The past few years have been an exciting time for comic-based video games, especially ones coming from Marvel. While Batman has been setting the gold standard for superhero games thanks to the excellent Batman: Arkham series, a certain Friendly Neighborhood Webslinger has been playing catch-up through Insomniac’s amazing Marvel’s Spider-Man titles.
Spidey isn’t the only Marvel hero on Insomniac’s radar either. Marvel’s Wolverine is set to claw its way onto the PlayStation 5 in late 2026, and its recent blood-soaked trailer looks very promising. Meanwhile, Skydance and Uncharted scribe Amy Hennig is looking to take gamers to the Marvel version of World War II with Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra, an action title focusing on Captain America and Azzuri, the Black Panther of that time period.
With all of these exciting Marvel games on the horizon, there is still one iconic hero that has yet to get his proper due in video games: the Man Without Fear himself, Daredevil. Matt Murdock and his crime-busting alter-ego have been a staple of Marvel Comics since the 60’s, but he hasn’t been the star of a proper triple-A video game as of this writing.
Daredevil’s Rich Gaming History
Of course, Daredevil has been featured as a playable character in a number of different Marvel video games over the years, from the team-based action of the Marvel: Ultimate Alliance series to the battle royale antics of Marvel Rivals. However, his only solo outing to date is a forgotten Game Boy Advance tie-in platformer for 2003’s lukewarm Daredevil movie starring future Dark Knight Ben Affleck.
An attempt to change this was made in the early 2000s, when a lesser-known developer named 5000ft Inc. worked with publisher Encore on a Daredevil game for the PlayStation 2. This project, which would have been called Daredevil: The Man Without Fear, aimed to capture the gritty atmosphere and ninja-like action of the Daredevil comics and was nearly completed by the time it was cancelled.
Daredevil Is More Popular Than Ever
Now might be a good time to try again, as Daredevil has seen an increase in exposure over the past few years. After winning fans over in the Marvel Netflix shows, Charlie Cox returned to his role as the blind lawyer-by-day, costumed vigilante-by-night in 2021’s Spider-Man: No Way Home, 2022’s She-Hulk, 2024’s Echo, and this year’s Daredevil: Born Again.
The lattermost project received much praise despite its troubled production, so much so that a third season has already been greenlit even before the second season could premiere on Disney+. Matt Murdock is going up in the world, and this could be leveraged into a video game if a developer wishes to explore the Man Without Fear.
The Seeds Are Already Planted
As for what this game could be, there are plenty of potential avenues developers could take – even ones that have already been set in motion in existing titles. While Daredevil has yet to appear in Insomniac’s Marvel gaming universe, Nelson and Murdock’s legal practice exists thanks to an Easter Egg hidden in Marvel’s Spider-Man‘s open world. This doesn’t mean that Insomniac is planning to give Daredevil his own triple-A adventure, as there is no word on the developer working on such a project.
The blueprint for a great Daredevil video game can also be found in many successful superhero titles. Matt Murdock’s primary super-ability is a radar sense that allows him to “see” crime take place around him, similar to the Detective Vision in the Batman: Arkham games. Daredevil’s parkour skills and martial arts prowess could also take influence from the aforementioned Marvel’s Spider-Man games, which have drawn much praise for giving players a great sense of freedom while navigating the streets of New York City.
Daredevil remains at the top of the list of Marvel Superheroes who still need a bona fide video game adaptation, though sadly nothing has materialized in over two decades. Hopefully, this changes soon, as it is high time for a talented developer to give Marvel’s resident devil his due.
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