The 15 Best Superhero Games To Play on PC Right Now
There was a time when one might roll their eyes when they hear about a new Superhero game coming out. Many fans felt that there was little love or effort put into these games, and that they were doing it simply for the money. This is no longer the case. There are now many Superhero games made with love of the genre and that deserve gamers’ time, some of them even cropping up in conversations when the best games ever are discussed. We list the best fifteen the PC has to offer below.
15. X-Men Origins: Wolverine
X-Men Origins: Wolverine is based on, but deviates from, the movie of the same name. Released in 2009, the story follows Logan as he struggles to find out the truth of his past whilst battling brutal enemies with intricate combos, adamantium claw, and regenerative powers.
Set when Wolverine was still a ruthless killing-machine and before he became one of the coveted X-Men, this game is violent, avenging fun from start to finish. The first cutscene of the game includes Wolverine stabbing somebody in the head through a wall… Need I go on? I will. The controls are simple but see you able to direct Wolverine as he decapitates and relieves enemies of their limbs, with all the blood and gore that comes with that. Add powerful Instant Kills and a good health system that makes sense to the character, this game really makes you feel like you’re in control of the ferocious X-Man-to-be.
Weapon-X carves his way through another enemy with his adamantium claws.
INSTANT KILL!
14. The Amazing Spider-Man 2
Gamers again assume the role of your friendly neighbourhood Spiderman in this action-adventure sequel loosely based on the second film in the rebooted franchise that saw Andrew Garfield star. A huge array of the web-slinger’s threatening foes make an appearance, including Kingpin and Venom as Spidey battles to maintain the peace in Manhattan using his collection of incredible skills.
Players will get a real sense of both sides of the iconic Superhero in the game as they walk around taking pictures and discovering clues as Peter Parker, and get their adrenaline pumping as they swing through the city and fight swarms of enemies in fast-paced, athletic combat. Swinging has been upgraded from the previous game and Spidey’s web must attach to the surrounding buildings for him to swing; this then encourages you to stay close to the buildings and the ground, creating a real feeling of speed and danger as you swing between cars and around tight corners. Spiderman also has a range of combos to deal with the criminals effectively, using his Spider-sense and web to attack and slow enemies, really putting the player in the driving seat of the iconic hero.
Some familiar faces turn up during the game, including fan-favourite Storm
Manhattan looks great, and it is ready to be explored
13. Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite
Ultron from the Marvel Universe and Sigma from the Capcom Universe team up and force their worlds together in a sinister plan to destroy all organic life. Beloved heroes from both universes, now finding themselves united, must join forces to take down this new, deadly foe.
The fighting in the new instalment of this franchise is frantic, furious, and fantastic. The ability to tag a partner at any time gives the player a huge amount of freedom for creativity, whether it is in combat or strategy. The roster itself adds to this, and the ability to team up the likes of Ryu, Hulk, Dante, Captain America, and Akuma, is tremendously satisfying every time. The 30-character list can be supplemented by the different Infinity Stones, and experimenting with which characters work well with which Stones is one of the most rewarding elements that any fighting game has to offer.
Hiryu, Firebrand, and Ryu in the arena? Hell yeah!
This game does not scrimp on epic, universe-transcending matchups
12. Deadpool: The Game
The Merc-with-a-Mouth stars in his own game from 2013, giving gamers an opportunity to indulge in relentless, bloody combat that is complemented by Wade Wilson’s self-referential humour and all-round craziness.
The game begins with Deadpool throwing away the script. Literally. And it only gets crazier from there as the mercenary battles with the likes of Domino, and Mr. Sinister (and gets to bitch-slap Wolverine) in this game that is completely devoid of a fourth-wall. Explosive and upgradeable firepower - and the Merc’s recognisable katanas wreak havoc on enemies you encounter as you work your way through the hilariously whacky story. Fans of the comic book hero will find plenty to quench their thirst if looking for more than just the movie here.
The Merc-with-a-Mouth only has one plan for that banana…
Fourth wall? What fourth wall?
