Heroes faster than a speeding bullet and more powerful than a locomotive have been dominating Hollywood for more than a decade now, but how do the cape and cowl crowd fare when it comes to video games? What are the best superhero games ever made?
Superheroes have been a mainstay of the videogame world since Superman first took to the skies on the Atari 2600 back in 1979, but we’ve come a long way from pixelated stick figures flying over grey blocks (although we’ve still not made a truly great solo Superman game yet). These days, superhero games offer complex stories and engaging gameplay across all sorts of genres.
So, to celebrate the release of Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League, we’ve been through our collection and worked out what we think are the best superhero games ever made; from fantastic fighting games to riveting RPGs, we’ve tried to include a little bit of everything on our list.
18. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (2023)
While the prequel was already a hit, Insomniac took things a step further with the launch of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. It carried over all the basic gameplay elements from the first game and enhanced them with new features for both Peter Parker and Miles Morales.
Marvel’s Spider-Man was challenging enough with the Sinister Six. However, the sequel took a grittier turn with Kraven the Hunter and Venom, the main antagonists of the story. Each of the Spider-Men portrayed their parts brilliantly, and it was brilliant to see their already strong bond get even stronger over the course of the game.
17. Justice League Heroes (2006)
Justice League Heroes puts you in some of DC’s most famous superheroes as they try to take down the devious Brainiac. A fun, if somewhat simplistic, multiplayer action game, Justice League Heroes didn’t exactly impress critics on its release who couldn’t help but compare it to the admittedly superior Marvel Ultimate Alliance. With that in mind, though, its brilliant story, written by the one and only Dwayne McDuffie, makes this a game well worth picking up.
16. Marvel Ultimate Alliance (2006)
Similar to the X-Men Legends games, Marvel Ultimate Alliance allows you to assemble your own team of Avengers (and plenty of other Marvel characters) in the hopes of stopping Doctor Doom from taking over the world. While it doesn’t exactly reinvent the wheel in terms of its gameplay — if you’ve played the Legends games, you’ll know exactly what to expect — it’s great fun to play as your favorite Marvel character and punch baddies. But how do we know your favorite superhero is in the game? Well, that’s because Marvel Ultimate Alliance boasts one of the most impressive character rosters in the history of superhero games. Seriously, they’ve got everyone from Black Panther to Wolverine.
15. Punisher (2005)
An adult and unflinching adaptation of the Punisher movie, this game is a grisly and gory treat for those who like their superheroes with a bit of edge. Everything about the Punisher is over the top and drenched in blood, from the quick kills to the violent executions you can pull off. Arguably, though, what makes this game stand out are the brutal interrogation scenes where you torture criminals for information. While the graphics are slightly dated by today’s standards, these scenes are genuinely still stomach-churning so if you do play, maybe bring a sick bag.
14. Gotham Knights (2022)
After the death of Batman, the responsibility to keep Gotham safe falls on the shoulders of the Dark Knight’s sidekicks. Gotham Knights takes a different route from the rest of the Arkham games, bringing in co-op so multiple players can face the different challenges together. There are four playable characters, Nightwing, Robin, Red Hood, and Batgir, and each of them has their own unique set of abilities, which mixes us the gameplay in new and interesting ways. Basically, if you are a fan of the extended Bat Family, this is a must-play game.
13. Batman: Arkham Knight (2015)
Batman: Arkham Knight is the direct sequel to Arkham City and refines the gameplay experience of that already excellent game. The main objective is to take down the mysterious Arkham Knight, and nothing comes close to the game’s action sequences and thrill set in the Dark Knight’s abode.
Arkham Knight is the only game in the Batman: Arkham trilogy where you can ride the Batmobile. Although it’s not as smooth as how fans expected it to be, riding the vehicle alone makes it worth playing.
12. Marvel Snap (2022)
Unlike other games from this list, Marvel Snap relies on having the right cards at your disposal to defeat your opponents. Some of the best things about this game are that it’s completely free to play, is supported on multiple platforms, including mobile, and boasts a huge collection of superheroes from the entire Marvel comic universe.
