The best superhero games offer a mix of a compelling narrative??, stellar gameplay, and an overall great look with t?heir graphics. These 10 titles are certainly super if you want to play as a hero in a video game.

NOTE: This is a list with one entry per franchise. Otherwise this would be an article filled with Marvel's Spider-Man and Batman: Arkham games.

#10 - Marvel's Midnight Suns

From XCOM developer Firaxis Games comes a strategy RPG Marvel's Midnight Suns. With a team of Marvel superheroes on your side, you're taking on the demonic Lilith and the Elder God Chthon (and their forces). It's a unique dark take on the Marvel universe we rarely see, espec??ially if you only watch the MCU and play Marvel games. The card-based system is fun to play, and you'll be exploring the Abbey, getting to know the heroes (like Wolverine, Blade, and Iron Man) helping you to defeat Lilith and Chthon as The Hunter.

"It’s incredibly easy to recommend to any Marvel fan, and is simple enough to pick up and play for strategy newcomers," said our review. "Although the highs aren’t as high as some of Firaxis�past work, those of you who latch onto the relationship building, social network,? and silly moments will find a lot of joy here."

#9 - Guacamelee!

Guacamelee is a melee-based Metroidvania that lets you brawl the undead in a gorgeous Mexican-inspired environment. The col??ors truly pop on screen as you're wrestling your enemies wi?th suplexes and punch combos in the air.

A cool aspect of this Canadian indie game from Drinkbox is that the moves you learn throughout this Metroidvania will help you with platforming ?and fighting foes. The Rooster Uppercut, for example, lifts the protagonist Juan up to higher platforms. This is a hidden gem that is well worth your time.

#8 - Injustice: Gods Among Us

Another game with fun combat is Injustice: Gods Among Us. The Mortal Kombat developer NetherRealm Studios "brought it" with the first entry in this DC series. The combos are thrilling to pull off, and the ability to interact with objects on the sta??ge is an engaging twist on the fighting game genre. The concept of Superman going evil after his love Lois Lane gets murdered by the Joker is fascinating. Out of fear, most heroes join Superman's side, but Batman and a few other heroes decide to go against him. This civil war scenario is engaging to follow throughout an impressive story campaign.

#7 - Batman: The TellTale Series

Batman: The TellTale Series has a compelling story that focuses m?ore on Bruce Wayne than the Batman persona, giving this a unique spin on the Caped Crusader. His family's past is a big plot point in this game, and your choices do matter within the narrative of this Telltale adventure. You'll have to pick sides, and sometimes that? can come back to haunt Mr. Wayne. While the gameplay is simple, the compelling story more than makes up for it. The performances by Troy Baker, Laura Bailey, and others in the cast is also stellar.

"Troy Baker has a chance to show his chops a little more, channeling an otherwise very whiny Bruce with a little more panache and ferocity that a lot of voice actors wouldn’t be able to replicate," said our review of one of the game's episodes Children of Arkham. "He’s also able to forge believable relationships with the cast, and I haven’t seen Bruce and Harvey Dent be this relatable since Long Halloween."

#6 - inFAMOUS: Second Son

One of the best superhero games is Sucker Punch and PlayStation's inFAMOUS: Second Son. Playing as Delsin Rowe, you're using the unique powers of smoke and neon. Yo??u're going across the rooftops of Seattle and blissfully flying through the air. The Washington-based city looks gorgeous with re??al businesses and locations being replicated in the game.

The storyline is also comp?elling as you're fighting against ??an agency trying to crack down on superpowered individuals. The relationship between Delsin and his brother is an aspect of the plot that's also relatable and engaging. The combat is also a thrill as you're wielding multiple powers, throwing embers at your enemies, and lifting cars into the air.

#5 - Marvel vs. Capcom 2

One of the most iconic superhero games ever made is Marvel vs. Capcom 2. This 3v3 fighter changed the game with crazy combos and even crazier visuals that really popped in arcades back in the naughties. Being able to team up Ryu with The Hulk and Spider-Man was a dream for many fans of the genre back in th?e day. Additionally, the music is superb and will have you bobbing your head to the beat.

"I’d say that only one or two of today’s 2D fighting games can hold a candle to the level of craftsmanship and content to be found in Marvel Vs Capcom 2," said our 2009 review of the Xbox 360 port. "It’s truly a product of a bygone era; and an era that I sorely ??miss."

It recently saw a modern release on PS4, Switch, and PC, with the Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection.

