Despite having the stories and lore we know and love, sometimes our favorite superheroes don’t translate well to video games. Part of that comes down to how easily video games can be turned into cash grabs. It’s only been in the last few decades that we, as players, have hit the jackpot. Here are our picks for the best superhero video games.
What are the best superhero video games as of 2025?
Since 2000, thousands of superhero-focused video games have been released. And if we’re being nice about it, most of them are garbage. Still, some are absolutely outstanding in their own right. Just as a note, this list isn’t ranked.
Batman: Arkham City (2011)
This one will come up on any list, and it will probably always be in the top spot. Starting with the Arkham trilogy (Arkham Asylum, Arkham City, Arkham Knight), everyone has their pick of which is the best. We lean towards Arkham City, but they’re all outstanding. Developed by Rocksteady Studios, Arkham City picks up after the events of Arkham Asylum, with the former warden now the mayor of Gotham City. Beyond the story, this one gets tons of praise for its gameplay. The combat is smooth and satisfying, letting you chain attacks and counter enemies like a true Dark Knight. The stealth sections are a blast, sneaking through shadows and planning takedowns never gets old.
There’s also a ton of side missions to keep you patrolling the city, and the world constantly feels alive with secrets to uncover. The voice acting also deserves a shoutout. Though this was released in 2011, it’s worth playing if you’ve never had a chance.
Injustice 2 (2017)
This might be a polarizing pick for anyone who likes their superheroes firmly in the “heroic” category rather than the antiheroic one. But if you’re even a little into video games, there’s a certain satisfaction that comes from some serious fighting, and Injustice 2 brings it. Oh, does it bring it. The storyline runs parallel to the darker side of the comics, with the Joker tricking Superman into killing a pregnant Lois Lane and nuking the city with a nuclear bomb. Meanwhile, Batman is running an underground campaign to take down the hero-turned-villain. Basically, it all sets the stage for a battle royale between your favorite characters. Lucky for you, there are 28 of them to play.
The story of Injustice 2 is a big step up from the first game, which is worth saying right off the bat if you’re hesitating because of how silly the original felt. We wouldn’t know this one is any less ridiculous, but the writing is tighter. Because the stakes feel earned, the entertainment value skyrockets. And if you’re a fighting game enthusiast, the combat here is satisfying and built to keep you coming back for more.
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy (2021)
Easily one of the best single-player games of the last decade, Guardians of the Galaxy gives us an original storyline that’s completely distinct from anything we’ve seen in the movies. While there’s plenty of combat, what really sets this game apart is how seamlessly it blends the narrative with the action. Easily one of the best narrative-action video games, Guardians of the Galaxy is a testament to just how good Eidos-Montreal is at what they do. While there are plenty of crazy scenarios ripe for explosions, this one is ultimately character-driven, with tons of heart.
You play as Star-Lord, the chaotic leader of a team that’s basically a rag-tag crew of intergalactic troublemakers stuffed into one lunchbox of chaos. And, true to the movies, the 80s soundtrack perfectly sets the tone, giving every quip-on-quip moment that irreverent, feel-good vibe we love.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (2023)
If you’re looking for a game that ranks in both action and storytelling, look no further than Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. From Insomniac Games and Sony Entertainment, Spider-Man 2 gives players the chance to take on both Peter Parker and Miles Morales (you’ll remember him from Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse) as both their stories weave together against the rise of Venom.
The pacing here is relentless, with the action blending seamlessly into the narrative. Even in the opening itself, when you’re learning what new cool gadgets you’ve got and how to use them, everything feels like it’s flying at a hundred miles an hour. Which is to say it’s fantastic. Beyond this hyper expressive combat style and a story that keeps us engaged the whole way through, we also have to give laurels to the game makers for the love letter to New York.
Dispatch (2025)
If there were a way to explain how awesome Dispatch is in terms of graphics alone, we’d do it. But there isn’t. This game plays like a movie, and if you watch live gameplay on YouTube as a preview, you’ll be shocked to realize it isn’t actually a film. Created by AdHoc Studio, Dispatch is a darkly comic superhero game that borrows Telltale’s choice-driven structure. But by some studio magic, it moves faster and keeps dialogue flowing without that lag while characters wait for your reply.
The general premise of the game is that you play as Robert Roberson, aka Mecha Man, whose suit is destroyed in action. Without the suit, Robert has to take a job as a superhero dispatcher in a superhero workplace environment. There’s plenty to do between rehabilitating ex-super villains, managing his dispatch job effectively, dealing with workplace drama, and repairing his suit to have another chance at a showdown with his nemesis.
How we picked the best Superhero video games
We looked at fan and critical reception, but our main focus was on gameplay value, storylines, and replayability. Other strong contenders for our picks include Control, an excellent game for anyone who enjoys a touch of supernatural flavor in their gameplay, and Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero.
