Marvel’s rise to the top of the intellectual property food chain has been a drama for the ages, from bankruptcy in the mid-1990s to worldwide brand powerhouse. The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s dominance of pop culture has reintroduced the house of ideas’ biggest heroes as household names, as well as ideal fodder for video game adaptations. Marvel’s come back to video game superstardom hasn’t been without potholes, but they’ve been minor setbacks on an otherwise thrilling adventure into the unknown.
With Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy just out, and titles like Wolverine and Midnight Suns on the way, here’s a list of the top Marvel games you can play right now, presented in no particular order.
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, the newest game on our list, was an unexpected smash in 2021. While something with the brand Marvel doesn’t always catch you off guard, Guardians of the Galaxy appeared to be a bit of a letdown in the teasers building up to its release.
Guardians of the Galaxy, on the other hand, made superb use of its license, with perhaps stronger writing and a more engaging tale than either of the popular Guardians of the Galaxy flicks. It caught the tone and flavour of the iconic comic book series in a manner that modern adaptations rarely do.
While the story is fantastic, Guardians of the Galaxy suffers from dated and monotonous action gameplay. The fact that you can only play as Star-Lord is a bit of a letdown, especially given the team’s diverse battle styles. However, the uninteresting gameplay doesn’t detract too much from the whole experience. Guardians of the Galaxy doesn’t linger too long, with a logical, well-paced story that can be completed in about 15 hours.
Marvel’s Iron Man VR
It may come as a surprise, but if you don’t have a few billion dollars in your bank account, a brilliant mind, and a corporation that consistently develops cutting-edge science technology, you’ll almost certainly never be Iron Man. The good news is that Iron Man VR on PlayStation VR offers a less expensive, safer, and more digital option. Iron Man VR is a spectacular piece of high-flying, repulsor-blasting action from a first-person viewpoint, giving you full access to the playboy philanthropic billionaire’s trademark power suit.
Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2
When it comes to reuniting the comic book band for another dip into blockbuster action, you always know what you’re getting with a Lego game, and while Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2 didn’t exactly rock the boat when it came to reuniting the comic book band for another dip into blockbuster action, there was at least one interesting gameplay mechanic on offer. Traveler’s Tales delivered another good study of the Marvel Universe, complete with slapstick humor, destructible locations, and an obscenely large cast.
The ability to modify time and a four-player competitive warfare option, as well as plenty of fan service from various comic book eras and realities, were the main draws here. Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2 is a delightful journey into the familiar and enjoyable territory. It’s pure straightforward comfort food featuring the ever-popular Danish brand. Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2 is available for all current consoles as well as the PC.
Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
With its debut Spider-Man game, Insomniac set a high bar for itself, and the studio had its work cut out for it when it was tasked with following up on that success with a PS5 launch title in late 2020. Miles Morales didn’t take many risks in terms of gameplay, but the shift in heroes did shake things up, as Miles’ approach to crime-fighting in New York was an electrifying celebration of power and progress.
Miles’ debut in the starring part was notable thanks to his arsenal of startling skills, juggling his difficulties, and surviving the most perilous of odds. It was considered one of the top PlayStation 5 launch games. While Miles Morales is a shorter game than the original Marvel’s Spider-Man (think Uncharted: Lost Legacy vs. Uncharted 4), it is an action-packed journey from beginning to end.
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order
Raven Software’s resuscitation of the Ultimate Alliance of superheroes, easily the most ambitious crossover of the video game age, more than lived up to its promise of an over-the-top action experience. Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order offered plenty of memorable moments, team-ups, and apocalyptic showdowns in a game that left nearly no area of the Marvel Universe untouched, taking the trademark perspective of prior games and magnifying the hunt for loot to keep players engaged. Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order is a Nintendo Switch exclusive that’s especially fun to play with friends on the couch. It’s simple to get started, and a large number of characters to pick from (each with their unique moves) makes it a very replayable adventure.
Marvel’s Avengers
There’s no denying that Marvel’s Avengers had a difficult start, but the year 2021 has turned out to be a watershed moment for the ambitious game featuring Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Constant updating has fine-tuned the gameplay, developer Crystal Dynamics has released time-limited events regularly, and this year’s expansion, War for Wakanda, added a significant chunk of new material to the game, including the Black Panther himself, all for free.
There’s never been a better moment to gather some Avengers and help rescue the day than now, with a larger roster, confirmation that Spider-Man will be swinging into the PS4 and PS5 versions of the game this year, and its recent launch on Xbox Game Pass. On PlayStation 3, Xbox One, and PC, Marvel’s Avengers is available.
Marvel Puzzle Quest
Only the legacy of Puzzle Quest, a beloved series of match-three games that is both easy to pick up and tough to master, is probably more potent than the Marvel Universe. But what about combining the two? That was a stroke of brilliance at the height of Marvel mania, as each game featured a trio of heroes battling legendary villains while navigating endless gem stacks. The fact that it felt like a superhero game, with combination attacks, color-based power-ups, and a tactical focus built around a cast of hundreds of characters, set it apart.
Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3
Even a decade after its initial release, it’s still difficult to tell what was going on in any Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 match from the outside… The visual chaos, on the other hand, was a slobber-knocker for the ages. Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 is a game of high-risk, high-reward combos that will etch themselves into your retinas with every spectacular assault, flinging Marvel’s greatest heroes and villains against the seasoned brawlers of the Capcom universe.
