieber, and designed by artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby, the character first appearan ...
attempt to get a page of the ''
Darkhold The comic book stories published by Marvel Comics since the 1940s have featured several noteworthy concepts besides its fictional characters, such as unique places and artifacts. There follows a list of those features. Places Certain places fe ...
'' called the Parchment of Power from Johnny Blaze, but he refuses. After being alerted to magic converging at the
Sanctum Sanctorum The Latin phrase ''sanctum sanctorum'' is a translation of the Hebrew term ''קֹדֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִׁים'' (Qṓḏeš HaQŏḏāšîm), literally meaning Holy of Holies, in Latin texts, this generally refers to the holiest place of t ...
, the two are joined by
Carol Danvers Carol Susan Jane Danvers is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Roy Thomas and artist Gene Colan, the character first appeared as an officer in the United States Air Force and a colleagu ...
and return to aid Wanda Maximoff in fighting Lilith and a Hydra squad until Strange can create a mystic shield to repel them. Realizing the
Avengers Avenger(s) or The Avenger(s) may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Marvel Comics universe * Avengers (comics), a team of superheroes **Avengers (Marvel Cinematic Universe), a central team of protagonist superheroes of "The Infinity Sag ...
are outmatched, Strange leaves Maximoff to maintain the shield while he takes Stark and Danvers to the Abbey to recruit the
Midnight Suns ''Marvel's Midnight Suns'' is a 2022 tactical role-playing game developed by Firaxis Games and published by 2K (company), 2K. The game features comic book characters from multiple Marvel Comics properties, such as Midnight Sons, Avengers (comics ...
Nico Minoru Nico Minoru, briefly known as Sister Grimm, is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created in 2003 by writer Brian K. Vaughan and artist Adrian Alphona, the character debuted in '' Runaways'' #1 (July 2003). ...
,
Magik Magik (Illyana Nikolaievna Rasputina) (Russian language, Russian: Ильяна Николаевна Распутина) is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Len Wein and artist Dave Cock ...
,
Blade A blade is the Sharpness (cutting), sharp, cutting portion of a tool, weapon, or machine, specifically designed to puncture, chop, slice, or scrape surfaces or materials. Blades are typically made from materials that are harder than those they a ...
, and
Robbie Reyes Roberto "Robbie" Reyes is an antihero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He is the fifth Marvel character to use the name Ghost Rider, after Carter Slade (the Western comics hero later known as the Phantom Rider), Jo ...
— and Lilith's estranged sister, the Caretaker, in resurrecting the Hunter, Lilith's child and killer. During the resurrection ritual, the Hunter's collar emits dark magic, forcing Minoru to complete the spell. Strange attempts to contact Maximoff for help in restoring the Hunter's memories, but learns she is in trouble. He, the Hunter, and Blade travel to the Sanctum, where they learn Lilith has enthralled
Venom Venom or zootoxin is a type of toxin produced by an animal that is actively delivered through a wound by means of a bite, sting, or similar action. The toxin is delivered through a specially evolved ''venom apparatus'', such as fangs or a sti ...
to help her destroy the shield and abduct Maximoff. Venom overpowers the Hunter until
Spider-Man Spider-Man is a superhero in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, he first appearance, first appeared in the anthology comic book ''Amazing Fantasy'' #15 (August 1962) in ...
intervenes, allowing the heroes to retreat. After learning the Midnight Sun's gamma energy is preventing Bruce Banner from transforming into the
Hulk The Hulk is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in the debut issue of ''The Incredible Hulk (comic book), The Incredible Hulk ...
, the heroes recruit Spider-Man before capturing Faustus to learn Lilith's next objective. Although Hydra operative Crossbones kills him before he can talk, they find Faustus' journal and learn Hydra is stealing artifacts from the Sanctum. Meanwhile, Crossbones hires Sabretooth to kill the Hunter, but he is wounded by
Wolverine The wolverine ( , ; ''Gulo gulo''), also called the carcajou or quickhatch (from East Cree, ''kwiihkwahaacheew''), is the largest land-dwelling species, member of the family Mustelidae. It is a muscular carnivore and a solitary animal. The w ...
and later enthralled by Lilith, who destroys
Avengers Tower The Stark Tower Complex is a high-rise building complex appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Located in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, USA, the complex is named after its owner Tony Stark, who is the alter ego of the su ...
to steal a gamma accelerator and enthralls Banner. The Hunter and Stark recruit
Captain America Captain America is a superhero created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby who appears in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in '' Captain America Comics'' #1, published on December 20, 1940, by Timely C ...