11. Injustice 2
Injustice 2 builds on the successes of its prequel, Injustice: Gods Among Us, in a variety of ways that ensures it couldn’t be left off this list. From the fantastic cast to the huge amount of content on offer, this is a game that DC fans and newcomers alike would be crazy to miss.
A grim story is supplemented by a huge roster of sometimes photorealistic characters, from favourites Batman and Superman, to Enchantress, Captain Cold, and, more recently (with DLC), The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Each character has a specific tutorial that new players can learn the basics in, but the path to mastery is a long and rewarding one. Faster gameplay in this instalment means that the array of environmental attacks (using the settings to cause damage) and transitions between characters and different locations feel great. Add the online aspect of the game to this, the Multiverse, where gamers can unlock new appearances and upgrade stats (only for offline) for their favourite characters and pit them against other real players, and you have a very deep game with tonnes of replayability.
Robin vs Blue Beetle is just one awesome match this game has to offer
Choose from familiar or not-so familiar faces with this fantastic roster of characters
10. South Park: The Fractured But Whole
In South Park: The Fractured But Whole, players assume the role of the New Kid as he battles alongside Stan, Kenny, Kyle, and Cartman against outrageous enemies in this outrageous superhero-themed RPG.
As the New Kid, you customise your superhero persona and superpowers in order to help in the fight against South Park’s criminal underworld and at times, it really feels like you are playing through an episode of the iconic show. As you level-up your character you can widen the range of superpowers at your disposal, and this really comes to the fore in this sequel’s upgraded battle system. Positioning matters in the grid-based, tactical fights, leaving you having to think about movement, area attacks, and range of powers, rather than just bashing an attack button. This makes combat extremely fun, rewarding, and hilarious as fan-favourites from the show use powers such as super-speed and elemental attacks against crap-people, ninjas, and strippers in the quiet Mountain town.
WHO is the COON?
Fight outrageous foe after outrageous foe in this hilarious RPG adventure
9. LEGO® Marvel Super Heroes 2
LEGO® Marvel Super Heroes 2 is a fantastic follow-up to the first instalment and builds on the successes of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, including characters from the films but adding plenty of unfamiliar faces and comic favourites.
Kang the Conqueror threatens the heroes of the Marvel Universe from Chronopolis in this new, time-travelling adventure that will see gamers take control of a huge roster of characters from Wakanda to Medieval England. This variety is possibly the greatest characteristic of the game, along with the bundles of personality it offers. From Star Lord’s ability to force enemies to dance, to Kang’s hilarious announcements (called Kangnouncements), the game is a super-fun answer to the MCU that is full of collectibles and depth for fans to enjoy as they smash their way through the Lego® landscape.
COME AND GET YOUR LOVE!
Another impressive roster of heroes and villains in this less-than-serious special
8. ULTIMATE MARVEL VS. CAPCOM 3
In Marvel vs. Capcom 3, gamers are given access to new characters, a better fighting system, and brand-new modes, bringing what was an already great game back to PC to be experienced once again.
With one of the most diverse roster of characters in any fighting game on offer, a beautiful comic-art style, and furiously entertaining 3v3 battles, this game has so much to say for fighting games and should be considered by fans of the franchise and newbies alike. Seeing Deadpool and Iron Man in the same arena as Strider Hiryu, Phoenix Wright, and Shuma-Gorath may seem outrageous, but the game makes it work. With the frenetic combos, creative tags and transitions, and not to mention the insane Special Abilities, this game supplies a fast-paced and hard-hitting fighting game that is difficult to overlook.
Chun-Li/Ryu/Morrigan vs She-Hulk/Wolverine/Rocket Racoon… Take my money!
One of the whackier matchups that you can get in the game… Thor vs. Viewtiful Joe!
7. DC Universe Online
The first and only free-to-play and Massively-Multiplayer-Online RPG game on this list, DC Universe Online is the superhero answer to games such as World of Warcraft or Guild Wars, and it stands on its own as a part of the genre.
