- There have been a total of 36 Spider-Man Video Games to date.
- This article lists the best moments among the top games.
- The list mentions classic titles like Spider-Man 2000, and to more modern Insomniac Spider-Man series.
Few characters in pop culture have woven as long-lasting webs as Spider-Man. Peter Parker’s adventure as the web-slinging hero, created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko for Marvel Comics, resonates around the world, combining the relatable challenges of a teenager. His cultural effect is evident, spanning comic books, cinema, and television, but it is in video games that Spider-Man’s essence — his heart, comedy, and acrobatic flair — truly shines.
Spider-Man games have established a high standard since their inception. From the ground-breaking Spider-Man 2 (2004), which revolutionized open-world web-swinging, to Insomniac Games’ Marvel’s Spider-Man (2018), a masterclass in storytelling and gameplay, creators have both honored and elevated the source material. These games enhance the character, immersing players in a vibrant New York City, throwing them against iconic enemies like Venom or Kingpin, and weaving plots that match Peter’s ever-changing balance of duty and personal life.
Today is Spider-Man Day, which is an excellent opportunity to reflect on the webslinger’s lasting impact and commemorate the video game moments that defined his digital escapades. These sequences highlight the developers’ craftsmanship as well as the eternal appeal of Marvel’s most iconic hero.
Most Iconic Spider-Man Moments in Video Games
Stepping Into The Shoes of the Webbed Crawler – Spider-Man: Return of the Sinister Six (1992, NES)
As far as I can remember, I always wanted to be Spider-Man. As Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy was released around the time I was born, my father introduced me to Spidey, who would go on to become my all-time favorite hero. As a kid, awe-inspired by the web-slinging hero, I searched for a Spider-Man game, as if my life depended on it back then. Coming from a Tier-2 city in a developing country, there was no official presence of Nintendo at that time; however, a knock-off video game console was dominating the markets here.
Luckily for me, my father owned a store back in the day, and I grabbed a console and all the 8-bit video game cassettes I wanted. Then, I made sure to pick the game based on my favorite hero, NES’ Spider-Man: Return of the Sinister Six. At that time, I had no idea of the Sinister Six, but this game let me fulfill my childhood dream of living as Spider-Man, such as fighting against foes with webs, and crawling up walls.
I was revisiting all my favorite childhood games very recently, and seeing this Spider-Man game again had me in tears. I just found out that it was a 20-minute game, but I spent months completing it. Beating the villains of the infamous sinister six on my own without relying on any guides (which I’m pretty sure didn’t exist at that time) and living as Spider-Man in a game for the first time, it’s something very special to me, and I’ll carry this memory with me for the rest of my life. Looking back on this NES game on Spider-Man Day brings back many fond memories, and I still recommend it to every Spidey fan I meet.
Words by Ajithkumar Selvarajan
Scorpion Boss Fight – Spider-Man (2000, PS1/PC/Dreamcast)
Spider-Man made its first 3D appearance in Spider-Man 2000. Although it appears a bit dated now, the 3D graphics and vibrant colors completely blew my mind during my childhood. I won’t lie, the graphics appear much more epic in my memories than in reality.
Spider-Man 2000 was everything a Spidey game should have been. It opened with a dialogue from Stan Lee, featured actual stealth mechanics, had web shooting that wasn’t just a reskinned gun, and had multiple epic boss fights with many iconic Spider-Man villains. The game emphasized a lot on using environmental elements, allowing players to throw sofas, crawl on walls, and swing from one rooftop to another.
Although there are many iconic moments in the game, my favorite is fighting the Scorpion. This fight left a lasting impression on me due to its gameplay design. I still vividly remember scrambling my way to J.J. Jameson, because a massive bar would show the Scorpion drawing closer to him with every wasted second!
However, the real fun began once I finally confronted the Scorpion. With little to no experience with 3D games back in the day, Scorpion appeared as this menacing villain with a looming figure. Now that I have finished multiple Souls games, I can only laugh at my old self.