, and the Hunter joins Minoru and Magik in using a divination spell to teleport to a Hydra base, where Banner uses the accelerator to empower an enthralled Maximoff. Unable to reason with her, the heroes retreat. While stopping an attack by Lilith's demons, the heroes recruit Wolverine and fashion a new suit for the Hunter so they can bypass the Hydra base's mystic defenses, use the accelerator to destroy the Parchment, and free Maximoff. Blaze contacts Reyes and gives him the Parchment, but also attempts to give the Hunter to Mephisto, trapping them in Limbo and preventing Lilith from reaching the Hunter. Nonetheless, Magik frees them so the heroes can enact their plan, banishing Sabretooth to Limbo along the way. Blaze sacrifices himself to destroy the Parchment via the accelerator and free Maximoff, but Banner uses the device to transform into a smarter, demonic Hulk. The heroes track Hydra and Lilith to her tomb, where Reyes tries to seal her and the Hulk in a cave before they can restore the ''Darkhold'', but she unleashes demons around the world. After defeating Crossbones and his forces, the heroes steal a dagger imbued with Chthon's power while Maximoff and the Hunter subdue and free Banner. The heroes confront Lilith, who reveals her plot to destroy Chthon upon learning of his plans for her child and destroys the Hunter's collar, learning too late that it kept Chthon from possessing them. Nonetheless, the Hunter expels him while Lilith uses the dagger to destroy the ''Darkhold'', restoring her human form. Realizing she and her child were corrupted by the grimoire, Lilith sends the heroes back to the Abbey while she, the Hunter, and Chthon's realm are consumed by the ''Darkhold''. Although the heroes mourn the Hunter's death, the Caretaker believes that they are still alive. Elsewhere,
Doctor Doom Doctor Doom is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in '' The Fantastic Four'' #5 in April 1962, and has since endured as the arch ...
witnesses the events that transpired and takes the ''Darkhold'' for himself, deeming the other users "amateurs".


Downloadable content

In "The Good, the Bad, and the Undead", the Hunter investigates an art collection that a Hydra battalion led by
Sin In religious context, sin is a transgression against divine law or a law of the deities. Each culture has its own interpretation of what it means to commit a sin. While sins are generally considered actions, any thought, word, or act considered ...
has stolen and encounters
Deadpool Deadpool is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Fabian Nicieza and Rob Liefeld, the character first appeared in ''New Mutants'' #98 (December 1990). In his comic book appearances, Deadpool is ...
, who was hired by Doom to recover a magic statue called the Magna Corrigo in the collection. After Sin betrays Hydra, steals the Magna Corrigo, and unleashes a group of infected "vampyres", the Hunter offers Deadpool sanctuary at the Abbey to protect him from Doom over the heroes' protests. With the Magna Corrigo in their possession, the emboldened vampyres publicly attack innocents and establish nests across
Manhattan Manhattan ( ) is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of the Boroughs of New York City, five boroughs of New York City. Coextensive with New York County, Manhattan is the County statistics of the United States#Smallest, larg ...
. With Deadpool's help, the Midnight Suns eventually track Sin to Transia, where she intends to use the Magna Corrigo in a ritual to empower the vampyres until Deadpool destroys it. Sin escapes and reports to
Dracula ''Dracula'' is an 1897 Gothic fiction, Gothic horror fiction, horror novel by Irish author Bram Stoker. The narrative is Epistolary novel, related through letters, diary entries, and newspaper articles. It has no single protagonist and opens ...
, who assures her the Magna Corrigo was not vital to his plans. In "Redemption", Spider-Man and the Hunter locate Venom, who went underground and became infected from eating vampyres. Mephisto, seeking revenge on Dracula for breaking a deal between them, offers to cure Venom in exchange for the heroes killing Dracula's forces, which Spider-Man agrees to. Upon being cured, Venom calls for a truce and joins the Midnight Suns. Mephisto helps the Hunter, Venom, and Spider-Man find the vampyres' main nest and Dracula. Working together, the trio destroy the nest and force Dracula to retreat. In "The Hunger", the vampyres convert Hydra troopers and attack New York. Spider-Man convinces Blade to help him recruit a mutual acquaintance of theirs, Michael Morbius. The heroes accompany Morbius to his lab, only to find the vampyres have stolen his research and a prototype "sunlight serum" capable of dampening his and the vampyres'
photosensitivity Photosensitivity is the amount to which an object reacts upon receiving photons, especially visible light. In medicine, the term is principally used for abnormal reactions of the skin, and two types are distinguished, photoallergy and phototoxicit ...
