Summary
- Superman video games have often been disappointing, unlike Batman or Spider-Man titles.
- A few Superman games like Taito's Superman arcade game and Superman: Shadow Of Apokolips manage to excel.
- DC ensemble games like Justice League Heroes and Injustice include Superman as a powerhouse character.
Despite being the grandfather of the modern superhero, Superman has not had the same kind of luck in video game form as characters like Batman or Spider-Man. Most games starring the Man of Steel have been disappointments, with the prime example being the infamous Superman game for the Nintendo 64, due to its broken controls, glitches, and unfinished state.
DC: Best Superman Comics For Beginners To Start With
Beginners hoping to jump into the world of Superman can do so easily by starting off with the following comic book series.
However, there is the occasional DC game featuring Superman that surprises gamers. Even if they aren’t flawless or happen to feature other DC characters, they are still worth checking out if someone is a fan of Superman. They span across numerous genres, from open-world adventures to tournament fighter games, allowing developers to adapt the powers of the mighty Kryptonian in creative ways.
8 Superman Returns
Ambitious Superman Adventure That Needed Better Execution
Superman Returns
- Released
- November 20, 2006
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action
Based on the 2006 live-action movie, Superman Returns features a collection of strong ideas that would make for a great Superman title, such as the city’s health being how Superman wins or loses. It features an open-world Metropolis for players to fly at surprisingly accurate speeds, which was ahead of its time in 2006, and it has far more action than the movie it's based on.
Unfortunately, Superman Returns is bogged down by its monotonous gameplay, which mainly involves thwarting crimes repeatedly to keep the city’s health up. There is fun to be had, especially with villains like Bizarro, Mongul, Metallo, and Riot, to make the game feel like it takes place in a fully-fledged Superman mythos.
7 The Death And Return Of Superman
Five Supermen For The Price Of One
The Death and Return of Superman
- Released
- August 1, 1994
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Beat 'Em Up, Adventure
In the same vein as Final Fight or Spider-Man: Maximum Carnage, players control characters in linear levels, defeating enemies with classic beat-‘em-up controls. The twist is that The Death and Return of Superman features Steel, Superboy, The Eradicator, Cyborg Superman, and Superman himself, all playable at some point throughout the journey.
Despite the simplicity of the arcade-style gameplay, each of the Supermen has unique moves and abilities. The developers at Sunsoft showed as much care for the source material as they did for Batman, so there is a nice mix of familiar elements and enough expanded material to fit the concept into an action-packed campaign.
6 Superman: Shadow Of Apokolips
A Superb Sequel Overshadowed By Its Predecessor
Superman: Shadow of Apokolips
- Released
- September 25, 2002
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure
As it was a pseudo-sequel to Superman 64, most people were quick to ignore Superman: Shadow of Apokolips when it first released, since it was also based on Superman: The Animated Series. However, it is leagues ahead of its predecessor in almost every way, from the art direction to the gameplay to even the story.
8 Hardest Superman Games, Ranked
Countless Superman games have been released throughout the years, but some are much more difficult than others.
This is arguably the first time a game made the player truly feel like Superman, thanks to improved controls and open-ended levels that utilize the hero’s speed and strength effectively. While it’s not perfect, Superman: Shadow of Apokolips delivers on being an interactive episode of the DC animated series, with plenty of villains to fight and one of the better stories for a Superman title.
5 Superman (1989)
Fly Through The Arcade Skies
Superman (1988 Arcade Game)
- Genre(s)
- Beat 'Em Up
Taito is known for creating many iconic arcade classics, including Space Invaders and Arkanoid. In 1988, they released a beat-'em-up titled Superman, which shares similarities with The Death and Return of Superman. In this version, players control a classic representation of Superman as he defends Earth from the invading forces of Emperor Zaas.
Boasting well-animated sprites and the iconic John Williams’ score, Superman looks and sounds like a proper game for the character, but thankfully, the gameplay also backs it up. Rather than just walking, players can also fly to fight aerial enemies or dodge attacks from grounded enemies. It’s as simple as a beat-‘em-up can get, but it's still fun to play, especially with a friend who can control the red version of Superman.
4 Justice League Heroes
Superman Is One Of Many Characters In This RPG
Justice League Heroes
- Released
- September 10, 2006
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T // Fantasy Violence, Mild Language
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
Justice League Heroes features the classic team of heroes going up against Brainiac, Gorilla Grodd, Darkseid, and many others in a simple but fun DC adventure straight out of a comic book. It features seven base characters, including Superman, as one of the first. Other characters can be unlocked for use, such as Supergirl, Green Arrow, Aquaman, and Hawkgirl.
Co-op gameplay is often regarded as the best way to experience the game, but even when playing solo, Justice League Heroes is still considered a strong dungeon-crawling RPG. Each character possesses unique abilities that can be leveled up, allowing for diverse gameplay experiences. Additionally, there are various costumes to unlock for each character. Superman, for instance, embodies the classic superhero with powers such as heat vision, super-breath, flight, and a focus on super-strength.
3 Injustice: Gods Among Us
Superman Is The Shao Kahn To Batman’s Raiden
Injustice: Gods Among Us
- Released
- April 16, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Blood, Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Tobacco, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Fighting
Before it became a trend, Injustice: Gods Among Us was the game that brought attention to an evil version of Superman. It depicts an alternate reality where the Joker kills Lois Lane and destroys Metropolis, transforming Superman into a ruthless tyrant who treats Earth as his personal playground.
From a gameplay perspective, the game was developed by NetherRealm, the studio known for the Mortal Kombat series, so it follows a similar format but includes unique features that make it stand out. In the realm of superhero fighting games, Injustice: Gods Among Us became a definitive title for the DC fandom, allowing iconic characters like Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman to take center stage.
2 LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes
Superman Is Just As Much Of A Star As Batman
LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes
- Released
- June 19, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ due to Cartoon Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure
Going off the title, it’s easy to see that Batman is the star of the game, but Superman is pivotal to the story of LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes as Batman’s friend and partner. With Lex Luthor and Joker both causing chaos in Gotham City, Superman teams up with Batman to fight the villains in a family-friendly adventure.
LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes successfully introduced the first true open-world Superman game. Gotham City is fully explorable in LEGO form, and Superman has all of his signature powers. With excellent flight controls and the iconic John Williams theme, the game highlights the potential for a standalone Superman experience.
1 Injustice 2
Superman Can Be Completely Customized
Injustice 2
- Released
- May 11, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Alcohol Reference, Blood, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Fighting
NetherRealm Studios took what they did with the first Injustice and amplified it with greater visuals, polished combat, and an even more epic storyline revolving around Superman and Brainiac. The roster in Injustice 2 is even bigger, thanks to the three game's different factions, showcasing what the alternate universe looks like after the fall of Superman’s regime.
Superman and the rest of the returning DC characters play even better than before alongside the new characters, but the true highlight of the game is how these characters look. With the deep customization system, grinding through matches as any character unlocks gear to decorate a character from head to toe, allowing someone to create the Superman or Supergirl of their dreams.
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