Once largely confined to the pages of comic books, the superheroes created by Marvel are more popular now than ever before.
They feature in blockbuster films that dominate the cinema and countless TV series accessible via services such as Disney+. And of course, they also have their own video games. Not all video games featuring the likes of Iron Man, Thor and Hulk have been great over the years though. In fact, at one point in time, superhero games were generally pretty dire. Just like most movie tie-ins. With Marvel’s superheroes being more high profile now though, games based on them have improved. But which Marvel games are the best?
It’s rare these days for a Marvel game to be anything less than simply good. But some are better than others. Thankfully, we can help you sort the super from the ordinary. We’ve pretty much played them all, so we’ve put together a short list of the ones you should watch out for. Read on to find the best Marvel video games you can play right now.
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1. Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy
- PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Strictly a single player affair, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, developed by Eidos-Montréal, is a real treat.
Playing as Star-Lord, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy thrusts you into a surprisingly heart-warming story, leading a squad of misfits from one catastrophic event to another. You’ll visit multiple planets, fight against a wide range of hostile creatures, and even engage in space battles. Along the way, you’ll have to make snap decisions that may affect your relationships with those who you consider friends.
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy is particularly impressive on next-gen consoles and PC, where the enhanced visuals really bring its characters and worlds to life. Playing at 60fps also helps make the fast-paced combat much more enjoyable. Though regardless of what what platform you play it on, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy is definitely one of the best Marvel superhero games you can play right now.
Read our review of Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy
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2. Marvel’s Spider-Man
- Formats: PS4, PS5 (and coming to PC soon)
There really isn’t anything quite like swinging through New York City as Spider-Man, flying high above the city and making your way from rooftop to another. Marvel’s Spider-Man may have been superseded by its spin-off successor, Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, but there’s still a heck of a lot to love here.
The game’s recreation of New York City is wonderful, and there’s plenty to see and do. Combat is particularly fun, taking a leaf out of the iconic Batman Arkham series, with players responding to enemy cues. The story is original, but remains faithful to Spider-Man, and any fan of the Marvel universe will get a kick out of it. Who wouldn’t want to step into the shoes of Spider-Man? This really is the mark of an excellent Marvel game, and it deserves to be played by everyone.
Read our review of Marvel’s Spider-Man
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3. Marvel’s Avengers
- Formats: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Marvel’s Avengers casts you as a young Kamala Khan – aka Ms Marvel. She’s just an ordinary girl as the game starts out, but soon events unfold that reveal Kamala’s superpowers. She can stretch and she can punch with great force, both of which come in very useful as you make your way through the game.
This isn’t just about Kamala of course; it’s Marvel’s Avengers, and so a range of familiar faces show up; there’s The Hulk, Iron Man, Black Widow, Thor and Captain America – all of whom you can take control of. Each one can make use of their signature powers, every one of which will come in useful at some point. Only The Hulk can break past certain barriers, for example, and Tony Stark’s ability to fly means he’s great for getting around large environments quickly.
With so many superheroes to choose from, this is without a doubt one of the best Marvel superhero games you can play. It tells an interesting story, pits you against some fierce enemies, and does a fantastic job of making you feel like a true hero, no matter who you’re in control of.
Read our review of Marvel’s Avengers
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4. Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
- Formats: PS4, PS5
A launch title for the PS5, Marvels’ Spider-Man: Miles Morales is a standalone expansion for Marvel’s Spider-Man, released on PS4 in 2018.
While it’s also available on PS4, on PS5 Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales really stands out thanks to its phenomenal visuals and smooth 60fps gameplay. There’s even a performance ray tracing mode allowing you to enjoy the best of both worlds. Perhaps more importantly, however, Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales is an absolute pleasure to play, with meaningful improvements made to the game’s combat system.