. After the trio fend off vampyres who came to kill Morbius and destroy his remaining equipment, Spider-Man offers Morbius sanctuary at the Abbey despite Blade and the Hunter's reluctance. Deducing the vampyres intend to mass-produce the sunlight serum, Spider-Man locates a Hydra facility under attack from a vampyre horde led by Sin. He, Morbius, and the Hunter mobilize to stop them and recover the prototype serum, though they learn too late that Sin has already delivered several completed batches of sunlight serum to Dracula. Nonetheless, while fighting off Dracula and his empowered forces, the heroes discover the vampyres diluted Morbius' sample while mass-producing it, weakening its effects. Defeated, Dracula escapes to the sewers. In "Blood Storm", Magik and Wolverine are requested by their fellow
X-Man Nathaniel "Nate" Grey (X-Man) is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, commonly in association with the X-Men. Created by writer Jeph Loeb and artist Steve Skroce, the character first appeared in ''X-Man'' #1 ...
,
Storm A storm is any disturbed state of the natural environment or the atmosphere of an astronomical body. It may be marked by significant disruptions to normal conditions such as strong wind, tornadoes, hail, thunder and lightning (a thunderstor ...
, to assist her in finding Dahlia, a
mutant In biology, and especially in genetics, a mutant is an organism or a new genetic character arising or resulting from an instance of mutation, which is generally an alteration of the DNA sequence of the genome or chromosome of an organism. It i ...
orphan who has gone missing. Eventually, they locate Dahlia in New York's sewers, where she lives alongside the Morlocks, mutants with monstrous appearances who were rejected by society and refused to join the X-Men. Though initially resentful of the X-Men, Dahlia later opens up to Storm and accepts her offer to help. Sometime later, Dahlia is kidnapped by Dracula, who wants to use her healing power to create a perfect vampyre race. Storm, the Hunter, and Blade confront and defeat Dracula and Sin, freeing Dahlia in the process. Afterwards, Dahlia accepts Storm's invitation to take refuge at
Charles Xavier Professor X (Prof. Charles Francis Xavier) is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist/co-writer Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in Uncanny X-Men, ''The X-Men'' #1 ( ...
's
school A school is the educational institution (and, in the case of in-person learning, the Educational architecture, building) designed to provide learning environments for the teaching of students, usually under the direction of teachers. Most co ...
. Following a lengthy investigation, Blade, Deadpool, Venom, Morbius, and Storm travel to Dracula's castle to kill him and end the vampyre threat. After successfully killing Dracula, the team escape the collapsing castle and return to the Abbey to celebrate. Meanwhile, an injured and disfigured Sin vows to find a new master.


Development


Gameplay

Impressed by
Firaxis Games Firaxis Games, Inc. is an American video game developer based in Sparks, Maryland. The company was founded in May 1996 by Sid Meier, Jeff Briggs, and Brian Reynolds (game designer), Brian Reynolds following their departure from MicroProse, Meie ...
' work on the ''
XCOM ''XCOM'' (originally called ''X-COM'') is a science fiction video game franchise featuring an elite international organization tasked with countering alien invasions of Earth. The series began with the strategy video game '' UFO: Enemy Unknown' ...
'' series,
Marvel Games Marvel Games is the licensing and publishing brand for video games based on Marvel Comics, Marvel properties, and is also the video game division of Disney Interactive. Before the incorporation of Marvel Games, video games based on Marvel propert ...
approached
Firaxis Games Firaxis Games, Inc. is an American video game developer based in Sparks, Maryland. The company was founded in May 1996 by Sid Meier, Jeff Briggs, and Brian Reynolds (game designer), Brian Reynolds following their departure from MicroProse, Meie ...
for the development of a Marvel video game following the release of '' XCOM 2: War of the Chosen'' in 2017. Jake Solomon, who directed the modern ''XCOM'' games, served as the game's creative director. Initial plan was to create a game centered on
S.H.I.E.L.D. S.H.I.E.L.D. is a fictional espionage, special law enforcement, and counter-terrorism government agency appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, this agency first appeared in ''Strange Tal ...
agents, though the team felt that players will be more interested in controlling superheroes directly. At the beginning, the team tried to translate major ''XCOM'' mechanics to the game. They used HeroClix figures of Marvel characters and began prototyping the game using a paper map. However, the team soon felt that core elements from ''XCOM'', such as a
cover system Cover or covers may refer to: Packaging * Another name for a lid * Cover (philately), generic term for envelope or package * Album cover, the front of the packaging * Book cover or magazine cover ** Book design ** Back cover copy, part of ...
