What Are Superhero Games?
Superhero games are exactly what it says on the tin: They’re games that emulate being a superhero and are usually power fantasies where players use their powers to defeat evil. Some entries on this list will have heroes with superpowers, others wouldn’t have them but instead, use sheer physical might or the power of technology. However, the core theme remains the same: people with extraordinary powers, and even those without, kicking ass and taking names. Superhero games are usually action-adventure games, with a few of them having open-world elements. Examples of these kinds of games that are on this list are Marvel’s Spiderman, Prototype, and South Park: The Fractured But Whole. There are exceptions, like putting various heroes into a fighting game like Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3.
15 Best Superhero Games You Can Play Today
1. Marvel’s Spider-Man + Miles Morales Expansion
The first game or games on this list are Marvel’s Spider-Man and the Miles Morales expansion. It’s pretty obvious why this game’s on the list. After all, this is Spider-Man we’re talking about here, one of the most influential Marvel characters ever created. Created by Insomniac Games, who made the Ratchet and Clank series, Marvel’s Spiderman was a gem polished to perfection, and it shows. Why? Well, here are a few examples. We all know the open-world genre is a bit saturated at this point. However, Spider-Man’s world is a perfect place to have an open-world game due to his movement and the sheer scale of his place of operations: AKA New York. The sheer joy of web-slinging throughout the various skyscrapers is unparalleled and very fun and has a unique feel to it. Combat also feels great, with melee and web-slinging options available. Gadgets created by Spider-Man are also used and even encouraged in difficult fights. There are even sneaking portions. However, one of the best things about the games is the fact that there are a few breaks from the fighting here and there. Times when Peter’s with Mary Jane or Miles is with his family. These help the player see that they’re not just Spidermen, but they’re Peter and Miles. They have their lives, their jobs, Miles is still in school. All this, combined with some great combat and awesome set-pieces, makes Marvel’s Spider-Man and the Miles Morales expansion a great Superhero game to get. This makes it a good thing that it came out on PC after an exclusivity stint on PlayStation. Play Spider-Man today!
2. Batman: Arkham Series
The next entry on this list is Rocksteady’s Batman: Arkham series, starting from Arkham Asylum, all the way to Arkham Knight. These games are the greatest that ever came out on various platforms due to multiple reasons. From Batman’s fame and status as a Superhero, the engaging and great gameplay, and a whole lot more. All told, the Batman Arkham Series is one of the better Superhero game trilogies that ever came out, and the quality was pretty good. Except for Arkham City, that one wasn’t that bad, but it wasn’t up to snuff. Even with the second game’s inadequacies, though, the Arkham series is a great set of Superhero-themed games that should be in anyone’s Steam Library. Protect Gotham as the Batman
3. Prototype Series
Next on this list are the 2 Prototype games. These are a bit of a doozy since they involve 2 people that are effectively Anti-Heroes. It’s a bit on the edgy side, but the sheer power trip that you get from both games is a thing of beauty. Prototype 1 and 2 takes place in New York, apparently a city where all sorts of weird stuff happen. In the first game, players play as Alex Mercer, a man “gifted” with various abilities like shapeshifting and biological manipulation of his own body. The Open-World, in this case, would be New York, and it’ll change pretty drastically in the second game. There, you play as James Heller, and this time, you’re fighting against Alex. It’s all on Spoiler territory, but overall, it’s a pretty interesting, if a bit bland, narrative. Both games are well worth the money, they have really good gameplay, induce a lot of power fantasies, and are just good fun. If you want to have a few hours of tearing apart military units and other biological monstrosities, get the Prototype games. Experience the Prototype Franchise
4. South Park: The Fractured but Whole
Next on this list is South Park: The Fractured But Whole, which is a parody of Superheroes, but bear with us here. The game is a sequel to South Park: The Stick of Truth and features a lot of the same characters. Cartman and the others would be there, but will now become their superhero LARP roles like The Coon, Captain Diabetes, Super Craig, and Mysterion. It’s pretty hilarious in its parody, and the gameplay is genuinely interesting. The sheer hilarity of the whole thing adds to the game’s charm. After all, you’re playing superpowers with children who made a whole plot of the things currently happening. The start of the game is a homage to Stick of Truth, where the New Kid is the King of a fantasy kingdom. It’s all pretty great and very entertaining. Hell, you fight Morgan Freeman as a secret boss, that alone should be enough of a chuckle to try it out. All told, though, South Park: The Fractured But Whole is a great parody of Superhero games, and it owns it. From the butt jokes, the blatant ripoffs of famous characters (Looking at you Doctor Timothy), and the sheer no-holds-barred humor. If you’re looking for a chuckle, then this game is a great one to pick up. Well, this and the next game on this list. Defend South Park
5. Deadpool
The next game on this list shouldn’t surprise people, Deadpool: Yep, Merc with a Mouth, the Regenerating Degenerate, and other unflattering titles. All told though, this is actually pretty straightforward, and very fun. Deadpool, being the 4th Wall breaking bastard that he is, talks to the player directly even when he’s kicking the asses of various mooks. Hell, there are even times when he’s using speech bubbles for weaponry, as you will. Anyhow, Deadpool’s crass self is very apparent in this game as the plot, and the comedy is on full throttle. Gameplay-wise, it’s your typical hack-and-slash fare and can get a bit stale after a few hours. However, you’re not here for the gameplay, you’re here for Deadpool, and his presence alone makes this game a hidden gem. After all, you can’t buy this game on Steam anymore, which is a really sad thing. Play Deadpool on X360
6. Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3
The next game is Ultimate Marvel Vs. Capcom 3, is a big homage to various Marvel and Capcom series at this point. All the greats are here, like Iron Man, Ryu, Captain America, and Chun Li, you can bet that almost everyone is here, alongside a few new additions. Amaterasu, Dante, Vergil, hell, Phoenix Wright is here and he’s surprisingly good. As you can probably tell, Ultimate Marvel Vs. Capcom 3 is a fighting game, and there’s a meta to the game’s competitive scene. However, there’s also a story mode for each of the game’s characters that end with fighting Galactus and his heralds. Pretty cool stuff, if incredibly difficult. All told, the game is a great one if you’re just looking for a good time. If you want to go competitive, be prepared to grind hard. Overall, Ultimate Marvel Vs. Capcom 3 is a great fighting game inside the Superhero genre that would be a fine addition to anyone’s Steam Libraries. Also, this isn’t the only Superhero fighting game on this list.
7. Saints Row IV
Next on this list is Saints Row IV, which isn’t a Superhero game, per se. After all, you’re a Mafia Boss here. Also, you definitely wouldn’t see any Superhero worth their salt beating a criminal with a giant plastic dildo, no sir. If you’re looking for a more… adult, PG-16 take on what being a Superpowered individual is like, then Saints Row IV is the game to get. Now, for those that don’t know the Saints Row series, think of them as a wackier, zanier version of Grand Theft Auto. With more charm, and a lot of ridiculousness. After all, you’re not only a Mafia Boss here but also the President of the United States. That alone should speak of where we are on this whole series. Then there’s the alien invasion, the superpowers, and all the other ridiculousness. Seriously, if you’re playing any Saints Row game, leave your sanity at the door if you want to understand what’s happening. You’re better off this way. Overall, Saints Row IV is fun as hell, and very much worth the money spent. Join the Saints in saving the world
8. X-Men Origins: Wolverine
Next on this list is a good game based on a movie: X-Men Origins: Wolverine. In this game, you play as, you guess it, Wolverine as he kicks ass and takes names and try to destroy Weapon Plus Project. That’s pretty much it. If you’ve seen Wolverine in action, you already know how this would end for his enemies. His enemies turned into sliced sashimi on his feet with his claws. All told, it’s a pretty good game for a pretty meh movie. If you’re a fan of Wolverine, get the game, it’s well worth the money, unlike the movie it’s based on. Experience this game today
9. Injustice 2
The next game on this list is another hero fighting game, this time from the DC comics instead of Marvel: Injustice 2. The one thing that makes Injustice 2 such a great game is the fact that you can beat the ever-living hell out of your favorite heroes, villains, and Aquaman. Its story mode is top-notch, with a lot of characters intersecting and having some pretty meaningful conversations before they start the carnage. Combat on the game is also sublime, though that’s a given due to Netherrealm’s experience in the genre. Combine this with some lore-accurate attacks, a gripping plot where Superman went nuts and became a ruthless dictator. Yes, that happened. Now, it’s up to a pretty eclectic roster of heroes and villains to try and stop the Man of Steel. All told, Injustice 2 is a very interesting Superhero fighting game with a lot of plot devices and incredible gameplay. Also, Lex Luthor plays hot potato with a laser fired from one of his satellites. That alone should be enough to get a DC fan interested. Join the battle
10. inFamous Series
The next series on this list is the InFamous Series, one of the best open-world Superhero games to ever come out on Consoles. Mostly because you’re zipping around a city with electricity powers that depend on how good or bad you are. Combine this with some very hectic and awesome combat, great visuals at its time, and a pretty good plot. Well, then, you have a great Superhero game series. The first few games of the InFamous series center around Cole MacGrath and his various choices and decisions. Eventually, it’ll lead him to fight a massive creature known as the Beast for the future of Mankind. Meanwhile, the most recent InFamous game follows after Delsin Rowe, a delinquent who gets the ability to absorb the powers of other superhumans. All told, all of the games on the series are great and very fun to play and are great additions to anyone’s PlayStation library. Experience inFamous today
11. The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction
The next game on this list is about the Hulk, and it’s just awesome. The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction is the best Hulk game ever made. Sadly, it was made 2 decades ago, and the graphics are… dated. However, it’s the most faithful Hulk game ever made because it shows how destructive (Heh) the Strongest Avenger is. You, of course, play as the Incredible Hulk as he tries to escape the US Military. As you’re way, way stronger than everything in the game (Barring the bosses), you can utterly decimate the whole place. Rampaging throughout the levels is fun, and very hilarious, as enemies will ragdoll on the screen every time Hulk smashes his fists. With each level done, the Hulk grows stronger, gaining more abilities to cause even more chaos. However, like Deadpool, the game isn’t found on Steam. But it’s still around on the internet if you know where to look. This is great because this game is quite literally a hidden gem of a Superhero game. Hulk smash!
