It’s been over three years since Marvel’s Midnight Suns landed on consoles and PC, and honestly? The gaming world still hasn't quite decided what to make of it. When Firaxis—the masterminds behind XCOM—announced they were making a Marvel game with cards, half the internet cheered and the other half let out a collective, confused "Huh?"
You’ve probably seen it on sale for $15 or sitting in a subscription catalog. Maybe you passed it over because you heard the writing was "cringe" or because you’re tired of deck-builders. But here in 2026, looking back at the wreckage of live-service superhero flops, this weird, experimental tactical RPG feels like a relic from a better timeline.
It’s a game where you fight literal demons in the morning and then go bird-watching with Wolverine in the afternoon. It's weird. It's bold. And it's one of the most misunderstood games of the decade.
The "Commercial Flop" That Critics Actually Loved
Let's address the elephant in the room: Marvel's Midnight Suns didn't sell like Spider-Man. Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick admitted back in 2023 that the release window was "imperfect." Launching a niche strategy game in the middle of the December holiday rush was a gamble that didn't pay off at the checkout counter.
Yet, the reviews were glowing. Critics handed out 8s and 9s like candy. Why the disconnect?
Basically, it was a marketing nightmare. Hardcore XCOM fans wanted "Marvel XCOM," but they got a card-based system with no permadeath. Marvel fans wanted Arkham or Insomniac style action, but they got a turn-based tactics game where you have to manage a social calendar. It was a game for a very specific type of person—someone who loves deep strategy but also wants to read 400,000 words of superhero soap opera dialogue.
Why the Combat Still Rips
If you’re worried about the cards, don't be. This isn't Hearthstone. You aren't buying booster packs with real money. You build a deck of eight cards for each hero, and when you go into a mission, those decks get shuffled together.
The brilliance of the Marvel's Midnight Suns game mechanics is the "Environmental Attacks." Most tactical games make you feel like you're playing chess. This makes you feel like you're in a movie. See that lamp post? You can kick it into a Hydra soldier without using a single card. That crate? Slide it across the floor to trip up a demon.
It solves the biggest problem with turn-based games: the feeling of being static. In XCOM, you hide behind a wall and pray for a 95% hit chance. In Midnight Suns, you are a god. You knock enemies into each other, shove them into electrical hazards, and use "Heroism" to drop a literal Hellfire car on their heads. It's fast, kinetic, and surprisingly flashy for a game where you spend half your time thinking about card draw.
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The Abbey: Where the Real Game Happens
About half your playtime—maybe more if you're a completionist—is spent in the Abbey. This is your secret base in Salem, Massachusetts. You play as "The Hunter," a fully customizable protagonist who is the child of the game's villain, Lilith.
You spend your downtime hanging out with:
- Blade, who turns out to be a massive dork who runs a book club.
- Iron Man and Doctor Strange, who bicker like an old married couple over magic vs. science.
- Magik, whose tragic backstory provides some of the best emotional weight in the game.
Yes, some of the dialogue is cheesy. Yes, Tony Stark sounds like he's trying a bit too hard to be MCU Tony. But if you lean into it, the "Friendship System" is actually deeply rewarding. Boosting your friendship level with Spider-Man doesn't just give you a new outfit; it unlocks powerful passive abilities and legendary "Midnight Sun" combat cards. It’s basically Persona with superheroes.
The Legendary Voice Cast
One thing people often overlook is the sheer talent behind the microphones. Firaxis didn't skimp here. They got Steve Blum to play Wolverine (obviously), Yuri Lowenthal as Spider-Man, and Jennifer Hale as the big bad, Lilith. Even Michael Jai White shows up to voice Blade.
Hearing these veterans play off each other in a 60-hour campaign is a treat. It gives the game a sense of authority that other Marvel spin-offs lack. It feels like a high-budget animated series you can play.
What Really Happened with the DLC and Updates?
By mid-2023, the support for the game effectively wrapped up. We got four solid DLC packs:
- Deadpool (The "The Good, the Bad, and the Undead")
- Venom (Redemption)
- Morbius (The Hunger)
- Storm (Blood Storm)
Each added a new hero, new story missions, and a few more Abbey upgrades. But after the "Blood Storm" update in May 2023, things went quiet. Firaxis's creative director, Jake Solomon, left the studio to start his own thing (Midsummer Studios), and the team largely shifted focus to the next Civilization title.
The planned Nintendo Switch version was famously cancelled, which broke a few hearts. But the versions we have on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X are feature-complete. It’s a "finished" game in an era of endless, buggy live services. That’s worth something.
Is It Worth Playing in 2026?
Honestly, yeah.
If you like strategy, it's one of the most innovative systems ever made. If you like Marvel, it's a deep dive into the "Midnight Sons" supernatural lore that the movies barely touch. You get to see the Ghost Rider, Nico Minoru, and Scarlet Witch side of the universe.
Pro-Tip for New Players:
Don't rush the main story. The game is designed to be played slowly. Do the side missions, collect the "Essence" to upgrade your cards, and actually talk to the characters. If you try to power through just the combat, you’ll miss the soul of the game.
Practical Next Steps for You:
- Check the Sales: Do not pay $60. This game hits the $15-$20 range constantly.
- Get the Legendary Edition: If you can find the version with the Season Pass for under $30, grab it. The DLC characters (especially Venom and Storm) are significantly more powerful and fun than some of the base roster.
- Play on PC if possible: The modding community has fixed several small bugs and even added custom suits that 2K never officially released.
Marvel's Midnight Suns isn't a perfect game, but it's a brave one. It’s a reminder that superheroes don't always have to be about button-mashing. Sometimes, they can be about a well-placed card and a movie night with a grumpy vampire hunter.