Since 1990, Venom has appeared in over 30 video games in various guises and for varying lengths of time. Sometimes as a playable character, oftentimes as a boss, and other times as nothing more than a costume.
Venom's most memorable video game appearances tend to bring something new to the character, whether it's through his voice-over, character design, or his mechanics. When it comes to playing him, he should be fun and intuitive to control, and when fighting him, it should be a fair but closely matched fight, given his abilities are similar to those of Spider-Man. These games invariably got these aspects right.
10 The Amazing Spider-Man (1990) Was Venom's First Game Appearance
The first chance to interact with Venom in a video game on a console came in The Amazing Spider-Man for the Game Boy, released in 1990. Venom is the last boss in the game, dropping down from above to shoot expanding webs at Spider-Man, who has to punch and kick the sinister symbiote when he gets the chance. Of course, as it's the Game Boy, Venom's appearance is rudimentary, but he's still recognizable.
9 Marvel Nemesis: Rise Of The Imperfects (2005) Brought A Twist To Venom
Venom is infected by an alien device in this multi-platform 2005 fighting game, causing circuit board-like markings to appear on his body, which, along with his webs, are luminous green instead of white.
This variation of Venom is called 'Deadly Venom' and provides a nice visual twist on the character. Venom is also a playable character in this one, his abilities including crawling on walls, shooting projectiles, and performing piledrivers on opponents.
8 Spider-Man And Venom: Maximum Carnage (1994) Was The First Time Venom Was Playable
Developed for the Super NES and the Sega Genesis, this side-scrolling beat 'em up gave home console players the chance to play as Venom for the first time. The novelty of being able to choose between Spider-Man and Venom made the game stand out, even if the combat was limited and the graphics were sloppy and outdated even then. The sequel, Separation Anxiety, failed to build upon the foundation set by the first and is generally considered the weaker of the two titles.
7 Spider-Man: The Video Game (1991) Had A Beefed-Up Venom
This 1991 arcade game likely provided a lot of people with their first chance to face off against Venom. A much chunkier-looking specimen compared to the lithe creature we see in video games and movies today, this incarnation of Venom must be defeated twice. After the first battle, Venom grows to twice his original size and jumps off-screen. Spider-Man catches up with him later on the rooftops and has to beat him again.
6 Spider-Man: Web Of Shadows (2009) Made Venom Even More Terrifying
Venom features prominently in this third person action-adventure, both early on in the game and as the final boss, which takes place on the Helicarrier. Spider-Man must first face a ginormous, five-headed Venom and his minions before he transforms into an even bigger incarnation, tethered to a normal-sized Eddie Brock who's struggling to control the gigantic beast. It's an enjoyable final boss that culminates in either a good or evil ending, depending on who the player helped earlier in the game.
5 Lego Marvel Super Heroes (2013) Offered A Classic Lego Form
This multi-platform game from 2013 not only provided the chance to see and play as Venom in Lego form but also to swing through the streets like Spider-Man. Venom can also transform and become much bigger, allowing him to jump around and pound on foes in the manner of the Hulk. In his other form, he can shoot webs and grab enemies with his tentacles to smash them into the ground.
4 Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 (2009) Let Venom Team Up With Other Marvel Characters
In this 2009 ARPG, Venom is a playable character with a range of abilities to choose from. It being the hallmark of the series, it's somewhat of a novelty to see Venom teaming up with other Marvel characters, such as Iron Man or Doctor Doom. In the original game, Venom was only unlockable on the Xbox 360 (although an update to the 2016 remaster included all eight downloadable characters), while in the sequel, Venom becomes a playable character after the player defeats him.
3 Spider-Man (2000) Brought Fresh New Mechanics
This 2000 action-adventure game saw Spidey chasing Venom across the rooftops of New York City which, at the time, was a revolutionary mechanic. Amusing mid-chase cutscenes have Venom terrorizing people in their homes as he flees from Spider-Man. When Spidey finally catches up with Eddie, a fight ensues in an alley.
Venom has the ability to vanish and teleport, enabling him to sneak up on Spider-Man, grab him, and lick him to inflict damage. The second part of the fight takes place in the sewers, and when Spidey comes out on top, Venom saves MJ, and the two form an unlikely alliance.
2 Ultimate Spider-Man (2005) Gave Venom Tons Of Screen Time
Venom features heavily in 2005's Ultimate Spider-Man for PC and consoles, appearing in 25 minutes of cutscene footage, as well as being a playable character and a boss. In keeping with the style of the series, Venom's design is cartoony and perhaps the most purple of all his video game incarnations. Venom is fun to control, with huge jumps that can be used to leap across the rooftops of the city.
1 Marvel Vs. Capcom: Clash Of Super Heroes (1998) Had An Upgraded Re-Release
Originally a 1998 arcade game, Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes was ported to the Dreamcast, the Playstation, and the Xbox. It was then re-released with upgraded graphics and online play in 2012 as part of the Marvel vs. Capcom Origins collection. Venom has a number of dynamic moves with over-the-top animations—including taunts during which the symbiote recedes, revealing Eddie Brock's head—that look better than ever in high definition.