10 Underrated Superhero Video Games Worth Playing

There have been loads of nice superhero and comedian book-based video video games through the years. Insomniac’s Spider-Man video games and Rocksteady’s Batman: Arkham series have been hailed as among the biggest and most trustworthy online game diversifications of the trendy day, with the business success to again up these claims.

Nevertheless, not all heroes are acknowledged for his or her efforts, and there are some good superhero video games that, for one purpose or one other, aren’t frequently talked about like Marvel’s Spider-Man or Batman: Arkham Metropolis. These video games are nonetheless price testing when you have the means, even when they’ve been largely overshadowed by more moderen ventures within the superhero style.

Marvel’s Guardians Of The Galaxy Hits The Proper Notes

Crystal Dynamics’ Marvel’s Avengers left a lot to be desired, however the Eidos Montreal-developed Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy delivered loads of sci-fi thrills when it was launched in late 2021. Sadly, the sport underperformed at launch, and it is since light from the general public thoughts regardless of a brief resurgence on Xbox Game Pass.

This can be a disgrace, as Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy is a strong motion title that mixes the allure of the MCU Guardians films with some enjoyable team-wrangling gameplay and a rocking 80s-inspired soundtrack. Commanding the Guardians as Star-Lord is satisfying, as is seeing the rag-tag house heroes come collectively by the “Staff Huddle” mechanic.

Notorious: Second Son Deserves A Comeback

Protagonist Delshin Rowe doing his fiery dash in Infamous Second Son. — Protagonist Delshin Rowe doing his fiery sprint in Notorious Second Son.

Earlier than taking gamers to historical Japan in Ghost of Tsushima, developer Sucker Punch honed its open-world craft within the Notorious sequence. The primary two video games centered on the lightning-powered Cole MacGrath, whereas 2014’s Notorious: Second Son shifted the highlight to a younger road artist named Delsin Rowe.

Whereas Cole was primarily restricted to electrical powers, Delsin’s skills are themed round smoke, neon, video, and concrete. Utilizing these powers to navigate the open world of Seattle and battle the corrupt Division of Unified Safety is immensely satisfying, and the talent tree unlocks new abilities based mostly on the participant’s ethical actions.

Sadly, the Notorious sequence has fallen by the wayside as Sucker Punch focuses on its Ghost of Tsushima series. Followers are nonetheless hoping for a brand new Notorious sport, one which both continues Delsin’s story or introduces yet one more superhuman protagonist.

Marvel Final Alliance 2 Is All About Teamwork

Developer Raven Software program took what it discovered from the X-Men Legends games and constructed on them with the Marvel Final Alliance sequence, motion RPGs that permit gamers to construct their very own superhero groups and mix their particular skills to save lots of the day. 2009’s Marvel Final Alliance 2 refined that teamwork-focused mentality with a plot based mostly on the Civil Struggle storyline.

Identical to within the comics and later Captain America: Civil Struggle film, Earth’s heroes are divided into two teams preventing over authorities regulation of superbeings —and the participant can select which aspect to struggle for. Staff-up assaults add some aptitude to the proceedings by letting heroes mix their powers in wave-clearing tremendous strikes.

Prototype 2 Delivers A Nice Sandbox

James Heller fighting an enemy in Prototype 2

Whereas Notorious supplied PlayStation homeowners with an unique superhero epic starring a extra easy hero, Radical Leisure crafted a darker story throughout all platforms. This story was Prototype, a 2009 motion title that gave gamers a variety of Symbiote-like skills and a big sandbox to unleash mayhem on.

Though this effort resulted in blended opinions, Prototype 2 refined the damaging gameplay and grizzly plotline of its predecessor. It additionally switched up the protagonist from the amnesiac Alex Mercer to James Heller, a former U.S. Marine who finds himself unwillingly mutated by the virus Mercer unleashes on Manhattan.

Gotham Knights Is Underrated

Cover art for Gotham Knights, showing Robin, Nightwing, Batgirl and Red Hood — Cowl artwork for Gotham Knights is displayed

Whereas Rocksteady seemingly wrapped up its Batman: Arkham saga with 2015’s Batman: Arkham Knight, WB Montreal seemed to proceed the Darkish Knight’s gaming legacy with a distinct title set in a brand new universe. The end result was 2022’s Gotham Knights, an motion sport that shifted the highlight towards the remainder of the fabled Bat Household following Batman’s loss of life.

