Marvel is a masterclass in creating superheroes that everyone loves, and arguably their most beloved vigilante is the webslinger himself. As a teenager who got spider-like powers after a radioactive spider bit him, Peter Parker is on a mission to protect New York from threats that range from mere robbers and thugs to city-destroying menaces like Sandman.

While Spidey’s movies are (mostly) critically acclaimed and a must-watch for fans, his games are a mixed bag of sweet and sour candies. While there are some good games, there are equally as many mediocre ones. But thanks to Insomniac taking up the mantle of the capeless crusader, things are finally starting to look up for our hero. That said, here are the Spider-Man games that feature the webslinger in the best ways possible.

A Web of Fate Between Two Spideys

Most Spider-Man games let players swing freely through sprawling cityscapes, but Edge of Time takes a different approach. Set almost entirely within a corporate tower, this 2011 title focuses on a high-stakes, time-bending narrative that intertwines the lives of the classic Amazing Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2099. When a corrupt scientist alters history, the two wall-crawlers must work together, across time, to set things right.

The combat borrows heavily from Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions, but the real highlight is how the actions of one Spidey influence the other. If Peter Parker destroys a piece of machinery in the past, Miguel O’Hara will see the immediate effects in 2099. It’s a clever concept, though the game’s repetitive environments and limited open-world traversal left some players feeling caged. Despite this, the story, written by veteran Spider-Man comic writer Peter David, keeps things engaging, making it a standout for fans of Spidey’s multiversal adventures.

9 Spider-Man 3

Swinging Through a Rough Landing

Releasing alongside Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 3 film, this tie-in game had the unenviable task of capturing the movie’s darker themes while still delivering an engaging open-world experience. While the web-swinging mechanics were an improvement over Spider-Man 2, the game suffered from a host of technical issues at launch, particularly on the PlayStation 3 version, which had frame rate drops and glitches that made for an often frustrating experience.

Still, the game offered an expanded version of New York, complete with more side missions, a morality system, and Spidey’s iconic black suit, which gave him a more aggressive fighting style. While not as polished as its predecessor, Spider-Man 3 remains a memorable entry for fans who enjoyed the freedom of swinging through an ever-darker Manhattan.

8 Spider-Man: Web of Shadows

A Symbiote Infestation Worth Fighting For

In a rare move for a Spider-Man game, Web of Shadows lets players decide how Spidey’s story unfolds. This 2008 title features an open-world New York that gradually falls under the control of a full-blown symbiote invasion. The twist is that players can embrace the chaos by using the black suit more frequently, altering combat moves, and influencing the narrative.

The combat is fluid, with aerial combos allowing Spidey to juggle enemies in mid-air and even take fights onto building walls. Plus, it features one of the best implementations of Spidey’s symbiote suit, making it more than just a cosmetic change. However, the game isn’t without faults: some repetitive missions and awkward voice acting hold it back from true greatness. But for those who love a good “What if?” symbiote storyline, Web of Shadows delivers.

7 Spider-Man and Venom: Maximum Carnage

A Classic Beat-'Em-Up With Maximum Nostalgia

Before Spider-Man was swinging through massive open-world games, he was beating up goons in side-scrolling brawlers. Maximum Carnage, released in 1994 for the SNES and Sega Genesis, is one of the most beloved titles in the franchise. Based on the comic storyline of the same name, this game lets players take control of either Spider-Man or Venom as they battle against Carnage and his army of villains across New York City.

With its comic book-inspired cutscenes, challenging gameplay, and a soundtrack that goes way harder than a Spider-Man game has any right to, Maximum Carnage became a cult classic. It’s also one of the few games to fully embrace Venom as a playable character before his modern gaming resurgence.

6 Ultimate Spider-Man

The Comic Book Aesthetic Done Right

Some Spider-Man games have tried to replicate the feeling of playing through a comic book, but Ultimate Spider-Man is one of the few that nails it. Released in 2005, this open-world game uses a cel-shaded art style that perfectly mirrors the pages of Brian Michael Bendis’ Ultimate Spider-Man comics.