Gamers customise their character at the beginning of the game and can either make their own from scratch or choose a known character from the comics to base them on. A vast amount of options allows for players to really feel like they’ve created a unique character to help favourites such as Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman in the fight against Braniac. Traits and Power Trees allow you to level up your heroes as you battle gangs of thugs in quests synonymous with the genre. The game and questing are fast-paced and interesting, the fights are energetic and manic, and with your character able to fly or parkour their way around the familiar destinations such as Gotham, this free-to-play game is a no-brainer for fans of DC or of the MMO genre.
Take your highly customisable superhero to recognisable locales from the DC Universe
Great questing and epic battles in the only MMO on this list
6. Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series is the first of two Telltale games on this list. Telltale gained immense popularity through their The Walking Dead and The Wolf Among Us episodic games, and have created something great in this instalment.
After the huge success of the films, Guardians of the Galaxy, this game puts players in the role of Star-Lord, Peter Quill after the gang come into possession of an ancient artefact that has the ability to bring people back from the dead. You also get to experience the other characters at certain points in the tale which makes a nice change, with the beloved characters each having their own quirks and characteristics. As expected from a Telltale title, you talk to characters and make decisions about what to say, move around the wonderfully galactic environments, solve puzzles, and encounter quick-time events and puzzles. But the game does all of these very well, interesting and fun enough to stand on its own for newcomers and full of detail that fans of the group will appreciate. It is fun, hilarious, heartbreaking, and heartwarming all at the same time, and the freedom the game allows you really makes you feel like your choices are making a big difference.
Feel your adventure personally evolve as you make decisions about what to say and do
Drax and the rest of the gang look awesome in Telltale’s newest instalment
5. Batman: The Telltale Series
This next entry is another game from Telltale and follows the iconic Bruce Wayne in a fresh take on The Dark Knight’s story. Dark and gritty, split-second decisions keep the action moving and the blood-pumping as the Caped Crusader.
One of the most interesting aspects of this Telltale game is the amount of time that the character plays as Bruce Wayne. This hasn’t really been explored in gaming for various reasons, but Telltale weren’t afraid to really delve into the psyche of the billionaire and unearth why he does the things he does. This leads to extremely interesting decisions that affect both Batman and Wayne and as with the last entry, these choices have consequences for each persona. The game feels very refined and brings us in as close as we’ve ever been to The Dark Knight, an exploration that has really paid off and leaves the game high on this list.
Explore Bruce Wayne’s psyche like never before in this gritty look at The Dark Knight
Plenty of familiar faces and relationships return with a fresh new take
4. Batman: Arkham Origins
Batman: Arkham Origins is a game developed by Warner Bros. Games Montreal and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, who are the developers of the other Arkham games. This game falls in between Arkham City and Arkham Knight and acts as a prequel to the trilogy, about a year into Bruce Wayne’s stint as the Caped Crusader.
Taking place years before the first two games in the trilogy, Arkham Origins sees Batman have a bounty placed on his head by Black Mask and eight assassins descend on Gotham to try and claim it. Being early on in The Dark Knight’s career, it is interesting to see Alfred’s disapproving of Bruce’s new career choice and the way the police are not yet enamoured with the Caped Crusader’s actions in Gotham. In terms of gameplay, it shares many similarities with the other games in the series (that will be explained further below) but also introduces the overwhelming Shock Gauntlets into Batman’s arsenal, as well as a fast-travel ability with the Bat Plane, and personal-feeling boss battles. The best introduction is the Crime Scene Investigating; Bruce uses Augmented Reality in order to reconstruct crime scenes and analyse clues to progress the story. This is great fun and exceptionally interactive, and supplements the vicious, streamlined battles very nicely.
