Marvel's Midnight Suns
| Marvel's Midnight Suns | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Firaxis Games |
| Publisher(s) | 2K |
| Director(s) | Jake Solomon |
| Producer(s) | Garth DeAngelis |
| Designer(s) | Joe Weinhoffer |
| Programmer(s) | Michael Springer |
| Artist(s) |
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| Writer(s) |
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| Composer(s) |
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| Engine | Unreal Engine 4 |
| Platform(s) | |
| Release | December 2, 2022
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| Genre(s) | Tactical role-playing |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Marvel's Midnight Suns is a 2022 tactical role-playing game developed by Firaxis Games and published by 2K. The game features comic book characters from multiple Marvel Comics properties, such as Midnight Sons, Avengers, X-Men, and Runaways. Players are able to create their own superhero named "The Hunter", who must lead other characters to rebel against Lilith, the "mother of demons" as she attempts to bring her master, Chthon, back to life. Combat in the game is turn-based and mixed with deck-building. 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 approached Firaxis Games for the development of a new Marvel project in 2017, after being impressed by their work on the modern XCOM games. Initially, the team attempted to apply the XCOM gameplay formula, such as a focus on cover system and permadeath, 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, while its social elements were inspired by Japanese role-playing games such as Fire Emblem and Persona. 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, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S on December 2, 2022. PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions were released on May 11, 2023. A Nintendo Switch 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 for its publisher. Firaxis released four downloadable content packs, which follows the Midnight Suns as they fight against Dracula and his forces of vampires.