Spider-Man is arguably the most popular comic book character ever, and he’s been featured in countless video games since his debut on the Atari 2600 in 1982. He’s appeared on nearly every gaming console and handheld device since then. While over 60 Spider-Man games exist across various genres, we focused on the main titles where Spider-Man is the star. That leaves us with 36 games, ranging from excellent to just okay. We’ve chosen the best versions of games based on movies and ranked them using reviews from when they were first released, how enjoyable they are to play, and how much they contribute to Spider-Man’s story both in games and beyond.
36) The Amazing Spider-Man (1990)
If you’re familiar with notoriously bad video games from the 80s and 90s, you’ve likely heard of LJN. The company had a reputation for making disappointing games, and The Amazing Spider-Man for the Game Boy was a prime example. The story revolves around Spider-Man trying to protect his secret identity from villains while rescuing Mary Jane after she’s been kidnapped. While the game attempts to capture the feel of the Spider-Man comics, it doesn’t quite succeed, and many players were left disappointed with their purchase.
35) Spider-Man (1995)
In 1995, a side-scrolling Spider-Man game was released for both the Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo. While the core story is consistent between the two versions, there are some differences – the SNES version has six levels compared to the Genesis’s five. The game draws inspiration from the Spider-Man animated series that aired from 1994 to 1998, but it wasn’t a particularly strong adaptation. It feels shallow, Spider-Man’s attacks aren’t very powerful and don’t quite fit his character, and the game generally doesn’t deliver a satisfying experience.
34) The Amazing Spider-Man: Web of Fire
Released in 1996 for the Sega 32X, The Amazing Spider-Man: Web of Fire is an action-adventure game where Spider-Man must protect New York City from a dangerous alliance between Hydra and the New Enforcers. He receives help from Daredevil, but the game wasn’t very successful. In fact, it was one of the last games released for the 32X before Sega stopped making the system in North America. Because of this, very few people played it. While not a classic, Web of Fire does offer solid side-scrolling action, though its graphics haven’t aged well.
33) The Amazing Spider-Man 3: Invasion of the Spider-Slayers
While an improvement over the original Spider-Man Game Boy game, Spider-Man 3: Invasion of the Spider-Slayers wasn’t a huge success. Developed by Acclaim, the game only loosely follows the plot of the movie. Players control Spider-Man as he battles waves of Spider-Slayer robots, along with villains like Electro. The main threat comes from Alistair Smythe, the son of the Spider-Slayers’ creator. Overall, it’s a slight step up from the first game, but not as well-received as the second installment.
32) Spider-Man 2 (1992)
The first and third Spider-Man games on Game Boy weren’t very popular with fans, but the second one was a bit of an improvement. It moved away from simple platforming and became more of an action-adventure game where Spider-Man is falsely accused of a bank robbery by some of his classic enemies. He travels through different themed levels, fighting villains and trying to prove his innocence. Spider-Man 2 added puzzles to make the game more challenging and interesting, and it was generally well-received by both critics and players.
31) Spider-Man: Toxic City
Released in 2009 for older phones, Spider-Man: Toxic City is an action game with 13 levels and 4 extra challenges. It tries to tell a complicated story and includes collectibles like golden spiders and comic books. Spider-Man can wear different suits, including the Black Suit, but unfortunately, the game doesn’t come together very well. It mostly involves repeatedly pressing buttons, and players will likely wish they had a controller. While the graphics were decent for their time, they couldn’t save the frustrating gameplay, making Spider-Man: Toxic City feel more like a tedious task than an enjoyable game.
30) Spider-Man (1982)
The first Spider-Man video game came out for the Atari 2600 in 1982 and was quite innovative for its time. It was also the first game ever made based on a Marvel Comics character! The story involves a prison break and Norman Osborn’s plan to destroy the Empire State Building. As Spider-Man, you swing into action to stop Osborn’s henchmen, fight your way to the boss, and prevent him from detonating a powerful bomb. While it holds up well considering the technology of the era – it only had 2 kilobytes of space on the game cartridge! – modern gamers might not find it as engaging. Still, it’s a remarkably impressive game with some clever ideas given the hardware limitations.
29) The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)
The last movie in The Amazing Spider-Man series inspired several video games for different consoles. While The Amazing Spider-Man 2 isn’t a direct adaptation of the film, it takes place in the same universe and expands on the movie’s story with characters and ideas from the comic books. However, the game received a lot of criticism upon release. Many reviewers disliked the story, writing, and especially the repetitive combat, which felt like simply pressing buttons over and over.
28) The Amazing Spider-Man (1990)
The Game Boy version of The Amazing Spider-Man wasn’t very good, but the computer version was much more successful. Released in 1990 for Amiga and Commodore 64 computers (and later on other systems), the game follows Spider-Man as he tries to rescue Mary Jane from the clutches of Mysterio. It’s a classic platformer broken up into different levels, or acts. What really stood out at the time was the animation of Spider-Man himself – it used a remarkable 256 frames to create smooth and varied movements.
