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Marvel heroes have been mainstays in video games since 1982, when Spider-Man first swung onto the Atari 2600 in a titular outing. But not every attempt to bring the dynamic heroes to digital life has met with success (if you don’t remember The Uncanny X-Men on the NES, your life is better for it).
At the movies, Marvel remains a hot property, as we learned from all the announcements at Comic-Con . And we already know Marvel’s Wolverine is looking good on PlayStation 5, despite the drama surrounding its upcoming release . But all of that stuff is for the future. In the present, we don’t have to wait to control our favorite heroes and villains because we already have a bunch of terrific options across a range of genres. Here are the 10 best Marvel video games of all time, available to play right now.
Where to play: PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox Series X, Xbox One
Developed by Firaxis Games, which is well-known for its work on the tactical XCOM series, Marvel’s Midnight Suns incorporates deck-building to let players use their army of heroes to thwart the resurrected Lilith. Turn-based combat incorporates environmental hazards, along with waves of enemies and chained attacks. There are 13 playable characters in the base game. Expansions have added another 4. It’s a surprisingly diverse group comprising heroes who are poised to factor heavily in future Marvel events. Ghost Rider is getting a new movie starring Ryan Gosling , for example.
Some players love collecting virtual cards every bit as much as real ones, which is precisely the point of Marvel Snap . Rather, it’s one point. The game has generated considerable praise because it blends elements from a few styles of play with a beautiful layer of Marvel nostalgia painted over the top of a compelling gameplay loop. Early on, it’s easy to unlock a variety of great characters from the first two in-game series, but the brisk pacing slows a bit for later seasons as some player agency gets lost in the weeds. That’s pretty typical of mobile titles in general, though, and it doesn’t prevent Marvel Snap from being one of the best experiences you can have on your favorite portable device.
Where to play: PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, Switch
Thanks to the popular film trilogy that James Gunn helmed before leaving for DC pastures, the Guardians of the Galaxy are more beloved than ever. Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy explores their universe in detail, placing players in control of Peter Quill (Star-Lord). Combat also features computer-controlled allies, each with their own useful abilities, who can be given commands throughout battle. An interesting plot with branching dialog mixes well with polished third-person action gameplay, not unlike a Naughty Dog game, which all adds up to an adventure that Marvel players won’t want to miss.
Developed by Radical Entertainment, which was on a bit of a hot streak around that time, The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction features a sandbox environment. Players can smash it to bits either with Hulk’s fists, or by wielding objects he finds along the way. If he goes overboard, however, he’ll attract an unwelcome military response. Hulk can unleash his most devastating moves only after building up his meter while taking damage or wreaking havoc, or by nearing his end and trying to recover with a final surge of adrenaline. New abilities unlock over the course of the adventure, and there also are collectibles, including artwork, skins, and even cheats (someone on the development team must have felt like our writer, who recently argued that more video games need to let you cheat ).
Where to play: 3DS, DS, Wii U, PS3, PS4, Vita, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Mac, PC, Switch
Doctor Doom and Loki are trying to conquer the world with a powerful doom ray, and only the Avengers can stop them. The thing is, all of the familiar heroes and villains are built of plastic Lego blocks. That fact keeps the dark subject matter from becoming too much for younger players to handle. They will enjoy playing cooperatively with others, although there isn’t support for online play. If you have a younger sibling or child looking for something suitable to play, you could do a lot worse… especially if they love Marvel characters.
Where to play: Arcade, Dreamcast, PS2, Xbox, Xbox 360, PS3, iOS
There was a span of a few years when 2D fighting games were all the rage, particularly those that came from Capcom. The developer kept things fresh by producing crossovers with other media, scoring a massive hit with the team-based Marvel vs. Capcom in 1998. The sequel was better in virtually every way, offering a larger roster, fuller control over fighters, and additional background depth despite the lack of actual 3D. Tagging characters in and out felt fluid. Even players new to the franchise could quickly get up to speed (although they couldn’t quickly compete with more practiced opponents). There were some slight balancing issues that impacted competitive play, but the title’s capabilities as a quarter muncher were practically unrivaled and it inspired some of us to buy arcade sticks and practice up at home.
Where to play: GBA, PSP, PS2, PS3, PS4, Wii, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC
Raven Software had earned quite the reputation for itself by the time it went to work on Marvel Ultimate Alliance , with experience on Hexen and Soldier of Fortune , as well as Jedi Knight . It turned that expertise to the Marvel universe, producing first the X-Men Legends games and then Marvel Ultimate Alliance . In that second series, players select a team of four characters (out of more than 20 options), which can optionally be controlled by friends. There are a variety of roster members who often got less attention in video games of the period, including Elektra, Namor, and Spider-Woman. The game varies a bit from one platform to another, but it has something worthwhile to offer wherever you choose to play it. Unfortunately, the remasters for more recent hardware ha...
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