The best video games based on comics are, at the top, Batman: Arkham Asylum , Batman: Arkham City , Marvel's Spider-Man and Marvel's Spider-Man 2. This tier list classifies games adapted from comics according to their quality and their respect for the original universe. Facts (games, dates) verified, no odds invented; each entry refers to the character file when it exists.
Disappointing for a long time, games based on comics found their excellence with the Arkham series then Spider-Man. This tier list ranks the best video game adaptations according to their quality of play and their fidelity to the comic universe.
Editorial Ranks, Facts verified. Each entry refers to the character file when it exists.
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Start my trial →Tier S: video game masterpieces
Batman: Arkham Asylum (2009) proved that a superhero game could be great, followed by the immense Arkham City. Marvel's Spider-Man (2018) and its sequel Marvel's Spider-Man 2 have captured the sensation of web swinging like never before.
Tier A: the great successes
Marvel's Midnight Suns (tactical), Injustice (narrative fight), Marvel Ultimate Alliance et X-Men Legends (action-RPG) are solid and faithful adaptations.
Tier B: safe values
Marvel vs. Capcom 2 , THE Spider-Man 2 from 2004 (pioneer of the open world), The Punisher (2005) and Arkham Origins complete this tier.
Tier C: the correct games
Guardians of the Galaxy , Arkham Knight , X-Men Origins: Wolverine and Injustice 2 offer good experiences, a notch below the peaks.
Tier D: half-hearted adaptations
Marvel's Avengers , Gotham Knights and Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League close this tier list: games that are more criticized, but real.
To remember
- The Arkham and Spider-Man series dominate the genre.
- Rocksteady and Insomniac proved that a comic book game could be a masterpiece.
- A successful game can revive interest in the character and his comics.
- Each entry refers to the character file when it exists.
Frequently asked questions
Batman: Arkham City and Marvel's Spider-Man 2 are often cited as the best, for their quality of play and their fidelity to the universe.
Many were quick adaptations of films. The Arkham series (2009) changed the game by designing a real quality game around the universe, paving the way for Spider-Man.
To a lesser extent than films, but a successful game can reignite interest in a character and their first appearance. Always check the actual rating.
A game makes you want to collect the comic? Estimate the value of its key numbers with our tool based on current eBay listings.
Studios, genres and comics to read to follow up each tier
Behind the ranks of this tier list lie mostly a handful of studios. Rocksteady made Batman: Arkham Asylum (2009), Arkham City (2011), Arkham Knight (2015) and Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League (2024). Insomniac Games developed both Marvel's Spider-Man games (2018 and 2023). NetherRealm Studios is behind both Injustice games (2013 and 2017), and Raven Software behind X-Men Legends (2004), Marvel Ultimate Alliance (2006) and X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009). Tier S is therefore the work of just two studios, and Rocksteady also appears at the very bottom of the ranking: one studio can deliver a peak as well as a disappointment.
If you are after a specific type of game, here is how to find your way:
- Tactics: Marvel's Midnight Suns (2022).
- Narrative fighting: Injustice: Gods Among Us and Injustice 2.
- Team action-RPG: X-Men Legends and Marvel Ultimate Alliance.
- Open world: both Marvel's Spider-Man games, and the 2004 Spider-Man 2, a pioneer of the genre.
- Fighting game: Marvel vs Capcom 2 (2000).
Two comics respond directly to games in the ranking. The graphic novel Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth (Grant Morrison and Dave McKean, 1989) is set in the asylum that gives the Arkham series its name. And the comic series Injustice: Gods Among Us (2013), written by Tom Taylor, serves as a prequel to NetherRealm's game. Keep in mind that most of these games tell their own story, sometimes distinct from comic continuity: a game makes you want to read, it does not replace reading.
For the collector, caution is in order. A hit game revives interest in a character, but less than a movie does, and that interest first lands on the character's first appearance. Avoid buying in the week of a release or a trailer: the excitement of the moment readily inflates prices, which then fall back. Favor issues whose appeal goes beyond the game (first appearances, acclaimed runs), and always check the real market value before paying.