You can make strategies however you feel like from the card collection, and from over 300 cards to choose from, the possibilities are endless. Although it’s different from other titles on this list, it’s seriously good fun. Be warned though, it’s a little bit addictivce.
11. Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales (2020)
Peter Parker might be the OG Spider-Man, but Miles Morales makes for a more interesting masked vigilante, thanks to his special abilities and powers. The game begins with Peter Parker going on a vacation in this game, and it’s all up to Miles to save the city from the enemies. Along the way, he’ll unlock new powers, including invisibility and electrical blasts. While these new powers help separate Miles’s spin-off from the first game, what makes this such a brilliant entry in Insmoniac’s Spidey catalog is its moving story and well-developed characters. Plus, it’s nice to swing around New York at Christmas. We just wish it was a bit longer.
10. X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse (2005_
A love letter to Marvel’s X-Men comics, Rise of Apocalypse is a brilliant action RPG that allows you to assemble your own team of heroes and villains. While the gameplay isn’t revolutionary – you just run around beating up bad guys and solving simple puzzles – there’s a lot of fun to be had mixing teams of good and evil mutants and combining their powers. Ever wondered what would happen if Toad and Storm combined their unique gifts? Well, Rise of Apocalypse lets you find out.
The RPG elements and character customization options also lend some depth to the gameplay. Although what really brought Rise of Apocalypse to life was its co-op. Its simple gameplay and familiar characters made it a fantastically easy game to pick up and play without giving the new player a PowerPoint presentation. Our only gripe? It set up a sequel, with the underrated X-Men villain Mister Sinister as the main bad guy, which never materialized.
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9. The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction (2005)
Ultimate Destruction does exactly what a good Hulk game should. It lets you smash whatever you want. OK, that’s a little bit simplistic, but the sheer carnage you can cause as the not-so-jolly green giant tears through an unnamed city is a large part of what makes this excellent action-adventure game so satisfying to play. It’s not all wanton destruction either; there are some awe-inspiring boss battles, most notably the suitably epic battle against Thunderbolt Ross’s Hulkbusters and the surreal trip into Hulk’s own psyche where you take on the Devil Hulk. Mechanically, the game is pretty solid, and the controls are simple enough to master; it’s just a shame the camera can be as uncontrollable as the Incredible Hulk himself.
8. Injustice 2 (2017)
The original Injustice game allowed a generation of superhero fans to finally settle one of the oldest schoolyard arguments, ‘Who would win if Superman and Batman fought?’ That said, Injustice 2 is a marked improvement on its predecessor in every way that matters. On the more technical side, its character models are more polished, the gameplay is smoother, and the new fighting mechanics allow for a greater degree of strategy in individual bouts.
Its story may lack the stripped-back simplicity of Gods Among Us, but the decision to bring in a greater threat, in the form of Brainiac, was inspired and feels wonderfully in keeping with the game’s pulpy comic book tone. The addition of character customization was also a nice touch, although whoever added loot crates – sorry, we mean Mother Boxes – deserves sending to the Phantom Zone.
7. LEGO Marvel Super Heroes (2013)
A delightful throwback to a time when comic books were a bit less grim and gritty, Lego Marvel Super Heroes is an absolute joy to play. Its plot is clearly influenced by the Marvel comics of yesteryear and lovingly lampoons the inherent silliness of superhero stories while referencing more modern stories from the MCU. The best thing about LEGO Marvel Super Heroes is its exceptionally strong character roster.
The game lets you play as 180 different heroes and villains from across Marvel’s history – from obscure villains like Wizard and Beetle to famous heroes like Iron Man and Hulk; no one’s left out of the game. While the actual gameplay isn’t too different from other LEGO games, the Marvel Super Heroes’ good humor will give even the most miserable Marvel fan something to smile about. Here’s a fun bonus fact: This is probably the best Fantastic Four game ever made.
