Deadpool’s last movie and video game appearance both made a splash—so why has it been 13 years since his only standalone title?
Deadpool is one of Marvel's most iconic characters and certainly my favorite. He is a satire of the entire comic book industry, as well as a means for criticizing the entire world around us directly, but without ever leaving the comic framework.
And it seems everyone out there loves him, too. No matter where he appears or in what format, Deadpool attracts a lot of people, begging the question: Why haven't we had a single standalone Deadpool game in 13 years?
In 2024, Deadpool and Wolverine smashed the box office. Grossing over $1.33 billion worldwide, it quickly became one of the biggest movies of all time. It was as if anyone and everyone went to see the film, yearning to indulge in the unfiltered, R-rated action of Marvel's most cynical antihero. I guess it helped that he had Jackman's Wolverine coming back after we all thought he was done with playing the character post-Logan, but I'd still argue it had a lot to do with the nature of Deadpool himself.
He is a vehicle for senseless violence, carnage, and, of course, unbridled fun. Being immortal, he can do the craziest things imaginable and still come out unscathed, turning what would otherwise be serious situations into pure action comedy. With clever editing and music mixed in, the experience of seeing Deadpool engage in suicidal shenanigans is simply unrivaled.
I mean, just think of that first scene in Deadpool and Wolverine with Bye Bye Bye by Justin Timberlake playing in the background. It's pure cinema.
The first two movies in the franchise also made a ton of money, cementing Deadpool as a true box office giant.
When he was recently introduced to Marvel Rivals, he once again made it all about himself. People flocked back to the game to try the character out, enjoying his whimsical and chaotic nature, and probably wishing to abuse his rather powerful kit and mechanics. The reveal trailer garnered over 10 million views, and the game saw its player count almost double on Jan. 16, the day Deadpool was added to the game.
And those numbers were on Steam alone. Deadpool singlehandedly reinvigorated an entire game.
So, with all of this in mind, and with the very obvious financial incentive to keep Deadpool in anything and everything Marvel-related, why haven't we seen an original Deadpool game since 2013?
That 2013 title was amazing, even though not many people seemed to love it that much. It has since grown into a cult classic, a testament to early 2010s video game design and daring, experimental philosophies. It thoroughly embodies Deadpool as a character, mimicking his own quirky characteristics in its levels and missions and story beats. It's self-aware, self-critical, and ingrained with fourth-wall breaks and chaotic comedy.
Thirteen full years later, though, and it's still the only Deadpool game.
With modern graphics and very, very post-modern design philosophies, a contemporary Deadpool game could be the ultimate pinnacle of Marvel titles. Sure, we had Insomniac basically carrying that entire franchise on its back through Spider-Man and soon Wolverine, but there's more than enough space open for Deadpool to take center stage.
Just imagine a game that critiques the entire video game industry and makes fun of all the malpractice that's been going on, all the while entertaining us with brutal slaughter and Deadpool's own suicidal tendencies that downplay anything that could ever be considered "serious." It'd be an escapist game, a title to take a general look back at the world of video games and summarize it in one comedic swoop.
Much like Split Fiction recontextualizes genres and storytelling, a new Deadpool game could offer new thoughts on what gaming is all about while still remaining true to the Marvel superhero core and taking that (rather dull) genre to new heights.
Anyhow, that's what I would wanna see anyway. If you're of other convictions, do tell me about them below.
The post Deadpool’s last movie and video game appearance both made a splash—so why has it been 13 years since his only standalone title? appeared first on Destructoid.
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