Summary
- Marvel games thrive in the handheld gaming world, offering diverse experiences for fans on the go or at home.
- Guardians of the Galaxy shines but hits a snag on the Switch, showcasing the importance of platform choice.
- From LEGO Marvel fun to competitive fighting game experiences, there's a Marvel handheld title for every fan.
Marvel has a long and storied history in the gaming industry, and its popularity in the modern age only serves to cement the future of Marvel games. Alongside that, handheld gaming is becoming more and more prevalent, be it handheld consoles like the Nintendo Switch or the ever-accessible nature of mobile gaming.
It's no surprise, then, that there are plenty of excellent handheld titles for Marvel fans, offering multiple avenues to experience a wide range of Marvel games on the go or from the comfort of the sofa. From fighting games all the way to strategy games, and everything in between, there has never been a better time to be a handheld gaming fan that loves Marvel.
8 Guardians of the Galaxy
A Great Game, But With Drawbacks On The Switch
Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy
- Released
- October 26, 2021
- Developer(s)
- Eidos Montreal
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure
Guardians of the Galaxy is based on the Marvel comic franchise of the same name. It inherits the traits that have made both the comics and films so popular, with brilliant characters, an excellent soundtrack, and flashy, inspired visuals. All of this is coupled with fun and unique gameplay, utilizing a system in which players can use Starlord to command other members of the Guardians into special team-up moves.
Marvel: 6 Best Games With Playable Guardians Of The Galaxy
The Guardians of the Galaxy have gone from comic obscurity to household names, and as such, have been playable characters in a number of games.
The downside, however, is specifically within the Nintendo Switch version of the game. While it is the same game, and offers all the positives of the other systems, players and critics alike regularly experience issues with the Switch version, given that it can only be played through cloud gaming. Players have reported performance issues and lag, resulting in an unreliable handheld experience that fails to capture the flair that other systems provide.
7 Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order
A Fun and Cooperative Marvel Experience
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order
- Released
- July 19, 2019
- Developer(s)
- Team Ninja, Koei Tecmo
- Platform(s)
- Switch
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order is a Nintendo Switch exclusive revival of the beloved Marvel Ultimate Alliance series. Released 10 years on from the previous title, it was welcomed into a gaming climate that loves Marvel media more than ever.
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order draws inspiration from all over Marvel comics and films. Character designs are pulled straight from the pages of the comics, such as the designs of Spider-Man and Hawkeye, or straight from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as seen with Rocket Raccoon. It couples this dense character roster with flashy and exciting gameplay, made all the more fun with the ability to play with up to three friends. Whilst simplistic, Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order offers an exciting handheld Marvel experience that can be played on the go and with friends.
6 LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2
A Multiversal Marvel LEGO Adventure
LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2
- Released
- November 14, 2017
- Developer(s)
- TT Games, Traveller's Tales
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure, Puzzle, Platformer, Fighting
LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 continues the fun and silly fan service of its predecessor, allowing players to take control of their favorite Marvel heroes throughout various levels and the new open world hub, Chronopolis. It all takes place in a comedic and family-friendly setting.
LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 is a well-regarded title by critics and players, offering fun and creative versions of well-known and obscure Marvel characters alike. The game also introduces multiple levels that were direct tie-ins to Marvel films, including Black Panther and Avengers: Infinity War. Despite the game's success, some players have argued that the weaker voice acting and less interesting open world mark LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 as a notable step down from its predecessor. This sentiment is echoed by the differing review scores for both games. Nonetheless, LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 is a fun and lighthearted handheld title for any Marvel fan.
5 Marvel Contest of Champions
Intense Fighting And An Expansive Roster
Marvel Contest of Champions
Marvel Contest of Champions is a free-to-play mobile fighting game that offers an accessible and fun fighting experience on-the-go, boasting a roster of over 250 beloved Marvel characters. Whilst players may find the title simplistic when compared to other, more competitive fighting games, it cannot be denied that Marvel Contest of Champions provides a fast-paced and fun casual fighting game experience.
Marvel Contest Of Champions: Tips For The Battlegrounds Mode
Players who want to dominate in Marvel Contest of Champions' Battlegrounds Mode should utilize these tips.