#4 - Marvel Rivals

This could certainly be recency bias, but Marvel Rivals is a stellar third-person hero shooter based on the beloved Marvel license. It features heroes and villains from across the history of the company, including Ir?on Man, Captain America, and Mr. Fantastic. However, it also has some you may not expect?? like Jeff the Land Shark and Luna Snow, who are both excellent healers in the game. The game is fun to play as you master each character's unique powers and try to figure out the best team for each scenario.

The stages are magnificent with amazing set pieces to gaze at, and the conversations the characters have with each other are fantastic as well. The game's so great that it's giving Overwatch 2 a run for its money.

#3 - Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy

After the disappointing release of Marvel's Avengers, one of the best superhero games, Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy, suffered lacking sales. And that sucks because this is one of the best adaptations in the video game space. While Marvel's Avengers felt too similar to the MCU, this game feels unique. It has its own origin story for Star-Lord, and the game makes him a more likable character than his movie version arguably. The writing is hilarious, and you really ge?t a family feel from each of the characters in the game. They feel evolved and well-rounded as they speak to each other. You also have to take sides, and your decisions will leave an impact on the group. You'll get ??invested.

The combat is also radical as you're playing as Star-Lord? shooting and fighting enemies in a fast-paced manner. You'll be directing each of the Guardians to help you in ??the fight rather than taking control of them, which surprisingly works well.

#2 - Batman: Arkham Asylum

Many would say Batman: Arkham City is the best game in the series, and while it's a fantastic entry, Arkham Asylum is the stand-out for me. By exploring this prison, you get an immense amount of tension as The Joker schemes his next trap for the ?Dark Knight. The sto??ry keeps moving forward, adding twists and turns you don't expect. There are plenty of memorable moments within the storyline that will stay with you for a long time.

Another aspect of the game that will stay with you is the combat and stealth segments. You feel like a badass controlling Batman as he punches, dazes, and kicks his enemies ??at lightning-fast speed. The combo meter keeps going up, and you can pull off finishers if you succeed long enough. The stealth segments are also fantastic as Batman uses his gadgets to outwit the thugs underneath. He also has to crawl through the prison environment to get the upper hand. You have to play t??his game if you haven't already.

#1 - Marvel's Spider-Man 2

Marvel's Spider-Man 2 is simply the best superhero game to release. Playing as both Peter Parker? and Miles Morales, you're exploring a stunning iteration of New York, swinging around. It's purely a rush just to explore New York. You also have the web-wings to glide across the city landscape, too.

"Very rarely am I enamored enough with an open world to drift around aimlessly for extended periods of time, but I found myself caught in that loop all over again," said our review.

The story pulls you in even further as Miles Morales is still dealing with the loss of his father and is trying to become the Spider-Man he dreams of. Peter Parker, meanwhile, is dealing with a deeper relationship with his girlfriend while grieving his aunt. He is also catching up with his best friend Harry Osborn. The drama is high-stakes as Ven?om and Kraven become major threats in the city.

The combat of Marvel's Spider-Man 2 also matches up with the Batman: Arkham series. It flows incredibly well as Peter and Miles zip across the battle with their quick reflexes. The gadgets and powers of both characters add to the battle as strategic options for the player.? The skill trees for both Spider-Men also incentivize us to keep playing and exploring the city. All of the collectibles and costumes you can unlock add even more to t?he enjoyment of the game.

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Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection was only released? on September 12, but the legend of a player called the "W??azzler" is already spreading.

According to Steam reviews, this guy is like Thanos; running into him on ranked is inevitable. The unholy beatdowns he delivers are, too. It all makes perfect sense, though, because the Wazzler is none other than Justin Wong, 9-time EVO champion and the greatest Marvel vs Capcom player of all time.

Getting bulled in a fighting game by Wong is nothing new. For example, a clip of him showing an eight-year-old the ropes in Mortal Kombat X has ma?de its rounds on the internet for years. But Marvel vs Capcom is Justin's specialty, and this time, it's adults quitting the game in frustration.

The first mention of the Wazzler comes from Steam user "TongOfDmg," who cl??aimed that their run-in not only ruined his night but drove him to refund the game. Meanwhile, several other users have left reviews warning of the impending danger of Wazzler and the dire consequences of his wrath?.

But maybe they've got Justin all wrong. Maybe, in a twisted way, his reign of terror is for the benefit of mankind. I mean, Steam user "formerly" said they made their entire family dinner while locked in an Iron Man combo. And anyone who brings family toge?ther like that is alright in my book.

Justin himself seems to be having fun with the situation and acknowledged it on his Twitter. But what ??he said next might shake Marvel players to their core. After reaching the number on?e rank on the Steam and PlayStation 4 ladders, he announced the Nintendo Switch would be next.

