Summary
- Spider-Man games excel at exploration, with swinging mechanics in titles like Spider-Man 2 and Marvel's Spider-Man creating a nostalgic and enjoyable experience.
- Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions offers unique environments, while Ultimate Spider-Man's cel-shaded world provides a fun exploration experience.
- Marvel's Spider-Man 2 enhances exploration with improved movement speed, new traversal powers, and enhancements for the PS5, making it the best Spider-Man game for exploration.
Spider-Man is the lovable webslinger that fans can't get enough of. It's still surprising that it took so long before a developer was told to bring their A-game and translate the superhero adventures to the medium of video games.
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While other games may have stumbled at one point or another, exploration has been the core pillar of every Spider-Man game that has been handled with great care. This is why so many Spider-Man games are still fun to play, even if the other gameplay pillars aside from traversal aren't the greatest.
8 Spider-Man 2
The Web-Swinging In This Game Is Nostalgic For Many
Spider-Man 2
- Released
- June 28, 2004
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure, Open-World
Spider-Man 2 is often laughed at for its QTEs, but it got a ton of praise for how it handled its swinging mechanics. Fans loved how much fun it was to explore New York City as the webhead, delivering pizzas and fighting criminals along the way.
It may be dated now, but there's something about Spider-Man 2's swinging mechanics that is very nostalgic for fans. To them, swinging around in New York City was the very peak of exploration in a video game that took a long while to be dethroned.
7 Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions
The Varied Environments Are Great To Explore
Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions
- Released
- September 7, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Genre(s)
- Action
While Shattered Dimensions may have more of a level-based structure, that should take nothing away from how much fun this title is. Each version of Spider-Man is unique in its own way and takes part in levels that feel different enough to add to the game's novelty.
The Amazing Spider-Man's adventures are classic, 2099's Spider-Man shows off futuristic landscapes, Noir Spider-Man's color palette itself is so unique that exploration takes on a whole new character, and Ultimate Spider-Man's exploration has a tinge of edge given his reliance on the Black Suit. This makes the adventure of Shattered Dimensions feel epic as players enjoy a unique flavor with every Spider-Man.
6 Ultimate Spider-Man
The Cel-Shaded World Is Fun To Swing Around In
Ultimate Spider-Man
- Released
- September 22, 2005
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T // Language, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure
Players who want to enjoy a cel-shaded adventure where they explore New York in style will love what Ultimate Spider-Man brings to the table. The game is developed by Treyarch, the same developers who made Spider-Man 2.
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As a result, it's easy to see why this title's gameplay loop will feel so great for fans. Exploration is the meat and bones of this title, with both Spider-Man and Venom being great to control as players shift between their perspectives throughout the title.
5 The Amazing Spider-Man 2
The Web-Swinging Mechanics Are Great, Despite The Rest Of The Package Is Meh
The Amazing Spider-Man 2
- Released
- April 17, 2014
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure, Fighting, Shooter
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 may have its issues, but swinging isn't one of them. Exploring New York in the first game felt great and is more polished in a sequel, where the swinging mechanics have been tightened up considerably.
It's a shame that other elements of the title didn't receive the same polish, leading to The Amazing Spider-Man 2 being derided a bit too much for most fans' liking. If players could get over the uninspired gameplay in other areas of the game, then the web swinging alone will keep them satisfied for hours on end.
4 Spider-Man: Web Of Shadows
New York Is Slowly Overrun By Symbiotes Over The Course Of A Memorable Story
Spider-Man: Web of Shadows
- Released
- October 21, 2008
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Animated Blood, Drug Reference, Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Violence (PC, PS3, Wii, and Xbox 360) E10+ For Everyone 10+ // Animated Blood, Cartoon Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes (PS2, PSP, DS)
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure, Beat 'Em Up
Web of Shadows was easily the most ambitious Spider-Man game before Insomniac Studios took a crack at this title. Despite some questionable aspects of the gameplay, fans loved how engaging it was to swing around New York City, with the landscape changing as players saw the game's story unfold.
From taking out Kingpin to dealing with the threat of the Symbiotes, it's wild to see New York City turn into a Quarantine Zone as SHIELD is forced to step into the fray. At every step of the way, exploration never takes a backseat in Web of Shadows as players swing across the city and partake in grounded, aerial, and wall combat to make the most of their abilities.
3 Marvel's Spider-Man
Insomniac Studios Came Out Swinging With Their First Crack At A Spider-Man Game
Marvel's Spider-Man
- Released
- September 7, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Blood, Drug Reference, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action, Adventure, Open-World
Insomniac's first crack at a Spider-Man game was nothing short of a major success. From the very moment its bombastic intro kicks in, players love swinging as Peter Parker, taking out a litany of iconic foes that stand in his way.
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Swinging felt better than ever, with New York City brimming with a ton of things to do. As players improved Spider-Man's abilities, he could swing great distances with ease and zero in on potential hostiles that he could take out with his flamboyant moves.
2 Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales
Exploration Is Just As Good As The First Game, If Not Better
Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales
- Released
- November 12, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
Miles Morales is a standalone expansion, which is why it may not be a major step above Marvel's Spider-Man. However, the game should be commended for giving Miles a ton of personality in his movements, giving players an incentive to whip out tricks and swing across a wintry New York in style.
The change in scenery, coupled with minor yet important improvements made to traversal, makes it clear why Miles Morales is such an important title in the series. Movement feels great, and the games serve as a bridge that guides Insomniac Studios to perfect this movement in a proper sequel.
1 Marvel's Spider-Man 2
A Bigger World And Traversal Improvements Make This The Best Spider-Man Game For Exploration
Marvel's Spider-Man 2
- Released
- October 20, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Blood, Drug Reference, Mild Language, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Action-Adventure, Superhero
From the moment players start swinging in Marvel's Spider-Man 2, it's clear that movement speed has been enhanced to make the most of the PS5's SSD. The addition of the Web Wings could've been a controversial one, but it just enhances the options players have during traversal as they move from point A to point B.
This, coupled with special traversal-centric powers that aid momentum and Super Slingshots that let players gather a ton of speed in no time, makes it clear that exploration is better than ever in Marvel's Spider-Man 2. It's the highlight of a game that is a massive improvement on every other front, although the story can be a bit haphazard at times.
