Spider-Man isn't just one of the most famous superheroes of all time, but he's also a pop culture cash cow that everyone wants a piece of. Video games are no exception, and the wall-crawler has been featured in so many titles over the last few decades that it's difficult to keep track of them all. Naturally, this means not all games are built alike in terms of quality, or presentation.
However, when Spider-Man shines, gamers benefit. Throughout the various console eras, a string of hit games has been released that helped define the time period in question. Here are ten of the best Spider-Man games ever made. Some haven't aged as well as the others, but they all featured the character in his best light.
10 Spider-Man & Venom: Separation Anxiety Was A Second Take On Another Marvel Comic Story (Sega Genesis/Super Nintendo)
Spider-Man and the infamous anti-hero Venom would team up a second time during the (loose) video game adaptation of the Separation Anxiety storyline. Here, Venom and Spidey must tackle five symbiotes spawned from the former who have assumed human hosts linked to the infamous Life Foundation.
The combat and gameplay were a bit faster and more refined than its Maximum Carnage predecessor, and the character animations were far more detailed as well. Unfortunately, many players found the game repetitive, with only a few saving graces to keep it from hitting low reviews. In the end, it's the "weakest of the strongest" on this list.
9 Spider-Man Vs. The Kingpin Amplified The Sega Genesis Base Game With Better Content (Sega CD)
The Sega CD was a hit-or-miss affair when it came to games, but it did have some standout gems with which to brag about. One of them was the port of Spider-Man vs. the Kingpin, which originally debuted on the Sega Genesis. The CD version amped up the base game with a lot more content, including extra missions, encounters, and smoother gameplay, all centered around Spider-Man going up against the infamous Wilson Fisk, the notorious Kingpin of Crime.
The gameplay itself is average by today's standards, but it was a competent and respectable platformer, back in the day. The inclusion of fully animated and voice-acted cutscenes, a hard rock soundtrack composed by Spencer Nilsen and Mr. Big, and a non-linear approach to gameplay were all feathers in its cap that deserve recognition.
8 Spider-Man: The Video Game Is A Classic Coin-Op Title (Arcade)
Sega took a crack at bringing Spider-Man to the coin-op arcade realm in 1991 when they released this hit classic. At the time, side-scrolling beat-em-up games were picking up serious steam in arcades around the globe, and Spider-Man: The Video Game helped amplify that craze with some excellent gameplay, gigantic character sprites, and detailed backgrounds.
There's a lot to love about this vintage arcade title. Four-player simultaneous gameplay, multiple gameplay styles, tried and true adherence to the comic book source material, and of course, a host of classic Marvel supervillains helped sell the package. It's a bit bland by today's high standards, but it's still worth checking out.
7 Spider-Man & Venom: Maximum Carnage Was Built On The Hit Marvel Comics Storyline (Sega Genesis/Super Nintendo)
Video game developers began adapting comic book storylines in the 1990s, and there were quite a few tender morsels to choose from. Maximum Carnage was, at the time, a major Spider-Man story arc that saw the web slinger and his nemesis Venom team up to take down the infamous Cletus Kasady, AKA Carnage.
Tons of Marvel characters were featured in the game, from Black Cat, Dagger, and Morbius, to Captain America, Iron Fist, and the Demogoblin. While the bulk of the game was standard Final Fight-style fare, there were enough ties to the comic book story for fans who couldn't get enough of the symbiote story arc during the 1990s.
6 Spider-Man Unlimited Was A Unique Title Built On The Endless Runner Formula (Android)
There are two sides to this particular Spider-Man game - one good, and one bad. On the good side, the game is polished to a sheen with beautiful graphics and animations that do justice to the comic book source material and give fans something to cheer for. The notion of Spidey on mobile isn't a bad sell, either. It follows the endless runner formula while injecting some depth into the mechanics.
