After taking a four-year hiatus from consoles, Spider-Man is finally set to return in Insomniac’s Spider-Man for the PlayStation 4 in just a couple of months. With such a great developer at the helm, it appears that this game will challenge Batman’s Arkham games for the title of best superhero video game ever. But even if it doesn’t there are still a ton of Spider-Man titles that have stood the test of time across several console generations.
From side-scrolling beat em ups to 3D action adventure titles and massive open world free roaming games, Spider-Man has been dipped his webs into many different kinds of games and has at least one classic in all of them. Some titles emphasize different aspects of the Spider-Man license more than others but there are plenty of them that capture the fun to be had in controlling such a nimble and powerful character like Spider-Man should be.
But don’t get me wrong; there are tons of bad Spidey games as well. While it’s hard to find common underlying issues with all ten bad games featured on this list, there are a few linked problems. Bad controls, tremendous difficulty, and poor presentation are all things that turn any Spider-Man game into a pile of puke. With all that said, I’m going to give you the low down on which Spider-Man games you should play to get psyched for the upcoming PS4 game and ten that you should swing away from at all costs.
20 Amazing: Spider-Man (PS1)
The defining Spider-Man game for an entire generation of gamers, Spider-Man for the PS1, N64, PC, and Dreamcast remains to this day a classic even if its flaws are starting to show.
The humor in this title is one of its more underrated aspects.
It’s true that the story doesn’t make a whole lot of sense and the web-swinging is archaic, but this game is so chock full of charm and style that you don’t mind. The voice acting is top notch, the levels are varied and the boss fights are memorable epic affairs. The soundtrack by the famous Tommy Tallarico has also stood the test of time for its funky, upbeat and energetic tracks. Consider yourself lucky if you still got a copy of this classic.
19 Forget: Spider-Man (Atari 2600)
Alright, this may be a controversial pick, but I’ll stand by it. It’s true, this is a humble Atari 2600 game released over 30 years ago and is the first Spider-Man video game ever made, but that doesn’t mean it’s a good time.
Instead of a sprawling adventure where you face off against various foes from Spidey’s villain roster, the entire game consists of Spider-Man scaling a building being guarded by the Green Goblin. Once you touch the “Super Bomb” at the top, you win. For a nimble character, Spidey controls like a turtle and the Goblin does nothing but move back and forth. A soulless and lifeless entry in Spidey’s gaming catalog.
18 Amazing: The Amazing Spider-Man Vs. The Kingpin
Spider-Man’s upcoming PS4 title is exclusive to Sony and will likely drive consumers to buy their own PS4 to play the game. Well, back in the early 90s, the web-Slinger did the exact same thing but for Sega.
Having to take pics of enemies to make money to create web fluid? Brilliant!
The Amazing Spider-Man vs The Kingpin was the first Spidey game that attempted to tell a true comic book story of the Kingpin framing Spider-Man for stealing a nuclear bomb. He also employed tons of Spidey’s villains such as Doc Ock, Vulture, and the Hobgoblin to stop the hero. Shoutout especially to the Sega CD version for being one of the best titles on that flawed system.
17 Forget: Spider-Man: Friend Or Foe
If I was judging these games on concept alone, then Spider-Man: Friend or Foe might be on the amazing side. All of Spider-Man’s friends and foes teaming up to take down Mysterio and his symbiote army in a co-op beat em up? This has to be fun! And it is… for 10 minutes.
This game boasts the biggest roster of any Spider-Man game but unfortunately, all the characters aside from Spidey himself have the depth of a piece of paper. You’ll get tired of their movesets really quickly and the game is laughably easy. If you’re above the age of 7, this game would bore you fast and that shouldn’t happen in a title where you can team Spider-Man up with his diverse villain roster.
16 Amazing: Ultimate Spider-Man
For those who don’t know, the Ultimate Universe was Marvel’s push in the early 2000s to create a new world for their characters to be imagined in modern times. There was only one video game directly based in that world, and it was a goodie.
You get to eat the annoying balloon child from Spider-Man 2 in this game. Are you sold yet?
Ultimate Spider-Man had a massive reputation to live up to being the first game after Spider-Man 2 but it doesn’t disappoint. Not only do you play as Spidey, but you also play as Venom and unlike other games, the two play completely differently. The cel-shaded graphics are a delight and the story written by Brian Michael Bendis is a gripping tale. A hidden gem in the Spider-Man’s gaming lineup.
15 Forget: Spider-Man & The X-Men: Arcade’s Revenge
In the 1990s, the X-Men and Spider-Man were by far the most popular properties in Marvel Comics so it only made sense to mash them into a game together. Unfortunately, this game was anything but a winner.
