Holy hyperboles, folks! As I sit here in 2025, still reeling from the earth-shattering success of Marvel Rivals, I can't help but wonder—why aren't more gaming giants diving headfirst into the hero shooter arena? It's like watching a gourmet chef only bake bread when they could create a seven-course feast! Most franchises simply lack the roster diversity to pull it off, turning their attempts into as graceful as a giraffe on roller skates. But fear not, dear readers! I've scoured the gaming multiverse and unearthed ten franchises that could not just compete but dominate this space. Grab your controllers and brace for impact—this is going to be wilder than a tornado in a Lego store! 🎮💥
10 Final Fantasy: Where Legends Become Playable Gods
Picture this: me, maining Sephiroth, slicing through enemies like a hot knife through sentient butter. Final Fantasy isn't just a series—it's a treasure trove of characters more varied than a rainbow in a kaleidoscope. With 16 mainline entries and spin-offs galore, we've got tanks like Cloud, support mages like Aerith, and evasive tricksters like Noctis. Locations? Oh, just iconic spots like The Gold Saucer, which would transform into maps so immersive you'd forget reality. The balance here is as perfect as a Swiss watch in zero gravity. If this game drops, I'll be first in line, shouting, "I am the storm that is approaching!"
People Also Ask: What makes Final Fantasy's roster ideal for a hero shooter? Its blend of magic, tech, and personalities allows for seamless role diversification—tanks, healers, DPS—all wrapped in nostalgia.
9 Mortal Kombat: Gore Meets Glory
FINISH THEM! If Mortal Kombat launched a hero shooter, fatalities would make headshots look like child's play. Imagine Scorpion yanking foes with his "Get over here!" hook, while Sub-Zero freezes lanes like an Arctic winter. Raiden? He'd zap enemies into confetti. This franchise has the roster depth of an oceanic trench—easy to slot into roles: Scorpion as Roadhog, Sub-Zero as Mei. The violence would be so over-the-top, it’d feel like a heavy metal concert in a war zone. My only request? Let me play as Goro and punch four people at once.
Key Features:
-
Melee brawlers 🥊
-
Range specialists ⚡
-
Environmental hazards (spikes, pits) 🩸
8 Super Mario: Power-Ups Over Pistols
Who needs guns when you’ve got fire flowers and stars? Mario’s universe is a candy-colored playground begging for hero shooter chaos. Picture Peach floating like Pharah, Bowser tanking hits like a brick wall, and Tails... well, Tails would probably just build turrets. Power-ups could become abilities: a mushroom for health boosts, a cape for gliding attacks. Maps based on Rainbow Road or Bowser’s Castle would be more vibrant than a disco ball on New Year’s Eve. Nintendo’s genius could turn this into a family-friendly frag fest.
7 Kingdom Hearts: Keyblades and Chaos
Donald Duck as a healer? Oh, the irony! But Kingdom Hearts isn’t just Disney fluff—it’s a goldmine for hero shooters. Keyblade wielders like Sora could dash into melee, while Organization XIII snipers like Xigbar pick off foes from afar. Drive forms would add layers deeper than an onion in a black hole. And yes, Donald’s "cure" spells would actually work here (unlike in the RPGs). Locations from Twilight Town to Atlantica would make maps so dreamy, you’d need pinch to wake up.
6 Borderlands: Guns, Glitches, and Glory
Borderlands already feels like a hero shooter on steroids—it just hasn’t realized it yet! With billions of gun variations, characters like Brick could tank as Berserkers, while Lilith teleports like Tracer. Psycho enemies? Perfect cannon fodder. Maps from Pandora to Promethea would ooze style, making firefights feel like a graffiti artist’s fever dream. And if I can’t play as Handsome Jack, delivering sarcastic one-liners mid-battle, what’s the point? This franchise is as ready as a loaded shotgun.
People Also Ask: Why would Borderlands adapt well? Its loot system and chaotic humor are tailor-made for fast-paced, ability-driven combat.
5 Sonic: Speed Is Just the Start
Green Hill Zone as a hero shooter map? Sign me up! Sonic’s crew is as diverse as a buffet at a food festival: Sonic for hit-and-run attacks, Knuckles for brawling, Tails for aerial support, and Dr. Eggman raining missiles like a mad scientist. Chaos Emeralds could power ultimates, turning battles into light shows brighter than a supernova. The only hitch? Balancing speedsters would be trickier than threading a needle during an earthquake. But hey, I’d main Shadow and edgelord my way to victory.
4 Pokémon: Gotta Frag 'Em All
Forget Pikachu—imagine a hero shooter where Charizard flamethrowers entire teams or Greninja uses water shurikens as sniper tools. With 1,000+ Pokémon, the roster possibilities are vaster than the universe’s expansion rate. Roles write themselves: Snorlax as a tank, Blissey as healer, Gengar as stealth assassin. Maps based on regions like Galar would be lush battlegrounds. And yes, I’d play as Magikarp... just to see the rage quits when I evolve mid-match.
3 Dragon Ball: Kamehameha Chaos
Goku’s Kamehameha beam in a hero shooter? It’d be like firing a sun at your enemies! Dragon Ball’s cast is a powerhouse: Cell regenerating like a zombie cockroach, Bulma deploying tech gadgets, and Frieza obliterating planets with finger blasts. Maps from Namek to Tournament of Power arenas would make battles feel epic. The only flaw? Yamcha would still be useless—some things never change. But with transformations (Super Saiyan ultimates!), this could outdo Marvel Rivals in sheer spectacle.
2 Hades: Gods and Gunplay
Why settle for heroes when you can play as literal gods? Hades’ pantheon is a hero shooter wet dream: Zeus hurling lightning, Ares summoning blades, and Megaera whipping foes into submission. The art style is so slick, it’d make oil paintings jealous. Transitioning to 3D might be as smooth as a rocket launch in a hurricane, but if done right, this could redefine the genre. I’d main Dionysus and intoxicate enemies into submission—because why fight sober?
1 League of Legends: The Obvious Titan
League of Legends isn’t just a MOBA—it’s a hero shooter in disguise! With 160+ champions, kits are ready to plug-and-play: Jinx as a chaotic DPS, Braum as a shield-toting tank, and Teemo... well, Teemo would still be Satan with mushrooms. After Arcane’s success, Riot could leverage its lore for maps like Piltover or the Shadow Isles. This wouldn’t just compete with Marvel Rivals—it’d devour it like a black hole swallowing a star.
People Also Ask: Why is LoL the top candidate? Its champions are designed with distinct abilities and roles, requiring minimal tweaks for shooter mechanics.
My 2030 Vision: By the end of this decade, I predict at least three of these will explode onto the scene. I’ll be queueing up for beta access with the fervor of a kid on Christmas morning—wielding keyblades, pokéballs, and maybe even a chaos emerald or two. The future of hero shooters isn’t just bright; it’s blinding! 🔮✨
In conclusion, these franchises have the potential to turn hero shooters into a kaleidoscope of creativity. If developers seize this moment, we could witness gaming revolutions that make Marvel Rivals look like a warm-up act. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to practice my Kamehameha pose—just in case.