Best Spider-Man Games of All Time, Ranked
Spider-Man is one of the most beloved superheroes of all time, having made appearances in various entertainment media. This includes cartoons, TV shows, blockbuster films, and numerous video games. From classic Atari titles to modern masterpieces, Spider-Man’s gaming journey has had its ups and downs. Among the best Spider-Man games ever made, Insomniac’s Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 stands at the pinnacle. Building upon its predecessors, Spider-Man 2 offers a larger world, the ability to play as both Peter and Miles, an engaging story, thrilling villains, and impeccable swinging mechanics. It’s an incredible experience that takes full advantage of the PlayStation 5, ensuring its place as the ultimate Spider-Man game for years to come.
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Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (Insomniac)
Insomniac’s Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is hands down the ultimate Spider-Man game for gaming enthusiasts. It builds upon the success of its predecessors and delivers on all fronts. The game offers the opportunity to play as both Peter and Miles whenever you please, with a captivating storyline that further develops their relationship. Additionally, there are new and formidable villains, an expansive world to explore, and innovative gliding mechanics for traversing through the city. The swinging mechanics, a crucial component of any Spider-Man game, are executed flawlessly. Moreover, the game takes full advantage of the PlayStation 5, resulting in an incredible gaming experience. From start to finish, this is the definitive Spider-Man experience that you won’t want to miss out on.
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Spider-Man: Miles Morales
No, we’re not simply going in reverse chronological order. Spider-Man: Miles Morales, the previous game from Insomniac, just so happens to be the next best gaming experience you can get in a new Spider-suit. Yes, it heavily builds upon the first Spider-Man game from this studio, but it goes even further to claim the top spot in our ranking. Miles is an incredible protagonist with a captivating story that we find more interesting and unique compared to Peter’s. The location, although still the same city, feels immersive and refreshing thanks to the winter setting. The more concise narrative maintains focus, avoiding any unnecessary tasks that would diminish the overall experience.
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Marvel’s Spider-Man (Insomniac)
Insomniac’s first attempt at bringing Spider-Man to consoles was a resounding success in the gaming world. It provided an unparalleled swinging experience, with the most immersive city design yet. Instead of revisiting Spider-Man’s origins, the game dove right into Peter’s career. The storyline was a captivating twist that stayed true to the universe, offering satisfying payoffs and emotional moments that the sequels built upon. The only minor setbacks were a few peculiar puzzles and slower segments playing as other non-superpowered characters.
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Spider-Man 2 (film adaptation)
The PS2’s Spider-Man 2, not to be confused with Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, may not be the ultimate game for the web-slinger overall. However, it is undoubtedly the best among his titles based on a film. Although some mechanics may seem simplistic and outdated by today’s standards, the swinging mechanics implemented in this game set a benchmark for all future games. It goes without saying that no other game was able to surpass it until Insomniac took on the challenge. Nowadays, the open world may feel somewhat lacking, and the missions repetitive and monotonous, but it boasts a compelling story, enjoyable combat, and thrilling boss battles.
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Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions
Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions introduced four unique versions of our friendly neighborhood hero, each with their own distinct stages and playstyles, providing an exciting variety throughout the adventure. The classic Spider-Man, Noir, 2099, and Ultimate Spider-Man team up (but separately) to save their realities. However, the game’s linear design and lack of open environments limited the exploration and swinging experience.
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Ultimate Spider-Man
Ultimate Spider-Man attempted to deviate from the trend of hyper-realistic graphics in favor of a more authentic look inspired by the character’s graphic novel origins. The cel-shaded art style aligned perfectly with the hero’s roots and effectively maintained a focused approach. While the open world lacked excitement for exploration, it offered basic collectibles, races, and tokens as side activities. However, the game redeemed itself with a separate and captivating storyline where players had the opportunity to experience both sides of the conflict, which was a unique feature at the time.
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Spider-Man and Venom: Maximum Carnage
For our final pick, we’re going old school. We were thrilled to have a playable Venom in Spider-Man and Venom: Maximum Carnage. The introduction of Carnage as a formidable villain forced archrivals Spider-Man and Venom to team up for the takedown. The decision to make this a brawler, considering the console limitations at the time, was ingenious. It allowed the team to showcase the most enjoyable combat mechanics for both characters. The game also featured appearances from other iconic heroes like Captain America, Iron Fist, and even Morbius. Visually appealing, great-sounding, and highly engaging, this beat ’em up still holds up well. However, it might lack replay value after completing it with each character.
No matter which of these amazing Spider-Man games you choose to play, each delivers a unique experience that captures the essence of our beloved web-slinging superhero. Swing into action and enjoy the best Spidey games ever created!