The Best Superhero Games Ever

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For a long time, superhero games were known for being rushed, low-quality products made to quickly earn money. But that reputation has changed a lot in the last ten years. Now, we’re seeing well-made games featuring popular Marvel and DC characters. Even before developers like Rocksteady and Insomniac Games created truly excellent superhero games, the industry was able to deliver enjoyable experiences fairly often.

Over the past thirty years, we’ve seen over 100 superhero games released, and about half of them star Batman or Spider-Man. While these two are incredibly popular, most major heroes and teams have had at least one great game. Let’s take a look back at the best superhero games from Marvel, DC, and beyond!

Here are some criteria and notes:

  • One game per hero or team-up. That said, a character can appear in a solo and group outing.
  • As there are a lot of good superhero games, honorable mentions for a hero or group will be included if relevant. Other worthwhile games that do not fit any category will be mentioned in a separate section at the end of the article.
  • We are going to be a bit strict with the definition of “superhero” stories. That’s why something like The Darkness is not included, as it is based on a comic but is not a superhero game.

Batman: Arkham Trilogy

The Definitive Best Batman And Superhero Games

Let’s start with the most obvious choice: the Batman: Arkham series by Rocksteady is truly one of the best trilogies of all time, not just in gaming. While fans debate which is best, Arkham Asylum, Arkham City, and Arkham Knight are all exceptional games that dramatically raised the bar for superhero games in terms of quality and scope.

While perhaps not as iconic as the original Batman: Arkham games, Batman: Arkham Origins and Batman: Arkham Shadow are still excellent titles.

The game’s combat feels great – responsive, fluid, and genuinely enjoyable. It’s been so successful that many other games have borrowed ideas from it. The open worlds in the newer games are large enough to feel expansive and engaging, but not so big that they become confusing. They’re also beautifully designed and full of personality. The original Arkham Asylum is more focused and straightforward, but it’s just as impressive as the games that followed. In fact, without Arkham Asylum, we might not have seen games like Injustice or Marvel’s Spider-Man.

Honorable Mentions: Batman Games

  • Batman Begins
  • Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu
  • Batman: The Telltale Series
  • Lego Batman

Marvel’s Spider-Man

The Definitive Spidey Game

Spider-Man clearly has the most impressive history when it comes to video games. He starred in fantastic action games even in the 1990s, and successfully made the leap to 3D adventures on the original PlayStation. The 2004 game Spider-Man 2 was a major breakthrough, defining what Spider-Man games could be and setting a high bar for all those that followed, most of which were at least enjoyable.

Insomniac Games delivered a fantastic Spider-Man experience in 2018 with a game that beautifully combines story, exploration, and action. While not perfect, Marvel’s Spider-Man is consistently fun, and simply swinging around New York City is a joy. It’s unusual for an open-world game where you’ll almost always want to travel manually instead of using fast travel. The game truly makes you feel like Spider-Man. Both Miles Morales and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 are excellent too, but the original game holds a special appeal.

Honorable Mentions: Spider-Man Games

  • Spider-Man (2000)
  • Spider-Man 2 (2004)
  • Spider-Man and Venom: Maximum Carnage
  • Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions
  • Spider-Man: Web of Shadows
  • Ultimate Spider-Man

X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse

The Definitive X-Men Game In A Consistently Great Series

X-Men games used to be reliably excellent. The mutants enjoyed a strong presence in the ’90s with popular arcade games and titles from Capcom, and they continued that success at the start of the 2000s. Raven Software’s X-Men Legends was considered the best superhero team-up game when it launched, and it remains a standout title over twenty years later.

While the original game is amazing, the sequel improves on it enough to be considered even better than the similar Marvel Ultimate Alliance series. X-Men Legends 2 is a highly engaging action RPG that’s perfect for co-op play, featuring a diverse cast of heroes and villains. It plays like a classic 3D beat ’em up, but with added depth through character progression, team-based abilities, and a substantial story campaign.

Honorable Mentions: X-Men Games

  • Deadpool
  • X-Men (Arcade Game)
  • X-Men: Mutant Academy
  • X-Men: Mutant Apocalypse
  • X-Men vs. Street Fighter
  • X-Men Wolverine Origins

Injustice 2

The Definitive (In) Justice League Game

While there haven’t been a ton of Justice League games, the ones that exist are generally good. The team really shines in what many consider the best superhero fighting game ever made—though it took turning some of the heroes into villains to get there. Injustice 2, from NetherRealm Studios, improves on the original and expertly blends the brutal combat of Mortal Kombat with the wide range of characters from the DC Universe.