Then there's the bad, which hovers over the game like vultures circling a carcass. The controls were glitchy and oversensitive, it had a few unfortunate bugs that plagued gameplay, and it succumbed to the freemium model, which didn't sit well with fans. Nevertheless, Spider-Man Unlimited was one of the most unique and best games on the list, at least until it was put out to pasture in Q1 2019.
5 Spider-Man Was One Of The First 3D Takes On The Character (PlayStation, Nintendo 64, Dreamcast, PC))
When Spider-Man began infiltrating the realm of 3D gaming, Activision spearheaded the move with great success. Spider-Man took everything comic book fans love about the character, and applied it to the wall crawler's first, and most definitive 3D outing. Spidey could leap and swing from building to building, and tackle bad guys from any angle with an array of melee and webbing attacks.
Nods to the comic were everywhere, including voice-over narration from Stan Lee, himself. The Scorpion, Venom, Mysterio, and Carnage all join in on the fun in this lighthearted and comical action-adventure title. It would serve as the groundwork for the Spider-Man games to follow, most notably the astonishing 2018 entry in the franchise.
4 Spider-Man: Web Of Shadows Was A Much Darker Tale Than Most Spider-Man Game (PlayStation, Xbox, Wii, PC)
This particular Spider-Man title was a much darker take on the source material than other video games bearing the name. It starts off on a somber note, with Spider-Man battling a symbiote invasion of Manhattan. From there, the action turns to a story involving the Kingpin, S.H.I.E.L.D., and the Tinkerer, with a few surprise faces thrown in along the way.
The gameplay in this title built on elements from previous 3D Spider-Man games, notably the ability to web sling through the city. Combat was much faster, more fluid, and dynamic, with excellent animations to match. Plus, it's the only game where Spider-Man goes up against a monstrous five-headed Venom, which is a plus.
3 Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions Brought Multiple Versions Of Spider-Man Into The Game (PlayStation, Xbox, Wii, PC)
Shattered Dimensions battles hard for the top spot of the best Spider-Man game out there, even though it has stiff competition in the form of the 2018 game. Still, what's here is quite amazing, and one of the most creative Spider-Man titles to date. The player controls not just one Spider-Man, but several iterations throughout the Marvel multiverse.
The tone of the game is bright, colorful, and fun, with a lot of laughs thrown in along the way. In terms of gameplay, the combat takes a page from Web of Shadows, while implementing more depth via the combo system. The true highlight of the game is the ability to play different versions of the wallcrawler, from O.G. Peter Parker to symbiote Spidey, Spider-Man Noir, and Spider-Man 2099. That's a big draw for fans of the comics.
2 Spider-Man: Miles Morales Is A Follow-Up To The Hit 2018 Game (PlayStation 4 & 5)
Not content to rest on its laurels, Insomniac Games followed up on their smash 2018 hit Spider-Man game with a sequel, Miles Morales. As the title suggests, this is a game centered on a totally different Spider-Man character who has since gone on to become a key figure in the Marvel universe.
The game builds upon everything that made the original so successful, with a few additions such as new gadgets and powers to play on. It didn't beat out 2018 original in terms of critical praise, but it came close enough for it not to matter. Both games are the crowning achievements of the Spider-Man video game crossover genre.
1 Spider-Man Represents The Best Video Game Adaptation Yet (PlayStation 4)
Spider-Man entered brave and bold new territory in 2018 when the landmark smash hit dropped on the PS4. What followed was Spider-Mania, all over again. Fans couldn't get enough of this gorgeous, detailed, and highly interactive game that stood head and shoulders above the rest.
In essence, this Spider-Man game was the equivalent of Batman's Arkham series of games, which is high praise by itself. The presentation is a significant high point, and it's married to a fluid and pleasing combat system. The storyline is a unique take on the original formula while remaining true to itself, which was a definite highlight of the game. It's a shame the title hasn't been ported to other platforms, but here's to hoping Sony takes a page from Horizon Zero Dawn and decides to branch out.