It's a great time to play through Spider-Man video games now that Spider-Man: No Way Home, the latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, is in theaters. Spider-Man is one of the, if not the, most popular superhero characters in the world, and it's because of this that he continues to get new storylines and incarnations across various comic book, video game, and film series. Spider-Man is playable in games dating back to the early 2000s.
[Warning: Spoilers For Spider-Man: No Way Home are below.]
Each Spider-Man film release generates a ton of buzz. Holland's portrayal of everyone's favorite friendly neighborhood hero is endearing in a unique way when compared to his predecessors, who played older versions of the character. Instead, Holland's charm is that he's a teenager trying to navigate life, young love, and heroics, and this is amplified in the MCU due to every other hero being considerably older than him. He's refreshing in a world of adults, and he's been written well to boot. This makes playing Spider-Man video games that much more fun, especially when games like Marvel's Spider-Man inspired No Way Home.
Spider-Man: No Way Home is a love letter to the titular character's history on the silver screen. Moreover, the video games featuring this character span the history of everyone who's portrayed Peter Parker, so it's only natural that the next step in any Spider-Man fan's life after watching the film is to dive into Parker's games from across the decades. These span many generations of consoles from different companies, including the PS4, Wii U, and Xbox, but revisiting them is worth it for the nostalgia alone, even if some of Spider-Man's best costumes are missing from these games.
Spider-Man 2 Is Nearly Two Decades Old But Still Enjoyable
Spider-Man 2 is a classic Spidey game. It released in 2004 for the GameCube, PS2, Xbox, Game Boy Advance, and Microsoft Windows. It later released on additional consoles, including the Nintendo DS, which may be the easiest console on which to replay it today. (DS games can be played on the 3Ds, which is only one generation behind the Nintendo Switch).
Spider-Man 2 set the original standard for video game web-slinging, which Spider-Man: Miles Morales has recently elevated to an entirely new level. Still, this 2004 entry still has its merit. This game directly follows the film Spider-Man 2, the second film in Tobey Maguire's trilogy; however, it includes scenes and characters not featured in the film, expanding the scope of Maguire's character and world. This is essential playing after No Way Home because of Maguire's return as Peter Parker in the film. Reliving pivotal moments from his story will make his return more impactful. Players can also play this game's predecessor, Spider-Man, for more of Maguire's story.
Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions Shatters Fan Expectations
Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions is a fun Spidey game because it features multiple playable characters, just like how Marvel's Spider-Man 2 could feature Wolverine. In this case, players control several Spider-Men that have their own personalities and abilities on the Nintendo DS, PS3, and more. The recent Spider-Man: No Way Home centers on the idea of the multiverse, incorporating many classic and established Spider-Man villains and Spider-Men into the fold. Shattered Dimensions hinges on the same premise, with all of the Spider-Men teaming up on behalf of Madame Web, who united them against Mysterio.
No Way Home features three different Spider-Men, which is why Shattered Dimensions may be the ultimate game experience for fans at the moment. This game features playable Amazing Spider-Man, Spider-Man Noir, Spider-Man 2099, and Ultimate Spider-Man, each with their own perspectives from their own universes. Mysterio being the villain is a fun callback to his role in No Way Home's predecessor, as well as how Mysterio could be in Marvel's Spider-Man 2.
The Amazing Spider-Man Video Game Is Amazingly Nostalgic Yet Fresh
Once players have stopped Mysterio in Shattered Dimensions, they should check out 2012's The Amazing Spider-Man on the Nintendo 3DS, Xbox 360, and PS3. Like how Spider-Man 2 coincided with the release of Tobey Maguire's trilogy, this game tells the story of Andrew Garfield's Spider-Man as he battles Alistair Smythe, the latest CEO of Oscorp. This game sees Peter Parker stopping crimes as Spider-Man in the name of the greater good. Here, he races across New York City to stop a virus that's infecting its citizens. This game is crucial to play after viewing No Way Home for the same reason that Spider-Man 2 is: it provides nostalgia and some history on a Spider-Man that finally returned to the silver screen and got some closure.
Marvel's Spider-Man Is The New Gold Standard for Spidey Games
Finally, Marvel's Spider-Man for the PS4 is worth revisiting after watching No Way Home. This game is the highest-selling Spider-Man video game, and it's one that players can sink countless hours into. The game's story, which focuses on Spider-Man and Miles Morales, is long, and there are several side quests to pursue, including searching for Parker's backpacks and shutting down prominent criminal organizations' operations. The game's map is extensive as well, offering players seemingly endless real estate to explore.
Marvel's Spider-Man is a great game to play now because a sequel for the PS5 is in the works is slated for a 2023 release. Titled Marvel's Spider-Man 2, this game will serve as a direct sequel, continuing the story of Peter Parker. However, if players can't wait for more Spidey adventures, they can check out the spin-off Spider-Man: Miles Morales sans Peter Parker that was released for both the PS4 and PS5. This game was born from the wild success of 2018's Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and continues Morales' story as established in Marvel's Spider-Man.
Ultimately, Spider-Man video games are staples in the industry, and for good reason. They continue to grow in scope, gameplay abilities, and details, and they'll continue to release as long as this character remains as popular as he is around the world. Players can look forward to fun villains in Insomniac's upcoming Marvel's Spider-Man 2, as well. For now, these video games will keep his heart and energy alive and well.