Summary
If there’s one thing most gamers can relate toit’s wanting to be a superhero. Though there are many games to choose from to fulfill players' longtime fantasy of swinging from rooftops and rescuingso manyballoons, there are few that provide the player with the freedom to truly explore the moral dilemmas of being an unlicensed superhero.
Those who want more out-there super-powered experiences and have already played through themore cookie-cutter heroic classicscan rest assured that plenty of options exist. Whether slinging lightning at an oppressive government or using devastating telekinetic abilities to hurl the nearest fire extinguisher at otherworldly phantoms, these are some of the best non-superhero games with impressively super-powered protagonists.
After a scientific experiment goes horribly wrong, Jack Joyce is granted the power to manipulate time entirely. The player has various abilities, from slowing enemies down to reverting certain environmental objects back to a previous position - it’s weaved perfectly into both gameplay and exploration.
Remedy’s games are known for their more outside-the-box ideas and weaving of real-life cinematics in their gameplay, which helpsQuantum Breakstand out as a unique experience. The power to control time (to an extent) is also one that’soften sadly left out of most video games due to its appropriately overpowered nature, but this is one title that perfectly balances it to allow the player to feel strong but nottoostrong.
7Second Sight
Mind-Bending Psychic Abilities
Second Sightis anunfortunately forgottenPS2-era gemwith excellent super-powered gameplay. John Vattic wakes up in a research facility with amnesia, every video game protagonist’s worst nightmare. Armed with newfound telekinetic and telepathic abilities, it’s his job to uncover the truth about his past and just how he wound up there.
Second Sight’s story is just intriguing enough to keep the player’s attention, but the real fun comes from the environmental puzzle-solving involving the protagonist’s powers. Though far from a pacifist, John Vattic isn’t exactly an action hero. Free Radical Design’s mind-bending adventure prioritizes stealth - and it’s up to the player how they squeeze their way out of scenarios. From possessing enemies toprojecting psionic duplicates to open doors- it’s not a no-holds-barred power trip, but it’s still a reality-warping good time.
After attaining the Mark Of The Outsider, Corvo Attano can usevarious powerful abilitieson his quest to take down the conspiring politicians of Dunwall. Corvo can teleport, summon plagues of rats, or completely freeze time.
Arkane’s usual in-depth approach to their sandbox level designis on full display inDishonored, allowing Corvo’s abilities to truly shine. There’s rarely ever just one way to tackle enemies - players can teleport to rooftops and avoid them entirely, sanctifying their sacred non-lethal run - or they can see how many heads they can take off before time unfreezes. Being a super-powered assassin on a quest for revenge is just as gratifying as it sounds inDishonored.
As Jesse Faden navigates the paranormally Hiss-ridden Federal Bureau ofControl, she gains various powerful telekinetic abilities and a Service Weapon that completely changes shape depending on the user’s needs.
With gratifying and visceral combat focused on wielding Jesse’s newfound abilities, this is one of the most fun and creatively freeing super-powered games out there. As Jesse progresses, she unlocks various upgrades for her telekinesis, ranging from hurling office chairs to outright flying.The mind-bending psychological horror story would fit perfectly in anAlan Wakenovel, and the suitable power trip that comes with all these newfound abilities is short-lived when faced with the overwhelming forces of The Hiss.
Playing as a somewhat ruthless cybernetically enhanced Police Officer to bring peace to a city spiraling further into criminal tyranny is just as fun as it sounds.Crackdownis a true superhero sandboxwith little in the way of narrative. Each ability is gradually upgraded through exploration, whether it’s collecting orbs to jump higher or finally lifting that car over an Agent’s head.
Upgrading these abilities dramatically changes the player’s chosen Agent over time, whether it’s upgrading their armor or just somewhat bizarrely aging their character. Exploration is greatly incentivized, and the core gameplay loop is relentlessly gratifying. There’s also a vast selection of guns, cars, and new ways to bring peace to the fictional Pacific City.
As Volition steered theSaints Rowfranchise away from aGrand Theft Auto-like crime-infested open world, it was only natural for the series' protagonist and leader of the Third Street Saints to become the President during an alien invasion, who essentially delves intoThe Matrix.
Taking place in the simulated open-world Steelport,Saints Row 4was probably the best super-powered open-world game of its time. The Boss must use various superpowers to defeat the Alien threat currently taking over the planet. Whether it’s super speed, super strength, or just that trusty telekinesis. It’s one of the most gratifying superhero sandbox titles out there, and the capacities for chaos and mindless fun are endless.
One of the most prolific settings in gaming, New York, is plagued by a zombie outbreak, and the protagonist, Alex Mercer, is the only one who can stop it. Though Mercer definitely walks the line of an anti-hero, there’s a reason he isfrequently mentioned in discussions about thecoolestmain characters in gaming.
Able to consume and subsequently become just about anyone in sight, and entirely transform parts of his body into variousstabbyappendages - there’s clear inspiration from Radical Entertainment’s previous superhero title,The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction. Alex Mercer is more powerful than a locomotive, and leaping tall buildings in a single bound is pretty much what he does best - he may not exactly be faster than a speeding bullet, however.
From the legendary Cole Macgrath to the graffiti-king Desmond Rowe,SuckerPunch’s open-world serieshas always revolved around Conduits. Individuals are granted the ability to command and control various elements, whether it’s turning into pure neon or controlling electricity itself.
The game’s karma system allows some player choice to influence the outcomes of both games directly, and the characters' powers and abilities can be significantly amplified and upgraded as the stories progress. So, whether gamers want to go non-lethal and zap the ankles of every bad guy in town or embrace their full-on anti-hero side and set fire to everything in sight, there are no real restrictions on how players fill out their super-powered concrete jungle fantasy.
