It’s been quite a while since our iconic Man of Steel had the spotlight all to himself in a video game. Superman has surely had his moments in various games over the years—think of his roles in titles like Injustice, the LEGO Batman series, and MultiVersus. Yet, it’s been since 2006, with the release of Superman Returns, that we’ve seen him in a solo adventure.
As Batman comfortably headlines his own series and Wonder Woman is set for her solo endeavor thanks to the talents at Monolith, it’s high time that Superman takes center stage in a full-blown AAA game. Especially with James Gunn’s upcoming Superman project looming, the timing feels perfect. While some fans question whether a standalone Superman game could soar, there’s an undeniable opportunity here—one that a classic DC nemesis could uniquely fulfill.
Brainiac: The Ideal Antagonist for Superman’s Game
First appearing in Action Comics #242 way back in 1958, Brainiac stands as a formidable and enduring foe within the DC universe, often battling against Superman. His character—shifting frequently in personality, backstory, and capabilities across different versions—keeps two essential gadgets handy in every timeline.
One is his nearly unbreakable personal force field, and the other is his city-shrinking ray, which he uses to miniaturize and preserve entire cityscapes in glass jars. Believing that the intelligence contained within these cities should be his alone, Brainiac obliterates their original planets, a narrative that, in some timelines, ties him directly to the destruction of Krypton, Superman’s home planet, following the capture of Kandor.
The miniature cities could cleverly tackle a challenge that has long shadowed the idea of a Superman game. The sheer power Superman wields doesn’t mesh neatly with typical game environments filled with ordinary people. Enter Brainiac’s tiny, uninhabited worlds. In such a setting, players could unleash Superman’s full might—crash through skyscrapers, decimate the scenery, and lay waste to the cityscape—without the fear of civilian casualties lurking in the background.
In fact, this setup slightly echoes the notorious Superman Nintendo 64 game, where Lex Luthor creates a virtual Metropolis. However, even in that virtual realm, civilians were present and in need of rescue.
Challenges of Employing Brainiac Right Now
Though Brainiac’s pedigree as a villain is top-notch, his recent portrayal could complicate his use in a game. With the DCU under James Gunn’s direction, Brainiac might be receiving more attention, but his role in the rocky release of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is another story. Despite not actually appearing until the game’s climax, Brainiac being the puppet master behind events might have soured some fans on his potential.
Despite Brainiac’s sound voice performance in the game, he’s not particularly well-utilized in the story, and his showdown leaves a lot to be desired. For those who’ve been following the game’s extra content, yet another encounter with this digital Brainiac might induce a sense of déjà vu, given that each episode ends with a slightly tweaked replay of his boss battle.
In the world of games, capturing the essence of a character like Superman in a way that does justice to his powers and legacy without feeling overwhelming is tricky. But with Brainiac—used thoughtfully—a Superman game could offer a free-form, cathartic experience that gamers have only dreamt of, fully retaining the sophisticated narrative elements fans crave.