,
permadeath Permadeath or permanent death is a game mechanic in both tabletop games and video games in which player characters who lose all of their health are considered dead and cannot be used anymore. Depending on the situation, this could require the p ...
, attack randomness and limited movement range, do not make thematic sense in a game about superheroes who should be powerful and heroic, and the studio decided to restart from scratch, abandoning most of ''XCOM''s mechanics in favor of new systems and designs. To maintain a layer of unpredictability to tactical gameplay, the team first experimented with a "counter" system in which enemies will counter a hero attack and cut the player's turn short. However, this system was scrapped as it discouraged players from attacking enemies. Randomness was instead achieved through the card-drawing mechanic, in which the ability a hero can use in each turn is randomized, but each ability is guaranteed to work. This is in direct contrast to ''XCOM'' in which players make a consistent gameplay decision only to deliver an unpredictable outcome. Since the heroes are always powerful, the game foregoes a traditional progression system where they have to "train" their heroes to improve their efficiency. Players can deal devastating damage to enemies through careful planning of Card Plays and finding cards that synergize with each other. Solomon, who designed the skills for Magik and Iron Man, kept pushing his team to include overpowered moves for the superheroes, so that players felt that every skill is useful and effective. As a result, the game was largely uninterested in ensuring all characters builds are balanced,and the team had to abandoned some hallmark mechanics commonly found in tactical role-playing games. Card Plays are shared among the whole team, so players were encouraged to use all of the characters' skills in combat as opposed to using a single, stronger character all the time. The ability of Cards are further balanced by a secondary resource named "Heroism", which add additional complexity to the skill system. While the player may end up have a deck of cards that do not have enough Heroism to play, redrawing cards will always guarantee a usable card. As the hero always have powerful moves, they often had stylistic attack animations were inspired by
anime is a Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, , in Japan and in Ja ...
, with art director Dennis Moellers citing '' Dragon Ball FighterZ'' as a point of reference for the team. They were also inspired by the works of Marvel artists
Jim Lee Jim Lee (; born August 11, 1964) is a Korean-born American comic book artist, writer, editor, and publisher. As of 2023, he is the President, Publisher, and Chief creative officer, Chief Creative Officer of DC Comics. In recognition of his work ...
and
Andy Kubert Andrew Kubert (; born February 27, 1962) is an American comics artist, letterer, and writer. He is the son of Joe Kubert and brother of Adam Kubert, both of whom are also artists, and the uncle of comics editor Katie Kubert. Kubert is a graduat ...
. Combat in the game was designed to be "fast" and "approachable". As the grid system is removed, and characters will move to attack enemies automatically after a card is selected. However, positioning heroes remained a significant part of gameplay due to the introduction of environment hazards and the "knockback" mechanic from certain cards. Whereas ''XCOM'' was about surviving a difficult mission, ''Midnight Suns'' was about maximizing players' efficiency in dispatching enemies, with the team stressing that the enemies are the one trapped in a combat arena with the superheroes. While Solomon recognized that the game will be a less "stressful" experience in comparison to ''XCOM'', he described ''Midnight Suns'' as a "more fun puzzle to solve", as it was "almost impossible to do something wrong" in the game. Presenting the heroes' abilities as cards also make the strategic decisions easy for players to understand, since most players are familiar with the basic rules of
card game A card game is any game that uses playing cards as the primary device with which the game is played, whether the cards are of a traditional design or specifically created for the game (proprietary). Countless card games exist, including famil ...
s. ''
Slay the Spire ''Slay the Spire'' is a 2019 roguelike deck-building game developed by the American indie studio Mega Crit. It was published by Mega Crit for its initial PC release and by Humble Bundle on home consoles and mobile. The game was released in early ...
'' was cited by the team as a source of inspiration for the card-based battle system, though its system was more simplistic, enabling for a lower number of tactical considerations in each turn. The team was initially shocked regarding the inclusion of deck-building card combat in the game, as they felt that it was not something common for a triple-A video game.


