10 of the best Spider-Man video games ranked

5. Spider-Man: Web of Shadows (2008)

Platforms: PlayStation 2 and 3, Xbox 360, PC, Wii, Nintendo DS, PSP

With a Manhattan that shifted as you played, combat moments that actually allowed you to utilize the gifts Spider-Man has, and cameos from some favorite Marvel characters, this is one of our favorite games (even if it did come in fifth). And this game even gave us a suit we all loved (the black symbiote costume) at the time, which made this a fun adventure through the city. This is a game we reflect on when chatting about Spidey video games, even as it simply can’t come in higher when compared to some of our other favorites.

4. Spider-Man (2002)

Platforms: PlayStation 2, Xbox, PC, GameCube, Game Boy Advance

This game may have been released in 2002, but it actually holds up relatively well in terms of production value. The problem with this game is that it does not have the level of graphics or gameplay of some of the more modern games, but in terms of nostalgia and being a solid companion to the movie it was based on, it has to rank high on our list. Nostalgia goes a long way when it comes to classic games, and that is why we enjoy this addition to the Spider-Man heritage.

3. Spider-Man 2 (2004)

Platforms: PlayStation 2, Xbox, PC, GameCube, Nintendo DS, PSP

On top of being a nostalgic game that we absolutely enjoyed playing when it was released, it actually was the first video game to give us a fully realized New York City. It was much more freeing to thwip around the streets of New York, versus basically having no free-roam feature in the previous installment. Plus, some say the basics of the swinging mechanic in this game was the inspiration for the totally immersive swinging in Marvel’s Spider-Man for PS4. Sure, the gameplay itself had some issues, but as the first entry to have us swinging through a Manhattan that appeared alive, this game stands above so many other games.

2. Ultimate Spider-Man (2005)

Platforms: PlayStation 2, Xbox, PC, GameCube, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS

As the direct sequel to Spider-Man 2 (despite having a totally different art style), this one automatically had to rank above its predecessor. And as a game, it certainly deserves the recognition as the graphics have actually held up well as it has aged. We also loved the fact that we did not just play as Peter Parker, we also had the chance to take on the role of Venom. This was a game that truly embraced its roots and showed a love for the source material.

1. Marvel’s Spider-Man

Platforms: PlayStation 4

Hands down, this is the best game released featuring Spider-Man to date. From the stunning visuals to the amazing gameplay, and of course the storyline pulled straight from the comics, this video game is pure perfection. And bonus points to all of the amazing suits, great downloadable content, and side missions that made this a game we could not look away from or stop playing. Basically, this game is like being at the movies, but allowing you to direct all of the action.

There are actually a lot of games featuring Spider-Man, and it can be hard to rank our favorites. However, we think these 10 are definitely worthy of recognition.

What do you think of our rankings? Would you change the position of any of these games? Did we miss one of your favorites? Tell us what you think in the comments.