Pretty much ever since the dawn of gaming as a mainstream pursuit, comic book video games have cultivated a messy sort of reputation. So often released on the back of a big blockbuster movie as nothing more than a quick cash grab, the subgenre has seen far too many poorly made and poorly handled titles over the years.
However, when studios and designers are faithful to their material and put the appropriate amount of love into their games, the end results can be some of the most groundbreaking and breathtaking titles in the industry. Here are the very best comic book video games of all time.
Marvel’s Avengers
Developed by Crystal Dynamics and published by Square Enix, Marvel’s Avengers is a 2020 video game released for eighth and ninth generation consoles. Piggybacking hot on the heels and taking inspiration from the successful MCU universe, Marvel’s Avengers is an action-role playing brawler title that lets players take control of their favourite characters from the franchise.
The game has a singleplayer and multiplayer mode, with the online co-op feature allowing players to assemble their own version of the Avengers and, whilst the initial superhero roster was somewhat lacking, the continued support from the developers via free post-launch updates has helped flesh the game out significantly. As well as seeing more and more characters made available to play post-release, Crystal Dynamics also released more character customization options, more regions to explore, a new skill tree to level up and a whole range of new story expansions.
The game has gone onto receive very warm reviews from critics and fans around the world, with the PC version being the most well received edition on reviewers such as Metacritic with a score of 68/100 at the time of writing.
Injustice 2
Developed in 2017 by NetherRealm Studios and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment for PS4, Xbox One and PC systems, Injustice 2 is a sequel to 2013’s Injustice: Gods Among Us in what is still one of the most acclaimed franchises in the entire history of DC Comics.
Just like its predecessor, Injustice 2 is a fighting game at heart, but there are some notable tweaks and improvements that help sell the sequel as a genuine upgrade on what came before it. The added RPG elements help add a level of weight to the sombre story, the new Gear System feature introduced allows for far more customization and the subtle, yet noticeable, improvements in gameplay mechanics that just come from a new generation of hardware all contribute to the game’s impressive standing within the fighting/comic book communities of gamers.
The game has managed to also establish itself as one of the comic book games with a genuinely high skill ceiling, carving out a professional scene and making it a popular title to follow on Esports betting sites such as Unikrn.com.
Marvel’s Spider-Man
Whilst it would be a slight push to try and claim that Insomniac Games were solely responsible for ending the eighth generation of console wars through their development of Spider-Man, it’s hard to recall a comic book game that had the level of hype and subsequent acclaim as their 2018 release.
Published by Sony exclusively for PlayStation 4 upon release, Marvel’s Spider-Man is an absolute masterpiece in both open world creation, and in showcasing how the new age of gaming can create stories and narratives that easily compare to big Hollywood flicks.
Insomniac had to wait 22 years before they were able to secure the rights to any Marvel property they wanted, and the level of faithfulness they were able to hit with Spider-Man is a testament to the love and care put in by the developers. From the quips and one-liners, the accuracy in portraying classic villains and characters, all the way to the surprising amount of emotional depth in the storyline not only makes this one of the best comic book adaptations in the world of gaming, but also one of the finest free roaming open world titles made in recent times.
Batman: Arkham Asylum
But, when it comes to acclaimed comic book video game franchises, no conversation would be complete without paying homage to the classic Batman: Arkham series. Whilst 2015’s Arkham Knight might not have been every gamer’s cup of tea, there’s no backtracking on just how groundbreaking and legendary the original trilogy of UK-based Rocksteady Studio’s takes on the Dark Knight’s world were upon release.
The game that spawned this successful series was Batman: Arkham Asylum, released all the way back in 2009. Not only is it an absolute masterpiece in a game blending together gritty action-packed fighting with strategic stealth mechanics, but Arkham Asylum was one of the most influential titles in really selling the idea of a comic book video game really playing out in the same manner as a gripping storyline fans would normally expect to find on the big screens in the cinema. Mark Hamill and Kevin Conroy, both hugely respected voices for Joker and Batman respectively, arguably put in some of the finest performances to date thanks in part to the writing of veteran Batman writer Paul Dini, and the chosen setting of Gotham’s criminal asylum perfectly captures the true feel of DC’s darker and more gritty reputation.
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