Video games have gotten a ton of attention in the past decade. As their popularity grows in the mainstream, more and more people become interested in the concept, and the idea that video games are for children only, becomes antiquated. Video game companies have also noticed this trend of adults getting into gaming, and so, are trying to please the new market.
However, gaming is still a fairly niche hobby. That is why game companies are still looking to please their existing audience. One of the ways they do so is by publishing crossover games. Crossover games are, basically, video games where characters from different franchises come together to stop a greater threat. In this article, we are looking at some excellent crossover games.
“At The Inventory”
While most crossover games focus on action of some kind, the At the Inventory duology is a bit different. Certainly, we see characters from different game franchises, like Max, Heavy Red, and Ash Williams come together. But, rather than fight, they are relaxing over a game of Texas Hold ‘em. That is right, the “At the Inventory” duology is a poker-based video game.
Poker games are nothing new. They’ve been around since the NES era, and they will continue to thrive. It is even possible to play online poker nowadays, at various online casinos and software providers.. These websites have made gambling a lot more accessible and simple. Not only that, but they also have a lot in common with gaming, which is why many internet casinos report that gamers are their primary customers.
What makes At the Inventory different from other poker games is the presence of video game characters, all of whom act exactly as you would expect them to, if they were playing poker with friends. The comedic dialogue, the classic tropes of complaining about their work/social life, and references to their games are all present, making At the Inventory a treat for any gamer.
“Final Fantasy: Dissidia”
Any fan of the fantasy genre in games has heard of the Final Fantasy franchise. A series of games that date back all the way to the SNES, starring different protagonists, different antagonists, and even different worlds. For as long as the franchise has been going, fans have been debating what would occur if the old-school characters met up with the new generation of FF protagonists.
In 2008, Square Enix finally decided to answer the age old question. Dissidia: Final Fantasy was the game company’s release to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the franchise. The game managed to masterfully blend fighting and RPG elements and create something new and exciting. The main appeal of Dissidia is that long-time fans can experience their favorite characters interacting.
The game features the main protagonists and antagonists of 13 Final Fantasy games (as Final Fantasy XIII was the latest release at the time). Of course, the most popular one is Cloud Strife, the protagonist of FFVII, and one of the characters who popularized the franchise, as well as the JRPG genre. Most modern fans would say that they got into the game through “Final Fantasy VII.”
“Marvel Ultimate Alliance”
Superhero comics are based around crossovers. Nothing gets a kid reading Spider-Man more excited than seeing Wolverine pop up every now and again. If it works for comics there is no reason it wouldn’t work for games. Bringing heroes together in gaming was mostly relegated to cameos. That changed in 2006 when Activision released an action roleplaying game based on the Marvel Universe.
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance brings all of the most iconic heroes together. The Avengers and X-Men unite to stop Doctor Doom from implementing his latest world takeover plan. The player takes control of four heroes who must work together to prevent the end.
The best part about Marvel: Ultimate Alliance is that it is a Co-Op game, that can be played by up to four players. Taking control of a hero with a friend or two truly immerses one in the gaming experience, and makes the player feel as if they’ve really teamed up with other heroes to save the world. Marvel: Ultimate Alliance has a sequel, but unfortunately, it does not compare to the original.
“Super Smash Bros.”
How can we talk about crossover games without bringing up the “Super Smash Bros.” franchise? It seems crossover games really lend themselves to the fighting genre. It does make sense, considering one of the most popular debate topics among gaming fans is “who would win?” And considering Nintendo is one of the most popular gaming companies in the world, a “who would win” game between their characters was inevitable.
That is also what Masahiro Sakurai, the creator of “Kirby” thought back in 1998, when he first came up with a prototype for the Super Smash Bros. game. A year later, the first in the series had come out, featuring fighters from the Mario franchise, the Legend of Zelda series, and Pokemon. The game was, of course, a big success.
The franchise spawned several sequels. They culminated in 2018’s Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. The fighting game has become a staple of the eSports community. There is a massive following online right now, especially on sportsbooks. Nintendo is perpetually updating the game as well. New fighters and features drive up interest and keep it relevant. It is not surprising that SSB is one of the most popular games around right now.
Honorable Mentions
The games we’ve discussed in this article are all great. Some are incredibly popular, and some are less-known. But they all have something to offer to a player looking for a specific type of game. However, they are not the only crossover games worth discussing. Many might be surprised that we’ve not included Kingdom Hearts in this list. The game brings Square Enix characters together with Disney of all things, and manages to tell an incredibly epic story, spanning an entire universe.
Of course, we would also be remiss if we did not bring up “Mortal Kombat,” and the various franchises that the fighting game series has crossed over with. We’ve seen the iconic fighters take on superheroes, slasher villains, and even the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. These crossovers are part of the reason that Mortal Kombat is such a huge success.