6. Infamous 2 (2011)
Continuing the story of Cole MacGrath and his battle against the looming threat of the mysterious Beast, Infamous 2 was an exciting action-adventure game and a marked improvement on its predecessor. The combat was better, Cole’s parkour improved, and the morality system (and, more importantly, the powers that came with it) better balanced. Perhaps, though, the most underrated improvement was to the open world. The first game was set in a lifeless New York clone called Empire City while the city took the action to New Marais, a city that offered a livelier environment for our electric hero to explore. Our only problem? We miss Cole’s yellow jacket.
5. Prototype (2009)
We don’t know if Prototype meets the strict definition of a superhero game, but we know we had a lot of fun with it. The game puts you in the shoes of Alex Mercer, an amnesiac scientist who’s granted incredible shapeshifting abilities by a terrifying virus causing chaos in New York City. Your mission is to regain your memories and kill everything that gets in your way be they mutants, soldiers, or unfortunate pedestrians.
While Prototype boasts an impressively dark and mature storyline, what really sets it apart from other games in the superhero genre is Alex’s gruesome power set. It’s like playing as a more handsome version of the alien from The Thing, and Alex’s wide array of abilities and the way they can be combined make playing as him really satisfying. That said, the game’s odd difficulty spikes and irritating controls make playing it a slightly uneven experience.
4. Marvel’s Midnight Suns (2022)
An ambitious roleplaying game from Firaxis Games, Marvel’s Midnight Suns is an underrated gem that allows players to make their own superheroes and put them at the heart of the Marvel Universe. Will that annoy canon purists? Yes. Is it great fun? Yes. In fact, I’d argue that designing your superhero, The Hunter, is one of the best parts of the game, and you can choose from plenty of cool powers.
What’s more, you can ally your hero with some of the biggest superheroes in the Marvel Universe and feel like a real Avenger. That said, while making a superhero game turn-based may have been innovative, it was a divisive choice for some who are used to battling enemies in real time, and I can see what that put off some players. Still, if you’re willing to get to grips with Midnight Suns’ deck-building mechanics, you’ll get a lot out of this fun supernatural romp.
3. Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy (2021)
A new spin on Marvel’s most dysfunctional superhero team, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, is an exciting and surprisingly moving game. The game’s greatest strength is its story and characters. All of the Guardians are incredibly likable and suitably irritating – as a result it’s impossible not to be charmed by their camaraderie and fire-forged friendship. As for the story, well, it might just be the most tightly plotted game ever made, deftly balancing outrageous humor with heartbreaking tenderness.
So why haven’t we ranked Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy higher? Well, while the gameplay is fun and the level design entertaining enough, it’s a bit basic. You just shoot your way through a pretty linear stage until you get to the next cutscene. Don’t get me wrong, it works, but it’s a shame that the developers couldn’t match the game’s mechanics to its plot.
2. Batman: Arkham City (2009)
The middle child in the Rocksteady Arkham trilogy, this is the Batman game that strikes the best balance between the Asylum’s tight, claustrophobic atmosphere and the ambition of Knight’s open world. Honestly, what’s not to love about Arkham City? Its refined combat and improved traversal allow the player to feel like they really are the Dark Knight (hopefully without the murdered parents), and its shocking story takes Bruce to places rarely explored in other Batman tales. Even now, we’re not over the Clayface reveal, or Joker’s ultimate fate and the game’s over a decade old at this point.
1. Marvel’s Spider-Man (2018)
The greatest Spider-Man game ever made, Insomniac did an impeccable job putting the player in the Wallcrawler’s blue and red onesie. In terms of gameplay, Spider-Man’s fluid controls make you feel like an experienced and powerful hero right from the start. Still, there’s enough complexity in the gadgets and combos to give the player a feel of progression as they level up and try to take on the Sinister Six.
Web-swinging often makes or breaks a Spider-Man game, and while it’s not as complex as previous games, the swinging of this game is elegant in its simplicity. As a result, you never feel like it’s your first day swinging, but if you want to invest the time, you can pull off some pretty impressive tricks. With all that in mind, though, the real strength of Spider-Man is its well-developed characters and compelling story, which allow the game to capture the difficulty Peter Parker has in balancing his superheroic duties and personal life.
