The fourth MCU Spider-Man movie,Spider-Man: Brand New Dayhas been releasing photos from its first day of filming, generating plenty of hype. The movie’s authentic suit seems to be straight from the comics, but games have had their fair share of accurate web-slingers as well. Some of the best Marvel games depict Spider-Man well, and might be worth exploring as you wait for the film’s release next year.
There are plenty of games that feature Spider-Man as a supporting character to a much larger cast, such as theLego Marvel Super Herotitles.Games likeMarvel Rivalsalso have Spider-Manas a selectable character from many, but others feature the wall-crawler as the main character.Solo Spider-Man adventures can be incredibly fun, and best reflect howBrand New Daywill adapt one of the hero’s many stories.
5Spider-Man (2000)
Fun-Filled Adventure Spotted With Marvel Cameos
One of the most overlooked Spider-Man games isSpider-Man (2000), which was originally released for the first PlayStation. Despite its age, this remains one of the best Spider-Man titles for how well represented the character is, alongside his rogue’s gallery.This title also features tons of cameos from other Marvel characters, including Captain America, Daredevil, and The Punisher.
The plot of this game revolves around a deadly miasma being released in New York, forcing Spider-Man to swing along rooftops to stop criminals and get to the bottom of the poisonous plot. You’ll fight many ofSpider-Man’s iconic villains, from Scorpion, Venom, Doctor Octopus, and the Rhino to name a few.This game is one of the first open-worlds for the wall-crawler, which would inspire others in the future.
Although this game does have very dated gameplay,each level offers unique environments to explore. With over-the-top boss fights and narration by Stan Lee himself, this game is something every true Spider-Man fan should try at least once.
4Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions
Four Different Versions Of The Wise-Cracking Web-head
Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensionswasone of the first pieces of Spider-Man media to truly dip into the character’s multiversal potential, long before theSpiderversemovies took people by storm. In this game, Mysterio’s illusions become reality as a powerful artifact grants the villain absurd magical strength, prompting Madame Web to recruit four unique Spider-Men to stop him.
You’ll travel to each of the dimensions affected by Mysterio’s magic, taking on the role of these four Spider-Man characters:
Each Spider-Man has unique gameplay elements, such as the combo heavy action from Spider-Man 2099 or the necessary stealth segments seen in Spider-Man Noir’s world. As you go from setting to setting,the artstyle, environments, enemies, and even bosses are all quite different depending on which Spider-Man you’re playing.
This game is great for fans of Spider-Man Noir, who is getting a live-action adaptation based on the character voiced by Nicholas Cage inSpider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Cage will also play the character in live-action within this show.
Thisgame also features a stellar cast of voice actors for each Spider-Man, including Neil Patrick Harris as the Amazing Spider-Man we’re used to the most. Ultimate Spider-Man is voiced by Josh Keaton, who voiced the character in theacclaimedSpectacular Spider-Manshow, while Spider-Man 2099 is brought to life by Christopher Daniel Barnes, who also has experience with the hero from theSpider-Man (1994)animated series.
3Spider-Man: Edge of Time
Compelling Story Set Across Two Eras
If you liked Spider-Man 2099 inShattered Dimensions,Spider-Man: Edge of Timeis another great game that features the character. Miguel O’Hara needs Peter Parker’s help to save his timeline from destruction, butonly by changing the past and future can both Spider-Men fight their way forwardfor a brighter tomorrow.
This action-adventure game sees both Spider-Man characters have unique playstyles, but with agreater emphasis on solving environmental puzzles than engaging in combat. The dual timelines directly affect one another, so your actions as Spider-Man in the past might directly allow Spider-Man 2099 to get past an obstacle in the distant future.
Above all, the best part aboutEdge of Timeis the compelling story, which has a variety of twists and turns for even long-time Spider-Man fans. The dynamic between both Spider-Man characters is palpable, with each being established as far different from one another.The clashes these two go through make their efforts together feel earnedfor a time-bending story you’ll be sure to remember.
2Ultimate Spider-Man
Venom And Spider-Man Take Their Battle Across New York
The Ultimate universe for Spider-Man can be quite divisive, but theUltimate Spider-Mangame offers an extremely fun world to explore within that setting.This game follows two stories between Peter Parker and Eddie Brock, the latter of whom suffers trying to control the ravenous man-made symbiote that turns him into the monstrous Venom.
Much likeSpider-Man (2000), there are plenty of cool Marvel cameos in this title. The most infamous cameo inUltimate Spider-Manis Wolverine, who appears as a special boss battle against Venom.
This game allows you to freely roam through Manhattan and Queens, giving you a large open-world to explore. When this game was released in 2005, this was practically unheard of beyond thepopularSpider-Man 2movie tie-in game.The action and adventure in this landscape gives you plenty to doas you pursue an evolving story between Venom and Spider-Man’s confrontations.
The most appealing part of this game comes from yourability to play as Venom and Spider-Man throughout different missions. The gameplay differences between the two characters are night and day, with Spider-Man’s acrobatics juxtaposed with Venom’s sheer strength and brutality. As both characters grow stronger, it leads to an inevitable clash in one of the best boss fights you’ll see in a Spider-Man game.
The artsyle inUltimate Spider-Manis also top-notch, with thecell-shaded aesthetic making the game look like it was ripped straight out of a comic book. The cutscenes almost always emulate a comic panel, making the game ooze a unique style as fluid as the symbiote Venom wields.
1Marvel’s Spider-Man
Everything A Friendly Neighborhood Hero Could Want
Marvel’s Spider-Manis, undoubtedly, the best Spider-Man game a fan could ask for,featuring everything lovable about the character in a massive open-world to explore. Created by the Insomniac developer team, this game features a huge world of New York to move through, featuring adaptive web-swinging that is incredibly fine-tuned to give travel a stylish, natural feel.
BothMarvel’s Spider-Man 2sequel and theSpider-Man: Miles Moralesspin-off are great games that follow-upMarvel’s Spider-Man, but the original is still one I hold to be the best among that group.
The environment and graphics of New York are stunning, making it one of the only games I would rather travel through slowly to capture the scenery instead of teleporting to my next destination. This iscomplimented by excellent gameplay, with free-flowing combat very similar to theBatman: Arkhamgames, with enough depth to get lost for hours.
Withmultiple collectibles able to unlock some of Spider-Man’s most iconic suits, you’ll be fighting and exploring the world’s every corner, unveiling hidden details and lore about the setting in the process. The game’s story takes place after Spider-Man has been an established hero for eight years, so there’s a lot of history you may learn about by simply investigating different regions.
The story ofMarvel’s Spider-Manis also stellar, showing the arrest of the Kingpin, the rise of Mr. Negative, and Spider-Man’s eventual encounter with the Sinister Six. With Mr. Negative rumored to be the main villain ofSpider-Man: Brand New Day, this game is a must-play for those who are highly anticipating the MCU movie’s release in 2026.
