5 Best X-Men Games Ever Made, Ranked

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It’s been a long time since we’ve had a truly great X-Men video game. While the Marvel mutants appear in team-based games like Marvel Rivals, they haven’t been the main focus for years. With Insomniac’s Marvel’s Wolverine on the horizon, we might finally get another X-Men game soon. However, it’s too early to say if it will be one of the best, as it has a high bar to clear considering the competition.

As a huge X-Men fan, I’ve played a lot of their video games over the years – and there have been so many! From the classic arcade brawlers to more complex action games, there’s always been a way to play as your favorite mutant. But let’s be real, some of those games haven’t aged very well. So, I decided to put together a list of what I think are the best X-Men games ever. I’m basing my rankings on what critics said at the time, what fans thought, and honestly, how much I still enjoy playing them today!

5) X-Men (Sega Genesis)

Man, I remember this X-Men game from ’93! It was one of the first on consoles, and it came out only for the Sega Genesis. Crazy thing is, it never got a remake or even a port to other systems. It’s seriously hard, though – enemies are placed to really mess you up, and some of those bosses felt almost unbeatable. But despite all that, I still have a soft spot for it. It was a really fun action game, even if it was super challenging, and it let me play as the X-Men back when we didn’t have many options!

Even though it’s a challenging game, the Sega Genesis X-Men is a fun trip down memory lane for fans of the series. Players can control Cyclops, Gambit, Nightcrawler, or Wolverine, which is great for anyone who wants to play as their favorite character. The game had pretty good graphics and sound for its time, and it really brought the X-Men to life better than previous games. So, despite being quite difficult, X-Men remains one of the best X-Men games ever made.

3) X-Men: Mutant Academy

Among the movie-based games we recommend is X-Men: Mutant Academy, released for the original PlayStation and Game Boy Color to coincide with the 2000 X-Men film. It was one of the first 3D fighting games in the X-Men universe, though it largely plays like a traditional 2D fighter. The Game Boy version was simple due to the handheld’s limitations, but the PlayStation version holds a special place in the memories of many X-Men fans. Though it doesn’t break much new ground, the PlayStation version and its sequels remain solid choices for fans of the genre.

While the graphics were good for their time, Mutant Academy truly stands out because of its characters. The game features nine playable heroes, with a few extra options available on certain consoles. Players can choose from costumes based on both the comic books and the movies. For X-Men fans who remember the PlayStation 1, this game is still a beloved classic, offering a fun and familiar gameplay experience with a strong dose of nostalgia.

2) X-Men Origins: Wolverine

It’s weird, but the game based on what’s generally considered one of the worst X-Men movies is actually one of the best superhero games ever made, and a top-tier X-Men game overall. The movie, X-Men Origins, was a confusing disaster that really didn’t respect the comics, but the game surprised me. The developers smartly didn’t just copy the movie’s story; they mixed it with a plot that felt much more like the comics I grew up with. And honestly, that’s a huge part of why X-Men Origins: Wolverine is still a really fun and memorable game.

Even though it was based on the X-Men Origins: Wolverine movie, the game offered exciting and brutal action. It had diverse combat, a fast pace, and encouraged players to use their surroundings. As you play, you unlock new powers, which makes the game feel rewarding. While reviewers weren’t completely sold, fans really enjoyed it, especially the more intense Uncaged Edition. Many still consider it one of the best Wolverine games ever made, and it remains to be seen if Insomniac’s Marvel’s Wolverine can surpass it.

2) X-Men vs. Street Fighter

Capcom first brought the X-Men to the fighting game world with X-Men: Children of the Atom in 1994. Though fans have a soft spot for it, the game was known for being quite challenging. Subsequent X-Men fighting games in arcades refined the gameplay and made the difficulty more manageable. That’s why the 1996 crossover, X-Men vs. Street Fighter, deserves a place among the best X-Men games ever made. It was the third X-Men fighting game from Capcom, and while it’s also a Street Fighter title, it still heavily features the X-Men.

Unlike Children of the Atom, X-Men vs. Street Fighter is a smooth and enjoyable fighting game with quick, exciting battles. It features good-looking arcade graphics and a fun team-based fighting system, making it a beloved title for many X-Men fans. While you might still find the original arcade game, it was also released for PlayStation and Sega Saturn. Luckily, it’s now easily accessible as part of the 2024 Marvel Vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics.

1) X-Men: Legends

Most X-Men fans agree that the Legends games offer the best way to play as the characters. The main discussion is whether the first X-Men: Legends game or its sequel is better. While the second game improves on the original in several ways, I recommend starting with the first one – both are great and worth playing. X-Men: Legends, released in 2004 for GameCube, PlayStation 2, and Xbox, along with its sequel, still stand as the best X-Men games ever made.

X-Men: Legends is an action role-playing game where you control a team in fast-paced battles. It boasts a huge selection of 15 playable characters – the most in any single-player X-Men game to date. As you progress, you can unlock new abilities for your team, which is really rewarding. The game’s comic book-style graphics and RPG features create a truly immersive experience, making you feel like you’re actually an X-Men member. The sequel captured that same feeling, but unfortunately, we never received a third installment, which is a real shame.

What’s your all-time favorite X-Men video game? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-02-22 00:41