Marvel Games is the video game publishing and licensing brand for games based on Marvel properties. It is the video game division of Disney Interactive, which manages the development and publishing of games starring Marvel characters.
Marvel Games has grown to encompass a large variety of titles across numerous platforms, ranging from early arcade titles to current console and mobile games. This expansive library consists of games based on well-known franchises such as the Avengers, Spider-Man, X-Men, and others.
Early Marvel video games featured titles such as Spider-Man & Venom: Maximum Carnage (1994) and X-Men: Children of the Atom (1994). These were side-scrolling beat ’em ups and arcade fighters, respectively, and made the way for what was to come in terms of Marvel gaming.
Another popular classic is Marvel Super Heroes (1995), which included a cast of Marvel characters in the form of a fighting game. The Marvel vs. Capcom series, beginning with X-Men vs. Street Fighter (1996), further solidified Marvel’s influence in the gaming universe by bringing Marvel characters together with Capcom’s legendary fighters.
Over the past few years, Marvel Games has experienced great leaps with the introduction of more advanced and engaging titles.
Marvel’s Avengers (2020) by Crystal Dynamics united a diverse lineup of Avengers in a cooperative action-adventure title. Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales (2020) and Marvel’s Spider-Man (2018) have been well-received for their storytelling and gameplay.
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy (2021) developed by Eidos-Montréal provided a story-centric experience based on the Guardians of the Galaxy squad.
Marvel has also ventured into crossover games and mobile platforms. Games such as Marvel Duel (2020) and Marvel Future Revolution (2021) are just a few of the many mobile games featuring diverse Marvel characters with strategic and action-oriented gameplay.
The Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics (2024) is a collection of classic arcade games such as X-Men vs. Street Fighter and Marvel vs. Capcom 2, presenting an old-school experience for those who love the series.
Marvel Games continues to build its roster with future titles like Marvel’s Wolverine, an untitled Iron Man game, and Marvel’s Blade. These titles are set to bring new experiences to fans, tapping into the rich world of Marvel characters and narratives. Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra and Marvel Rivals are some of the titles that will further develop the Marvel gaming universe.
Top 5 Best Marvel Games of All Time
1. Marvel’s Spider-Man (2018)
Marvel’s Spider-Man (2018) is an action-adventure game by Insomniac Games and Sony Interactive Entertainment. It is a milestone in the Spider-Man video game series as it presents a new and exciting story that bypasses the origin story, opting for an experienced Peter Parker instead.
The game is set eight years into Spider-Man’s life as Peter Parker, and Peter must face off against Mister Negative and a cohort of escaped supervillains referred to as the Sinister Six in order to save New York City from an out-of-control virus.
The game is world-famous for its open-world gameplay, through which players explore a living and breathing New York City via Spider-Man’s beloved web-slinging.
The traversal system is also lauded for being fluid and giving a sense of freedom. Combat is also immersive with plenty of gadgets and suit enhancements that add richness to gameplay as players go along with the storyline.
The storytelling is well-poised, striking a balance between personal issues and superhero responsibilities, although some will find the storytelling pace too hasty if they do not actively consume side material.
Marvel’s Spider-Man in 2018 was appreciated by critics for its narrative, gameplay mechanics, and engaging world.
Game Info:
- Release Date: September 7, 2018
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 (as part of Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered), Windows (via Steam)
- Developer: Insomniac Games
- Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Genre: Action-Adventure
- Story Focus: Original narrative focusing on Peter Parker’s established life as Spider-Man
- Main Villains: Mister Negative, Sinister Six
- Gameplay Features: Web-slinging, combat with gadgets, stealth elements, open-world exploration
- Side Content: Backpack collectibles, research stations, random crimes, Taskmaster challenges
It is lauded for successfully balancing action and storytelling and hence becoming the top title for the Marvel universe in games. Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, a sequel series, were developed based on the success of the game.
The remastered version of the game on PlayStation 5 and Windows improved the graphics, with better lighting and character animations.
2. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (2023)
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (2023) is the new addition to the highly successful Marvel’s Spider-Man series created by Insomniac Games. The game continues the journey of both Peter Parker and Miles Morales as they encounter new villains and challenges in New York City.
The game also features some new and elements, one of which is the ability to easily change between the two Spider-Men, having different abilities and playstyles.
The gameplay in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 continues the foundation laid by the earlier games. The addition of web wings makes traversal in the city even smoother and more fun to explore.
The combat system is fast and exciting, with a greater emphasis on precision dodging and parrying, especially during boss battles.
Certain critics have opined that the gameplay is evolutionary rather than revolutionary, with identical mechanics to the earlier games.
Game Info:
- Release Date: October 20, 2023
- Platforms: PlayStation 5, Windows (via Steam)
- Developer: Insomniac Games
- Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Genre: Action-Adventure
- Story Focus: Balancing personal life with superhero duties for both Peter Parker and Miles Morales
- Main Villains: Kraven, Lizard, Venom
The story of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 follows the personal woes of both Peter and Miles as they juggle superhero life and personal obligations. The storyline touches on friendship and obligation, although some critics have considered it to be a bit predictable and less powerful compared to its predecessors.
The game has a varied cast of characters, including legendary villains such as Kraven, Lizard, and Venom, who are imaginatively depicted within the game’s graphics.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 has been well-received for its gameplay, memorable set pieces, and good writing on characters.
Some have criticized the game’s side content, though, as being repetitive than the main narrative. The visuals and performance of the game have been praised, though the PC port has been criticized for some technical issues.
Also Read: Top 5 Best PS5 Games Released in February 2025
3. Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy (2021)
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy (2021) is an action-adventure third-person video game by Eidos-Montréal and released by Square Enix.