Those wanting the whole story are perhaps better off playing Marvel’s Spider-Man first, an enhanced version of which is also available on PS5, but newcomers are fine to jump straight into Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales if they wish. Either way, they’re sure to find one of the most enjoyable Marvel superhero games they’ve ever played.
Read our review of Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
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5. Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3
- Formats: PS4, Xbox One, PC
If you love video games just as much as you do Marvel superheroes, there’s a good chance you’ve played some Capcom games at one point or another. And so, what could be better than squaring the likes of Doctor Strange off against Resident Evil’s Nemesis, or Rocket Racoon against Street Fighter’s Ryu?
Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 is rather old now, having originally been released in 2011. It still remains one of the best fighting games around though, with a fantastic roster of fighters. Designed around team battles, it’s up to you to put together your dream team of three combatants and pummel your adversaries to the ground. You can do that in single-player if you wish, but it’s undoubtedly better when you take the action online.
The newer Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite may look a lot nicer and keep you occupied for a fair amount of time, but Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 is overall the better game. So, if you’re after a fighting game that lets you pit one Marvel character against another, look no further.
Read our review of Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3
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6. LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2
- Formats: PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Of course we need to have a LEGO game on our list of best Marvel superhero games. There are plenty of them, but LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 is perhaps our favourite, mostly thanks to just how many heroes appear in it – and how big the world is. It’s perhaps the most fantastical of all the Marvel games, but that’s to be expected when it’s a game made out of LEGO blocks.
If you’ve played a LEGO game from TT Games before, you’ll know what to expect: run around, bashing blocks, thwacking enemies and picking up studs, which act as an in-game currency. Yes, it’s generic, but with its superhero theme and the ability to play with a friend in drop-in-drop-out local co-op, there’s a lot to love here.
One minute you can be taking control of Star-Lord in downtown Manhattan; the next you can be Doctor Strange in Medieval England. It’s the sheer variety that makes LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 so fun; not only will each scripted level keep you on your toes, the open world allows for endless amounts of fun and exploration. Not to mention the 200+ characters you can switch between on a whim (once you’ve collected them all, of course). It might not quite stick to the lore set out by the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but we don’t care. Marvel games don’t get much more enjoyable than this.
Read our review of LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2
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7. Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order
- Formats: Switch
If you’ve got a Nintendo Switch, then Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order is just about the best Marvel superhero game you can play. It’s an action RPG with a star-studded cast featuring many of your favourite Marvel heroes. Whether you want to play as Spider-Man, Iron Man, Wolverine or someone else, you’ll find a character to suit. Team up with the best to create your own ‘Ultimate Alliance’ – a force designed to take down Thanos and stop his evil plans once and for all. That old chestnut.
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order features its own unique storyline where you’ll need to hunt down the Infinity Stones before Thanos. Each character you can play as has their own abilities and signature fighting style, which will come in handy as you battle your way through endless foes. Better yet, this is a game that can be enjoyed in online or local co-op, allowing you to team up with friends to tackle Thanos together.
Essentially, if you like games like Diablo, where you’re fighting your way through enemies, collecting loot and improving your character, you’ll find a lot to like here. Especially when the cherry on top is the ability to play as your favourite Marvel hero.
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8. Deadpool
- Formats: PS4, Xbox One
Removed from digital storefronts, presumably due to an expired licensing agreement, if you want to play Deadpool you’ll need to track down a physical copy. That’s not too hard or expensive though, and thanks to backward compatibility it can even be played on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.
Developed by High Moon Studios and published by Activision, Deadpool is a highly enjoyable action game in which you get to take control of the humorous antihero. The over-the-top action is backed up with a engaging story written by Daniel Way, while Deadpool himself is voiced by superstar voice actor Nolan North. The end result is a game that doesn’t really do anything new or clever, but is a blast to play nonetheless.
If you’re after the best Marvel superhero games you can play right now, it really is worth checking Deadpool out. And the scarcity of physical copies means you might want to keep hold of it. It may not look all that great when compared to the likes of Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, but it still entertains.
