It’s no secret that the popularity of video games has skyrocketed in the past decade, with the medium enjoying more mainstream success than it ever has before. With Grand Theft Auto V earning well over $6 billion at this point, it’s clear the medium is taking over the entertainment industry.
To put things in perspective, the highest-grossing movie of all time is the Avengers: Endgame, which grossed roughly $2.8 billion. In fact, it’s surprising that there hasn’t been more cross-pollination between the MCU and the video game industry – but that doesn’t mean there aren’t a ton of games for MCU fans to sink their teeth into.
Guardians Of The Galaxy: The Telltale Series
While it’s hardly considered the studio’s most beloved game, there’s a lot to like in Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series, nonetheless. In typical Telltale fashion, the game is a story-based, episodic adventure with a heavy emphasis on player choice and branching narrative paths.
Although it’s technically separate from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it’s clear that suitably retro soundtrack – featuring the likes of King Harvest’s “Dancing in the Moonlight” and Hall & Oates’ “You Make My Dreams Come True – Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series irably captures the essence of what fans have come to love about the oddball team of heroes.
Saints Row IV
Sure, it may be noticeably more adult than most of the other games on this list, but Saints Row IV is a must-play for fans of the superhero genre regardless. Despite the series’ initial status as an unapologetic GTA clone, the series really began to carve out its own identity following the release of the first game.
Each entry in the series ups the ante with its increasingly ridiculous and self-aware plot, with Saints Row IV turning the player into a fully-fledged superhero, who’s forced to fight off a sinister alien invasion after becoming the President of the United States.
Deadpool
Although 2013’s Deadpool video game isn’t too smooth in the gameplay department, its meta, gross-out humor, gory hack-and-slash action, and central performance from Nolan North are sure to endear itself to fans of the Merc with a Mouth.
Arguably one of the most self-aware video games ever made, fans of Wade Wilson should know exactly what to expect with this one. The game was initially available on PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, but has since been re-released on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One for those looking to pick up the game on the latest hardware.
Infamous 2
Of all the games in the Infamous series, Infamous 2 is arguably the best. Continuing the story of courier-turned-superhero Cole MacGrath, the game sees players take control of Cole’s electricity-based powers, chronicling his attempts to take down an oppressive anti-Conduit militia as well as an all-powerful being known as ‘The Beast’.
Like other games in the series, Infamous 2 leans heavily into its morality mechanics, with players earning good or bad karma for the actions they perform and choices they make throughout the game.
The Wonderful 101
An isometric action-adventure game released for the Wii U in 2013, The Wonderful 101 sees players assume command of an enormous team of superheroes, whose morphing powers are the only thing that can stop the rise of a tyrannical alien terrorist group known as the Geathjerk Federation.
Despite being one of the most conceptually and mechanically unique superhero games ever made, The Wonderful 101 was considered a commercial failure – likely due to the game’s release on the underperforming Wii U console – but has since been slated for a remaster on PlayStation 4, PC and Nintendo Switch thanks to its popularity.
Overwatch
The first-person shooter that took over the world back in 2016, Overwatch combines the hero-based gameplay of the MOBA genre with the fast-paced, objective-based action of online FPS games. Proving to be incredibly popular upon its release, the game has since become a staple of the Esports world.
Currently boasting 32 playable characters of various classes, the game’s colorful cast of endearing superheroes and villains are a huge part of what makes it so popular, with its interesting lore and rich characters feeling very much like the MCU of online shooters.
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance
If you’re looking for a video game crossover to rival that of the MCU’s Avengers: Infinity War, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance is definitely worth a look. The game is an action-RPG that allows players to assemble their own team of four Marvel superheroes to take on Doctor Doom and his Masters of Evil.
While Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 and Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order are both worthy follow-ups in their own right, the first game remains the most critically well-received of the bunch.
Marvel Vs. Capcom 2: New Age Of Heroes
The standout entry in the Marvel vs. Capcom franchise, Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes remains a bright, breezy, mechanically sound fighting game two full decades after its initial release – even standing above the series’ more recent entries.
As its title suggests, the game pits its impressive 56-character roster of Marvel and Capcom characters against one another in a series of tag-team one-on-one slugfests. Striking the perfect balance between the first game’s 2D graphics and the uncanny valley 3D graphics of later entries, Marvel vs. Capcom 2 captures the spirit of Marvel Comics more than any game in the franchise.
Marvel’s Spider-Man
While there’s no shortage of great video games based on the Spider-Man character, there’s no question that 2018’s Spider-Man is easily the best of them all. Developed by Insomniac Games – a company known for their effortlessly slick movement and combat mechanics – the web-slinging and the combat featured in the game are buttery smooth and an absolute joy to experience.
Combine that with a gripping, surprisingly poignant story to rival that of most superhero movies, and Marvel’s Spider-Man stands out as one of the best superhero games ever made – sitting right up there with the likes of Batman: Arkham City.
LEGO Marvel Super Heroes
Don’t let the fact that it’s a LEGO game put you off, LEGO Marvel Super Heroes brings a whole new meaning to the term ‘sandbox game’, making you feel like a kid again with its mix of linear story-based levels and open-world exploration.
Featuring over 155 unlockable heroes and villains in the core game – and even more with the DLC – LEGO Marvel Super Heroes has one of the most impressive character rosters ever assembled in a video game, with its simple but effective gameplay loop proving to be surprisingly addictive.