Not only did I have to defeat the big and bulky Scorpion, but I also had to protect Mr. Daily Bugle while he kept acting like a prick. To draw the Scorpion’s attention, you needed to throw objects at him. I still remember laughing for a solid minute when I figured out that I could throw a sofa at the Scorpion. The fight featured witty dialogues, a sense of urgency, amazing boss design, and usable environmental elements, so it inevitably hooked me for the entire ride.
Words by Sanmay Chakrabarti
Battle With Electro – Ultimate Spider-Man (2005, Nintendo/PS1/PC/Xbox)
For those unfamiliar, Ultimate Spider-Man was so cool. Modeled after the beloved comic-book run of the same name, the 2005 release fused a cel-shaded animation style with a panelized narrative structure and added a dollop of punk rock energy for good measure. The end result was flashy, confident, rebellious, exuding the raw edge of an indie comic zine that no Spider-Man game has come close to replicating since.
It was incredibly moody as well, with its seasons serving as emotive set-dressing that mirrored the story’s tone. Autumn, represented by golden sunlight and the crackle of falling leaves, relayed a sense of contemplation and unease: a real calm before the storm. And once that storm came in the form of an electrified menace, ominous lighting and thunder-laced tension followed.
The menace in question is, of course, Electro. Ultimate Spider-Man established a genuine link between Electro and Peter Parker, with the latter essentially facing the sins of his father when the former loses control.
Electro storms towards Times Square to air out his frustrations, one shockwave at a time. He seizes control of the world’s most popular power grid, knocks out Spider-Man, and goes toe-to-toe with Venom. It all makes for the most eye-catching setpiece in the entire game that had 12-year-old me watching on like a stunned spectator.
Mechanically, the boss fight challenged players on every front, as it had you dodging attacks, repositioning frequently, and countering mid-air. It was also a textbook example of the game’s blatant disregard for collateral damage, as you were basically forced to fling civilian vehicles to do damage, and devour the life out of bystanders to top off on health.
The rain-soaked, neon-drenched spectacle, charged with narrative heft and rounded out by the frantic combat, was a home run on every front. And funnily enough, we didn’t assume control of Spider-Man for even a single second.
Words by Aryan Singh
Turning to the Dark Side – Spider-Man: Web of Shadows (2008, PS2/PS3/PC)
Picking one of the best Spider-Man video game moments for me is easy. It’s when Web of Shadows let us choose the dark path for the first time. No more just being the “friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.” This was the game that asked, “What if Peter stopped pulling his punches?”
Before that, most Spider-Man games kept things clean. Even when rocking the black suit in Spider-Man 3, it was just a cosmetic change. But Web of Shadows flipped the script, and as a kid with a lot of emo energy, this was perfect for me. It gave me full control of the story I wanted to write in a video game.
Go red and stay the hero, or go black and watch Spidey slowly lose his grip. It was like watching a mix of Spider-Man 3’s emo Peter and Venom: The Hunger from the comics, where the symbiote takes over and there’s no going back. The best part was that the evil controls you more only when you misbehave with the NPCs or beat the hell out of your enemies until they are dead, dead! And let’s be honest, the black suit combos were just cooler.
You’re flinging symbiote spikes, slamming enemies into cars, and moving like a shadow with zero mercy. And the more you rule over New York, the more it starts reacting to you.
People fear you. Heroes question you, especially when you end up creating an evil version of Wolverine as well. Villains start respecting you (which feels more fun!). And Peter finally breaks up with MJ (something that should happen in every comic or movie iteration). You’re no longer the moral compass of the city. You’re the dark web slinger taking charge.
That choice made Web of Shadows stand out. It gave us a darker side of Peter Parker rarely seen in games. And it made you ask: what if being bad felt a little too good?