27) Spider-Man: Friend or Foe
Spider-Man: Friend or Foe is an action-packed game where you fight enemies as Spider-Man and a teammate. While inspired by the Spider-Man movies in terms of look and feel, it tells its own original story and isn’t connected to the film series. The game is known for its humor, but can be a little too easy, and the fighting can become repetitive. It’s currently difficult to find, as it’s no longer available for purchase digitally due to licensing problems – you’ll need a physical copy if you want to play it.
26) The Amazing Spider-Man: Lethal Foes
Even though we’re mostly focusing on games released in North America, The Amazing Spider-Man: Lethal Foes is worth mentioning. It came out in Japan for the Super Famicom in 1995 and is a platforming game, but it doesn’t follow the Lethal Foes storyline from the Spider-Man comics. The game features a lot of Spider-Man villains and a surprisingly involved story. The gameplay is generally enjoyable, and the graphics are solid, though each level has timed checkpoints, which might be frustrating if you don’t like that feature.
25) Questprobe featuring Spider-Man
Questprobe featuring Spider-Man was one of the earliest video games to star the iconic hero, and the second installment in the Questprobe series of adventure games—which also included titles featuring the Hulk and the Human Torch & Thing. The game blends graphics with text-based commands, requiring players to type in sentences to progress—a style similar to the 1980 game Mystery House. As Spider-Man, players explore a building, battle villains, solve puzzles, and collect gems. Although it feels dated now, Questprobe remains an enjoyable example of early attempts to merge comic books and video games.
24) Spider-Man: Battle for New York
Released in 2006, Spider-Man: Battle for New York is a game that sets the stage for Ultimate Spider-Man. Available on both the Nintendo DS and Game Boy Advance, it’s an action game focusing on the first battle between Spider-Man and the Green Goblin in the Ultimate Universe. Unusually for a Spider-Man game, players can control the Green Goblin himself. While the Game Boy Advance version received mixed reviews, the Nintendo DS version stood out thanks to its use of the touch screen for fun mini-games.
23) Spider-Man: Return of the Sinister Six
Released in 1992 for the NES and in 1993 for Sega systems, Spider-Man: Return of the Sinister Six loosely adapts the classic comic book storyline. The game centers around Doc Ock and his attempt to conquer the world with the Sinister Six. Players navigate six side-scrolling levels, each controlled by a different member of the villainous team. While the game’s graphics were initially well-received, it was criticized for imprecise controls and difficulty. The NES version was particularly challenging, offering players only one life and a single continue.
22) Spider-Man: Edge of Time
Spider-Man: Edge of Time is an action game that continues the story of the highly praised Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions. It again stars Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2099, who team up to fight a new enemy and prevent Peter Parker from dying. A unique feature of the game is how actions in the past affect the future, and vice versa. While Edge of Time has good voice acting and a solid story, it doesn’t quite reach the heights of Shattered Dimensions due to some changes in gameplay. Overall, the original game is much stronger.
21) Spider-Man and Venom: Maximum Carnage
The popular 1990s Spider-Man comic storyline, “Maximum Carnage,” eventually became a video game. Spider-Man and Venom: Maximum Carnage, a side-scrolling beat-’em-up based on the comics, came out for Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis in 1994. The game featured a large roster of heroes and villains, all uniting against Carnage. Though initially criticized, it’s now considered one of the better Spider-Man games from that era and was popular enough to get a sequel, Venom/Spider-Man: Separation Anxiety, in 1995.
20) Venom/Spider-Man: Separation Anxiety
The sequel, Venom/Spider-Man: Separation Anxiety, came out in 1995 for the Genesis and SNES, continuing the story of the unlikely duo. Spider-Man and Venom team up again to stop Carnage, facing off against many enemies in this classic ‘90s beat-’em-up. Like the first game, it features several playable heroes, and the story is based on the Venom: Lethal Protector comic series. Separation Anxiety was generally as well-received as the original when it first came out, and even got slightly better reviews, but it isn’t remembered as fondly today.
19) Spider-Man and the X-Men in Arcade’s Revenge
Released in 1992 by LJN across several platforms, Spider-Man and the X-Men in Arcade’s Revenge is a game that feels very much of its time, clearly inspired by X-Men: The Animated Series. Like many LJN titles, the graphics are acceptable for the era, but the controls are clunky. The Super Nintendo version was the most well-received, and surprisingly did quite well with critics – a rare accomplishment for a game published by LJN.
