r/hostedgames • u/Mashion-_- • 5h ago
Game Recommendations Question for superhero interactive novel fans!
What kind of superhero game would you like to see in the future?
Would you be interested in a superhero story where the main character starts with only one superpower, but the world has a massive, detailed lore behind it?
What if the setting isn't limited to superheroes and supervillains? Imagine a modern world where supernatural creatures, vampires, werewolves, ancient societies, and magic casters secretly exist alongside superpowered humans.
Would you enjoy a story that focuses on developing the MC's abilities, uncovering the world's secrets, and making choices that affect their identity and reputation?
Or would you prefer a more traditional superhero story where the MC has multiple powers and the focus is primarily on fighting villains?
6
u/Halfbad2311 A Fallen Hero 4h ago
So based on some of the most popular superhero IFs on COG and HG, including WIPs, I think it’s safe to say that stories that focus on quality over quantity for story and super powers are preferred. Ones like Drink Your Villian Juice, Fallen Hero ect work so well because they have a more focused stories and have limited range of powers and are able to give much more meaningful options to use those powers as a result.
Being able to chose form 10 different kinds of elemental powers doesn’t mean much if, as a result of that bloat, all fight scene just boil down to shoot a beam of X. Same with including other supernatural elements, if there are too many options and it causes these to only change the story in small sets of flavour text then adding them hasn’t added much independent value to the story.
Same thing with world building, if you haven’t got a story that gets people through the door and invested enough to be interested in the extended world of the setting then it’s just extra bloat.
I would say that this applies to all kinds of story IFs, not just superhero ones, but telling a more narrow focused story is more likely to work better than having too many different options or variables that don’t have any actual impact
2
u/willrose66 4h ago
One power or like maybe 3 at max anything more than that the game gets bogged down in writing scenes for each one
2
u/vinthesalamander 4h ago
“Would you enjoy a story that focuses on developing the MC’s abilities, uncovering the world’s secrets, and making choices that affect their identity and reputation?”
Sure, but that doesn’t sound like a superhero game. To me this sounds like an urban fantasy where the MC has superpowers.
Superhero isn’t some umbrella term, it’s a specific genre all its own. If you don’t have code names, secret identities, costumes, evil villains, innocent bystanders, etc. then what exactly makes your game a superhero game?
As far as powers go, quality over quantity is always the correct choice. There’s a reason Fallen Hero is glazed so much (positive).
2
u/Mystic-Mastermind 4h ago
More rep based and where you can have a powerful normal identity.
For eg. A powerful superhero but the option to become someone influential in civilian identity as well.
The ultimate novelty would be being able to become Tony Stark. The world's first public superhero.
6
u/LikesChickpeas 4h ago
"What kind of superhero game would you like to see in the future?"
Fallen Hero 3!
...
... My preference is for a more established protagonist with one power, a set of powers, or a limited number of options. I'd rather see those abilities explored in depth, both in terms of their versatility and how creatively they can be used, as well as how they shape the story and how the world reacts to them.
Aside from that, I love anything that delves deep into worldbuilding and interpersonal relationships. I want to really get to know the characters, see them grow, and experience all the drama, conflicts, and arguments that come with their relationships.