The 10 best Spider-Man games ranked

Do you love swinging around New York City and catching bad guys just like flies? Of course, you do that’s why you’re reading our list of the best Spider-Man games.

Now, Spidey’s come a long since his first game was released in 1982. Back then, he was an 8-bit blur who could only climb one building, but now, more than 40 years later, Web Head’s games take inspiration from superhero movies and are spectacular open-world adventures. 

The question is, however, which of these superhero games is best? Well, you might think that’s an easy question to answer, but Peter Parker’s fans are a discerning bunch (our Spider-Man movie ranking proves that) and this required careful consideration.

So, we’ve been through all the games with Spidey’s name on the box to bring you a list of the ten best Spider-Man games ever made. It’s a hard job I know but someone has to do it.

The best Spider-Man games ranked

10. Spider-Man and Venom: Maximum Carnage (1994)

What it’s about: If you are looking for a 2D side-scroller featuring Spider-Man, then Maximum Carnage is the title for you. It’s based on the comic of the same name, which saw the sinister symbiote Carnage take over New York, with a team of sinister supervillains.

What we think: Maximum Carnage is a really difficult game that will put your skills to the test, but once you master it, it’s extremely fun and satisfying to play. Even better, it features some really cool comic-style cinematics that have been pulled straight from the Maximum Carnage comics. What’s best about it, though, is that it lets you play both Spider-Man and Venom, and you can unlock even more Marvel characters as you play.

9. Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions (2010)

What it’s about: Shattered Dimensions is a curious entry in this list, letting you play as not one but four different versions of your favorite superhero. Mysterio is the big bad, and he kicks the story off by shattering a magic tablet, which spreads chaos across the multiverse, leaving the Spider-Men to save the day.

What we think: Shattered Dimensions’ main selling point is the different versions of the Wallcrawler you can play as, including the Amazing Spider-Man, Spider-Man Noir, Spider-Man 2099, and Ultimate Spider-Man. Each of these Spider-Men has different powers, play styles, and levels, which helps the title stay fresh and fun despite its rather linear nature.

Unfortunately, Shattered Dimensions is way too short, and its camera movement can be frustrating, resulting in it being so far down the list. However, despite these flaws, Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions’ unique story and fun gameplay make it worth your time.

8. Spider-Man (2000)

What it’s about: When Manhattan is filled with a toxic gas it’s up to the Wallcrawler to save the day. As he battles through famous villains like Venom, Dr. Octopus, Mysterio, and Rhino, he discovers that a far more sinister scheme is in the works.

What we think: Spider-Man was the first 3D game featuring our favorite superhero, and despite being 25 years old, it holds up. Spider-Man’s impressive storytelling and solid combat mechanics mean it’s still fun to play today.

Although the swinging might not be super sophisticated, there’s a lot of fun to be had in flying over the rooftops of New York. Arguably, though, the most memorable thing about this game is a symbiotic version of Dr. Octavius that you fight in the end, which gave a generation of players nightmares.

7. Spider-Man: The Movie (2002)

What it’s about: Spider-Man: The Movie is based on the Hollywood blockbuster of the same name starring Tobey Maguire and William Dafoe. Still, the developers took a bit of license with the story, including other Spider-Man villains like Kraven and the Scorpion.

What we think: A challenging but fun game, Spider-Man: The Movie is probably best remembered for its tough boss fights and incredible voice acting (they got Maguire and Dafoe back to voice their characters). While the story mode is quite short, one of the greatest things about Spider-Man: The Movie is that you can also play as Green Goblin once you finish the main campaign, and there’s nothing quite as fun as terrorizing New York on a Goblin Glider.

6. Spider-Man 2 (2004)

What it’s about: Similar to the previous entry on the list, Spider-Man 2 is loosely based on Sam Raimi’s movie of the same name, but it also stars some new villains like Rhino and Mysterio.

What we think: Spider-Man 2 remains the high benchmark by which other games starring the Wallcrawler are judged. Honestly it set the standard for movie tie-ins back in the day and is quite possibly one of Treyarch and Activision’s greatest games.

While Spider-Man 2 might be 20 years old, its open world and graphics are still breath-taking. All that said, Spider-Man 2 is best remembered for its revolutionary web-swinging, which, for the first time, relied on you actually attaching your web to buildings instead of in thin air.

5. Ultimate Spider-Man (2005)

What it’s about: Based on the Ultimate Spider-Man comics, Ultimate Spider-Man’s story begins three months after the first appearance of Venom and follows Spidey as he tries to stop the symbiotic menace from causing havoc in New York.

