WithCall of Dutyhaving a few decades of history under its belt, it is no surprise that the franchise has offered a wide variety of game modes over the years. Multiplayer classics like Search and Destroy and Domination are often accompanied by new modes, some of which have a bright future likeModern Warfare 2’s Gunfight. Co-op modes have ranged from Treyarch’s beloved Zombies mode to the underrated Extinction, though it is an offshoot of Zombies that more franchises should take inspiration of.
Dead Ops Arcade has had three different iterations over the course of theBlack Opsfranchise, releasing inBlack Ops,Black Ops 3, andBlack Ops Cold War. Alongside some variation of the Cosmic Silverback serving as the final boss, Dead Ops offers players a top-down version of the survival mode they know and love. Filled with all kinds of weapon and enemy types fromCall of DutyZombies as well as new concepts inspired by old school arcade games, there is a lot to love about Dead Ops. Given how deep some other game franchises are, it would be possible for them to replicate Treyarch’s success with a Dead Ops-like spin-off of their own.
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When looking at video game properties with enough lore and enemy variety to support a Dead Ops Arcade-style game,theResident Evilfranchiseimmediately comes to mind. Strong enemy types like Lickers could be introduced into the mix from time to time, though the primary enemy types could be zombies just like with theCall of Dutyfranchise. For final bosses, anything from Wesker to Nemesis could be used, while players could take control of Chris, Claire, Leon, and Jill instead of generic soldiers like Dead Ops.
Looking to other first-person shooters likeCall of Duty, players will find a number of viable options. One great choice would beDestiny, as players could experience a top-down version of the Battle of Twilight Gap, taking control of Lord Shaxx and other guardians that helped repel the Fallen assault. This key lore event was perfect for a round-based style given how long it took, and players could use super abilities in place of the bombs fromDead Ops Arcade. By leaning into all the enemy variety provided by the Fallen, this spin-off could be expansive, and it would only get bigger ifDestiny’s other enemy factions were used.
Continuing on from one looter shooter to the next, theBorderlandsfranchise is a property that could thrive with a top-down spin-off. Gearbox has already explored alternative types ofBorderlandsgames throughtheTales from the Borderlandsseries, so perhaps it would be willing to go all-in on this idea to incorporate the series’ ironic loot system. Either way, the four player co-op style shared betweenBorderlandsand Dead Ops makes it a perfect fit. Gamers could control a past team of Vault Hunters or a group like the B-team, battling everything from Hyperion Loaders to Psychos and Skags.
The list goes on and on, withOverwatch 2being another option due to its many heroes and the variety ofOmnicsthat will feature in the upcoming PvE campaign. However, PlayStation and Xbox could also lean into the idea, as their exclusives could translate well into the Dead Ops style. On the Xbox front,HaloandGears of Warimmediately come to mind, with players battling the Flood as Spartans or the Locust as COG soldiers. On the PlayStation side, Sony could reviveResistanceorKillzonein the Dead Ops style, or even try aRatchet and Clankgame with that format.
Before it moved on to the fast-pacedPlayStation exclusiveReturnal, Housemarque was the king of top-down shooters, proving that there is a market for that kind of game. While the audience would undoubtedly be smaller than what is seen with the mainline releases of all the aforementioned franchises, and a lower price point would be needed given the nature of these spin-offs, there is a lot of potential for more Dead Ops-like experiences within the video game industry.
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