Every Major Superman Game, Ranked

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Superman is a classic and incredibly popular superhero, and unsurprisingly, he’s appeared in many video games. Though he’s featured in series like Injustice and LEGO, he’s only been the main character in about 15 major titles. That’s a lot fewer than Batman, and unfortunately, most of them aren’t very good. It’s tough to make a challenging game when your hero is practically invincible! We decided to play through them all and rank each major Superman game based on how critics reviewed it when it first came out, how popular it was, and most importantly, how enjoyable it is to play.

15) Superman: The New Adventures (1999)

Most Superman fans probably aren’t surprised to see Superman 64 (also known as Superman: The New Adventures) at the bottom of this list. Based on Superman: The Animated Series, it’s widely considered one of the worst video games ever created. The controls are awful, the levels are frustratingly repetitive and timed, and it’s simply not enjoyable to play. Between its technical problems, poor graphics, and other issues, there’s virtually nothing positive to say about this game.

14) Superman: The Man of Steel (2002)

Released in 2002 as an Xbox exclusive, Superman: The Man of Steel is loosely based on the Superman: Y2K comics. While it uses the general story framework of the comics, it explores Superman’s background in its own way. The game is structured around timed levels where players must quickly guide Superman to a location and defeat enemies, often minions working for bosses like Bizarro and Metallo. However, the game is known for its clumsy controls, repetitive gameplay, and the added pressure of the timed missions. Critics at IGN famously called it “pure kryptonite,” which perfectly captures the overall experience.

13) Superman (1997)

The Game Boy’s single game, Superman, is inspired by Superman: The Animated Series. The story centers on Lex Luthor’s attempt to defeat Superman once and for all by terrorizing Metropolis. The game features ten levels taking place on land, underwater, and in the air, where Lex’s henchmen constantly try to stop Superman. Players control Superman through platforming stages and flying sections, collecting keys to progress. While oddly vulnerable to damage, Superman must avoid bombs and other hazards or use his strength to deflect incoming attacks.

12) Superman (1987)

The game Superman arrived on the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1987, telling a new story inspired by the classic comic books. As with many Superman games, the villain Lex Luthor threatens the city of Metropolis, this time with the help of criminals who also escaped from Krypton. Players navigate an overhead map, selecting locations that trigger animated scenes and then switch to traditional side-scrolling gameplay. Superman’s abilities are managed by a stamina bar and power-ups, though these aren’t always consistent with the source material due to the limitations of the NES hardware. While Superman isn’t a bad game, it’s not generally considered one of the best on the NES.

11) Superman: Countdown to Apokolips (2003)

The Game Boy Advance had a couple of good Superman games, starting with Superman: Countdown to Apokolips in 2003. The game’s art style is inspired by Superman: The Animated Series, and it tells a story that happens before Superman: Shadow of Apokolips, which came out on consoles a year earlier. In the game, Superman has to deal with villains escaping from prison and Darkseid’s forces attacking Earth, all while trying to protect Metropolis. It uses a unique overhead view, and Superman can use all his classic powers. While the game looked great for its time, it becomes repetitive and isn’t very fun to play, and its overall design isn’t compelling enough to make you want to play it again.

10) The Death and Return of Superman (1994)

Okay, so I recently checked out The Death and Return of Superman game, and it’s a classic side-scrolling beat-’em-up based on that huge comic book story from the 90s. You get to play as a bunch of different characters – Superman, obviously, but also Steel, Superboy, the Eradicator, and even Cyborg Superman! And of course, you fight Doomsday. It came out on the Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo. Honestly, it wasn’t a huge hit. Critics and players weren’t too impressed, though the SNES version looked a little better. It’s not bad, mind you – it can be a fun button-masher – but it’s definitely not the greatest Superman game ever made.

9) Superman Returns (2006)

Although the movie Superman Returns wasn’t a huge hit with fans, it did inspire several video games for different consoles. The Nintendo DS game, Superman Returns: Fortress of Solitude, was more of a puzzle game and doesn’t really follow the movie’s story, so we’ll focus on the console versions here. These games are loosely based on the film and feature characters that look like the actors, but they also include some classic Superman villains that weren’t in the movie. Unfortunately, the game wasn’t very well received, and it even has a strange final boss – a tornado! While the graphics are decent, Superman Returns is pretty typical of games made to coincide with movies – it’s just not very good.