Not a good Spidey game, but definitely the weirdest one thanks to the bizarre villain Arcade.
One of the most punishingly difficult Spider-Man games ever, this game has no password, continue, or save systems of any sort. Not only that, but the lives are shared by all characters meaning there is no room to mess up. Enemies are too fast and stage obstacles are impossible to deal with ensuring that gamers will break their controllers before getting past the second level.
14 Amazing: Spider-Man Shattered Dimensions
In recent years, the number of alternate universe Spider-Man has risen up to massive proportions so it would only make sense that a Spider-Man game would take advantage of this. That game is Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions.
The narrator of this game is none other than Stan Lee.
In this game, you take control of the “main” Spider-Man, Ultimate Spider-Man (wearing the black symbiote suit), Spider-Man Noir and Spider-Man 2099. Each Spider-Man has their own gameplay styles and all of them have different graphical styles to them. With its medal system and varied gameplay, this may be the Spidey game with the most replay value. Who says Spider-Man games need to be free roaming when they’re this good?
13 Forget: The Amazing Spider-Man 2
Considered by most Spider-Man fans to be the worst of the films, Amazing Spider-Man 2’s tie-in game could have made up for the shortcomings of the film. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the case.
This game was French-Canadian studio Beenox’ fourth Spidey game in five years and the fatigue shows in this title. Not only is it glitchy, but there are so many half-baked elements to this game that make it reek of a rushed product. From branching dialogue that has no payoff to a stupid “Menace” system that punishes the player for not completing mundane side quests, this title is a failed mess all around.
12 Amazing: Spider-Man: Web Of Shadows
The symbiote black suit is a juicy part of Spider-Man’s mythology and is something that is ripe for the basis of a video game. No game pulled this off better than Spider-Man: Web of Shadows.
By far the best combat in any Spider-Man game. Period.
The symbiote influences Spider-Man’s behavior and this plays off in the game as you can make good or evil choices to craft the narrative to your liking. As fun as it is to swing around the city in this game, the combat is really where this game shines. Both the classic suit and symbiote suits have their own skill trees and you can switch between them at will. Just stick avoid the PS2 version of this game as it’s a massive downgrade compared to its seventh generation brothers.
11 Forget: Spider-Man: Web Of Fire
The rarest and most obscure Spider-Man game on the list, Spider-Man: Web of Fire on the Sega 32X is an extremely rare game with prices of over a 1000$ on eBay. Does that mean it’s a good game? Not even at all.
In a change of pace from most Spidey titles, the masked hero takes on HYDRA instead of his normal rogues gallery but instead of being refreshing it just pits Spidey against a bunch of C-list villains like Dragon Man and The Eel. Aside from that, the game just feels lazy and rushed with repetitive levels, terrible combat, and a boring story. It is not worth hundreds of cents, let alone dollars.
10 Amazing: Spider-Man 2: Enter Electro
Everyone is familiar with the first Spider-Man game on the PS1, but not many know that there was actually a sequel to this game. While Spider-Man 2: Enter Electro doesn’t quite hit the mark like its predecessor did, it’s still a rocking good time.
Who doesn’t want another create-a-costume feature in a new game?
While the previous title got way out there with a symbiote invasion storyline, this one is a much gritter street-level drama with villains like Shocker, Hammerhead, and Sandman. The controls are improved, Spidey has a more fleshed out moveset and a cool create-a-costume feature is included that lets you mix and match different powers to different skins. If you played the first one, you have to pick this one up as well.
9 Forget: Spider-Man 3
When I was a kid, I never was more hyped for a game than Spider-Man 3. After the string of incredible titles they produced like Ultimate Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2, I was sure this game was going to blow my socks off. I was wrong.
So. Many. Quick. Time. Events.
The good news is that the web swinging and overall movement is just as good as the previous movie title. The bad news is that everything else has gone down. Character models look ugly, the game is buggy, combat lacks any satisfaction and the boss fights are completely lame. Out of all the Treyarch Spider-Man titles, this remains the black sheep. And it ain’t because of the underused symbiote suit.
8 Amazing: Spider-Man: The Movie
As the first Spider-Man to be released in the PS2/Xbox/GameCube era, the first movie based Spider-Man game had to make a good impression. Thankfully for fans of the arachnid, Spider-Man: The Movie nails the web-line.
While it sticks to the level based format of the PS1 titles, the game does have quite a few levels where you’re fighting in the sky against foes like Vulture and the Green Goblin. While the base game is good enough on its own, it’s the bonus features where this game shines. Tons of costumes, several bonus training games and oh yeah, a fully playable Green Goblin with his own moveset and storyline! Going glider for glider against another Goblin in the story is such a blast that you need to get this game even 15 years later.