The large roster ensures players are likely to find at least one of their favorite Marvel characters to play. The Marvel license, along with the mobile nature of the game, allows for an accessible and stylized fighting game that is perfect for gamers who want that Marvel action fix whilst traveling or away from their home consoles.
4 Marvel Future Fight
The Definitive Marvel ARPG
- Platforms: IOS, Android
- Released: April 30, 2015
- Developer: Netmarble Monster
- Genre: Action-Roleplaying, Dungeoncrawler
Marvel Future Fight is a mobile action RPG with a focus on collecting and upgrading a plethora of Marvel characters to tackle various pieces of content, be they PvE or PvP. The game has a diverse and expansive roster of over 270 Marvel characters.
Marvel Future Fight offers a deeper mobile experience than gamers may initially expect. The game includes rich characterization, with an ever-evolving meta that keeps players engaged. It is free-to-play, and while it suffers from the monetization that many mobile titles do, the game provides players with a wealth of content for both free and paid players. Alongside this, the game has an expansive story and even prequel tie-in comics, allowing for a narrative experience alongside the gameplay. The handheld format allows for a compelling and deep on-the-go gaming experience for any Marvel fan.
3 LEGO Marvel Super Heroes
Equal Parts Funny And Action-Packed
LEGO Marvel Super Heroes
- Released
- October 22, 2013
- Developer(s)
- Traveller's Tales
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure
LEGO Marvel Super Heroes is one game in the long line of licensed LEGO titles that continue to hold a beloved and dedicated fanbase. As the first Marvel LEGO game, it exists as a monument to how expansive and deep the Marvel universe is. It offers a roster that spans The Fantastic Four, The Avengers, The X-Men, and many more.
It combines family-friendly humor and a simplistic but engaging gameplay loop to provide a perfect lighthearted, casual gaming experience when played on a handheld console like the Nintendo Switch. LEGO Marvel Super Heroes includes a large open world set within Manhattan. This large city-scape allows players to live out the superhero fantasy, be it flying around as Iron Man or swinging from buildings as Spider-Man. It combines the signature LEGO style with beloved Marvel characters to provide a fun title, perfect for handheld gaming.
2 Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3
A Competitive Fighting Game Experience
Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3
- Released
- November 15, 2011
- Developer(s)
- Eighting, Capcom
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 3, PS Vita, PlayStation 4, PC, Xbox One, Xbox 360
- Genre(s)
- Fighting
Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 is a unique title, but one beloved by players nonetheless. It pits characters of the Marvel universe alongside and against characters from Capcom games to create a truly unique fighting game experience. Its position as the third entry in the series allows for Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 to build upon the established formula set by the first two games.
Every Game In The Marvel Vs Capcom Series, Ranked From Worst To Best
The Marvel vs. Capcom series is a beloved one by fighting game and comic fans alike, but how do all of its entries stack up?
Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, specifically the PS Vita version, allows for a deep and mechanically complex fighting game, all whilst on a handheld console. The roster of fighters provides the game with its unique selling point in the fighting game market, allowing for unlikely crossovers, such as Phoenix Wright versus Wolverine or Wesker versus Thor. For Marvel fans looking for a competitive fighting game experience on the go, they can't go wrong with Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3.
1 Marvel Snap
Card Collection Meets Intense Strategy
Marvel SNAP
Marvel Snap is a free-to-play mobile card game, coupling an extensive roster of Marvel characters with a unique and strategic card-battler. It offers a compelling experience for both Marvel fans and gamers who enjoy the card game format.
Marvel Snap features card collecting, deck building and card upgrading as the crux of its progression. Players then bring their cards into a match against other players or the computer and attempt to win rounds through having a higher attack sum on the majority of the three lanes. Marvel Snap has modifiers on each lane that allow for a diverse match-to-match experience, requiring a good deck as well as plenty of strategy in the moment. Marvel Snap is praised by players and critics as it allows for a competitive card-battler experience alongside a roster of nearly 300 cards to collect and upgrade, all from the convenience of a mobile device.
10 Marvel Games That Are The Most Faithful To The Comic Books
These Marvel games take direct inspiration from some classic comic book arcs.