It appears no platform is safe from his expanding empire, and I worry for myself and other Xbox players when the MvC collection comes to Xbox One next year. The only certainty is that if you dare go online with the Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection, you must beware Wazzler.

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Capcom is digging back into its vault and finally unearthing one of its most asked-after classics, packaging its pixel-era Marvel crossovers into a single game with the Marvel Vs. Capcom Fighting Collection. It's a compilation that would, indeed, like to take y?ou for a ride.

While this collection is probably most notable for making Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 conveniently playable, it's also a tour through a fascinating, arguably foundational, era of Capcom's brawler development. So, to tackle its disparate parts, we've put two reviewers on the case. First off, I—Eric—will dig into the multiplayer fighting game aspect, from X-Men: Children of the Atom up through Marvel Vs. Capcom 2. Then Zoey will weigh in with expert knowledge on The Punisher, the side-scrolling beat 'em up p??ackaged in with the bun??ch.

Marvel Vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics (PC, Switch, PS4, PS5)
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Released: September 11, 2024
MSRP: $49.99

Wanna learn how to do an infinite?

It’s still a little surreal to see Capcom’s Marv??el crossovers playable on a modern platform. Once Arcade1Up put out its Marvel cab, it felt inevitable that some kind of port would follow. But even for preservation’s sake alone, this collection is a big deal.

When the collection bears the name �em>Marvel Vs. Capcom�on the title, you know what the focus is. Everything here centers on Capcom’s legendary series of crossovers, starting with a few core Marvel games and building into Marvel Vs. Capcom 2.

Seeing these games in sequence like this really helps illustrate how Capcom built these characters and concepts up over time. You can see the first iterations of Cyclops and Wolverine duking it out and how those fighters shifted over the years from X-Men: Children of the Atom all the way through to MvC2.

Laying out the lineage like this is a nice touch, and thankfully, it’s pretty easy to play through a few rounds on every game. Though the lobby system is a little finicky for my taste, it certainly functions just fine, and the netcode felt solid in the matches I ran with someone across the States from me. Playing a first-to-three in Marvel Super Heroes and then swapping over to an X-Men or MvC is pretty smooth, making it?? easy to jump around through Capcom’s development timeline.

While the history is nice to see, there are obvious standouts. X-Men Vs. Street Fighter is a personal favorite of mine, and it’s been done well here. The original Marvel Vs. Capcom holds up well, too, and it’s neat to see how the tag and assist systems evolved in these crossover f??ighte??rs over time.

Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 is the star of the show, though. It’s been years since I spent hours trying to climb in the Xbox 360 port, and many more since I first put a quarter in an MvC cab, so I do think it’s important to stress: Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 is one hell of a game.

I mean this in a few ways, too, because as fun as it is to play so many characters that feel so powerful, the line can quickly veer into something busted. It’s a rite of passage to go online in MvC2 and get bowled over by an Iron Man infinite or someone running a classic compos??ition of god-tier fighters.

All the nastiness is here in spades, and for the sickos who want that, I think they’ll find it. Even as a critic, I’d still recommend the absolute MvC diehards check out in-depth reports from the likes of Justin Wong to see whether the granular details have translated well. But for someone like me, a casual MvC fan who just wants to play my favorite version of Jill Valentine ??and fight my? friends, it’s a solid offering.

A few modernizations could help onboard newcomers, like the increasingly popular one-button specials option. It’s nice to see a good training mode in here, too. All of this points to a collection that could revitalize competitive interest in MvC; while the diehards have been using alternative methods ?for?? some time, this is another point where putting these games on a modern platform helps out.

Sadly, even modernization doesn't help all of these games shine as brightly as others. The aforementioned standouts are there, and I'm pretty sure if you're buying this collection, you're buying it for Marvel Vs. Capcom 2. Everything else is gravy on top. But after a handful of rounds in some of the other games, I felt fine not running more, especially when they had fewer character options compared to the massive MvC2 lineup.

Ultimately, this collection feels like a time capsule of Capcom history. Putting all these games together clearly illustrates the through-lines, showing how Capcom and Marvel built a working relationship over years of fighting game crossovers. In that respect, it might feel a little lacking in variety. Rather than a smorgasbord of differing styles, it’s focused on a lineage, the way previous collections like the Street Fighter 30th laid ou??t decades of iteration on a core concept.