7 Forget: Spider-Man/Venom: Separation Anxiety
The SNES/Genesis era was rife with Spider-Man titles but on paper Spider-Man/Venom: Separation Anxiety should have been the best of them all. The sequel to the popular Spider-Man/Venom: Maximum Carnage, this game adds co-op multiplayer allowing two friends to control Spidey and Venom as they pound Venom’s symbiote guys in a beat em up. So how could it go wrong?
Well, almost everything is a downgrade from its predecessor. The music, while okay, isn’t up to par, the combat feels sluggish and the difficulty has gone up even compared to its tough prequel. And what do you get for finishing this game? Absolutely nothing. A blatant cash in on its smash hit prequel, this one isn’t worth it.
6 Amazing: Spider-Man/Venom: Maximum Carnage
As a comic book storyline, Maximum Carnage is loathed by Spider-Man fans for being boring, overly long and ultra dumb. The video game tie-in, however, is the finest Spidey game of the 16-bit era.
If this had multiplayer, it would probably be one of the best beat-em-ups of the era.
Everything about this game feels just right. Spidey and Venom’s movesets have just enough variety to keep you entertained, their mobility is pretty good, and the length of the game is perfect for this genre. The presentation is also great with actual comic book panels and a rocking soundtrack. The game is also just right in difficulty, something lacking in its sequel. If you get one 16 bit Spidey game, make it this one.
5 Forget: Spider-Man: Return Of The Sinister Six
The first Spider-Man game to hit the NES, the movie-based Batman game on the system showed that superhero side-scrollers can be amazing. Unlike this game’s titles suggest, though, this is most certainly not amazing.
Despite being one of the most agile superheroes, Spider-Man in this game controls like a waterlogged truck. All of his movements are incredibly sluggish making the game’s punishing difficulty even worse than it already is. The hit detection doesn’t help as your attacks will often go right through enemies and the music is repetitive like an Uncle Ben passing. It’s also amazing that the wall-crawler can’t climb many walls in this game. Brilliant.
4 Amazing: Spider-Man: Mysterio’s Menace
Mysterio winds up being the big bad in several Spider-Man games, and that trend seems to have begun with this Game Boy Advance title. Good thing is that the first attempt was a success.
The perfect difficulty balance gives you incentive to finish, but doesn’t crush your spirit.
The best way to describe this game is if Spider-Man on the PS1 was made into a 2D titel. You go around the levels collecting power-ups, beating up Spidey’s villains and uncovering secrets. The presentation is excellent with awesome comic book art and great music very befitting of the web-head. If you were ever looking for a great Spider-Man game on the go, there is no better option than Spider-Man: Mysterio’s Menace.
3 Forget: Spider-Man: The Video Game
Co-op beat em ups were about as common as bread crumbs in the 1990s and even Spider-Man got in on the action with Spider-Man: The Video Game by Sega in 1991. But unlike classics like TMNT: Turtles In Time or Streets of Rage, this game hasn’t stood the test of time.
While the game looks colorful, the character selection makes little sense. Just why in the world were Namor and Hawkeye chosen to be playable in a Spider-Man game? The characters’ movesets are all limited, the sprite for Spidey makes him look like an anemic weakling and he is about as mobile as somebody who just got off the couch after a Netflix binge. This game has never been ported anywhere, and that’s a good thing.
2 Amazing: Spider-Man 2
Now for the game which many consider to be the premier Spider-Man game, the movie tie-in Spider-Man 2 is worthy of its lofty reputation.
The Mysterio boss battle in this game is the best boss in any Spider-Man title. Believe it.
This was the first Spider-Man game to really nail how it would feel to move like the web-slinger. The swinging and movement controls are picture perfect and to some have yet to be topped to this day. The combat also gives you plenty of options to work with and the story missions are a blast. While it’s far from a perfect game, its legacy is so influential and long-lasting that it easily earns its spot on the list.
1 Forget: Spider-Man The Animated Series
The above picture is about as good as this game gets because the rest of the game is all downhill.
Spider-Man The Animated Series on the SNES and Genesis has such a great cartoon to base their game off of that it’s a shame it comes out so poorly. Spider-Man feels like he weighs a ton because of the poor controls and the sound is laughable for a 1995 SNES game. For a cartoon with such style, the game comes off as such a lifeless husk with bland levels and pitiful combat for Spidey. Do yourself a favor and just re-watch the cartoon instead of playing this game.