What we think: If you thought Spider-Man 2 was the greatest Spider-Man game, then you might be surprised to learn that Treyarch outdid themselves with Ultimate Spider-Man. Letting you play as both the Web-Head and Venom, this title lets you save the city as a web-slinging superhero or commit crimes as a symbiote-possessed monster.

The best thing, though, is the visuals. Playing Ultimate Spider-Man feels like reading a comic book where you’re in complete control of your favorite characters. Even today, this game looks brilliant despite its age.

4. Spider-Man: Web of Shadows (2008)

What it’s about: Web of Shadows is quite possibly the darkest Spider-Man game, with Spidey being tasked with saving Manhattan from a symbiote invasion. Along the way, he’ll make numerous moral decisions that lead to different endings depending on whether you embrace the power of the symbiote or reject it.

What we think: Ahead of its time and boasting some really impressive combat and web-swinging mechanics, Web of Shadows is a surprisingly challenging game with some pretty difficult boss battles that’ll put your reactions to the test.

What makes Web of Shadows stand out is the ability to switch freely between the traditional Spider-Man costume and the Venom symbiote, which changes Spidey’s powerset. The Wallcrawler’s not the only character who gets a symbiotic makeover. As you play, you’ll have to fight normal versions and the symbiote versions of iconic Marvel heroes and villains, depending on the choices you make. Finally, one of the most fun aspects of Web of Shadows is the wall combat, which adds a new dynamic to fights. It’s just a shame the camera’s so clunky.

3. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (2023)

What it’s about: When Kraven comes to New York to hunt the city’s animal-themed villains, Spider-Man finds himself powerless to stop the merciless hunter. Desperate to even the playing field, Peter turns to a dangerous new weapon, the symbiote, to give him the strength to defeat this villain, but the power of the black suit comes at a steep price.

What we think: In terms of gameplay, Spider-Man 2 is pretty much impeccable. All the mechanics introduced in the original game and Miles Morales are polished to perfection, and the newer elements like symbiote powers, expanded map, and the ability to swap between Miles are fun and refreshing additions to a series I presumed had plateaued in terms of gameplay. 

So, if this game is so great, why does it rank under its predecessors? Well, I’m sorry, but Spider-Man 2’s story just isn’t up to the high standards set by Activision’s previous games in the series. It’s not exactly bad, but it feels oddly rushed (especially the Venom subplot), and it lacks the emotional stakes of those first two games. 

2. Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales (2020)

What it’s about: Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales is another masterclass by Insomniac. Picking up where Marvel’s Spider-Man left off, this time, we control Miles, the new Spider-Man, while Peter Parker is out of town with MJ. However, what should be an easy week of crime-fighting escalates when the Tinkerer makes her move.

What we think: This game is so high on the list because of how well the developers managed to tell Miles’s story. The game is about Miles becoming his man and stepping out of Peter’s shadow, embracing who he is rather than simply following his predecessor’s lead. It’s a bold but impressive take, especially considering the first game’s success. While the main story is quite short, it’s spectacularly memorable, and New Game+ means there’s plenty of replay value. Even better, Insomniac perfected the mechanics introduced in the first game, making this one of the slickest Spidey titles of all time.

1. Marvel’s Spider-Man (2018)

What it’s about: Marvel’s Spider-Man features an original story that updates the Web-Head for the modern day while keeping some of the core elements of our friendly neighborhood hero intact. The game sees an experienced Spidey battling to save New York from a mysterious new crime boss called Mister Negative, but something far more sinister is on the horizon.

What we think: Arguably one of the best games ever made, this particular title takes Spider-Man to a whole new level and kicks off what might be the greatest superhero series in gaming history ( Sorry, Batman Arkham fans).

Marvel’s Spider-Man features an incredibly interactive open world with a number of fun side missions, including fighting against thieves and helping people in the neighborhood. The web swinging is the best to date, with brand-new physics that lets you fly across Manhattan without a care in the world. You also have an impressive number of customization options with multiple costumes, which come with unique unlockable abilities. Arguably, though, this title is incredible because of its brilliant story and gut-punch ending.

If you love the Wallcrawler, check out our guide breaking down everything you need to know about the upcoming Marvel movie, Spider-Man 4. We’ve also got a guide explaining how to watch all the Marvel movies in order and we’ve even ranked every Marvel show. Why? Because we care.