The main story in this game takes about 5 hours to complete and focuses on the arrival of Supergirl and the consequences of Superman becoming a tyrannical ruler. Injustice 2 is incredibly enjoyable to play, offering a gameplay experience that’s both rewarding and difficult. The characters feel authentic to their comic book origins, with moves that match their personalities, and while they’re noticeably different in power levels, they’re all fun to control. Although the online community isn’t as large now, Injustice 2 used to have a very popular and active multiplayer scene.

Honorable Mentions: Justice League Games

  • DC Universe Online
  • Justice League: Cosmic Chaos
  • Justice League Heroes
  • Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes
  • Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham

Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes

The Definitive Marvel Heroes Game

As a fighting game fan, I think Injustice 2 is incredible, but it’s hard to call it the absolute best superhero fighter when you’ve got the Marvel vs. Capcom series to compare it to – there are two entries in that series that are just as good, if not better. If you’re new to the genre, I’d definitely recommend Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3. It’s a blast to play even today, and it’s held up surprisingly well after all these years!

Throughout the history of the series, Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes stands out as the most significant title, and remains a hugely popular superhero game. It became a cornerstone of arcades and competitive gaming, known for its distinct style. Rather than simply applying what they learned from Street Fighter, Capcom used its wide range of characters to create a wildly fun game that celebrated both their own franchises and the Marvel universe.

Honorable Mentions: Marvel Team-Up Games

  • Lego Marvel Super Heroes
  • Marvel’s Midnight Suns
  • Marvel Rivals
  • Marvel Ultimate Alliance

Infamous 1 & 2

The Best Original Superhero Games

We’ve seen a small number of unique superhero games that aren’t based on popular franchises like Marvel or DC. Before creating Ghost of Tsushima, the developers at Sucker Punch spent five years working on Infamous, resulting in a consistently high-quality superhero game series. While Second Son and its spin-offs are enjoyable, the original Infamous games for the PlayStation 3 are what the series is known for, and they remain incredibly fun to play today.

Both games let you unleash powerful abilities and cause satisfying destruction as you act as a vigilante. The Karma system gives you freedom to choose how you play and makes you responsible for your actions. While the first Infamous game has a slightly better story, they’re best experienced together.

Honorable Mentions: Other Original Superhero Games

  • Freedom Force
  • Freedom Force vs the 3rd Reich
  • Saints Row 4
  • Viewtiful Joe
  • The Wonderful 101

Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy

The Best MCU-Esque Game

Marvel movies have been largely disappointing when it comes to video games, often feeling rushed and failing to live up to their potential. If you’re looking for a good Marvel game, you’re better off looking outside of direct movie tie-ins. Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy didn’t generate much buzz initially, especially after the struggles with Marvel’s Avengers, but it ended up receiving overwhelmingly positive reviews. Unlike Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy focuses on strong characters and a compelling story, following the team’s adventures as they try to fix a huge problem they accidentally started.

Guardians of the Galaxy truly shines because of its fantastic story and how it’s presented – it’s among the best in superhero games. The gameplay is fun, but it can become repetitive, making the campaign lose steam over time. Luckily, the compelling story, witty dialogue, and memorable characters are strong enough to overcome the average combat.

Honorable Mentions: MCU Games

  • Captain America: Super Soldier
  • Lego Marvel’s Avengers

Dispatch

A New Take On Superheroes

Ignoring the fact that it’s brand new, Dispatch feels like a welcome break from standard superhero games, and strongly reminds players of the best Telltale games. While you don’t have complete control, it’s an engaging story-driven experience where you play as a former hero now working as a 911 operator for current crime fighters.

The idea behind Dispatch is fantastic, and the game delivers on that promise by focusing on compelling characters and letting player choices truly matter, influencing both the story and who’s involved. By blending everyday moments with intense action, AdHoc Studio has created a superhero game that feels special and could become a classic.

Honorable Mentions That Do Not Fit Any Other Category

  • Ghost Rider (PS2)
  • The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction
  • Marvel Snap
  • My Hero One’s Justice 2
  • South Park: The Fractured but Whole
  • The Punisher (2004)

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2025-11-09 04:07