Words by Ishan Adhikary
Swinging Across New York City – Marvel’s Spider-Man (2018, PS4/PS5/PC)
The first time I tried Marvel’s Spider-Man from Insomniac Games, I instantly knew it was one of those games I’d never get bored with. It kicks off with a tutorial teaching you how to swing through the towering high-rises of NYC. The controls are quick to get the hang of, and a couple of hours into the game, you’ll have a better idea. Once you learn the cool tricks to control Spidey’s slick moves, unlock his abilities, and obtain new gadgets – boy oh boy, it feels like the smoothest game ever made.
Now let’s talk about the free roam through the city. I would highly recommend getting comfortable on a couch, grabbing your favorite chilled drink, and letting yourself loose in the city. Before you know it, your weekend will have flown by doing nothing but swinging through NYC. The free roam is so good that you will either forget about the fast travel mechanic or never use it while playing Marvel Spider-Man.
From my perspective, every time I loaded up the game, I would always spend the first 10-20 minutes swinging around the city. I’d start by jumping from the top of a tower, diving down until I was just about to hit the street, then launching into a web swing. Along the way, I’d throw in my favorite tricks like a spider roll or a shooting star. Run on the walls, lunge forward, or use the web shooters to get a boost; anything Spider-Man does is possible in this game.
My childhood revolved around playing Prince of Persia and Assassin’s Creed games, and so I’m more inclined towards the stealth part in every combat scenario. Much like in Marvel’s Spider-Man, I used to unlock most of the stealth abilities, and man, was that a good call. With the right perks, I could clear out hideouts and warehouses without triggering a single alarm or sometimes without even alerting a single guard.
Words by Bipradeep Biswas
We Are Venom – Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (2023, PS5/PC)
As a lifelong Spider-Man fan who has webbed his way through every Spider-Man title, I can declare with nerdy conviction that playing as Venom in Insomniac Games’ Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is the pinnacle of Spidey thrills. The “Don’t Be Scared” mission, in which Harry Osborn hulks into the toothy symbiote, is a chaotic masterpiece. This Oscorp lab scene is my favorite Spider-Man gaming moment, combining raw power with emotional gut punches.
The lab scene explodes as Harry, now Venom, transforms Oscorp’s halls into his personal smash-and-grab. Consider this: you are a living nightmare with a dental plan from hell, hitting security guards like they are annoying insects at a picnic. Your tendril strikes spread out, clearing rooms as quickly as a Black Friday sale. A leaping strike allows you to attack with the grace of a feral cat — on steroids. The ground-slam maneuver? It’s as if Venom is throwing a fit, shooting tendrils out to yeet enemies into next week. You can catch bullets in a symbiote shield and fire them back, because who needs manners when you’re a gooey juggernaut?
Venom’s combat is a love letter to sheer force, encapsulating the symbiote’s “smash first, ask questions never” vibe, as opposed to Spider-Man’s agile web-dancing. Harry’s descent into Venom’s grips is tragic, and Insomniac allows you to feel his wrath with each crunching hit. It’s a rare opportunity to trade Spider-Man’s do-gooder persona for a villain’s thrill ride — because sometimes you just want to be the bad guy who skips the hero speech. No other Spider-Man game has allowed me to enjoy such happy chaos.
However, fans who were unable to let go of Venom’s rampage discovered a way to free-roam as him. Switching to Fidelity Mode and crashing the game during the quest allows you to wander New York while hitting enemies with tendrils. It’s glitchy; NPCs regard you like a coding fault, and your PS5 may complain — but it demonstrates Venom’s symbiotic allure. Insomniac patched previous exploits, but this one keeps the symbiote party on.
Venom’s lab destruction sequence, fuelled by fan exploits, elevates Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 to legend. It’s a power dream that will have you smiling like Venom after a particularly chewy guard.
Words by Rishabh Sabarwal
What’s your standout moment from those web-slinging adventures? Was it a heart-pounding battle, a soaring swing through the city, or a story twist that hit you hard? Drop your favorite memory in the comments — we can’t wait to hear it!
