Marvel's Midnight Suns: PS5 Review

Developed by Firaxis Games
Published by 2K Games
Platform: PS5

Turn-based games can be a bit of a bore on consoles, with gamers usually expecting something compelling and engaging to stimulate and reward the investment of their time.

Perhaps more suited to PC gaming, the genre hit its peak with the XCOM series, developed by Firaxis Games. And so it was inevitable after the recent success of Marvel Snap, that another game would appear - but it's a relief to say that Marvel's Midnight Suns feels like a progression of the genre, rather than a stuttering halt.

When the world's threatened by the Midnight Sun event and the resurrection of a witch Lilith at the hands of H.Y.D.R.A., it's up to you as the Hunter, a recently resurrected hero, and a group of Avengers and side pals to try and save the day.

The mechanics of the card-based game don't get too much of a shake-up here, as you partake in turn-based battles, facing off against villains and an array of H.Y.D.R.A goons determined to end you. At the start of each fight, you draw a random array of attack and skill-based cards and use them to take out the enemy.

The game uses the likes of Iron Man, Dr Strange, Ghost Rider, Blade alongside lesser known heroes to reasonable effect. With conversation and just hanging out part of the agenda after battles, the game leans on the Marvel lore to create a deeper and more immersive experience than just a deal and fight atmosphere.

While it's tricky to assuage tactics when you don't quite know what cards lie ahead, the game can offer some thrills in a relatively static environment. There's a lot to delve into here, and for those who are perhaps afraid of the occasional tedium of turn-based games, bringing along the Marvel canon and characters proves to be anathema for apathy.