Use the Caped Crusader’s extensive arsenal to overcome gangs of thugs
The police aren’t yet enamoured with the Bat in this look at his early years
3. Batman: Arkham City
Batman: Arkham City follows on from the first with another intricate and exciting story, where Batman has been confined within a new super-prison that is more open-world than Arkham Asylum in the previous game, and must find out what is going on and what Hugo Strange’s ‘Protocol 10’ is. He allows the inmates to do what they want, as long as they don’t escape, and this leads to carnage across the slums.
The combat is further refined from the first game (see below) and seems even more brutal and hard-hitting than the first. Launching the last enemy of a group into the air before pummelling him into the ground and basking in your awesomeness is as glorious as the first game. Old gadgets return and new gadgets are added to the Caped Crusader’s arsenal, including the Remote Electric Charge (that can also be used to charge enemies), a Disruptor, and a Freeze Cluster. Batman’s cape now allows him to glide in this game, making covering the larger distances so enjoyable; gliding into combat from dizzying heights and taking out a couple of thugs as you land is a hugely satisfying endeavour. If you love the game, and you will, there's so much depth and replayability there that will keep you coming back for days after you finish the main story, including Challenges, Riddler Trophies, and a Catwoman campaign.
Feel every kick and punch in this second instalment in the franchise
Stick to the roofs in this super-prison overrun with thugs
2. Batman: Arkham Asylum
The first entry in the Batman: Arkham franchise of Batman games that was released back in 2009 and its announcement was met with some trepidation. Another rubbish game based on a comic book? How wrong we all were. With writing from comic writer Paul Dini, and voices from the DC Animated Universe (Kevin Conroy as Batman and Mark Hamill as The Joker), this game simply cannot be missed.
Batman: Arkham Asylum is one of the best games in the genre ever released. With the unique FreeFlow™ combat system that allowed the player to relentlessly chain unlimited combinations together when fighting hordes of the Joker’s goons, a number of stealthy takedowns and gadgets at his disposal, and ‘Detective Vision’, it has never been so fun or satisfying to take control of The Dark Knight as he fights his way through Arkham Asylum to get to The Joker and thwart his plan to blow up Gotham. You feel every brutal punch land and every near-miss, as you pound the last of a wave of thugs into the ground or dodge over an enemy and out of the way of an electronic baton. Familiar faces arise for Batman to fight against and beside, including Bane, the Scarecrow, and Commissioner Gordon. Playing through the longest night of Batman’s life is fantastic from start to finish.
The first instalment in this award-winning franchise is simply unmissable
Fight your way through Arkham Asylum and thwart the Joker’s plans
1. Batman: Arkham Knight
What a game to finish the list of. Batman: Arkham Knight brings the Arkham trilogy to a close, taking everything that was good about the first two games and, incredibly, adding even more for the player to do and enjoy. With the whole of the city of Gotham at Batman’s (and his villainous enemies’) disposal, the finale to this epic trilogy is the best superhero game of all time.
The game follows another intriguing story as gamers, as The Dark Knight, pursue the Scarecrow as he threatens to release a quantity of Fear Gas into Gotham City. This, coupled with the appearance of an ‘Arkham Knight’ who terrorises Batman on his journey, is another great story. The game has the best roster yet, with appearances from allies Robin, Catwoman, and Nightwing, and the ability to fight alongside them and execute overwhelming team-combos. Batman also has a Voice-Synthesizer at his disposal to confuse and manipulate his enemies, and a multi-takedown feature which is smooth and devastating as the groups of enemies get larger and more intelligent as the game progresses. But, the biggest and best addition to the game has got to be a fully-operational Batmobile. Adding this was no gimmick, with the high-tech vehicle-cum-tank being integrated seamlessly into the game and necessary to take on swarms of tank drones that appear on the streets of Gotham, and used in high-speed pursuits. These vehicle battles and chases are explosive, destructive, and exciting, and are a welcome addition to the game. This game deserves its place atop this list and if you haven’t played it, you are missing out. The Bat may have stolen the show at the top of this list but if you go and play the games, you'll soon realise why.
The combat in the Arkham finale is better and more brutal than ever before
The Batmobile makes its debut here and what a debut it is!
