To the disappointment of many die-hard Marvel fans everywhere, Crystal Dynamics is stopping all official support for Marvel's Avengers in September of this year. Many had suspected this would be happening after the game wasn't able to fully recover from its rather disappointing launch and Crystal Dynamics was acquired by Embracer Group last year. However, this announcement is one that is sure to have fans lamenting a game that truly became enjoyable after a few updates.
Anticipated as a way for Marvel fans to take a step into a world filled with characters they love, Marvel's Avengers followed Kamala Khan, an Inhuman teenager who gains superpowers and becomes Ms. Marvel. Kamala must reassemble the Avengers after they had been disbanded several years prior to the main events of the game. Since this game combines elements of the MCU and Marvel Comics, fans had high hopes, but it was never able to find its footing, which has led to its discontinuation. For those saddened by this news, here are a few games that players can jump into to fill the void.
Marvel's Spider-Man Is a Nearly Perfect Marvel Action-Adventure Game
Fans who were drawn to Marvel's Avengers by the chance to beat down enemies as their favorite superheroes, using their unique abilities in the process, will love Marvel's Spider-Man. In this game, the player can move freely about a fictionalized version of New York City using Spider-Man's iconic traversal abilities like web-slinging, wall-climbing, and more. Combat also allows players to take advantage of Spider-Man's powers, using the unique city environment along with his webbing to take down enemies while chaining attacks together.
First released in 2018, this game tells an original story where Peter Parker must fight a super-human crime lord as Spider-Man while also dealing with problems in his civilian life. With a spin-off released in 2020 and a sequel game releasing later this year, fans of Marvel's Spider-Man have no fears of this fantastic game series being brought to an early end.
Gotham Knights Provides Hero Team-Up Heaven
One of the main things that fans loved about Marvel's Avengers was that they could have their pick of a number of different iconic superheroes. Gotham Knights has a similar appeal as fans of DC heroes can choose one of four of Batman's most iconic proteges, Nightwing, Batgirl, Red Hood, and Robin, to play as while investigating the death of Batman and fighting to protect Gotham.
In this game, the unique playstyle and abilities of each individual hero shine, making gameplay feel distinct depending on the chosen character. While the game has had its share of valid criticisms, fans adore it because of its online co-op multiplayer mode which allows gamers to team up. This was also one of the drawing points for Marvel's Avengers, so Gotham Knights is definitely worth checking out for superhero fans who want to fight crime with friends.
Genshin Impact Tells a Distinct Story Over Time
If what attracted players to Marvel's Avengers was the chance to experience an interesting story as it evolved over time, Genshin Impact is perfect for them. In this game, the player is the Traveler, a twin who is separated from their sibling as they are transported to another world where some people have gained the powers of one of the seven elements by being blessed by the gods.
Genshin Impact's story and world-building are detailed and elaborate, being released gradually over the past two and a half years, so there is more than enough content for newcomers. The game also features limited-time events to keep players entertained with side stories as they wait for major updates. While it has received criticism as a gacha game, most of the content is completely approachable as a free-to-play title, so players don't need to worry about spending money to get through the story.
Marvel's Midnight Suns Brings Marvel Superheroes to a New Genre
While Marvel's Avengers had been rather disappointing for fans of the massive franchise, Marvel's Midnight Suns has been a pleasant surprise. This is also a game with the premise of bringing superheroes together in an ensemble adventure, so fans who liked that part of Avengers are sure to love Midnight Suns. This title has a massive cast of heroes like Iron Man, Spider-Man, and Wolverine that fans can control in combat and interact with during downtime. It also boasts great writing and characterization for each hero.
One of the criticisms of Marvel's Avengers had been that there wasn't enough side content to entertain them between the main updates. This is not an issue in Midnight Suns as players have plenty of opportunities outside of major missions to explore the world, upgrade and craft, hang out with heroes, and more. The gameplay of this title is quite different, as it's centered on deck-building, but it's very engaging, strategic, and fun.
Destiny 2 Is a Live Service Game Done Right
It almost seems as if fans could build a graveyard with all the live service games that have launched in recent years and disappeared just as quickly. Destiny 2 is a huge exception to this, first launching in 2017 with a typical pay-to-play model before switching to live service several years later. The game is consistently updated while making massive improvements to gameplay and story in the process, which has earned it a strong community of fans.
Destiny 2 is also a great choice for fans of Marvel's Avengers as it delivers on the promise of bringing a complex extended story over time. Along with its single-player campaign, the game offers both competitive and cooperative multiplayer modes to keep players engaged between updates. All in all, Destiny 2 has had years of development during which it has only gotten better, and it shows no signs of slowing down.