Story and characters

The team stressed the importance for players to see the superheroes outside of combat and how they form friendship or rivalry. For the Abbey, the team was heavily inspired by ''
Mass Effect ''Mass Effect'' is a military science fiction media franchise created by Casey Hudson. The franchise depicts a distant future where humanity and several alien civilizations have colonized the galaxy using technology left behind by Elder race, a ...
'', ''
Fire Emblem is a Video games in Japan, Japanese fantasy tactical role-playing game franchise developed by Intelligent Systems and published by Nintendo. First produced and published for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1990, the series currently con ...
'' and ''
Persona A persona (plural personae or personas) is a strategic mask of identity in public, the public image of one's personality, the social role that one adopts, or simply a fictional Character (arts), character. It is also considered "an intermediary ...
''.
Japanese role-playing game While the early history and distinctive traits of role-playing video games (RPGs) in East Asia have come Video games in Japan, from Japan, many video games have also arisen Video games in China, in China, Video games in South Korea, developed ...
s and dating simulation games were also sources of inspiration. This segment of the game, especially its
third-person perspective Narration is the use of a written or spoken commentary to storytelling, convey a narrative, story to an audience. Narration is conveyed by a narrator: a specific person, or unspecified literary voice, developed by the creator of the story to del ...
, was designed for players who are less familiar with strategy games. The Abbey was described by Solomon as a very "social environment", and it was intended for players to build up their bonds with the playable heroes. The team tried to ensure that all the playable heroes have a "colourful personalities", so players will want to interact with them. The team chose to include a new, customizable character as its lead character, so players will feel that they are being part of a "new" Marvel story instead of replaying an existing narrative. The Hunter was described by the game as "a blank slate" for players to project themselves into without being baggaged by existing expectations of a Marvel hero. Marvel worked closely with Firaxis on the appearance of the Hunter on the game's cover art, but did not restrict the inclusion of any customization feature Firaxis had planned for them. DeAngelis compared the character creation system, and the concept of building up a party of characters, to games by
BioWare BioWare is a Canadian video game developer based in Edmonton, Alberta. It was founded in 1995 by newly graduated Doctor of Medicine, medical doctors Ray Muzyka, Greg Zeschuk and Augustine Yip. Since 2007, the company has been owned by American ...
and
Bethesda Game Studios Bethesda Game Studios is an American video game developer and a studio of ZeniMax Media based in Rockville, Maryland. It is best known for its action role-playing franchises, including ''The Elder Scrolls'', '' Fallout'', and '' Starfield''. B ...
. The story in the game was inspired by '' Rise of the Midnight Sons'', '' Inferno'' and ''
Spirits of Vengeance Ghost Rider is the name of multiple superheroes or antiheroes appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Marvel had previously used the name for a Western character whose name was later changed to Phantom Rider. The first s ...
''. The roster of characters focused mainly on members of the supernatural team Midnight Sons, as well as including several popular Marvel characters if their inclusion make narrative sense. Initially, the team planned to have 25 playable characters, including
Frank Drake Frank Donald Drake (May 28, 1930 – September 2, 2022) was an American astrophysicist and astrobiologist. He began his career as a radio astronomer, studying the planets of the Solar System and later pulsars. Drake expanded his interests ...
and
Hannibal King Hannibal King is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He first appeared as a supporting character in the title ''The Tomb of Dracula'', issue #25 (Oct. 1974). King was played by Ryan Reynolds in the 2004 film ...
. Firaxis renamed the group to "Midnight Suns" to make them more inclusive. Solomon described the team, especially its founding members (Blade, Nico, Magik and Ghost Rider), as an outsider superhero group, heroes that were "cool" but "under-the-radar". The story explores the tension and rivalry between distinct superhero groups, and sees heroes of vastly different backgrounds and experiences unite together to face a common threat. The game's antagonist, Lilith, is also the mother of the Hunter. According to the team, Lilith felt that she was the hero of her own story, and the two characters shared a very "asmmyetrical" relationship. While the Hunter vows to stop Lilith at all costs, Lilith made multiple attempts to persuade them to join her cause. Unlike ''XCOM'', which are system-led game with a focus on emergent storytelling, ''Midnight Suns'' had a fixed narrative with preconceived personalities. However, the game retained some opportunities for players to tell story through gameplay, such as having customizable cards and allowing players to choose their squad to enter combat. Through the story, Firaxis wanted players to be able to visit multiple iconic Marvel lcoations, such as the
Sanctum Sanctorum The Latin phrase ''sanctum sanctorum'' is a translation of the Hebrew term ''קֹדֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִׁים'' (Qṓḏeš HaQŏḏāšîm), literally meaning Holy of Holies, in Latin texts, this generally refers to the holiest place of t ...