The comparisons to the Batman: Arkham series have been inevitable, however whereas Gotham Knights‘ fight and transversal gameplay aren’t as tight as Rocksteady’s video games, it’s nonetheless enjoyable to navigate the streets of Gotham and ship justice. Sadly, Gotham Knights underperformed at launch, and the sport has fallen below the shadow of Rocksteady’s extra iconic tackle the Caped Crusader.

Final Spider-Man Offers Spidey Fashion

Marvel Games Spider-Man Playable Villains Ultimate Venom Green Goblin — Marvel Video games Spider-Man Playable Villains Final Venom Inexperienced Goblin

Contemporary off the success of 2004’s wonderful Spider-Man 2 tie-in sport, future Name of Responsibility developer Treyarch took its open-world framework to the Final Marvel comics in 2005’s Final Spider-Man. This basic allowed gamers to alternate between Spider-Man and Venom in a narrative that explored the Final tackle the latter’s origin.

The net-swinging mechanics are extra simplified than these of Spider-Man 2 or the later Insomniac video games, however patrolling the streets of New York remains to be a enjoyable time. Getting to chop free as Venom can be a deal with, and the sport’s cel-shaded graphics give it a stylized look that actually makes it really feel like a comic book e book come to life.

Batman: Arkham Origins Is A Stable Arkham Entry

Batman fighting a group of thugs in Arkham Origins. — Batman preventing a bunch of thugs in Arkham Origins.

Earlier than Gotham Knights, WB Montreal stepped into the seedy underbelly of the DC Universe with 2013’s Batman: Arkham Origins, a prequel story set years earlier than Rocksteady’s Batman: Arkham trilogy. It is Christmastime in Gotham, and Batman finds himself confronted with a brand new menace within the type of the evil crime boss Black Masks and his eight employed assassins.

Whereas the general gameplay and presentation of Batman: Arkham Origins aren’t fairly as refined because the Rocksteady entries, all the things followers love about these video games is current and accounted for. It is only a disgrace that this darkish prequel usually finally ends up misplaced within the shuffle amid the remainder of the Arkhamverse.

Spider-Man 2: Enter Electro Set The Stage

The outdated PlayStation Spider-Man titles helped pave the best way for the Spider-Man 2 film tie-in and Insomniac’s sequence, however they’re usually neglected of the dialog of nice superhero video games. This rings very true for Spider-Man 2: Enter Electro, the 2001 follow-up that sees Spidey face off towards a conspiracy of villains from taking up New York.

Gameplay is almost an identical to the first Spider-Man PS1 game, with gamers operating and swinging their method by linear ranges as they battle criminals, robots, and supervillains. Spidey has a number of new methods up his sleeve, specifically the ice and taser power-ups that add particular results to his trademark webbing.

X-Males Origins: Wolverine Is A Nice Tie-In

A handful of Marvel games have done the Wolverine character justice. — Wolverine within the X-Males Origins Wolverine tie-in sport

Film tie-in video games not often surpass the movie they’re based mostly on, however 2009’s X-Males Origins: Wolverine proved to be the exception to the rule. Whereas the sport largely retold the story of the film (together with the catastrophe that was the movie’s tackle Deadpool), Raven Software program greater than made up for it with delightfully brutal fight.

Borrowing closely from God of Struggle, X-Males Origins: Wolverine permits followers to really slice their method by hordes of enemies as Marvel’s iconic mutant berserker by unleashing devastating slashes and combos. Logan’s therapeutic issue can be depicted precisely, highlighting how Wolverine can shake off even essentially the most ugly of accidents. As a bonus, Hugh Jackman reprises his function as Logan.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Has Left The Dialog

Maskless Peter Parker and Miles Morales, leaning on a railing on the top of a building in Marvel's Spider-Man 2. — Maskless Peter Parker and Miles Morales, leaning on a railing on the highest of a constructing in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2.

All of Insomniac’s Spider-Man video games have been crucial and business successes, and positive sufficient Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 sparked plenty of discourse when it launched on the PS5 within the fall of 2023. Nevertheless, it appears many of the dialogue surrounding the sport has died down within the years since, whereas its two predecessors are talked about extra incessantly.

Whereas the sport’s plot has divided followers, Spider-Man 2‘s gameplay is simply as polished as ever. Peter and Miles nonetheless swing by New York Metropolis and take down criminals with all of the acrobatic grace one would anticipate from a spider-themed superhero, and there are many enjoyable upgrades and alternate costumes to boost the expertise.