After seven years of superhero goodness, The Boys has finally ended, and while there may be a few spin-off shows in the works, at least for now, the bloodshed has been placed on ice. However, regardless of whether fans liked or disliked the way things concluded, they will almost certainly still be hungry for more anti-hero shenanigans, and what better way to satiate that desire than by taking on the role of a powerful, suped-up character in the world of gaming.
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There are lots of different video game interpretations of what it means to be an anti-hero, some more grounded and others that lean heavily into the world of mutations, murder, and downright carnage. The latter certainly fits The Boys far better, as throughout the show, it feels like every other scene someone is blowing up, or a superhero fight is breaking out, even among those on the same side. So, for those who are on the lookout for some fast-paced, powered-up action, they needn’t look far for the perfect game to fill that Homelander-shaped void.
We are talking primarily of power fantasies, so not just games that let you be “evil.” The latter will be prioritized, but we will include one Batman-shaped exception.
Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
Easy (5)Medium (7)Hard (10)
Prototype
Morality Is Optional
Details:
- Shape-shifting abilities turn people into resources
- Open-world chaos reflects a lack of barriers
Prototype is entirely built around the idea of a weaponized antihero who operates outside any moral framework, destroying anyone or anything that gets in his way. Alex Mercer’s abilities allow him to transform his entire body into a tool of demolition, capable of leaping across skyscrapers and slamming down into the streets below, and no matter how many bullets head his way, there is virtually nothing that can keep him down forever.
More importantly than power, though, the anti-hero concept comes through the overwhelming sense of indifference that you exude while jumping through the world. I would regularly find myself up against dozens of military troops and civilians, but rather than exercising any care, I would just blast through them and go about my day. In a lot of ways, that mentality is very similar to a lot of the supes in The Boys, as, rather than being pressured into a corner, they can effectively do whatever they want, unchecked and unrestricted in their power and influence.
inFAMOUS
Heroism Of A Different Kind
Details:
- Moral alignments directly alter abilities and the reactions of the world
- Few characters can compete with the player
inFAMOUS shows exactly how to incorporate two very different sides of morality into a single experience. Playing as Cole MacGrath, every single action players take, from subduing enemies to harming civilians, has an impact on their karma score, pushing them towards either the good or bad side over time. But even when you choose to follow a righteous arc, it always feels as though certain events are far more gray than black and white.
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After playing through the game on the good side, I went back and did it again, the other way around, and was surprised by how much of an impact the morality switch has on both the gameplay and the story. Your powers change, cutscenes play out differently, and the whole world reacts accordingly to whether you are a threat or a hero, entering the game into murky waters where no choice is ever easy to make. By the end, it is clear that no matter what path was chosen, sacrifices had to be made; it just comes down to whether you prefer leaning into the inner rage or fighting against it.
Saints Row 4
Parodying Heroic Fantasies
Details:
- Superpowers become satirical
- Movement and combat break apart any level of balance
If there was one game that represents superhero madness more than any other, then it has to be Saints Row 4. The game removes any remaining grounding in the series by turning the player into an absurdly overpowered hero capable of sprinting across cities and launching enemies with ease, without regard for the consequences.
Rather than critiquing the dark side of heroism, it embraces exaggeration and dismantles any remaining seriousness, leaving only pure absurdity. After watching a few seasons of The Boys, I went back and replayed it and was genuinely surprised by how similar the two IPs are, from the over-the-top abilities to the comedy that runs all the way through the story and the surrounding characters.
Batman: Arkham Knight (Special Mention)
The Nightmare Villains Fear
Details:
- Intimidation and fear over superhuman abilities
- Gadgets and tricks used to fight more powerful enemies
Batman has long been the poster child for anti-heroes, and Arkham Knight explores that territory to its absolute fullest. Your control over Gotham relies on strategy and psychological pressure rather than superhuman abilities, which means that even when faced with charged-up enemies with borderline unnatural powers, there is always a tactical way to overcome them, in a similar way to how Butcher manages to overcome and take out several supes without needing any innate or granted powers of their own.
The Boys: 5 Video Game “Heroes” Who Make Homelander Seem Like An Amateur Villain
The Boys’ Homelander is the definition of an evil superhero, but video game also has its share of heroes who cause more harm than good.
I always thought this game was the best in the series, and while watching The Boys, I saw so much of Batman and the way he approaches the villains in Arkham in the group and their fight against the supes. At the end of the day, the game also provides a commentary on violence and heroism itself, discussing whether achieving freedom and safety would ever be possible without exerting excessive force on those who threaten to disrupt it.
While Batman is wildly different from Homelander, they are both beings who, in their respective worlds, are feared to the point of being almost mythical. In Gotham, Batman is the monster that stalks the night.
Injustice 2
An Even Playing Field For All
Details:
- Hero Vs Hero action
- Iconic battles made possible in PvP
A lot of the action in The Boys centers around two superheroes battling it out, and that is exactly what Injustice 2 is all about. There’s Superman, The Joker, Swamp Thing, and just about every other DC hero and villain you could ever want, all in a single fighter that lets players fully embody the role as their favorite character.
I’m not normally into fighting games, but I find myself constantly coming back for more, playing primarily as Green Arrow and Bane against both friends and online opponents. While it is true that Mortal Kombat 1 actually has Homelander as a playable DLC character, I would argue that Injustice delivers more on the superhero-infused fighting dream that many players will have had, and with rumors of a third installment in the works, now is as good a time as any to jump in and master some moves.
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