Doctor Strange's next video game appearance is currently set to be Spider-Man and the Guardians of the Galaxy have already taken the spotlight in the gaming medium, and while these characters have given players amazing games to enjoy, Doctor Strange could provide a whole other dimension of gameplay - both literally and figuratively - in a title that catered to the character's cosmic-horror roots. By using a dark fantasy narrative and interacting with other heroes in the multiverse, a Doctor Strange video game could break the boundaries of the superhero game genre.
Created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, Doctor Strange is a pivotal character in the Marvel Universe and one whose popularity has grown massively since his arrival in the MCU in 2016. His next film installment, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, is set to play an integral part in the film franchise's fourth phase. Being the second Marvel Studios film to incorporate the multiverse into its story, the sequel film is set to branch into other Marvel universes, with Patrick Stewart's Charles Xavier already hinted at in the most recent trailer.
A new AAA Marvel game was announced to be in the works at Skydance Media in October 2021, helmed by ex-Uncharted writer and director, Amy Hennig. Hennig stated in the announcement that the Marvel Universe "epitomizes all the action, mystery, and thrills of the pulp adventure genre." Action, mystery, and thrills are right up Doctor Strange's alley, and he would be an excellent candidate for Skydance's new game. A Doctor Strange game could make a fantasy horror RPG that could even be used to connect other Marvel game universes together.
A Doctor Strange Game Could Connect Other Marvel Titles
Being a very important character in the Marvel Universe, Doctor Strange has the power to traverse alternate realities and dimensions. This can make for a great narrative in a hypothetical Doctor Strange game. In a linear narrative setting like Guardians of the Galaxy, a Doctor Strange game could make for beautiful and varied level designs and a story involving multiple realities.
Games like Marvel's GOTG and Marvel's Spider-Man have had connections to one another before. Doctor Strange can be used to bring those universes together, possibly uniting the heroes to fight a multiversal threat. Along with included characters from previous games, a Doctor Strange game could also introduce some important characters in the magical aspect of the Marvel universe like Wanda Maximoff, Loki, and maybe Ghost Rider or Magik. Doctor Strange has interacted with just about every major Marvel hero either directly or indirectly, so this would not be too hard to pull off.
Dark Worlds That Could Make Doctor Strange A Horror Fantasy RPG
From the Marvel Zombies universe to the Dark Dimension, there are plenty of horror settings that could make Doctor Strange the star of a great dark fantasy RPG. Should a game delve into the multiverse, Doctor Strange could traverse plenty of spooky universes scattered throughout the Marvel multiverse. Marvel Zombies has a twisted nature that can be explored more than its first on-screen adaptation in Marvel's What If...?, and there are other possible alternate realities the Sorcerer Supreme could venture to as well.
A Doctor Strange game would give him the spotlight he deserves. There are so many great, supernatural stories that can be told in a game about the supernatural character that could give a breath of fresh air for fans of Marvel games. From vampires to werewolves to dark spirits, there are plenty of dark and wicked entities the Sorcerer Supreme has gone toe-to-toe and even allied with in the past. Doctor Strange has the potential to explore the dark and mystical elements of the Marvel universe while Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy shows the cosmic elements and Marvel's Spider-Man focuses on the Earthly realm.
Doctor Strange's Spells Are Perfect For Video Games
From the Eye of Agamotto to the Cloak of Levitation, there are many aspects that add to Doctor Strange's iconic look. The Sorcerer Supreme uses hundreds of unique and cool magical items and spells that could make for an upgradeable combat system in an RPG. It could even be a gear system similar to Marvel's Spider-Man's suit powers, with different mystical artifacts providing unique buffs or effects. The Sanctum Santorum is home to many different magical weapons and wares, and could even serve as a vendor, making the player upgrade Strange so that he can wield more powerful items.
Spells can also serve as a leveling-up mechanic in a game based on Doctor Strange. The game could have the player level up to unlock skill trees with different abilities and spells, evolving the combat system as the game continues. The skill trees could even be divided into separate parts. An Eldritch magic tree would upgrade Strange's classic magic system, Dark Dimension magic could be the second skill tree and could be incorporated into a gloomier storyline as Strange delves deeper into the dark arts. Another upgradable item could be the iconic Eye of Agamotto, which could be used as a type of ultimate ability in combat for rewinding tough situations and even be used as a puzzle-solving item.
A Doctor Strange Game Could Have A Choice-Based Story Like GOTG
Marvel's GOTG featured a choice-based narrative that gave different endings to certain missions. Although the main ending of the game does not really change based on these options, players could still feel their choices in-game as the story progressed. A potential Doctor Strange game could have a narrative design similar to Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy, allowing players to choose what to do in true RPG fashion. This game could also build upon its predecessors by having the player's choice actually impact the ending.
A choice-based narrative could also allow for better replayability. Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy had great replayability, giving players the chance to redo their choices each chapter and branch off into new situations. Doctor Strange could pull that off and even give greater consequences for each choice, maybe even locking whole universes behind a certain choice and having the payer decide which one they would like to go to first.
With the announcement of Skydance's Marvel project, Doctor Strange can stop being Marvel's most unused character in the gaming scene. There are so many possibilities that can come with a Doctor Strange game, beyond what could be achieved in a team-based title like Marvel's Midnight Suns. From the horror fantasy setting to the inclusion of characters from previous Marvel games, the Sorcerer Supreme can blow fans' minds and give a breath of fresh air for Marvel games.
