The gaming industry, like other branches of entertainment, can be simultaneously kind and cruel. Some franchises persist for years while others fall off the map entirely. This can be due to developer disinterest, failed continuations, waning sales, or a combination of those. Luckily, some series bounce back through reboots: new stories that add to existing lore or start from scratch to inject fresh energy into the mix.
One property that could benefit from this is Duke Nukem. Dating back to 1991, this shooter series amassed a devoted niche following due to crass humor and intentionally ridiculous premise. A muscle-bound blockhead is hired by the CIA to save the world from evil scientists and aliens, who interrupted his downtime. It’s essentially a sendup of cheesy action movies from the ’80s and ’90s. Because of that, the series needs a particular developer to bring it back: a studio that can not only rekindle those stylish flames, but also update the property for a modern crowd (hopefully without making it political).
10 Id Software
This should be a no-brainer. Doom is arguably more hardcore than Duke Nukem ever was, and id Software brought it back swinging with the 2016 reboot and last year’s Doom Eternal.
These two games have all the brutal violence, unapologetic middle-finger attitude, and high-octane thrills that you could want from a Duke Nukem adventure. The Slayer himself fulfills that power fantasy to a tee, striking fearful awe in demons and humans alike. All that’s missing are the one-liners. However, there’s something to be said for tense silence and imposing body language, especially with guns this big.
9 Rockstar
This storied studio is no stranger to controversy for some of the same reasons as Duke Nukem. They also bask in refreshing political incorrectness, using it to infusing their massive open worlds with a naughty personality that’s resonating with millions of gamers.
This approach has worked wonders for their Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption titles. For many, it’s enough to enhance the standard (if serviceable) gunplay. If they could bring enough of their signature humor, then they could easily put Duke Nukem back on the map. The series is a parody, after all.
8 Badfly Interactive
While this studio isn’t as famous as others, the developers are adept at sci-fi shooters. Look at their work on Dead Effect 2. Here, players can fight alien creatures with a sprinkle of role-playing to spice things up. It’s derivative yet effective.
What could really make Badfly an interesting choice for Duke Nukem is their success with virtual reality. Gamers generally praised Dead Effect 2 VR as one of the better applications of such tech. The fact that they accomplished this with an FPS without sacrificing the fast pace and responsive controls speaks volumes about their comfort with the format. How many fans would like to take that next step into the shoes of Duke?
7 Ubisoft Montreal
The Far Cry franchise is a storied one. By now, the folks at Ubisoft Montreal have nailed down the first-person shooting, role-playing, exploration, and melodrama that fans expect from the series. One game that exceeded those expectations, however, wasn’t even a mainline entry, but rather a standalone offshoot of Far Cry 3 known as Blood Dragon.
This bit of DLC surpassed not only its parent game, but thoroughly destroyed the whole series through sheer style. It’s a glorious throwback to cheesy action flicks of old, hilariously thumbing its nose at modern conventions and having a grand old time doing it. The title has all the grace of a AAA FPS while indulging in the muscle-bound shoot-em-ups and techno fever dreams that make up the best popcorn escapism in the ’80s and ’90s, making them a perfect fit for Duke Nukem. Give these developers a break from their self-serious franchises and let them cut loose again.
6 CD Projekt Red
Yeah, they’re under a fire nowadays for legitimate reasons, but let’s not forget that CD Projekt Red are responsible for the Witcher trilogy, three of the most highly acclaimed action RPGs in recent memory.
They’ve shown themselves to have immense attention to detail when it comes to world-building, and they generally balance this with exhilarating combat that intuitively utilizes the abilities learned thus far. They even showcase this in Cyberpunk 2077, which has been hailed as an immersive romp through an ’80s-style future when it actually works. Imagine some of that depth applied to a similarly retro setting in Duke Nukem.
5 Santa Monica Studio
When someone mentions this studio, you think of the long-running God of War series. This might make it confusing choice since these are hack-and-slash titles. However, they are no less the power fantasy that gamers want.
Prior to the 2018 reboot, Kratos was a brutal, uncompromising killing machine who mows down anyone and anything in his way. What’s more is the gameplay was slick enough that each victory felt earned and invigorating. You won because you’re the best warrior around. That is the feeling people want from Duke Nukem.
4 Insomniac Games
Among the most recognized elements of Duke Nukem is the comedy, and Insomniac has made that a huge part of their repertoire. Although they developed Spyro the Dragon, Resistance, and 2018’s Spider-Man, their most prominent icon is Ratchet & Clank.
This action platformer series places much of its identity in satire, poking fun at rampant consumerism while most space epics focus on noble heroes and culture clashes. Even funnier is when it juxtaposes this with the most comically oversized weapons the little lombax can carry. It’s essentially a cartoon. So is Duke Nukem, though, and it’s no less destructive. If the developers do make their mark on the big lug, they’d better aim for the biting digs of old and ditch the goodie-goodie blandness of the 2016 remake.
3 Toys For Bob
This will definitely sound odd. This studio’s biggest claim to fame is remaking cartoonish mascot platformers. What could they possibly bring to the adult-oriented Duke Nukem?
Well, a few minutes of playing the Spyro Reignited Trilogy and Crash Bandicoot 4 reveals their exceptional ability to tighten and even improve the established gameplay while maintaining what made it great in the first place. However, it’s not just about functionality. The infectiously charming designs and expressive animations breathe new life into the old aesthetics and make these some of the most visually appealing games on the market. Considering how flat and generic Duke Nukem Forever was, the franchise could use a good kick in the looks.
2 Avalanche Studios
These guys are mainly known for the Just Cause series. That alone tells you they have a penchant for crazy popcorn action. In these open-world romps, players can wreak all sorts of havoc with the wide selection of weapons, vehicles, and daredevil.
They proved equally comfortable with other licensed work when they handled the criminally overlooked Mad Max game. Here, they applied their engine and gift for carnage to an exquisite recreation of the films’ iconic Wasteland. Applying those explosive sensibilities to Duke Nukem can only lead to good things.
1 The Coalition
It’s always uncertain when a new developer takes over an established series. Luckily, The Coalition’s work on the fourth and fifth Gears of War games put many doubts to rest, with the polished gameplay making them some of the best third-person shooters on the Xbox One.
Gears 5, in particular, reinvigorated a series many thought was losing steam. A lot of that comes down to the blood-pumping “Oorah” atmosphere permeating the whole piece. It succeeds in much the same way as Blood Dragon, possessing an infectiously enthusiastic devil-may-care attitude sadly missing from most modern action games. Duke Nukem needs developers who can not only tap into that mindset of yesteryear, but also talented enough to bring it to today.
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