5 Marvel games to play while you wait for Marvel Rivals
While there are many Marvel games that have been released over time, it is recently that the brand stepped into the competitive multiplayer shooter genre. Marvel Rivals is NetEase Games' take on the 6v6 Hero Shooter formula, pioneered by Overwatch. The game provides just enough creative spins on the 6v6 shooter formula to feel like a breath of fresh air.
The game's vibrant and poppy art style, unique map design, remarkable character roster, and satisfying gameplay loop combine to create an impressive hero-shooter experience.
After the closed beta left a lasting impression on players, NetEase announced that Marvel Rivals will release on December 6, 2024. While players wait to play a Marvel-themed take on the 6v6 team shooter genre, here are five incredible Marvel games that players can revisit.
Note: This article is subjective and solely reflects the writer's opinions.
Exploring five incredible Marvel games to revisit before Marvel Rivals' arrival
1) Marvel's Spider-Man
Insomniac has recently been on a roll when it comes to superhero games. While their two recent entries, Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Spider-Man 2, were loved by fans, they are now gearing up for Marvel's Wolverine. However, while the developer has been hitting consistent home runs, it's important to remember the title that started this all.
Marvel's Spider-Man was Insomniac's first offering in the arachnid teen's mythos. And it was also one of the best. The game provides an incredible gameplay loop, satisfying melee combat, a near-perfect web-swinging system, and tons of suits and collectibles to scout New York City for.
Players who want Marvel games with an amazing narrative, a remarkable traversal system, and abundant side content, can pick up Marvel's Spider-Man.
2) Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2
While Diablo and Baldur's Gate would go on to become the giants of role-playing isometric action games, Marvel games also had a few run-ins with the genre. However, its most famous venture was the Ultimate Alliance series. While Ultimate Alliance 1 captured the wonder of playing as Marvel's various famed superheroes, Ultimate Alliance 2 streamlined and improved upon the gameplay of its predecessor.
While the first part focused on the Avengers, its sequel adapts the comic franchise's revered Civil War storyline. As such, the game puts you into various scenarios taken from the comics but allows you to build your Marvel dream team. Players wanting Marvel games with RPG elements and a superhero roster as wide as Rivals can pick up this game.
3) X-Men Origins: Wolverine — Uncaged Edition
While the X-Men Origins: Wolverine movie was met with widespread criticism, the same cannot be said about the movie tie-in game based on it. The title has a sense of polish behind it, something absent in the majority of this genre. But that can be attributed to the movie being delayed, giving its developer, Raven Software, adequate time to complete the game.
While the game loosely follows the movie, it interjects it by adding an incredible combat system, which sees Logan chopping cronies limb-to-limb, lunging from foe-to-foe, utilizing various abilities, and a visceral gore system, which shows Wolverine healing his wounds in real-time. Players who want Marvel games with an engaging hack-and-slash combat system can try this out.
4) Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy
While player reception to Marvel's 2020 release, Avengers was not positive, it was the complete opposite for Guardians of the Galaxy. Developed after James Gunn made the interstellar-inhabiting crew popular, the game follows its own standalone story, about the crew trying to stop the Universal Church of Truth from brainwashing the world into becoming their servants.
The action-adventure game focuses on Star-Lord, who attacks enemies using his Element Blasters, along with flying through his Jet Boots. While players can only play as Star-Lord, they can command the team members to use various attacks on the enemies.
Players who prefer Marvel games with third-person shooting mechanics and a campaign with branching paths, will not be disappointed by this game.
5) Lego Marvel Superheroes
The Lego games are known for their refreshing take on a popular media franchise, whether it be Star Wars, Indiana Jones, or even DC. While Lego's offerings with their DC counterparts set up the franchise's fundamentals, the series' first collaboration with Marvel nearly perfected the formula.
Lego Marvel Superheroes 1 introduces the comic brand's most established heroes to the Lego universe, along with some lesser-known names, each with distinct superpowers and abilities. The campaign skillfully brings Marvel's Manhattan to life.
The narrative constantly bounces around between the game's humongous roster, providing each character with their moment. Players who prefer Marvel games with a fun campaign, jam-packed with one of the widest rosters of Marvel characters, will thoroughly enjoy this title.