There are a lot of video games out there and in this era of mobile and home-based gaming, the choices have never been greater. So how do you cut through the noise and find the “Best of” for any chosen topic?
Well, we’re here to help celebrate and shine a spotlight on some of the latest, greatest and unforgettable games through the years.
For our ongoing series of articles depicting the best video games, our attention this time turns to games developed for the Marvel Universe. From the action-packed 2D fighter Marvel Vs Capcom to the explorative journeys you’d find in Marvel’s Spider-Man and Guardians of the Galaxy, there’s enough here to satisfy you.
Of course, if we’ve missed any of your favorites, feel free to comment below and we’ll get them added on!
Marvel Ultimate Alliance (Series)
Marvel Ultimate Alliance is a fun action RPG featuring many iconic Marvel characters. From Spider-Man to Wolverine, there are a lot of heroes to choose from and pair up with. Each entry boasts incredible gameplay, decent visuals, and entertaining storylines. The games themselves aren’t complex but offer enough content to keep fans hooked.
That said, Ultimate Alliance’s gameplay allows fans to pair up their favorite superheroes to fight the villains scattered across each map. Each hero boasts an incredible move set tailored toward their character. For example, Spider-Man can unleash his webs on foes while Wolverine specializes in using his iconic metal claws to swipe at foes.
These games have fun missions and alternative endings. Players can obtain them by completing many optional missions scattered throughout it. Those looking for fun customization options, need not worry. Ultimate Alliance gives each hero a few alternative costumes to help make your experience with the game feel more personalized. Check the series out if you’re curious.
Marvel’s Spider-Man + Miles Morales
Marvel’s Spider-Man by Insomniac Games was a breath of fresh air. This title had a compelling plot, engaging gameplay, and a beautiful iteration of New York City to swing through and explore. Eventually, Insomniac Games delivered a new Spider-Man game for players to seek their teeth into. Marvel’s Spider-Man + Miles Morales is like the first game but follows Miles Morales instead of Peter.
As one can tell, this game boasts an incredible story around Miles’s character and offers a slew of villains for him to defeat. However, fans shouldn’t expect this title to reinvent the wheel. This is another fun Spider-Man title that utilizes what worked with the previous game but gives it a new coat of paint. Peter isn’t absent from Miles’s story as he serves as his teacher in a sense.
Nevertheless, fans shouldn’t underestimate his protege as his story has enough depth and emotional build-up to warrant your time. Expect similar gameplay mechanics like quick-time events and fun web-slinger combat. This title boasts visuals on par with Marvel’s Spider-Man and will surely make your jaw drop.
If you’ve finished Marvel’s Spider-Man and want something to hold you off until Insomniac Games’ next Marvel-themed games drop, give this one a shot.
X-Men Origins: Wolverine
Occasionally, video games based on movies felt like cheap cash grabs. These games would run poorly, contain lackluster gameplay, or would look visually uninteresting. Fortunately, Activision aimed to follow in the footsteps of Spider-Man 2 and delivered an epic game that far exceeds the movie it was adapting.
Enter X-Men Origins: Wolverine, a game that boasts brutality, better movie tie-ins, and some fun puzzle-solving elements. In it, players control Wolverine and watch his story unfold like in the 2009 film. Only this time, his world feels more expansive and immersive. Players will traverse multiple locales harboring enemies aiming to hurt them. Some offer challenging puzzles too.
The bosses in the game feel worthy of your time. The game doesn’t introduce these characters well, but their fights are thrilling enough to hold your attention. The game’s combat has you slicing your way through enemies via light and heavy attacks and combos. There’s even an RPG-like system where you can unlock new moves and combos for Wolverine to use. If you weren’t a fan of the 2009 film, this game will please you.
Marvel Vs Capcom (Series)
Capcom is known for releasing many memorable colorful titles under its belt. While they’ve delved into the horror and adventure genres before, many gaming fanatics recognize the company for their exhilarating fighting games. One day, Capcom questioned the possibility of having their beloved characters fight the heroes and villains of the Marvel universe.
Ultimately, it led to an intriguing crossover game that fans can’t get enough of. Enter Marvel Vs Capcom, a team-based fighting game featuring an assortment of characters from Capcom and Marvel’s universes. From Street Fighter’s Ryu to Marvel’s Iron Man, there’s a slew of warriors worth choosing from in this technical fighter.
Future games introduced more characters, modes, and visual enhancements. Every game besides Marvel Vs Capcom: Infinite offers an enjoyable storyline, well-paced action, and extraordinary scenery and music. The series’s second title Marvel Vs Capcom 2 is regarded as one of its best entries by the fighting game community. Here’s hoping the series can come back strong.
The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction
When it comes to superheroes who love to leave a trail of destruction, none compare to the fearsome might of The Incredible Hulk. This muscular superhero has destroyed multiple structures, fought menacingly over-powered enemies, and formed strong relationships with superheroes and mundane civilians alike as his human alter ego, Bruce Banner.
While The Incredible Hulk has dipped his toes in the gaming sphere before, many cite The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction (Ultimate Destruction) as his best. Developed by Radical Entertainment, this game has players control the Incredible Hulk and allows him to explore multiple cities and natural environments to destroy.