,
Stark Tower The Stark Tower Complex is a high-rise building complex appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Located in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, USA, the complex is named after its owner Tony Stark, who is the alter ego of the su ...
, the Quentin Carnival, and Transia. Solomon and his writing team were inspired by
Saturday morning cartoon "Saturday-morning cartoon" is a colloquial term for the original animated series and live-action programming that was typically scheduled on Saturday and Sunday mornings in the United States on the "Big Three" television networks. The genre was a ...
s, and added that the characters in the game were "earnest" and took the conflict seriously, though there are frequently moments of levity and humor. Both '' X-Men: The Animated Series'' and ''
Dungeons and Dragons ''Dungeons & Dragons'' (commonly abbreviated as ''D&D'' or ''DnD'') is a fantasy tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG) originally created and designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson. The game was first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rule ...
'' influenced the team. According to the team, the game has around "65,000 lines of voiced dialogue" and "over two hours of cinematics". More than 30 conversations with characters were cut from the final game.


Release

''Midnight Suns'' was announced by Firaxis and publisher 2K during
Gamescom Gamescom (stylized as ''gamescom'') is a trade fair for video games held annually at the Koelnmesse in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Gamescom is the world's largest gaming event, with 370,000 visitors and 1,037 exhibitors from 56 ...
in August 2021. It was given a scheduled release date of March 2022. The game was first delayed to October 7, 2022, and then delayed to December 2, 2022 for
Windows Windows is a Product lining, product line of Proprietary software, proprietary graphical user interface, graphical operating systems developed and marketed by Microsoft. It is grouped into families and subfamilies that cater to particular sec ...
,
PlayStation 5 The PlayStation 5 (PS5) is a home video game console developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It was announced as the successor to the PlayStation 4 in April 2019, was launched on November 12, 2020, in Australia, Japan, New Zealand, North ...
, and
Xbox Series X and Series S The Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S are the fourth generation of consoles in the Xbox series, succeeding the previous generation's Xbox One. Released on November 10, 2020, the higher-end Xbox Series X and lower-end Xbox Series S are part o ...
. A series of animated shorts serving as a prequel to the game was released in October 2022. The
Season Pass A season ticket, or season pass, is a Ticket (admission), ticket that grants privileges over a defined period of time. History The ''Oxford English Dictionary'' has illustrative quotations which show the term ''season ticket'' used in the ...
of the game includes access to four downloadable content packs released in the year after the game's launch, and the "Legendary Premium Pack", which introduced additional costumes for the playable heroes. The first DLC pack, titled ''The Good, The Bad, and The Undead'' and introduced Deadpool, was released on January 26, 2023. The second pack, titled ''Redemption'' and added
Venom Venom or zootoxin is a type of toxin produced by an animal that is actively delivered through a wound by means of a bite, sting, or similar action. The toxin is delivered through a specially evolved ''venom apparatus'', such as fangs or a sti ...
as a playable character, was released on February 16, 2023. The third pack, titled ''The Hunger'' and added
Morbius Morbius (born Michael Morbius, also known as Morgan Michaels, Morbius the Living Vampire and Nikos Michaels) is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Roy Thomas and originally designed by pen ...
, was released on March 21, 2023. The last pack, titled ''Blood Storm'' and introduced
Storm A storm is any disturbed state of the natural environment or the atmosphere of an astronomical body. It may be marked by significant disruptions to normal conditions such as strong wind, tornadoes, hail, thunder and lightning (a thunderstor ...
, was released on May 11, 2023, the same day the game was released for
PlayStation 4 The PlayStation 4 (PS4) is a home video game console developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Announced as the successor to the PlayStation 3 in February 2013, it was launched on November 15, 2013, in North America, November 29, 2013, in ...
and
Xbox One The Xbox One is a home video game console developed by Microsoft. Announced in May 2013, it is the successor to Xbox 360 and the third console in the Xbox#Consoles, Xbox series. It was first released in North America, parts of Europe, Austra ...
