The Spider-Man franchise has been around for decades and has captured the hearts of countless readers and viewers. The franchise has explored many video game options, from 2D side-scrollers to 3D action games. However, as open-world games became more and more popular, a handful of these games gave players full cities to explore as they completed missions.
8 Spider-Man Games With The Best Combat, Ranked
Combat is integral to Spider-Man's DNA, and with a plethora of video games, he's brought more than a few punches, kicks, and web gadgets.
A good open-world Spider-Man game has many elements to expect. Players should be able to web-sling between buildings, chase down bad guys at high speed, and find crime happening around numerous corners to thwart them. However, this is not a formula that was perfected overnight, and many games on older platforms have had differing success in capturing what they believe to be the best experience they could provide.
While overall quality matters, each game's open-world will be prioritized above everything else.
9 The Amazing Spider-Man 2
Decent Combat and Web-Swinging Can Only Take A Game So Far
The Amazing Spider-Man 2
- Released
- April 17, 2014
WHERE TO PLAY
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 did not receive favorable reviews due to a slew of issues. With glitches that made enemies do some hilarious things, and a campaign that tells a bad story quickly, there is really no reason to pick up this messy movie adaptation. That said, if you are just looking to explore a city, this game is kind of, sort of OK.
Web slinging will require players to be close to sources, while other Spider-Man games of the past let players just shoot their webs into the sky above and swing in any direction they pleased. Combat does give some variety, allowing players to juggle attacks, shoot off some webs, and even throw in some stealth elements.
8 Spider-Man 3
An Underwhelming And, At Times, Broken Follow-Up To A Beloved Game
Spider-Man 3
- Released
- May 4, 2007
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Vicarious Visions
- Platform(s)
- PS2, PS3, Xbox 360, PC, PSP, Nintendo Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS
- Genre(s)
- Platformer, Fighting
This game acts as a successor to Spider-Man 2 and is meant to be based on the film of the same name, with the film's actors lending their voices to their respective characters. However, everything about it was a dramatic departure and a downgrade. It features a wide range of villains and characters never seen in the film.
Spider-Man 3 lets players explore an open world, find random criminal activity, and enjoy a Spider-Man sandbox-style adventure. While Spider-Man 2 was groundbreaking for its era, its sequel did nothing new and has aged, somehow, even worse. The sandbox is sometimes impressive, but it is let down by repetitive content. It is a very mediocre game designed to capitalize on the film rather than capture the hearts of true believers.
7 The Amazing Spider-Man
A Serviceable, If Unspectacular Spider-Man Open-World Game
The Amazing Spider-Man
- Released
- June 26, 2012
- ESRB
- T // Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Violence
Just like its sequel, this game is based on the first in the Amazing Spider-Man films and has a very enjoyable web-slinging experience, allowing players to whip around corners as the camera pulls forward before they launch up into the air. The Amazing Spider-Man also provides fun stealth and combat elements, allowing players to drop from above, web up an enemy, and then pull them back up to the roof.
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The Amazing Spider-Man gives you plenty of side activities to do in between main missions to extend your playtime, and it is all held together by passable combat. Nowadays, there isn't that much reason to revisit this game, as it does not do anything better than the Insomniac trilogy and lacks the nostalgic pull of older Spider-Man releases. Furthermore, these Activision games are no longer available to purchase digitally.
6 Ultimate Spider-Man
Gorgeous Cel-Shaded Visuals And A Comic-Appropriate Story
Ultimate Spider-Man
- Released
- September 22, 2005
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Treyarch
- Platform(s)
- PS2, Xbox (Original), GameCube, PC, Nintendo Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure
Ultimate Spider-Man is based on the events of the Ultimate Marvel universe, which takes place in Universe 1610. This game feels more like a comic book game brought to life than any of the other entities on this list, with comic panels appearing in cutscenes, heavily shaded and styled visuals, and even words that pop onto the screen. Players will also be able to play some portions as the character Venom, giving a different way to engage in combat, which can be quite challenging at times.
While the game does provide players with things to do in the city outside the main story, modern games have come a long way in perfecting this formula, leaving such an old entry feeling lacking in this department. Web slinging has a very arcade feel to it that lacks the nuance of more modern entries. More importantly, Ultimate Spider-Man is incredibly short, to the point of only lasting a couple of hours.