This game’s story involves The Hulk getting influenced by Bruce Banner and his psychotherapist Leonard Samson to assemble a device to mend Bruce’s psyche and prevent his darker instincts from emerging. There are multiple side missions to complete and the game offers some customizable attire for players to unlock for The Hulk.
With stellar combat, exhilarating boss fights, and fun mission variety, this is a fun game that’ll get your heart pumping.
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy
Superhero games can be hit or miss sometimes. While developers can churn out epic titles like Marvel’s Spider-Man or Batman: Arkham Asylum, others can release lackluster titles like Gotham Knights or Superman 64. Despite fans having their doubts about Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, their worries would be put to rest when it was released.
This game was published by Square Enix and developed by Eidos-Montreal. Although Square’s previous outing with superhero games didn’t bode well, Eidos helped them get their act together with Guardians of the Galaxy. For one, this game lacks microtransactions, which is good for those who don’t want to spend extra money.
Furthermore, it’s a story-driven single-player adventure title that’ll last you about 18 hours. Everyone from Peter to Groot is present in this game and they all receive excellent depth and screentime to warrant your attachment. Rocket and Drax may surprise people with their heartfelt story beats.
The gameplay is standard at best. It offers many run and gun scenes, platforming segments, puzzles, and occasional boss fights. These all factor in well, giving players much to look forward to with the game. If you’re on the hunt for a fun title with enough action and explorative components to keep you busy, give this one a shot.
Spider-Man 2
As stated earlier, X-Men Origins: Wolverine was a surprise for many gaming fanatics. However, that title owes a lot to Treyarch’s Spider-Man 2. This game changed fans’ perceptions of movie tie-in games with its excellent gameplay and astounding retelling of Sam Raimi’s 2004 Spider-Man sequel film.
While the game’s hype has dwindled with the release of Insomniac Games’ Spider-Man title, many people love to revisit the game that gave them faith in movie-themed video games. Alongside excellent combat, this title boasts decent graphics and fun missions. This one doesn’t feel like a one-to-one adaptation of Raimi’s film, though.
There are many villains and missions scattered about that don’t correlate with the movie’s content. For instance, there will be missions where you must fight Spider-Man’s fishbowl nemesis Mysterio and others where Spider-Man must deliver numerous pizzas to fulfill his boss’s demands. It’s these small touches that help Spider-Man 2 feel refreshing.
X-Men: Children of the Atom
X-Men: Children of the Atom feels like an ancient predecessor of Marvel Vs Capcom. This game gives you the opportunity to control many iconic characters from X-Men’s catalog. The gameplay shares ground with Capcom’s other fighting titles like Darkstalkers and Super Street Fighter II Turbo. If you’re not a fan of combos and technical fighters, you may not enjoy this game.
This game includes many ground and air-based combos for players to master. It also features a function that allows players to perform tactical maneuvers like rolling. This game features multi-tiered fighting stages. For example, some stages can crumble, causing characters to fall to their lowest levels.
If you’re looking for the game that aided Capcom in creating one of its best 2D fighting games of all time, I’d recommend checking out X-Men: Children of the Atom.
Marvel Super Heroes
This is another fighting game from the distant past developed by Capcom. This game made its debut in 1995 on the CPS-2 arcade system and was eventually ported to consoles like the Sega Saturn and PlayStation in 1997. This game predates Marvel Vs Capcom: Infinite and the Infinity Saga for the Marvel Cinematic Universe by including an intriguing retelling of The Infinity Gauntlet storyline.
Nonetheless, this is a fighting game at heart. This is a game where you can have certain villains and heroes from the Marvel Universe clashing with each other. Marvel Super Heroes follows your typical competitive fighter format. You and your opponent receive a health bar and you’re tasked with depleting or knocking out your foe before time runs out.
This game includes a fabulous super meter that allows players to perform powerful Infinity Combo attacks. Players obtain ways to utilize the well-known Infinity Stones by completing the game’s arcade mode or fulfilling specific criteria during versus mode. Fighters can receive enhanced effects to their attacks for a set time. This makes for some interesting matches on a visual and technical level.
If you were disappointed with Marvel Vs Capcom: Infinite, check out Marvel Super Heroes.
Lego Marvel Super Heroes
Like all media properties, it made sense for the LEGO brand to hop aboard the Marvel hype train. Lego Marvel Super Heroes boasts a finely-written storyline that has players controlling iconic Marvel characters from Wolverine to Captain America. You’re tasked with stopping Loki and other Marvel Villains from forming a weapon that can destroy the world.
Like the Infinity Stones, players must track Cosmic Bricks during their journey. The roster rise is incredibly large. You can choose from over 100 characters to play as. This is a great way to introduce fans to characters who have yet to appear in the films. Each one spans fun personalities and abilities for players to use.
The character customization system in Lego Marvel Super Heroes is equally impressive too. If you’re looking for a fun LEGO game based on Marvel, I’d recommend checking out Lego Marvel Super Heroes.
So, there we have it, our pick for the best Marvel-themed video games through the years!
What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!