Must-Play Superhero Games That Nobody Remembers

Superhero games have a history that goes way back – they didn’t just become popular with recent hits like the Batman: Arkham series or the Marvel movies. Even before superhero games were a sure thing, developers were trying to bring comic book action to life, often with limited technology that forced them to think outside the box. While many of these early games weren’t polished, some had genuinely innovative ideas and gameplay that still feels fresh. They’ve largely been forgotten as the gaming world has evolved.

Some of these older superhero games might be new to younger players, and even longtime fans may have forgotten what they were like. But that’s what’s great about revisiting them – a truly good game remains enjoyable no matter how much time has passed.

Freedom Force

A Superhero Strategy Game Built Like A Classic Comic

A tactical RPG where the player leads a quartet of superheroes to defend Patriot City from villains, monsters, and other threats.
Allows players to improve existing powers or add new ones.

This game really captures the feel of classic comic books. You lead a small team of superheroes through missions in Patriot City, fighting villains, rescuing people, and stopping monsters. What’s great about Freedom Force is the ability to customize your heroes as they gain experience – you can improve their current powers or unlock entirely new ones, giving you a lot of flexibility.

Managing four heroes simultaneously can be overwhelming, particularly when facing large groups of enemies, but this also makes the game thrilling. The ability to customize your team gives the game a lot of replayability – you could focus on powerful, close-combat fighters in one playthrough, and then switch to a team of fast-moving or psychic characters in the next.

Freedom Force Vs. The 3rd Reich

A Time-Traveling Sequel With Bigger Battles

Sends the superhero team on a time travel mission to Nazi‑era Europe.
Players battle Axis powers in altered timelines across destructible 3D maps.

Okay, so the sequel is way bigger than the first game. We’re still playing as the same superhero team, but this time we’re thrown into a crazy time travel story. It’s not just about fighting regular bad guys anymore – we’ve landed in a messed-up alternate timeline where the Nazis actually won World War II. Now we’re facing off against super-powered Nazi soldiers, seriously twisted scientists, and all sorts of wartime dangers. It’s a whole new level of challenging!

Freedom Force vs. The 3rd Reich plays much like the original Freedom Force. You command a team of up to four heroes, giving them instructions on the fly and combining their abilities. The main difference is the setting – it’s much darker and more serious this time around. The game still encourages you to try out different hero combinations, use powers in clever ways, and rely on strategy instead of just powerful attacks to complete missions.

Comix Zone

Played Inside Actual Comic Panels

A side‑scrolling beat ’em up set literally inside the panels of a comic book.
Players move from panel to panel, fight enemies, and solve light puzzles.

In the game Comix Zone, you play as Sketch Turner, a comic book artist who is unexpectedly pulled inside one of his own comics. The world transforms into a vibrant, living comic book, with everything – from walls and floors to enemies – appearing hand-drawn. Characters speak in classic comic book dialogue bubbles, and the whole game has a retro, action-packed comic style.

I seriously think Comix Zone is one of those games that everyone should try, and it really needs a sequel! It came out in 1995, right when everyone was getting excited about the next generation of consoles, so it kind of got lost in the shuffle. But if you’re into retro games, comics, or just something totally unique and creative, Comix Zone is honestly one of the most imaginative superhero games I’ve ever played.

Spider‑Man And Venom: Maximum Carnage

A Side-Scrolling Brawler Based On The 1990s Storyline

Side‑scrolling beat ’em up where you play as Spider‑Man and Venom (or their allies).
Team up with other Marvel heroes to stop the villainous Carnage and his gang.

Inspired by a huge Marvel comic event, Spider-Man and Venom: Maximum Carnage is a classic side-scrolling beat-’em-up where Spider-Man and Venom team up with other Marvel heroes to stop a massive crime spree in New York City. Players can choose to play as Spider-Man, using his webs and agility, or Venom, relying on brute symbiote strength to fight through waves of enemies.

The game allows players to summon other Marvel heroes for help after collecting certain items, which adds excitement and replayability. While Maximum Carnage isn’t perfect – enemies can be repetitive, levels sometimes feel similar, and it’s quite challenging – players who enjoy classic, fast-paced action will likely have a lot of fun.

Captain Commando

An Arcade Beat-’Em-Up Featuring Capcom’s Futuristic Hero Squad

Players take on futuristic enemies with a variety of moves and team dynamics.
Fun for fans of old-school beat ’em ups, even if its “superhero” lean is loose.

While not a traditional superhero game, Captain Commando is a high-energy, futuristic action game. Players battle waves of enemies with cool moves and weapons in a fast-paced, arcade-style beat ’em up. Released in 1991, it stood out for its four-player co-op mode, and each hero offers a distinct playstyle with unique stats and abilities.