It is a retelling of Peter Quill’s, or rather Star-Lord’s, tale and that of his group of misfits comprising Gamora, Drax, Rocket, and Groot through a galaxy-trotting experience of humor, action, and emotional moments.
The game is complimented for its story, which is like a 30-hour long Marvel film, with heavy emphasis on character development and team cohesion. The player takes control of Star-Lord, who has to utilize his skills to position his teammates for victory in battle.
The combat system is interesting, with strategic utilization of each Guardian’s special abilities to build strong combos and destroy enemies.
Drax is best at disarming foes, Gamora is a heavy hitter, and Rocket has the capability of blasting clusters of enemies with explosives. Groot’s skills like immobilizing foes in place contribute a touch of creativity to fights.
Game Info:
- Release Date: October 26, 2021
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, PC (via Steam)
- Developer: Eidos-Montréal
- Publisher: Square Enix
- Genre: Third-person Action-Adventure
- Story Focus: Teamwork, personal growth, and exploration of Peter Quill’s past
- Main Characters: Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax, Rocket, Groot
- Replayability: Moderate, with some player choice affecting the story
The narrative is one of teamwork, friendship, and coming of age, especially between Peter Quill and his mother, Meredith Quill. The game skillfully defies convention by having Peter deal with his past and the death of his mother in an
emotional manner.
The story is rife with surprises, from the memorable moments of the team dealing with a universal translator that is unable to comprehend Groot’s language to how it captures the emotional resonance of the characters.
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy was received well for its narrative, characters, and fighting mechanics. Critics complimented the game on how effectively it was able to balance humor and emotional moments, and that it was one of the best games in the Marvel gaming franchise.
Others criticized the fact that the fight can be less rewarding when teammates are in cooldown, and that having no open-world exploration could make it less Replayable.
4. Marvel Ultimate Alliance (2006)
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance is an action role-playing game released in 2006 by Raven Software and Activision. It is a series that also includes X-Men Legends, and it represents a landmark in Marvel games by uniting a huge pool of characters in the Marvel Universe to fight against a shared threat.
The game starts with Doctor Doom and his Masters of Evil attacking the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier. Nick Fury forms a team of superheroes to defeat Doom’s plans.
Players use a team of four heroes at once, with more than 20 playable heroes, such as Spider-Man, Wolverine, Captain America, and Thor.
Each hero possesses special powers and abilities that can be mixed to form powerful moves. For instance, Spider-Man might use his web shooters to immobilize foes, whereas Thor might call lightning bolts to cause huge damage.
Game Info:
- Release Date: April 14, 2006
- Platforms: PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Xbox, Xbox 360, Game Boy Advance, Wii, Windows
- Developer: Raven Software
- Publisher: Activision
- Genre: Action Role-Playing Game (RPG)
- Story Focus: Stopping Doctor Doom’s evil plans to conquer the world
- Main Characters: Spider-Man, Wolverine, Captain America, Thor, and many more
- Gameplay Features: Team-based combat, character switching, co-op multiplayer
The game is full of Marvel lore, with the player traveling across different famous locations such as Tony Stark’s tower, Mephisto’s Realm, and the citadel of the Watcher.
The game includes foiling Doctor Doom’s nefarious plans, which include stealing the power of Odin and endangering the universe.
Players also interact with many of the Marvel villains, such as MODOK, Crimson Dynamo, and Mysterio, and have to navigate through intricate alliances and betrayals within the Marvel Universe.
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance was well-received for its dynamic gameplay, large cast of characters, and co-op multiplayer aspect. The game was complimented by critics for balancing role-playing and action elements.
Critics did point out that the gameplay tended to repeat itself, with too much button-mashing and not enough strategy.
5. Marvel Rivals
Marvel Rivals is a third-person hero shooter game by NetEase, launched in December 2024. Players can create teams of legendary Marvel heroes and villains and fight in quick, tactical battles through different Marvel-themed worlds.
Marvel Rivals has a large roster of 33 playable characters at launch, featuring popular heroes such as Spider-Man, Iron Man, Captain America, and Groot, along with lesser-known heroes such as Psylocke and Jeff the Shark.
The game focuses on team combat, with players able to synergize their heroes’ abilities to produce special Team-Up skills. For instance, Rocket Raccoon and Groot can be paired to have Rocket ride on Groot’s back, where he will be reduced in damage while shooting from a moving platform.
The game features common hero shooter modes like escorting payloads and point capture, within environments such as Wakanda and Tokyo 2099.
Game Info:
- Release Date: December 5, 2024
- Platforms: PC (via Steam), potentially other platforms
- Developer: NetEase
- Publisher: NetEase
- Genre: Third-person Hero Shooter
- Story Focus: Competitive multiplayer with no central narrative
- Main Characters: Over 30 playable heroes and villains from the Marvel Universe
- Gameplay Features: Team-based combat, Team-Up skills, destructible environments
- Modes: Payload escort, point capture
Although Marvel Rivals lacks a main storyline compared to other Marvel games, it is centered around competitive multiplayer action.
Players can select from a large roster of Marvel characters, each with their own abilities and playstyles. The game supports various types of players, ranging from heroes such as Hawkeye to more complicated characters such as Dr. Strange, who can teleport across the battlefield.
Marvel Rivals has been met with mixed reviews. On the other hand, it is complimented for its gameplay, wide character pool, and varied environments.
The team-up skills introduce a fresh twist to the hero shooter genre by promoting team building. However, the big roster has been criticized for overwhelming new players, and certain heroes are overpowered.
The game’s emphasis on quick action can also reduce the importance of teamplay, with individual ability tending to determine the outcome of matches.
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