12. The Wonderful 101
The next game on this list is Platinum Games’ Wonderful 101, which has players use a team of 100 diverse Superheroes. Why do you need that many superheroes you ask? Well, there’s this thing called an alien invasion trying to conquer Earth, and well… You need to save it. This is a bit barebones, and there are a lot of things that make Wonderful 101, well, wonderful. The combat of Wonderful 101 is an absolute joy. The player controls 100 superheroes in Pikmin style to combat the alien threat. However, this isn’t enough to defeat them. The player needs to draw various shapes to create powerful weaponry to defeat enemies. Combine this with the fast and frenetic gameplay and the sheer size of the boss fights compared to the 100 heroes you’re using. It makes Wonderful 101 a gem on the Wii U. Luckily for the rest of us, Platinum Games has recently released the Wonderful 101 on Switch, PlayStation 4, and PC, so we can now join in on the fun. Wonderful 101
13. Gravity Rush 2
The next game on this list is Gravity Rush 2, which gives players the ability to manipulate gravity based on their whims. The game still has the usual gravity manipulation and overall whimsy of the previous entry in the series. However, the stakes are higher. You still control the cheerful, amnesiac Kat, and with her friends, will try their best to go about and defeat enemies and protect their city. However, the stakes are higher now, and there are a lot of things unresolved from the first game. Gameplay-wise, Gravity Rush 2 still retains the same adrenaline-pumping shenanigans of the series’ previous entry. Kat can still flip gravity upside down leading to some very hilarious events happening. Graphics are also great and in general beautiful, and you really wouldn’t go wrong in playing this game, or the first game of this series. Feel the rush
14. Spider-Man: The Web of Shadows
Next is Spider-Man: The Web of Shadows, arguably the most underrated Spider-Man game ever. Released in 2008 by Activision, Spider-Man: Web of Shadows is your usual Spider-Man video game fare. Until it wasn’t. Hell, the first part of the game has Spider-Man fight and kick Venom’s ass. Yep, you’re fighting the game’s main villain on the first level, good luck. When that happens, Spider-Man gets some of the Symbiote on his body, allowing him to use the Black Suit. This is when the game’s real fun begins, as Web of Shadows gives players the ability to swap between the Red and Black Suits at any time. In addition to that, both the suits have their unique abilities and combos that can lead to some awesome combo potential and damage. There’s even a web strike mechanic allowing Spider-Man to move quickly from enemy to enemy, and also allows him to fight in mid-air. The greatest example of this was during his fight with Vulture, where the web strike mechanic shows how groundbreaking it is. Combine this with the really interesting morality system where you can choose between 4 endings. Well, you have a real treat of a Superhero game. It’s just sad that it’s in a rough state during launch, which held it back. There are a lot of unique things on Web of Shadows that would make the game a real winner in the Superhero game genre. As per usual, the game isn’t on Steam but can be found on the internet if you know where to look. Play as Spider-Man today
15. Viewtiful Joe
Last but not least is Viewtiful Joe, which didn’t get the acclaim that it should’ve gotten due to one reason: it’s on the Gamecube. Don’t get us wrong, the Gamecube was a decent console, but it wasn’t mainstream, which led to Viewtiful Joe’s downfall. However, the sheer awesomeness and uniqueness of Viewtiful Joe made it a great addition to any gamer’s library. Viewtiful Joe is viewed in the eyes of Joe, a superhero nerd whose girlfriend is kidnapped by a movie character. Yep, this is where we’re going, and the way it goes is absolute awesomeness. The game is a 2D side-scrolling beat-em-up and very proud of it, with awesome combos, devastating special moves, and difficult bosses. Seriously, it’s criminal that this game was only released on Gamecube. However, people have emulated this game for the PC, making it accessible to anyone who knows where to find it. Play it on your DS today!
What Makes a Good Superhero Game?
Well, the first thing a player needs to look for when looking for the best superhero games is gameplay. If a Superhero game already has good gameplay, then you have something interesting to go for. Next is a decent story and plot, which is important because your hero needs something to shoot for. Graphics are a distant third on this list but will still be a necessary addition. After all, you want your game to look good in your eyes when playing. That caps off our list of the best superhero games that you can play on PC or on consoles.