But it’s this focused encapsulation that makes this collection so endearing for me. So much artwork and music has been packed in, alongside options that make it easy to tinker, train, or just experience the explosive wonders of MvC2 for the first time. I think if you’re a fan of fighting game history, this collection is a no-brainer. I wouldn’t recommend it to someone looking to “get into�fighting games, but I would absolutely recommend it to anyone who gets rosily nostalgic every time they hear “I wanna take you for a ride�ring out through their speakers. - Eric Van Allen

It's punishin' time

It’s always a cause for celebration when a licensed game somehow gets rereleased in modern times. While the Marvel Vs. Capcom Fighting Collection centers around the mashup titles, The Punisher sits at the beat-??’em-up lunchroom table alone. A surprising addition, but?? one that deserves attention.

Without thinking too hard about it, Capcom was the best when it came to belt-scrolling brawlers. 1994 was a good year to be a fan, as that was when Alien vs. Predator and The Punisher were released. While AvP is probably the better game overall, The Punisher is no slouch.

You can play as either The Punisher or Nick Fury. I have no idea why Nick Fury is here, aside from the fact that he’s one of the few Marvel characters?? who will use a gun. I thought it would be explained in the opening demo, but it isn’t. I’m not sure why a government agent would join a vigilante in a full assault against an organized crime family. If that sort of thing was allowed, they probably could have just killed the Kingpin a long time ago.

Anyway, that’s all The Punisher is. It starts off by having you beat up thugs in a casino. Then you just follow the trail of thugs until you get to The Kingpin. You go through various crime-y locations, such as a bus, a mansion, a waterfront w??arehouse, and an underground grow-op. There are bosses at the end of each. You know the drill.

Perhaps the biggest twist to the beat-’em-up brawler that The Punisher brings is th?at if a thug pulls a gun on Mr. Punisher or Mr. Fury, they’ll pull out their pistols and respond in kind. That sounds like they were trying to say that they only shoot thugs in self-defense, but you can later pick up Uzis and assault rifles and kill indiscriminately. I guess it doesn’t c??ount when you’re using guns you pick up off the ground: It’s the five-second rule for murder.

Overall, The Punisher is a solid brawler. The art style is one of the best parts, especially for the perpetually seething Punisher. You can practically see the veins popping out of his head. The levels feel kind of short, but the entire game clocks in at just over 40 minutes. When you get tired of? the smorgasbord of fighting games that make up the rest of the collection, it makes a pretty great palette cleanser. 

Or maybe you’re just tired of kicking the crap out of your friend and want to team up for a change. You can briefly immerse yourself in the camaraderie between Mr. Punisher and Mr. Fury a few years before Mr. Punisher shoots Mr. Fury in the back. - Zoey Handley

Gather ye stones

On the whole, the Marvel Vs. Capcom Fighting Collection does exactly what it sets out to do: take these classic?? crossovers, apply some modernizations, gather up some historical assets, and package them all neatly together.

It's not the most wide-ranging appeal, but for those within that niche, it's hard to find too many complaints. Ther?e's rollback netcode, some fantastic games, and a Punisher beat 'em up for when you'd rather co-op than fight. If you're a nostalgic fan of the originals or someone curious about one o??f the most storied games in fighting history, this collection makes it easy to take a ride back in time.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

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There was a lot of exciting news for retro gamers in the Nintendo Direct. One that got me good was the reveal of the Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection. This collection brings together such out-of-reach licensed classics as The Punisher and Marvel vs. Capcom 2.

Okay, here’s the trailer:

And hereâ€?™s the list of games. Capitalization is all Capcom marketing:

• X-MEN CHILDREN OF THE ATOM
• MARVEL SUPER HEROES
• X-MEN VS. STREET FIGHTER
• MARVEL SUPER HEROES vs. STREET FIGHTER
• MARVEL vs. CAPCOM CLASH OF SUPER HEROES
• MARVEL vs. CAPCOM 2 New Age of Heroes
• THE PUNISHER

This is extremely exciting to me. I’m always thrilled when old licensed games get re-released because I know it’s often a lot of hoops for the publisher to jump through. Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 is probably the top of the heap, but that doesn’t mean that the others ?included aren’t great on their own.

The more obscure entry here is The Punisher. Rather than a fighting game, it's a beat-’em-up where you play as the eponymous anti-hero and Nick Fury. It’s no Alien vs. Predator (hopefully, one day), but it’s ap??propriately viole??nt and an excellent arcade title.

It comes with some bells and whistles, too. There will be Online modes with rollback netp??lay, and training modes for all the fighting games. There is also a spectator mode, a jukebox, and screen filters.

Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics will be relea?sed later this year for Switch, PS4, and PC.

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