Best Spider-Man Games With Multiple Playable Characters

by

Summary

  • Spider-Man games have featured multiple playable characters for decades, including Venom and other well-known Marvel characters.
  • Some notable titles like Maximum Carnage and Separation Anxiety allow players to control both Spider-Man and Venom.
  • Marvel’s Spider-Man offers gameplay with Peter Parker, Miles Morales, and Mary Jane Watson, each bringing their own unique abilities and perspectives.

Over the last several decades, Spider-Man has soared to gaming fame, an achievement remarkable for a character/IP not initially rooted in video games. Many delight in embodying one of the most iconic and easily recognized comic book superheroes ever created.

Not only Spider-Man but also other beloved heroes and villains from his franchise are characters players often wish to control. Luckily, several top-tier Spider-Man video games offer the opportunity to play as multiple characters, making them standout examples in this regard.

1. Spider-Man and Venom: Maximum Carnage & Venom/Spider-Man: Separation Anxiety

Play As Spider-Man And Venom

For quite some time now, Spider-Man video games have allowed multiple characters to be played, not just our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. A testament to this fact is Acclaim’s iconic beat ’em up, Spider-Man & Venom: Maximum Carnage, which remains a fan favorite even today. This 2D side-scrolling game, inspired by the comic book arc of the same name, offers players the chance to select either Spider-Man or Venom as their character in their battle against Carnage.

About a year after, Acclaim unveiled a follow-up game named “Venom/Spider-Man: Separation Anxiety“. This new title featured the return of both Spiderman and Venom as primary characters, and introduced a two-player cooperative mode to enhance gameplay. Although these retro beat ’em ups might not appear particularly impressive nowadays, they remain entertaining and user-friendly video games.

2. Ultimate Spider-Man

Play As Spider-Man And Venom

Without a doubt, Venom has frequently appeared as Spider-Man’s reluctant ally in various capacities, and this is demonstrated through his presence as a playable character in numerous games. A compelling illustration of their ongoing rivalry can be found in the game titled Ultimate Spider-Man. This open-world adventure bears resemblance to the video game based on the movie “Spider-Man 2,” but it stands out with a more vibrant, cel-shaded art style that mirrors the comic book series of the same name.

While exploring the game world as Spider-Man is exhilarating, Ultimate Spider-Man stands out in the series for being one of the initial 3D games that allowed Venom to be fully playable. Unlike Spidey, Venom possesses unique abilities, moving more slowly and less gracefully, but boasting greater strength and resilience. Additionally, he can fight using his potent tendrils.

3. Spider-Man: Edge Of Time

Play As Spider-Man And Spider-Man 2099

During the mid-2000s and the early 2010s, there were numerous Spider-Man video games that held licenses, regardless of whether they were tied to a live-action movie or not. One of the standout titles from this era was “Spider-Man: Edge of Time”, a game featuring time travel where players could control two versions of Spider-Man: Peter Parker and Miguel O’Hara.

In simpler terms, both versions of Spider-Man possess distinct skills and superpowers that make them unique from one another. Notably, the game “Edge of Time” introduces an intriguing concept called “Quantum Causality,” where actions taken by Peter in the past influence Miguel’s future. While “Edge of Time” offers a unique spin on action-adventure games, it seems less innovative or imaginative compared to its precursor, “Shattered Dimensions.

4. Marvel’s Spider-Man

Play As Spider-Man, Miles Morales, & Mary Jane Watson

The launch of Marvel’s Spider-Man by Insomniac Games in 2018 was a significant milestone for Spider-Man enthusiasts, as it marked the creation of what many consider the finest Spider-Man video game to date. In this top-tier experience, navigating through Peter Parker’s world is an exhilarating sensation. The action is swift and rewarding, the web-slinging is spot-on, and he comes equipped with a variety of tools, abilities, and costumes for exploration, detection, and confrontation of criminals.

In the game Marvel’s Spider-Man, there are parts where players control two ordinary humans – Miles Morales and Mary Jane Watson – instead of the superhero Spiderman. These sections add a lot of tension to the story and provide insights that wouldn’t be possible with just one character, but they can sometimes feel lengthy and monotonous, particularly during repeated plays.

5. Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions

Play As Amazing Spider-Man, Ultimate Spider-Man, Spider-Man Noir, & Spider-Man 2099

Prior to the introduction of the epic comic event known as Spider-Verse, Beenox and Activision had already embarked on a multiversal Spidey adventure called Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions. Leveraging this intriguing foundation, players can command four distinct Spider-Men: Amazing, Ultimate, Noir, and 2099. Although they share similar characteristics, their individual levels boast unique gameplay styles that maintain a sense of novelty and excitement throughout the experience.

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but rave about “Shattered Dimensions.” This game takes you on a thrilling journey through various dimensions, each with its own distinctive art style and creative twists on iconic Spider-Man adversaries as bosses. While it has some minor imperfections, it’s undeniably one of the standout titles in the series. It’s no wonder it played a significant role in shaping the narrative for the “Spider-Verse” comics.

6. Spider-Man: The Video Game

Play As Spider-Man, Black Cat, Hawkeye, & Namor

Spider-Man: The Video Game.” This game, an arcade beat ’em up developed by Sega, allowed up to four players to simultaneously control characters like Spider-Man, Black Cat, Hawkeye, and Namor.

As a die-hard fan, I’ve got to say that while Spider-Man: The Video Game does offer a unique twist with other Marvel heroes joining in the action, at its core, it remains quintessentially a Spidey game for me. Even after all these years, the combat system in this retro beat ’em up still stands strong and is further enhanced by the meticulously designed and vibrant sprite work.

7. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

Play As Two Spider-Men, Mary Jane Watson, Hailey Cooper, & Venom

The standout feature of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is having two Spider-Men, Peter Parker and Miles Morales, as the primary playable characters. In this sequel, the engaging combat system and superb web-slinging mechanics from the previous game have been retained, but each Spider-Man boasts a unique skill set that distinguishes them from one another. Miles possesses his stealth ability and Venom Blast, which were first introduced in Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, while Peter gradually masters the formidable skills of his new black symbiote suit.

In the updated version of the MJ sequences, there’s a noticeable boost in energy and interactivity. Additionally, players get a chance to control Miles’ deaf friend Hailey Cooper for a creative side mission. Furthermore, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 includes an intense, action-packed segment starring Venom, but it was regrettably brief. Fans are urging Insomniac Games to develop a separate adventure featuring Venom with a comparable gameplay style.

8. Spider-Man: Friend or Foe

Play As Spider-Man, Black Cat, Doctor Octopus, Green Goblin, Iron Fist, & Many More

Friend or Foe,” a more recent 3D fighting game where players initially control Spiderman but later can enlist some of his most iconic adversaries to fight alongside him, acting as allies or sidekicks.

In the game titled “Spider-Man: Friend or Foe,” an impressive 15 unique playable characters are available, making it the franchise’s title with the greatest character count. This diverse roster consists of iconic Spider-Man adversaries as well as other Marvel superheroes. The game allows for simultaneous control of Spider-Man, Black Cat, Doctor Octopus, Green Goblin, Scorpion, Iron Fist, Rhino, Lizard, Sandman, Venom, New Goblin, Prowler, Silver Sable, Carnage, Electro, and Blade. However, it’s crucial to note that certain characters are exclusive to specific versions of the game (such as on PS2 and/or PSP). The most exciting aspect is that all these characters can perform a spectacular “Super Move” in tandem with Spider-Man.

Read More

2025-08-08 03:41