Summary

  • Marvel's Spider-Man 2 elevated the gameplay experience with an exciting story featuring Venom's menacing role.
  • Injustice: Gods Among Us offers an alternate timeline where heroes and villains swap roles in dynamic battles.
  • Infamous uses player decisions to shape Cole's hero or anti-hero journey in a gritty world waiting to be explored.

In a world where fans often find themselves captivated by the extraordinary feats of superheroes, video games have emerged as an immersive medium to explore their rich and dynamic narratives. These interactive experiences allow players to step into the shoes of iconic characters, experiencing their triumphs and tribulations firsthand.

As the gaming industry continues to evolve, fans bear witness to the rise of superhero games that not only deliver adrenaline-pumping action but also boast compelling, emotionally charged storylines that rival those found in blockbuster films and comic books. From the streets of Gotham to the cosmic reaches of distant galaxies, these games have transcended their mere gameplay mechanics and transformed into captivating storytelling masterpieces.

Updated on February 24, 2024 by Ritwik Mitra: There was a time when most players scoffed at the idea of a serious superhero game. A once-great studio turned this notion around, letting players enjoy a new era where games with superheroes were actually coveted by players instead of frowned upon. Most of these titles feature excellent scripts, amazing voice performances, and engrossing stories that will keep players engaged till the very end of an unforgettable experience. That's without mentioning the revolutions in superhero combat systems that make taking on waves of bad guys feel fantastic. With that in mind, we've updated this list with a few more titels to keep those superhero fans well fed.

13 Marvel's Spider-Man 2

A Sequel That's Bigger And Better In The Best Ways Possible

A screenshot of Spider-Man in his Symbiote costume in Marvel's Spider-Man 2.
A screenshot of Spider-Man in his Symbiote costume in Marvel's Spider-Man 2.
Marvel's Spider-Man 2
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Open-World
Action-Adventure
Superhero
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Released
October 20, 2023
Developer(s)
Insomniac Games
Platform(s)
PlayStation 5, PC
Genre(s)
Open-World, Action-Adventure, Superhero

After Insomniac's efforts to make the best Spider-Man game around reaped significant results, it was only a given that the sequel would take things in a bigger and bolder direction. This was the case with Marvel's Spider-Man 2, which was a blast to play through in every way.

Unlike most Spider-Man media that has introduced Venom, Marvel's Spider-Man 2 avoided the curse and let players enjoy a great story where Venom played a major role as an antagonist and came across as menacing and powerful as he does in the comics. The game's story took things in a bold direction, with fans loving what this title had to offer.

12 Injustice: Gods Among Us

DC's Heroes And Villains Take Center Stage In A Universe-Spanning Narrative

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Injustice: Gods Among Us
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Fighting
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Released
April 16, 2013
Developer(s)
NetherRealm Studios
Genre(s)
Fighting

NetherRealm Studios have become masters of developing fighting games with fun stories, and Injustice: Gods Among Us is no exception here. The storyline focuses on alternate timelines where heroes and villains swap roles, making for some fun matchups in the game's fighting showdowns.

The story mode is pretty accessible, and players can always lower the difficulty if a particular fight is posing some problems. The cinematics are impressive, with the narrative of Injustice being engaging enough to warrant a sequel and a comic book which further fleshed out the world and narrative.

11 Infamous

Cole MacGrath's Story Is A Riveting One With A Mind-Blowing Conclusion

Cole firing an electric beam at an enemy
inFAMOUS
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Action-Adventure
Open-World
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Released
May 26, 2009
Developer(s)
Sucker Punch
Platform(s)
PlayStation 3
Genre(s)
Action-Adventure, Open-World

One of the PlayStation 3's more popular titles, Infamous is an excellent superhero game made by Sucker Punch Studios. The story focuses on Cole MacGrath, a courier who gets electrical powers after a delivery goes wrong during a city-wide cataclysm.

Joker, Peter Parker, The Crow
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The story takies some wild twists and turns, with Cole's electrical powers mixing perfectly with the world Sucker Punch designed, and changing depending on the player's decisions to play Cole as a true hero or an anti-hero. It's a shame that this game hasn't been ported to modern platforms, since many people would love to explore the gritty world of Infamous once again.

10 Marvel's Spider-Man

A Well-Written Story That Focuses On A Mature Spider-Man

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Marvel's Spider-Man
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Released
September 7, 2018
Developer(s)
Insomniac Games

Marvel's Spider-Man is already one of the most critically acclaimed video games of all time, especially when it comes to the PlayStation console. Originally released in 2018, Marvel's Spider-Man quickly became one of the most hefty competitors for Game of the Year; many features, including its excellent narrative, make Marvel's Spider-Man such a beloved game.

In Marvel's Spider-Man, fans immediately are thrown in the shoes of Peter Parker, who has been swinging around New York City as Spider-Man for about eight years. Being a superhero for so long, Peter has a wide array of abilities, moves, and other features that help players to take on the Sinister Six, who are brutal in this take on the Web-Crawler. The game focuses on a new adaptation of the hero that doesn't sway too far from the character's source.