8) Superman (2011)

Superman is an action game for iPhones and iPads with 18 stages. You play as Superman, protecting Metropolis with his iconic powers. Levels range from battling threats in space – like asteroids – to using super-breath, heat vision, and super strength to handle problems on the ground. The game has a scoring system with achievements, a unique story, and simple graphics that fit the style well. While the gameplay is engaging and enjoyable, it’s the kind of game you might play for a while and then lose interest in.

7) Superman: The Game (1985)

I remember playing Superman: The Game back in 1985 on my home computer! Everyone says the Commodore 64 version is the best, and I kinda agree. It’s a really cool concept – you can play as Superman and fight Darkseid to save Metropolis, but you can also be Darkseid and try to take over the city! It was a unique way to see the battle between these two. For its time, the game looked amazing, but honestly, the gameplay wasn’t anything groundbreaking. It was different when it first came out, but it didn’t really have the staying power to keep me hooked for very long.

6) Man of Steel (2013)

The mobile game Man of Steel was released for Android and iOS to promote the movie of the same name. It’s an action game played from a third-person perspective, where you fight enemies individually. Gameplay is similar to Infinity Blade, relying on swiping to attack and tapping buttons to evade. You defeat one enemy, then move on to the next—it becomes quite repetitive. However, despite this, Man of Steel features impressive graphics and connects reasonably well to the movie’s storyline.

5) Superman: The Man of Steel (1989)

Released for the Commodore 64 as a follow-up to the original, Superman: The Man of Steel offered a variety of gameplay styles, including 3D flight, side-scrolling action, and vertical scrolling levels. While reviewers initially liked how well the game captured the look and feel of the Superman comics, the gameplay itself received criticism. The Amiga version was particularly praised for its improved sound and graphics, though all versions shared similar flaws. Though interesting when it first came out, Superman: The Man of Steel hasn’t become a must-play for retro gaming fans.

4) Superman: Shadow of Apokolips (2002)

Both the PlayStation 2 and GameCube featured the game Superman: Shadow of Apokolips, where Superman faces a team-up between Lex Luthor and Darkseid. Luthor uses stronger, heavily armed Intergang robots designed to harm—even kill—Superman. The game also includes other classic Superman villains and features an art style similar to Superman: The Animated Series. While the game’s visuals were appreciated, it received mixed reviews upon release because of its flawed programming. Problems like poor collision detection caused frequent glitches, such as Superman getting stuck inside walls.

3) Superman (1979)

The very first video game starring Superman came out in 1979 for the Atari 2600. Though not based on a movie, it was created after the popular film Superman hit theaters the year before. Critics generally liked the game when it was released, praising its impressive graphics for the Atari 2600—it used 4 kb of memory, double the amount found in most games of that era. The story centers around Superman stopping Lex Luthor, who has sabotaged a bridge in Metropolis. Players must quickly repair the bridge, capture Lex and his henchmen, and then return to the Daily Planet.

2) Superman (1992)

Released in 1992 for the Sega Genesis, Superman is a classic side-scrolling action game. Players control Superman as he battles Brainiac and his army of enemies across various levels. While the game looks and sounds good, the levels themselves and the story aren’t particularly exciting. Each level starts with a news report from the Daily Planet, which is a nice touch, but the gameplay quickly becomes repetitive. It’s not a bad game, but older arcade titles offer a more engaging experience.

1) Superman (1989)

Surprisingly, the best Superman video game is still a classic from 1989 – a side-scrolling arcade game simply called Superman. It’s a beat-’em-up with music inspired by the Superman movies. Players control Superman through five levels, trying to defeat the game-original villain, Emperor Zaas. Two players can even team up as different-colored Supermen. While it’s the best major game starring the Last Son of Krypton, it isn’t a great game by 1989 standards – there were many other better arcade options available at the time. Still, it remains the best Superman game to date, and that really needs to be improved upon.

Hey everyone! I’m curious – what’s your all-time favorite Superman game? Let me know in the comments, and let’s chat about it over on the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-02-18 19:15