In a recent tweet, Rocksteady Studios confirmed that it is currently developing a Suicide Squad game. The creators of the legendary Batman: Arkham trilogy was long thought to be working on something related to DC again, but while Rocksteady may have answered the biggest question of them all, many details about the Suicide Squad video game project are still left in the dark.
This includes the game’s cast of villains. From its very beginnings with Batman: Arkham Asylum, Rocksteady’s productions have boasted an array of multiple different bad guys. Suicide Squad will most likely involve at least a handful of characters that appeared in the Arkham games — from Deadshot to Killer Croc and, of course, Harley Quinn herself — but Rocksteady might bring back some familiar villains, too.
From a storytelling perspective, the most logical antagonist for a Suicide Squad game isn’t a big brawler, but a tactician who can manipulate the protagonists’ emotions and play on the fragility of their already precarious group dynamic so as to turn them against each other. If these are the criteria, likely contestants would include such criminal masterminds as Joker, Scarecrow, Riddler, and Ra’s al Ghul.
Batman: Arkham Villains That Would Best Compliment Suicide Squad
Given how Joker and Scarecrow were at the forefront of Rocksteady’s last game, Batman: Arkham Knight, they are less likely to play a prominent role in Suicide Squad. Being some of DC’s finest villains, however, they would probably make for more interesting stories. While Jonathan Crane could expose the group’s biggest fears, the Clown Prince of Crime could be the drive behind Harley’s character development. Although Rocksteady has favored familiar over unfamiliar territory in the past, chances are their next project will take them into a different direction. After the finale of the Arkham trilogy under-performed with critics, many of which were disappointed with the game’s cheap twist and frustrated with Joker’s posthumous return, the company might have taken its time to develop an experience unlike any they ever made before.
Should that be the case, audiences must expect a villain who has never had a chance to shine before. Riddler could well get a major overhaul in Suicide Squad similar to how Scarecrow received one in Batman: Arkham Knight, if they manage to turn him into a real threat rather than an annoying side quest. Rather than kidnapping civilians and setting up laborious traps, he could use his knowledge to steal sensitive info from Amanda Waller, and even uncover the squad’s darkest secrets.
Ra’s al Ghul also makes for a promising candidate, as his supernatural background and immense power closely reflect the set-up of Warner’s 2016 film which, in spite of all the hate it has received over the years, may well have served as an inspiration for Rocksteady. Of course, since the squad sees villains become heroes, some of these characters may even turn out to become unlikely allies rather than straightforward opponents. Working alongside characters that players had to fight in the Batman: Arkham games, like Bane or Mr. Freeze, would certainly make for interesting gameplay. Until more details are revealed about Rocksteady’s upcoming Suicide Squad game, it’s anyone’s guess — although it sure looks like Superman will show up no matter what.
