10 Criminally Overlooked Gameplay Mechanics
3. Deck-Building Turn-Based Combat - Marvel's Midnight Suns
Marvel often feels like an insurmountable behemoth that couldn't produce a flop even if it tried. But that isn't the case, as plenty of titles in the iconic company's history have underperformed. Unfortunately, the recently released Midnight Suns is one of them, leaving a strong combat system trapped in a game that is woefully picking up dust.
This tactical role-playing game from Firaxis Games, the developer known for Civilization and XCOM, boasts an impressive roster full of some of the most popular comic-book characters in fiction. On top of that is an excellent combat system that combines the developer's signature turn-based gameplay with deck-building mechanics. This creates a wholly unique system for battling that feels like a healthy combination of XCOM and Marvel Snap.
Each mission sees the player bring three characters into battle. These heroes are decked out with eight customisable cards that grant them attacks and abilities. They are then placed into a deck and drawn per round, making for unique builds, strong strategy plays, and an element of unpredictability.
Despite wracking up a decent critical response, the game fell victim to low sales, even leading to Firaxis having to cut staff. It's a tragic story that shows not every hero gets their time in the sun.