5 Spider-Man: Web Of Shadows
Underrated Spider-Man Game With Great Combat
Spider-Man: Web of Shadows
- Released
- October 21, 2008
WHERE TO PLAY
Web of Shadows has been slightly forgotten, although it holds a special place in the hearts of PS3 and Xbox 360 owners who grew up with it. Players will be able to utilize a wide range of symbiote abilities throughout the game's combat portions, but they are also able to button-mash their way to victory for every combat encounter, including bosses.
Players will also have the ability to make moral choices by choosing the path they wish to go down. This can change the potential ending they get, with 4 possible endings. Choosing to go down the symbiote path will lead to the most villainous ending, while choosing to go down the red-suited Spider-Man icon side will be the most heroic. There is also a pivotal moment where the player will need to make a choice of love interest, with the choice affecting which ending they will receive.
4 Marvel’s Spider-Man
Set The New Standard For Spider-Man Open-World Games
Marvel's Spider-Man
- Released
- September 7, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Insomniac Games
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
- Genre(s)
- Action, Adventure, Open-World
On top of featuring some of the best visuals of any Spider-Man game before it, Marvel’s Spider-Man brought with it tons of features that are expected in modern-day video games. Spider-Man’s movements in both combat and web-slinging feel very organic and fluid, with a wide range of acrobatics and visual flair. Moving around the city while making use of all the traversal mechanics is one of the most satisfying elements of playing the game.
Players can approach combat in many different ways and will have plenty of devices to cycle through to keep combat feeling fun and interesting throughout the entirety of the game’s story. This playstyle can be enhanced by making use of the different powers that come with unlocking different suits. There are also plenty of collectibles for players to seek out as they explore the city. The game also shares its Metascore with its remastered counterpart for those wanting the same experience with enhanced visuals.
3 Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
Same Open-World As Marvel's Spider-Man, Just With A Christmas Makeover
Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales
- Released
- November 12, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Insomniac Games
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
The story of Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales follows directly after that of the original game, acting as a more complete and crunchier origin story for Miles. It is a shorter experience, but that works in its favor by making it a more digestible experience for players. Just like the previous installment, players will get to balance the heroic and personal lives of this Spider-Man, getting a dose of both action and emotion. Miles’s Venom and Camouflage skills allow for a significantly improved combat experience — especially when developed in different ways.
Miles Morales' Manhattan is the same map as the one in Marvel's Spider-Man, so there isn't technically much of a difference between them. However, the story takes place during Christmas, causing the world to be covered in snow. It looks fantastic and is overflowing with charm and style.
2 Spider-Man 2
The Most Influential And Beloved Spider-Man Open-World Game
Spider-Man 2
- Released
- June 28, 2004
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Treyarch
- Platform(s)
- PS2, Xbox (Original), GameCube, PC, PSP, Nintendo Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure, Open-World
Spider-Man 2 adapts the second entry of the Sam Raimi trilogy, following the same plotline as the film, with the main villain being Doctor Octopus. Players can web-sling throughout the entirety of the game’s map, finding enemies to fight and enjoying a complete sandbox experience that runs adjacent to following the game’s story missions.
8 Spider-Man Games With The Best Exploration, Ranked
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Due to this being such an old game, modern players could find it far too easy and relatively clunky. This comes down to predictable enemies that allow large numbers to be whittled away with little effort. Most groups of enemies can be cleared by charging in and just brawling through them with stylish, blurred-out movements and large flashes at a punch's point of impact. However, it really cannot be understated just how impressive Spider-Man 2's open-world was in 2004, and its success directly led to the incorporation of a sandbox in many future games. Even today, the web-swinging still feels great and rewarding, and New York is widely impressive for a PS2 game.
1 Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
The Biggest And Best Open-World In A Spider-Man Game
Marvel's Spider-Man 2
- Released
- October 20, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Insomniac Games
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PC
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Action-Adventure, Superhero
If we are talking overall quality, I'd put Marvel's Spider-Man and Miles Morales before their sequel, just because they have superior stories. However, Marvel's Spider-Man 2 has the best open-world out of these games.
Marvel's Spider-Man 2 is by no means a perfect game, and an argument could be made that its predecessors are superior. They certainly tell more cohesive and better-paced stories, as the sequel tries to do too much and rushes through character development that should have taken longer. However, if we push past this aspect, Marvel's Spider-Man 2 improves on nearly everything done by the first two games.
The open-world is expanded to include Queens and Brooklyn, creating by far the widest sandbox in any Spidey game. The web-swinging mostly feels the same, but Insomniac did not need to reinvent the wheel; furthermore, you get to play as both Peter and Miles for the majority of the game, and they are different enough to be worthwhile. The combat is also improved, as is the open-world activity (although it is still not great).
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