Video Game Characters Inspired By Superman

Few characters in the history of pop culture are as iconic and recognizable as Superman. Originally introduced in 1938, the DC Comics superhero has been imitated and parodied in many movies, TV shows, and other forms of media. The character has even appeared in numerous video games, though less frequent are characters based on Superman.

It's quite easy to point to any superhero character with a cape and tighty-whities over their pants, and accuse them of being Superman rip-offs. However, these six characters from throughout video game history are very clearly inspired by the Man of Steel. From lesser-known Steam titles to iconic video game franchises, these characters wouldn't exist if Superman hadn't come first.

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7 The Hero (Undefeated)

Players Get The Superman Sandbox Of Their Dreams

For Superman fans who want the full Man of Steel experience, Undefeated is the perfect choice. Players control an unnamed Hero tasked with protecting a city, who is capable of some pretty familiar superpowers: invincibility, flight, super strength, and more. With free rein to roam the city, it's up to the players themselves to seek out crime and save innocent people from evil.

While the Hero of this game doesn't wear a colorful cape or a fancy outfit, he clearly draws inspiration from Superman with his functionality and superpowers. Even the gameplay is reminiscent of Superman video games, like 2006's Superman Returns.

6 The Offspring (Megaton Rainfall)

If Zack Snyder's Superman Got His Own Game

Like the Hero of Undefeated, Megaton Rainfall centers on a character who doesn't physically resemble Superman, but shares a lot of similar qualities. The central character, called "The Offspring," is an alien tasked with protecting Earth from an alien invasion, which is a story reminiscent of many Superman comic books.

Players control The Offspring via a first-person perspective, with powers including super-speed, limitless flight, and invincibility. What's even more exciting about Megaton Rainfall is its compatibility with virtual reality, allowing players to truly feel what it's like to see through the eyes of Superman, albeit without the cape.

5 Statesman (City Of Heroes)

A Create-Your-Own-Hero Game Needs Its Star

City of Heroes was originally released in 2004 for PC, as one of many games like it during that era of online video games. The MMORPG allows players to create their own superhero, choosing their costume, superpowers, and archetypes. While players only control their own characters, they can also interact with many other heroes throughout the game's story, including Statesman.

As the main hero of the game, Statesman has some obvious comparisons to Superman, from his blue-and-red costume to even his similar name. His powers are also near identical to those of the Man of Steel, including invincibility, super-strength, super-speed, and flight. His relationship to the game's central hub of Paragon City is also obviously inspired by Superman's protection of Metropolis.

4 Super Brainz (Plants Vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 2)

Zombies Have Never Been More Superpowered

Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 2 is the fourth game in the iconic franchise, released in 2016 for PS4, Xbox One, and PC. While the original Plants vs. Zombies was a 2D tower defense game, the Garden Warfare games are third-person shooters. Players can battle opponents in multiplayer matches while choosing either the plant side or the zombie side.

One of the new characters on the zombie side is Super Brainz, whose hair and superhero costume clearly invoke the iconic design of Superman. This zombie is also capable of flight and laser-powered attacks, making him much more of a threat than other zombies in the game. Unlike Superman, Super Brainz is still vulnerable to being killed like any other character in the game.

3 Palafin (Pokemon Scarlet & Violet)

The Franchise's First Dolphin Did Not Disappoint

The Pokemon franchise has drawn upon a lot of inspirations for various characters in the series. However, Superman wasn't an inspiration until the most recent mainline games, Pokemon Scarlet & Violet. Generation 9 introduced the Water-type Finizen and its evolution, Palafin. While the two don't look much different, Palafin's real evolution comes with its Ability, Zero to Hero.

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After being switched out during battle and then switched back in, Palafin will adopt the Hero Form, which resembles a Superman-like hero. Its Ability is therefore a reference to Clark Kent disappearing into a phone booth to re-emerge as Superman in the comics and cartoons. Its base Attack stat also greatly increases in its Hero Form, making it quite overpowered in battle.

2 Viewtiful Joe

Capcom Took After American Comic Books For This Classic

Viewtiful Joe is one of Capcom's most iconic characters. Originally released on the GameCube, the beat-'em-up Viewtiful Joe centers on Joe, an average movie-lover, whose girlfriend is kidnapped by a movie villain. This forces him to adopt the persona of Viewtiful Joe, a superhero with the ability to become invulnerable for short periods of time, use karate, and utilize movie tropes in his attacks.

Viewtiful Joe is not the most obvious character inspired by Superman, but the developers at Capcom revealed that they drew inspiration for the game from American comic book tropes. From the game's art style to Joe's superhero nature, it's clear that comic book heroes like Superman, who have had an impact on cinema, likely served as the basis for this movie-loving hero.

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