Okay, so the gameplay feels a lot like a seriously upgraded Final Fight. You move your character back and forth – you can even step a little closer or further away from the action – and basically beat up tons of bad guys using punches, kicks, and combos. You can run, jump, grab enemies, and there’s even a dash move for some cool running attacks. It’s a classic beat ‘em up formula, but really polished.

The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction

A Free-Roam Power Fantasy Built Around Hulk’s Abilities

An open-world action‑adventure where players control Hulk.
Cause chaos and destruction across a massive city.

Man, let me tell you, The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction is seriously one of the most fun superhero games I’ve ever played. It’s kinda flown under the radar for newer gamers, but it’s amazing. You are the Hulk, and it just feels incredible to run around an open city, leaping over buildings, crushing tanks, and just chucking cars everywhere. Honestly, the whole city is your personal playground for destruction, and it’s SO satisfying.

While there are story missions, the most enjoyable part of this game is the chaotic freedom – stealing cars, throwing enemies around, demolishing buildings, and battling tanks and helicopters. As you play, the Hulk unlocks new powers and special moves. If you love feeling incredibly powerful and enjoy over-the-top action, Ultimate Destruction is worth checking out.

The Darkness (2007)

A Dark First-Person Shooter With Demonic Powers

Takes a darker, anti-hero approach.
Play as a mafia hitman possessed by a demonic force, granting him supernatural powers.

The Darkness changes the feel of this lineup, moving away from traditional, upbeat superheroes and introducing a more complex, morally gray character. The main character, Jackie Estacado, is a professional killer who’s connected to a dark, supernatural power. This gives him abilities like creating frightening creatures called “Darklings,” controlling shadows, and instantly traveling through darkness.

Even now, players remember The Darkness for its intense violence and creepy mood. The game takes place in gritty locations like dark alleys, abandoned subways, and decaying rooftops. It was so violent, in fact, that some countries, including Germany, had to make changes to certain scenes, while others completely prohibited the game due to its graphic animations.

InFamous: Festival Of Blood

A Mix Of Superhero‑Style Powers And Vampire Horror

Survive one deadly night of fighting hordes of vampires.
The game swaps the series morality system for vampiric mechanics like biting civilians to restore health.

This game, part of the InFamous series, takes a different direction from previous installments. Instead of choosing between good and evil, you play as a newly turned vampire trying to survive a single, perilous night. As a vampire, you’ll gain powers like super speed, energy blasts, and the ability to fly, but you’ll also have to manage your strength while navigating a dangerous and dark city.

This isn’t your standard superhero story. It’s closer to a game like The Darkness, focusing on horror, a creepy atmosphere, and a more complex kind of power. You’ll have to make tough choices, face unpredictable dangers, and fight to survive in a world filled with fear.

Batman: The Brave And The Bold – The Videogame

A Lighthearted Co-Op Beat ’Em Up Styled After The 90s Cartoon

Batman teams up with various heroes (Hawkman, Robin, Green Lantern, etc.) to take down supervillains.
A 2D side‑scrolling beat ’em up platformer based on the animated series.

Batman: The Brave and the Bold – The Videogame is a surprisingly fun superhero game that often gets overlooked. It captures the energy of the Saturday morning cartoon, letting players team up with heroes like Green Lantern, Blue Beetle, Aquaman, and the flamboyant Plastic Man. Rather than one continuous story, the game is structured like individual episodes of the show, featuring clever conversations, comic book-style cutscenes, and villains who love to taunt their opponents.

Unlike other Batman games released around the same time, The Brave and the Bold – The Videogame didn’t try to be like the Arkham series. It focused on being charming and fun, which makes it a surprisingly enjoyable and memorable title in Batman’s gaming history. It’s a forgotten superhero game that still manages to be simple, funny, and visually appealing when you play it today.

X‑Men Origins: Wolverine

A Violent Hack-And-Slash Game That Stands Above Its Film Tie-In

Adapts a dark, violent reimagining of Wolverine’s backstory.
A raw and gritty hero’s journey rather than a traditional heroic triumph.

Okay, so I remember playing X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and honestly, the game blew the movie out of the water. The movie was pretty tame, but the game? It really leaned into what Wolverine should be. We’re talking seriously brutal combat – limbs getting chopped off, bones breaking… it was shockingly violent for its time, but it felt right. It’s easily the most accurate depiction of his powers I’ve seen in a game, period. It wasn’t afraid to show just how savage Logan can be.

Years ago, the digital version of X-Men Origins: Wolverine disappeared from online stores because the licenses for Marvel content and the game itself expired. While you can still find physical copies, they’re becoming increasingly expensive, and many younger gamers have never even seen the game in a store, much less played it.

2025-12-01 20:08