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Being one of the most recognizable comic book heroes of all time, Spider-Man tends to dominate any field he’s a part of. Whether it’s movies, animations, or merchandise, Spider-Man’s popularity is apparent to anyone, even those outside of geek culture. This also includes the field of video games, where Spider-Man has been featured since the days of the Atari. Spider-Man 2, the newest game starring the web-slinging hero, is taking the world by storm. To celebrate this massive new release of Spider-Man 2, here are some of the best Spider-Man games of all time.
10. Spider-Man: Web of Shadows
First up, we have Spider-Man: Web of Shadows, a very interesting entry in the Spider-Man series. This game included drastically different versions depending on the console. The standard release for the PS3, Wii, and Xbox 360 played like a fun and traditional web-slinging adventure. Though it had some problems in the storytelling, graphics, and controls departments, this game is still fondly remembered by myself and many others.
9. Ultimate Spider-Man
Next, we have Ultimate Spider-Man, which was released on many consoles in a fashion similar to Web of Shadows. Though this entry is far from the best of the Spider-Man games, it included some fun mechanics, like the ability to play as Venom. The game suffered from a few problems, like a lack of variety, though overall, this game is still a blast to play.
8. Spider-Man 2: Enter Electro
Moving back in time to the era of the PS1, we have Spider-Man 2: Enter Electro. Though this entry is often overshadowed by its more popular predecessor, Spider-Man (2000), it still holds its own as one of the best Spider-Man games. The main selling point, besides being more of the same web-slinging fun that started with the original, this entry also features Electro as the main bad guy. If you’re a fan of the character, this game is worth checking out.
7. Spider-Man: The Video Game
Returning to the arcades, we have the classic cabinet, Spider-Man: The Video Game. Though this arcade game doesn’t feature the same open-world exploration that many of the other Spider-Man entries are best known for, it still features extremely fun and addictive gameplay. Functioning as a classic beat-’em-up, playing Spider-Man: The Video Game is a great experience for fans of the character and the genre.
6. Spider-Man and Venom: Maximum Carnage
Taking the beat ’em up genre to consoles, we have Spider-Man and Venom: Maximum Carnage for the SNES. Though, once again, modern players may miss the new style of the best modern Spider-Man games, this entry is one of the best retro beat-’em-ups to try out. Plus, this game includes a ton of recognizable Marvel characters and is sure to appeal to comic book fans.
5. Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions
Pushing back to the modern era, we have Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions. Nowadays, the Spider-Man multiverse is taking the world by storm with the success of the animated Spider-Verse franchise. However, these movies weren’t the first to bring the Spider-Verse to another medium besides comic books. This game features recognizable characters like Spider-Man Noir and Spider-Man 2099. It’s an experience that is a joy to play with humor and fun gameplay.
4. Spider-Man (2000)
Though it came out on the PS1, Spider-Man (2000) is still one of the best Spider-Man games to date. This entry introduced the web-slinging, wall-crawling 3D gameplay formula that even the newest release, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, still uses. Players mainly try to traverse obstacles and complete missions in order to progress through a simple yet charming story.
3. Spider-Man 2 (2004)
Being based on the original Sam Reimi fans, Spider-Man 2 (2004) is arguably the best entry before the release of Marvel’s Spider-Man. While Spider-Man (2000) set the 3D web-slinging precedent of the games, Spider-Man 2 (2004) perfected this gameplay with an addictive open-world design. Overall, this entry is a bit campy but a lot of fun for fans of the original movie trilogy.
2. Spider-Man: Miles Morales
For the last two entries, we finally have the emergence of the newest franchise, Marvel’s Spider-Man. Miles Morales is an excellent gaming experience with a fantastic story, beautiful graphics, and addictive gameplay. This entry and its predecessor are the closest things we have to simulating a true Spider-Man experience. Although this game is pretty much equal to the next entry on the list, it’s sadly a bit on the smaller side.
1. Marvel’s Spider-Man
Although this shouldn’t be a surprise, Marvel’s Spider-Man is the best Spider-Man game to ever release. As far as gameplay goes, Marvel’s Spider-Man has nearly perfected both web-swinging and combat. Additionally, though most of the other entries on this list have passable stories, Marvel’s Spider-Man has a very engaging narrative that is arguably the best of the franchise. Overall, Marvel’s Spider-Man has not only set the precedent for Spider-Man games but for superhero games in general.
By looking at each of these amazing entries, you can easily what makes a Spider-Man game special. The strongest games always feature the freedom and charm that makes Spider-Man so popular in the first place. To me, these feelings are hard to replicate in any other franchise. Personally, Spider-Man 2 (2004) will always be the quintessential Spider-Man experience and one of my favorite games of all time.