. A
Nintendo Switch The is a video game console developed by Nintendo and released worldwide in most regions on March 3, 2017. Released in the middle of the Eighth generation of video game consoles, eighth generation of home consoles, the Switch succeeded the ...
version was canceled. ''Midnight Suns'' is the last game directed by Jake Solomon while he was working at Firaxis Games. He departed the studio in February 2023 to found Midsummer Studios to work on a
life simulation Life simulation games form a subgenre of simulation video games in which the player lives or controls one or more virtual characters (human or otherwise). Such a game can revolve around "individuals and relationships, or it could be a simulation ...
game.


Reception

''Marvels Midnight Suns'' received "generally favorable" reviews from critics, according to
review aggregator A review aggregator is a system that collects reviews and ratings of products and services, such as films, books, video games, music, software, hardware, or cars. This system then stores the reviews to be used for supporting a website where user ...
website
Metacritic Metacritic is an American website that aggregates reviews of films, television shows, music albums, video games, and formerly books. For each product, the scores from each review are averaged (a weighted average). Metacritic was created ...
. During the 26th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards, the
Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) is a non-profit organization of video game industry professionals. It organizes the annual Design Innovate Communicate Entertain Summit, better known as D.I.C.E., which includes the presentation ...
nominated the game for " Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year". Matt Miller from ''
Game Informer ''Game Informer'' (''GI'' is an American monthly Video game journalism, video game magazine featuring articles, news, strategy, and reviews of video games and video game console, game consoles. It debuted in August 1991, when the video game reta ...
'' praised the faster gameplay, and describing the action as "bombastic". He liked the attack animations, and praised the inclusion of environmental destructibility for making players feel like they are participating in a cinematic superhero fight. Jordan Ramée from ''
GameSpot ''GameSpot'' is an American video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information on video games. The site was launched on May 1, 1996, created by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady, and Jon Epstein. In addition ...
'' praised the deck-building system, which offered a layer of unpredictability to gameplay without being frustrating, allowed players to easily bring their plans to fruition through careful planning, and challenged player's ability to make strategy decision on the fly. Writing for ''
IGN ''IGN'' is an American video gaming and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa district and is headed by its former e ...
'', Dan Stapleton wrote that its combat system was innovative and "radically and refreshingly different" from ''XCOM''. He also praised the game's progression system for providing more combat options for players in the late game, keeping the experience fresh despite the game's long campaign. While several critics praised the game's varied mission design, Jon Bailes, writing for ''
GamesRadar ''GamesRadar+'' (formerly ''GamesRadar'') is an entertainment website for video game-related news, previews, and reviews. It is owned by Future plc. In late 2014, Future Publishing-owned sites ''Total Film'', '' SFX'', '' Edge'' and ''Computer ...
'', was disappointed by the lack of enemy variety and mission objectives with "more substantial tactical shifts". Several critics disliked how the characters move automatically to target. Matthew Byrd from ''
Den of Geek ''Den of Geek'' is a UK and US-based website covering entertainment with a focus on pop culture. The website also issues a biannual magazine. History ''Den of Geek'' was founded in 2007 by Simon Brew in London. In 2012, DoG Tech LLC licensed ' ...
'' remarked that ''Midnight Suns'' was not as punishing '' XCOM 2'', though he felt that gameplay remained challenging throughout. Jim Trinca from ''
VG247 Gamer Network Limited (formerly Eurogamer Network Limited) is a British digital media company based in London. Founded in 1999 by Rupert and Nick Loman, it owns brands—primarily editorial websites—relating to video game journalism and ot ...
'' praised its clean
user interface In the industrial design field of human–computer interaction, a user interface (UI) is the space where interactions between humans and machines occur. The goal of this interaction is to allow effective operation and control of the machine fro ...
and remarked that ''Midnight Suns'' was "deftly engineered to make the player feel smart, or lucky, without really challenging them too much". Keith Stuart from ''
The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...
'', however, praised Firaxis for not making the game's strategic element too simplistic to cater to general comic book fans. Chris Carter from ''
Destructoid ''Destructoid'' is a website that was founded as a video game-focused blog in March 2006 by Yanier Gonzalez, a Cuban-American cartoonist and author. Enthusiast Gaming acquired the website in 2017 and sold it to Gamurs Group in 2022. Histor ...