18) Spider-Man: The Video Game
The original arcade appearance of Spider-Man came with Sega’s Spider-Man: The Video Game. This classic beat-’em-up and platformer teams Spider-Man with Prince Namor, Hawkeye, and Black Cat to recover a stolen artifact from the Kingpin, leading to a showdown with the even more powerful Doctor Doom. The game cabinet supported up to four players, each with a unique superpower. Released in 1991, it was a highly enjoyable arcade experience for the price of a quarter. However, it hasn’t been updated for modern consoles, making it difficult to play today.
17) The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)
The first Amazing Spider-Man game came out in 2012 alongside the movie, but it doesn’t retell the film’s story. Instead, it picks up a few months later, offering an alternate ending. Trouble starts in New York City when experimental research from Curt Connors gets loose, spreading a dangerous virus. Spider-Man joins forces with Gwen Stacy to find a cure, but he’s also being targeted by Alistair Smythe, who’s pursuing his own cure while trying to defeat Spidey. The game was released on several different platforms with various publishers. While it wasn’t a critically acclaimed title, the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions are generally considered the best. Many reviewers found the gameplay repetitive, though some appreciated the game’s expansive open world—a feature not included in the versions for the 3DS and Wii.
16) Spider-Man vs. The Kingpin
Released for the Sega Genesis in 1991 (and later on other systems, including an enhanced version for the Sega CD), Spider-Man vs. The Kingpin is an action-packed platformer where Spider-Man battles a variety of his classic foes. He needs to defeat these villains and collect their keys to disarm a nuclear bomb. The Kingpin has framed Spider-Man for the bomb’s theft, adding to the challenge, which also includes rescuing Mary Jane and fighting numerous enemies. While the Sega CD version offers more content and is technically superior, the original Genesis game was a solid platformer for its time in the early ’90s.
15) Spider-Man 2: Enter: Electro
Okay, so I recently checked out Spider-Man 2: Enter: Electro on the PlayStation, which came out way back in 2001. It’s a sequel to the first Spider-Man game on the PS1, and it picks up right where that one left off. Basically, I’m playing as Spider-Man trying to stop Electro, who’s behind a big conspiracy. There are a bunch of other classic Spidey villains popping up too. They even gave Electro a new look, which was kinda cool, but didn’t really stick with fans. It’s interesting because the game actually had to be changed after 9/11, but thankfully it didn’t mess up the game too much. It’s not a bad game, honestly, but it didn’t quite live up to the original. The really cool thing is, after 24 years, they finally revealed some of the stuff they had to cut from the game after 9/11, including a whole extra scene!
14) Spider-Man 2: The Sinister Six
Released in 2000 for the PlayStation, Spider-Man 2: The Sinister Six is a follow-up to the original Spider-Man game. It’s important to note that a different game released on the Game Boy Color, Spider-Man 2: Enter: Electro, is considered the true sequel. The Sinister Six is a side-scrolling platformer with six stages packed with enemies, each culminating in a boss battle. The story revolves around Spider-Man’s attempt to save Aunt May after she’s been kidnapped by the Sinister Six. Critics praised the game for its fun gameplay, responsive controls, and solid mechanics.
13) Spider-Man Unlimited
Released in 2014 for mobile devices, Spider-Man Unlimited is an endless runner where players control Spider-Man and different versions of him to fight the Sinister Six. The game offers various modes and a surprisingly detailed story. Players guide Spider-Man through levels, dodging obstacles, shooting at enemies, and defeating foes. It was well-received by both critics and players, accumulating over 30 million downloads. However, despite its popularity, the game’s support was discontinued before the full story could be completed, which disappointed many fans.
12) Ultimate Spider-Man: Total Mayhem
I absolutely loved playing Ultimate Spider-Man: Total Mayhem when it first came out on the iPhone and then Android! It was set in the Ultimate Universe, so it had a really cool, detailed story as you played through it, fighting tons of Spidey’s enemies. The controls were perfect for mobile – everything was touchscreen-based, and it was just a fantastic beat-’em-up for on the go. It was super popular too, racking up over 20 million downloads! It’s a real shame it’s not available to download anymore, though. I really wish I could play it again!
11) Ultimate Spider-Man
Ultimate Spider-Man is an open-world action game inspired by the comic books and set in the Earth-1610 universe. Different versions of the game were created for various consoles and devices by multiple publishers. Players can freely swing around Manhattan and Queens, completing missions and progressing through the story. You can play as either Spider-Man or Venom, each with their own unique storyline. The game was well-received on all platforms and is considered one of the best Spider-Man games ever made. It was successful enough to warrant a sequel, though development was ultimately cancelled.
10) Spider-Man: Web of Shadows
Released in 2008, Spider-Man: Web of Shadows was available on almost every gaming platform at the time. Though three different studios created versions of the game, and they all share a connection, each one plays quite differently. We’ll be focusing on the Nintendo DS version for this review, as it received the best scores from critics. However, the other versions were also well-received, so many players likely enjoyed Web of Shadows on their preferred system. The DS version stood out as a 2.5D platformer, and was praised for its level design, which was similar to the Metroidvania style.