The biggest hook is that players get to play as both Spidey and Venom, each with their own distinct playstyle. While Peter Parker’s sections focus on web-slinging and acrobatics, Venom’s segments embrace raw power, allowing him to toss cars and absorb civilians for health. The story, also penned by Bendis, ties directly into the Ultimate universe, making it feel like a true extension of the comics rather than just another adaptation.

5 Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales

A New Spidey Swings Into Action

Following the success of Marvel’s Spider-Man (2018), Insomniac wasted no time in bringing Miles Morales into the spotlight. While smaller in scale compared to its predecessor, Miles Morales tells a more intimate, coming-of-age superhero story as the young webslinger learns what it truly means to be his city’s Spider-Man.

The game introduces new mechanics, including Miles’ bioelectric “Venom” powers and camouflage, which add depth to combat and stealth sections. The winter setting of New York, complete with Christmas lights and snow-covered streets, gives the game a unique visual identity. It may not be as long as the mainline Spider-Man games, but Miles Morales more than earns its place among the best.

4 Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions

Four Spideys, One Epic Adventure

Before the Spider-Verse exploded onto the big screen, Shattered Dimensions was already letting players experience multiple versions of Spider-Man. This 2010 title features four playable Spideys: Amazing Spider-Man, Ultimate Spider-Man (wearing the symbiote suit), Spider-Man Noir, and Spider-Man 2099, each with their own distinct gameplay styles.

The game’s linear structure means no open-world swinging, but what it lacks in freedom, it makes up for in variety. Noir Spidey plays like a stealth-focused brawler, while 2099’s sections emphasize high-speed freefall sequences. It’s a love letter to Spidey’s multiversal adventures, and while some of its mechanics feel outdated today, it paved the way for later stories like Into the Spider-Verse.

3 Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

Bigger, Bolder, and Full of Venom

Expanding on everything that made its predecessors great, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 gives players control of both Peter Parker and Miles Morales, each with their own set of abilities. The symbiote suit makes it a long-awaited introduction, fundamentally changing Peter’s combat style and making him more aggressive with tendrils that can slam, grab, and crush enemies.

The game’s story takes inspiration from some of the most iconic Spider-Man comics, blending the Venom saga with Kraven the Hunter’s Last Hunt. With a larger New York to explore, web wings that allow for faster traversal, and some of the best boss fights in the series, Spider-Man 2 is the pinnacle of Spidey games.

2 Marvel’s Spider-Man

The Definitive Open-World Spidey

Before Insomniac’s 2018 game, Spider-Man 2 (2004) was the gold standard for Spidey games. But Marvel’s Spider-Man blew past every expectation, delivering an open-world New York that finally felt alive. The web-swinging, the combat, and the story, everything just clicked.

Unlike most adaptations, this game doesn’t retell Spidey’s origin. Instead, it throws players into the life of an experienced Peter Parker, balancing his hero duties with his personal struggles. The combat takes cues from the Arkham series but adds Spidey’s signature agility, making fights feel fast, fluid, and spectacular.

1 Spider-Man 2 (PS2/Xbox)

The Game That Made Us Feel Like Spider-Man

Even after all these years, Spider-Man 2 still holds legendary status. The 2004 game revolutionized open-world superhero gameplay with its physics-based web-swinging, which still gets praised today. Unlike previous games, webs actually needed to attach to buildings, making movement feel more dynamic and skill-based.

Throw in a genuinely engaging story, side missions that don’t feel like an afterthought, and, of course, the legend himself, Bruce Campbell, gracing us with his sarcastic tutorial wisdom, and you’ve got a game that still holds a special place in the hearts of fans. It may not have the depth of modern titles, but Spider-Man 2 laid the foundation for everything that followed.

Just make sure to play the PS2 or Xbox version, and not the PC one, as these two are entirely different games, and the latter is just not good.