Injustice: Gods Among Us

NetherRealm Studios, the team behind Mortal Kombat, brought DC Comics' heroes and villains into brutal, cinematic combat with Injustice: Gods Among Us. Released in April 2013 for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Wii U, this fighting game ditches the traditional good-versus-evil narrative for a darker what-if scenario. In a parallel universe, the Joker's trick causes Superman to kill Lois Lane and destroy Metropolis, turning the Man of Steel into a tyrant. Batman leads an insurgency against this new world order, recruiting counterparts from the main DC universe. The story mode unfolds like an interactive graphic novel, with each fight advancing the plot.

Gameplay sticks to a 2.5D plane, but the action is anything but flat. Stages are interactive environments where you can slam opponents through walls or trigger environmental attacks. The combat system borrows from Mortal Kombat's 2011 reboot, with a focus on combos and meter management, but introduces unique traits for each character. Superman can freeze opponents, while Batman deploys gadgets. A mobile version hit iOS and Android, and the Ultimate Edition arrived on PS4, Windows, and Vita later in 2013. Critics praised the story and how it handled the DC license, making Injustice the best-selling game in the US and UK on launch month. It won several Best Fighting Game awards and spawned a sequel, Injustice 2, in 2017, plus an animated film in 2021.[edit]

Injustice: Gods Among Us runs on an enhanced Unreal Engine 3, hitting 60 frames per second at 1080p on PS4 and Xbox One. The 2.5D plane keeps fights grounded in a traditional fighting game space, but the stages themselves become weapons. You can smash opponents through breakable walls to transition into new arenas, like the Batcave or Fortress of Solitude, or use environmental objects as projectiles. Each character has a unique Trait ability mapped to a dedicated button: Superman freezes enemies with his breath, Batman throws explosive batarangs, and the Flash speeds up his attacks. A three-button layout for light, medium, and heavy attacks, combined with a four-level meter, powers enhanced special moves, super moves, and a clash system where you wager meter to reduce damage or heal. The combo system includes juggles and launchers, and the meter management adds strategic depth. Stage transitions happen mid-fight, moving battles through multiple locations. The game also features a robust tutorial mode, though some critics found it lacking in depth. Online multiplayer uses GGPO-style netcode for reduced lag, supporting ranked and player matches, as well as a King of the Hill mode for up to eight players.[edit]

The Joker, in a twisted scheme, tricks Superman into believing Lois Lane is Doomsday. Superman accidentally kills her and destroys Metropolis with a nuclear bomb. Driven mad by grief, Superman establishes a One Earth Regime with Wonder Woman, the Flash, and others, imposing peace through fear. Batman organizes an insurgency, recruiting Green Arrow, Nightwing, and Harley Quinn. The story splits across two timelines: the main universe where the Regime rules, and a prime universe where Batman pulls in heroes like Aquaman and Green Lantern to help. Key moments include Superman killing Shazam, Batman breaking into the Fortress of Solitude, and a final confrontation between Batman and Superman. The narrative uses cinematic cutscenes and interactive fights, with branching paths that let players choose sides in certain battles. Tom Taylor's script weaves emotional beats into the action, like Batman's guilt over failing to stop the Joker. The ending varies based on who wins the final fight: Superman's regime continues or Batman's resistance restores hope. A post-credits scene teases the arrival of Brainiac, setting up the sequel.[edit]