9) Spider-Man 3
The video game based on Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 3 wasn’t the first successful adaptation of the movies, and it was released on almost every gaming system available at the time, with different developers adding unique elements to each version. Like Ultimate Spider-Man, the game lets you freely explore a large, open-world version of Manhattan, and completing missions moves the story forward. While the game follows the plot of the Spider-Man 3 movie, it also includes extra content. Most versions of the game were poorly received by critics, but the version for the Nintendo DS was much more popular with both reviewers and players.
8) Spider-Man: Mysterio’s Menace
Released in 2001 as a follow-up to Enter Electro, Spider-Man: Mysterio’s Menace puts players in the role of Spider-Man on a seemingly normal day of fighting crime. However, Mysterio is pulling the strings, sending wave after wave of villains after the hero. The game features seven unique boss battles (with Hammerhead appearing twice), each taking place in its own dedicated level. Like the previous games, Spider-Man: Mysterio’s Menace was a hit with players and critics, and is considered particularly fun for fans of the web-slinger.
7) Spider-Man (2002)
The first Spider-Man video game, based on the live-action movie trilogy, came out on several different consoles. While it follows the movie’s story, the game adds extra content for a longer experience. Bruce Campbell narrated, and several actors from the films returned, like Willem Dafoe and Tobey Maguire. The game was well-received by both critics and players when it launched. Reviews were generally similar across all versions of the game, but most players wished the story was longer and found the camera controls frustrating.
6) Spider-Man 2
The movie Spider-Man 2 also got a video game adaptation, released at the same time as the film. It was made for many different systems, including the Nokia N-Gage. While each version was developed by a different team, they all followed the movie’s story and added extra characters and plotlines. Bruce Campbell reprised his role as the narrator. The PlayStation 2, GameCube, and Xbox versions were particularly well-liked, though the handheld versions didn’t fare as well. The game was praised for how it played and its detailed recreation of Manhattan, making it one of the few truly successful movie-based games.
5) Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions
Released in 2010, Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions was the first truly standout original Spider-Man game. It’s a very cinematic experience, and particularly fun because you get to play as different versions of Spider-Man – including Spider-Man Noir, Spider-Man 2099, Ultimate Spider-Man, and the classic Peter Parker. The story takes you through multiple universes, and each Spider-Man plays differently; for example, the Noir version focuses more on sneaking around than fighting. The game was a big success, leading to a sequel, and it clearly inspired the Spider-Verse movies.
4) Spider-Man (2000)
Released in 2000 for the PlayStation, the game Spider-Man quickly became available on all major consoles and computers. The story centers around Spider-Man trying to prove his innocence after a villain impersonates him and frames him as a criminal. Meanwhile, several of his classic enemies are plotting a symbiote invasion, creating a large and exciting story that brings together many iconic parts of the Spider-Man universe. The game was a huge success with fans, which led to it being released on a wide range of platforms.
3) Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Even though it’s called Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, this is actually the third game in the popular series. Released in 2023 for PlayStation 5 and PCs, it’s the newest Spider-Man adventure available. The story follows both Miles Morales and Peter Parker as they team up to stop Kraven the Hunter, who has chosen New York City as his hunting ground. The game also features the Venom symbiote attaching itself to Peter Parker, causing trouble for him and his relationships. Like the previous games, Spider-Man 2 has a stunningly detailed open world, fantastic swinging controls, and tons of side quests. It was a critical and commercial success, selling over 16 million copies in just two years.
2) Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
Following the success of the first game, Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales puts the spotlight on Miles Morales as he steps up to protect New York City while Peter Parker is away. He faces a challenge when a conflict erupts between Roxxon Energy Corporation and the Tinkerer. Like its predecessor from Insomniac Games, Miles Morales boasts fantastic level design, smooth gameplay, and exciting combat, with several enhancements over the original. While some players noted the game is relatively short, its high quality and impressive sales of over 14 million copies make this a small concern.
1) Marvel’s Spider-Man
Many consider Insomniac’s Marvel’s Spider-Man, released in 2018 for PlayStation 4, to be the best Spider-Man game ever made. It’s an exceptionally well-crafted game that has set the standard for all future Spider-Man titles. With stunning graphics, a compelling story, engaging combat, and excellent music and gameplay, it was a strong contender for Game of the Year and remains one of the best games on the PS4. The game has been a huge success, selling over 50 million copies and sparking renewed interest in playing as Spider-Man. Its innovative design has already impacted other games, solidifying its place as a landmark title in modern gaming.
Okay, fellow gamers, I gotta know – what’s the BEST Spider-Man game EVER? Seriously, I need your opinions! Head over to the ComicBook Forum and let’s talk about it – I’m already checking for your comments!
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2026-02-23 18:22