'' wrote that it was easy to recommend the game for Marvel fans and it was accessible enough for newcomers for the strategy game genre, though he felt that it was not Firaxis' best work. Miller compared that the game's relationship simulation to
BioWare BioWare is a Canadian video game developer based in Edmonton, Alberta. It was founded in 1995 by newly graduated Doctor of Medicine, medical doctors Ray Muzyka, Greg Zeschuk and Augustine Yip. Since 2007, the company has been owned by American ...
games, though he noted that it was too simplistic. While he enjoyed the character development of each hero, he felt that interacting with characters became reptitive and exhausting. Bailes described the third-person gameplay as a mix of '' XCOM 2'' and '' Fire Emblem: Three Houses'', though he felt like that battle preparations each morning can feel like a "checklist of chores". Jeremy Peel from ''
PC Gamer ''PC Gamer'' is a magazine and website founded in the United Kingdom in 1993 devoted to PC gaming and published monthly by Future plc. The magazine has several regional editions, with the UK and US editions becoming the best selling PC games m ...
'' remarked that scenes from the Abbey were "frequently searching, and endearingly silly", and noted that its emphasis on developing friendships brought "warmth and approachability". Carter also noted that people interested in "relationship building, social network, and silly moments" will find enjoyment in the game. Stapleton criticized the companion gameplay as "self-insertion fan fiction", noting that "so much of ''Midnight Suns'' is spent getting all of these heroes to really like Hunter". Several critics expressed disappointment reagrding the game's facial capture technology. Ramée felt that the story in the game was intruiging, and remarked that while the story itself was not innovative, there were a lot of interesting character moments for the game's cast of characters. Ramée also liked how the friendship system integrated morality, and added that they conserving with characters often "culminate in heartwarming reveals or devastating discoveries". He cited Magik and Nico as his personal favourites, and remarked that the non-supernatural heroes have less character development, especially those introduced later in the game. Stuart also praised the game's narrative, praising its exploration of themes such as "family, identity and sacrifice". Katharine Castle from ''
Rock, Paper, Shotgun ''Rock Paper Shotgun'' is a British video game journalism website. It was launched in July 2007 to focus on PC games and was acquired by Gamer Network, a network of sites led by ''Eurogamer'', in May 2017. History ''Rock Paper Shotgun'' ...
'', also wrote that the story addressed "deep and sensitive subjects with surprising tact and nuance". While Bailes wrote that the Hunter was a "significant presense", and liked how players are often required to manage conflicts between disagreeing factions of characters in the Abbey, Bryd felt that he was the simultaneously the "center of the story" and "the least developed person" in the game's story. The writings of the game received some criticism. Kevin Nguyen from ''
The Verge ''The Verge'' is an American Technology journalism, technology news website headquarters, headquartered in Lower Manhattan, New York City and operated by Vox Media. The website publishes news, feature stories, guidebooks, product reviews, cons ...
'' wrote that outside of combat, ''Midnight Suns'' was "a slog" filled with filler content, and remarked that Firaxis' writers were trying too hard to match the energy of the
Marvel Cinematic Universe The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is an American media franchise and shared universe centered on List of Marvel Cinematic Universe films, a series of superhero films produced by Marvel Studios. The films are based on characters that appe ...
.


Sales

In 2022, ''Marvels Midnight Suns'' was the 26th best selling physical game in the UK for the week ending December 3. It was the 14th most downloaded game in the USA and Canada on PS5 in 2022. Strauss Zelnick, Take-Two Interactive's CEO, said that despite the game being a critical success, the game underperformed commercially. Zelnick added that "it's possible the release window wasn't perfect" and that it could have a long tail (like other Firaxis games). In hindsight, Solomon felt that the inclusion of deck-building mechanics muddled the game's identity and contributed to the game's underwhelming commercial performance. Bryant Francis, writing for '' Game Developer'', remarked that there was a general disinterest in Marvel's narrative-driven games, as evidenced by the commercial underperformance of '' Marvel's Avengers'' and '' Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy''. Francis also noted the game, despite targeting a mainstream audience, had gameplay that appealed only to a niche audience, and neither Marvel fans nor players of turn-based tactical games were familiar with its deck-building gameplay.


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Midnight Suns, Marvel's 2022 video games 2K games Firaxis Games games PlayStation 4 games PlayStation 5 games Role-playing video games Superhero crossover video games Turn-based tactics video games Unreal Engine 4 games Video games based on Marvel Comics Video games developed in the United States Video games with gender-selectable protagonists Video games set in Europe Video games set in Massachusetts Video games set in New York City Video games set in the United States Video games with customizable avatars Windows games Xbox One games Xbox Series X and Series S games Cancelled Nintendo Switch games