The comic book genre has seen a HUGE surge in popularity over the past few years. You can see that comic book culture has clearly taken over (Seriously, liking superheroes and ninja turtles used to be like the go to target for getting picked on). Now, while video games have always been a place where comic book heroes have been able to find a place, it doesn’t mean that place was always a great home for them. So to save you time and a lot of money, we have compiled a list of the ten best Video Game Adaptations of some of your favorite comic book heroes.
10.) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in time
This game was the best iteration of teenage ninja turtle action … and it was four players! It was a great side scrolling beat ’em up game that gave you all the satisfaction of beating up the foot ninja clan. If you ever happen to find this arcade game while out with your friends, we guarantee it will be worth all the quarters needed for you and your friends to embark on a radical time traveling ninja adventure together, and if you can’t find it, then you can try to find a copy for the Super NES to play at home. Coincidentally, you will probably want some pizza if you start playing this game. It has also been remastered with better graphics, and is available on Xbox Live Arcade.
9.) Marvel Superheroes: War of the Gem’s
This game was also a great side scrolling beat ’em up game. It also happens to be the first game we see the infinity stones in and is based off of the Infinity Gauntlet series the movies are currently leading up to. It gives you the option of playing as Iron Man, Captain America, Hulk, Spider-man and Wolverine. Its on the Super NES and its one that our editor specifically says is one of his favorites, so if you are looking for a fun beat ’em up featuring your favorite Marvel super heroes, then this one is for you.
8.) DC Universe Online
This game is a departure from any type of superhero game that we had seen before. It is a MMORPG where you get to create you very own custom hero or villain and face off against the forces of Brainiac as he tries to take over the earth. Now since Brainiac could care less who is good or evil, he makes a great antagonist for the game especially because all your other alignments are up for grabs as you eventually become a member of either the Justice League or their villainous counterpart, The Society. The game is available on PC, PS3 and PS4 and soon will be available on Xbox One.
7.)Marvel vs Capcom 2
This is also a classic and while yes, half the characters are not from a comic, it still has earned its place on this list for being one of the best fighter games out there, and specifically because before this there really was not a good fighter that featured our favorite Marvel Characters. So if you are wanting to experience some of that Iron Man vs Captain America action before Captain America: Civil War comes out later this year, then check this out on PS2, PS3, Xbox, Xbox 360, Sega Dreamcast or even iOS
6.) Injustice: Gods Among Us
So Marvel vs Capcom held the title for being the best fighting game featuring comic book superheroes until this game came out. I’m not going to give away too many details of the plot of the game, but man … this game is a doozy. The story mode features one of my favorite Justice League stories EVER and the combat system is great and genuinely makes every character feel unique. It also actually takes advantage of the fact that Aquaman is basically Poseidon and uses that to its full potential. Check this one out on the Playstation vita PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Windows, and Wii U or its mobile counterpart on iOS or Android.
5.) Batman: Arkham Series
The Batman Arkham series is one of the most highly acclaimed video game series ever made, and each entry is a great way to give yourself a chance to play through the evolution of batman. It gives you the feeling of bringing justice as the Dark Knight, you know, by scaring the hell out of criminals and punching them in the face. If you are looking to play through them in order the games start off with Batman: Arkham Asylum, Batman: Arkham City, Batman: Arkham Origins, and lastly Batman: Arkham Knight. Check these out on PS3 and Xbox 360 to start off with but then for Arkham Knight move on up to PS4 or Xbox one.
4.)Marvel: Ultimate Alliance Series
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance is everything that a Marvel universe game should be. Loads of characters, character team bonuses, alternate costumes, beating up everything that would stand against you, tons of unique character powers, ridiculously strong super moves, getting to explore all of sorts of places from the Marvel comic universe, even uniting against foes that are worthy of needing the whole Marvel superhero universe to fend off. Marvel: Ultimate Alliance stands as one of my favorite video games of all time and is definitely worth every single penny you will spend on the game, so I definitely recommend picking it up for PS3 or Xbox 360
3.) Spider-man (2000)
Man I know so many people who loved this game growing up, and rightly so. This game features you playing as our favorite Web Crawler facing off against all of our favorite Spider-Man villains, and doing so in a way that actually manages do Spidey some justice as far as play style goes (cause there have been some legitimately awful Spider-Man games. Looking at you Gameboy’s The Amazing Spider-Man) . It’s also full of alternate costumes that allow Spider-man various different bonuses and abilities depending on your costume. This final boss is even worthy of being the final terrifying villain that you build up to, and will definitely stay in your memory as one the most epic boss encounters you have ever had. This one may be harder to find but you can pick it up on PS1, the N64, or Sega Dreamcast.
2.) X-Men Legends
X-Men Legends was a HUUUUUUGE hit at the time of release and was the first good game that allowed you to play as a squad of X-Men and interchange your favorite mutants at various points in the level. The playstyle is very similar to that of Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, mainly because Ultimate Alliance got the idea from these games, and is just as satisfying if not even more so. The plot of these games are great and are definitely some of the more interesting tales of X-Men history that I have ever heard so pick it up if you can find a copy! They are old school so you will have to try to find it for the Gamecube, PS2 or the original Xbox, but they are definitely worth it.
1.) X-Men Arcade Game (With 6 Players)
This game probably consumed more of our money as kids than any other arcade game growing up, and rightly so because it’s a classic and a ton of fun, but REALLY REALLY hard trying to go through it alone. The original X-Men Arcade Game is a side scrolling beat em up that allows you to play as one of 6 X-Men (Cyclops, Storm, Wolverine, Nightcrawler, Colossus and but also allows your friends to join up for a massive Beat-em up side scrolling destructive extravaganza that is more fun than any of the other arcade style games that I have ever found so if you ever are out and have the chance to play with some friends, by all means throw in those quarters and get to fighting! It’s also on the Playstation Network and Xbox Live but that’s just not quite as satisfying as playing the old joystick version with your friends on the huge arcade machine.
Honorable mention:
Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World (Because you can’t actually get it anymore, but it was on The Playstation network and Xbox Live.)
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Some of these titles definitely take me back! As I am getting excited for Civil War to come out in theaters, I will have to play Marvel vs Capcom 2 for sure. I also love that Scott Pilgrim still made the list as honorable mention!
Yeah we all really love these games. I made him put War of the Gems on the list. That is still one of my favorites and the only reason I need a SNES. It’s unfortunately not available on the virtual consoles on the Wii or 3DS.