9 Saints Row 4

The Craziness Of Saints Row Is Cranked Up To The Max By Adding Superpowers

Cover art for Saints Row 4
Saints Row 4
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Third-Person Shooter
Open-World
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Released
August 20, 2013
Developer(s)
Volition
Platform(s)
PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Switch, PC, Stadia
Genre(s)
Third-Person Shooter, Open-World

Saints Row 4 is a unique take on the Saints Row franchise, and, upon release in 2013, instantly became the most popular title in the series. Saints Row 4 allows players to create their own character, who ends up becoming President of the United States. Quickly enough in this comedic and action-packed game, fans will have to fend off an alien invasion, known as the Zin.

As players progress, they'll unlock extraordinary abilities, discover fresh powers, and enhance their existing ones. This unique take on the superhero genre still remains one of the greatest, along with directing a narrative that drives a particular sense of captivation.

8 Marvel's Guardians Of The Galaxy

Fans Were Taken Aback By An Amazing Script And Emotionally-Charged Plot

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Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy
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Action-Adventure
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Released
October 26, 2021
Developer(s)
Eidos Montreal
Genre(s)
Action-Adventure

Guardians of the Galaxy became a big hit for the MCU with the release of the first live-action movie featuring the unlikely group of heroes. That said, it was only a matter of time before the team was handed their own video game. Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy comes in, bringing the same sense of comedy, love, action, and narrative that the movies did. In Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy, players will play as Star-Lord while using his leadership skills to command the other Guardians.

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Guardians Of The Galaxy: 10 Things You Might Not Know About Star-Lord

Star-Lord has an interesting bout of trivia from his time in games, movies, and comic books, proving this Guardians of the Galaxy leader is a mystery.

In this eventful plot, Star-Lord and the Guardians have to save the galaxy against a growing threat known as the Church of the Promise. Many familiar faces, such as Adam Warlock, Cosmo, and even Mantis are all colorful characters that add even more to that game's immersive story.

7 Batman: Arkham Series

Paved The Way For Serious Superhero Games To Become The Norm

Batman Arkham Collection
Batman Arkham Collection
Batman: Arkham Trilogy
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Action-Adventure
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Released
October 13, 2023
Platform(s)
Nintendo Switch
Genre(s)
Action-Adventure

The Batman: Arkham games pull along a story that spans over eight games (nine including Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League). The primary games in the series include:

  • Batman: Arkham Asylum
  • Batman: Arkham City
  • Batman: Arkham Origins
  • Batman: Arkham Knight

The portrayal of Batman in this comic book series is one of the best portrayals of the bat-themed hero and withholds the best superhero games of the 2010s. Players follow along as Bruce Wayne's Batman fights crime in a city called Arkham City. Throughout each game, many popular villains will test their might against the caped vigilante. From fighting the Joker to dealing with Red Hood, many stories are crafted with care and characters that are developed wonderfully.

6 InFamous: Second Son

A Fun Game That Expands On The World-Building Of Infamous

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inFAMOUS Second Son
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Released
March 21, 2014
Developer(s)
Sucker Punch
Platform(s)
PlayStation 4
Genre(s)
Action, Adventure

InFamous: Second Son stands as a shining example of a superhero game with a captivating storyline that leaves players immersed in a world of moral dilemmas and superhuman powers. As Delsin Rowe, players navigate a beautifully crafted open-world rendition of Seattle, harnessing a variety of elemental abilities like Smoke, Neon, Video, and Concrete.

The game's dynamic narrative unfolds through meaningful choices, allowing players to shape Delsin's journey and determine the path of heroism or villainy. With such a complex nature navigated throughout Infamous: Second Son, the game has become known for its tantalizing story accompanied by its addictive gameplay.

5 Marvel's Midnight Suns

Fun Story, Engaging Combat, And Great Character Moments

Marvel's Midnight Suns Hunter Skill Card 2
Marvel's Midnight Suns
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Tactical
RPG
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Released
December 2, 2022
Developer(s)
Firaxis Games
Platform(s)
PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X
Genre(s)
Tactical, RPG

Though Marvel's Midnight Suns is a specific type of game for fans of the tactical RPG genre, Midnight Suns is a wonderful experience through its strategic gameplay and incredible story. In Midnight Suns, players create a custom character known as The Hunter, who is the offspring of Lilith, a dark sorceress.

The plot takes The Hunter on a journey with choices to be made, and enemies to overcome. In between tactical gameplay though, Midnight Suns has great cutscenes, along with lore that can be found throughout The Abbey; these features add to the incredible, and lesser-known, account of the Midnight Suns team.

4 Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales

Shows How Miles Matures To Become A Competent Spider-Man

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Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales
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Released
November 12, 2020
Developer(s)
Insomniac Games
Genre(s)
Action, Adventure

Just like Marvel's Spider-Man, which introduced Miles Morales' character about halfway into the game, Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales stands to be one of the best superhero games today. It's not too different from Marvel's Spider-Man, but different enough to be a new experience that engages gamers in a different Spider-Man origin story.

In this adaptation, Miles Morales has to look after New York City while Peter is off on vacation. Though Miles struggles at first, the new Spider-Man of New York City is able to overcome plenty of challenges, and eventually take on some of the most well-developed villains of the franchise.