The Best Spider-Man Game on Every Platform Part One: Atari to PlayStation

With Marvel’s Spider-Man set to be one of the best Spider-Man games ever released, I figured it was time to see what the best Spider-Man game was on every platform so far. There’s been a staggering 107 Spider-Man titles released on 29 platforms (not including Insomniac’s upcoming title or the Japan-exclusive Lethal Foes), so this certainly took some pulling off, I can tell you! The same titles got released on multiple consoles, but they weren’t always the same across the board!

Without further ado, and with a massive thank you to fellow writer Simon Brown, I give you the definitive list of the best games featuring Marvel’s wall-crawling, angst-ridden hero. By generation:

2nd Generation

Amstrad CPC

The Amazing Spider-Man and Captain America in Dr. Doom's Revenge!

1989, Empire Software, Medalist International, Paragon Software Corporation

Spider-Man and Captain America go to Doctor Doom’s castle for no particular reason.

A very limited affair, which was basically a beat ‘em up and wins by default.

Atari 2600

Spider-Man

1982, Parker Bros.

Stop the Green Goblin, over and over again.

I’m sure for the time it was great, but honestly this was the second ever superhero videogame, so I can’t recommend playing this to anyone. Winner by default only.

Commodore 64

The Amazing Spider-Man

1990, Paragon Software

Mysterio has kidnapped Mary Jane, so Spidey dons his mask to rescue her.

A pretty decent puzzle platformer, that is a big change from the basic The Amazing Spider-Man and Captain America in Dr. Doom's Revenge! (1989), which doesn’t even have web swinging.

ZX Spectrum

The Amazing Spider-Man and Captain America in Dr. Doom's Revenge!

1989, Empire Software, Medalist International, Paragon Software Corporation

Spider-Man and Captain America go to Doctor Doom’s castle for no particular reason.

Since this was the only Spider-Man game, despite its basic “fight level, jump level” repetitiveness, this wins by default.

3rd Generation

Arcade

Spider-Man: The Video Game

1991, SEGA

Kingpin is up to something, so Spidey, Black Cat, Hawkeye and Namor are going to stop him.

I've honestly no idea why Hawkeye and the Submariner are in this, but the game itself is fine. Side-scrolling brawlers are a dime a dozen, but this is the only Spidey game for the arcade, so it's the best by default.

Master System

The Amazing Spider-Man vs. The Kingpin

1990, SEGA

Kingpin has set up Spidey, and it's a literal 24-hour race to get five keys from the Sinister Six to disarm a bomb.

With good level design and the innovative time mechanic (24 in-game hours were 24 real minutes), it was just more fun than Spider-Man: Return of the Sinister Six (1993). Plus you had to take pictures for the Daily Bugle to get money for webbing, which is a rarity in these games.

Nintendo Entertainment System

Spider-Man: Return of the Sinister Six

1992, Activision

Electro has taken over the power plant, so Spider-Man wades through goons to stop him.

Probably one of the more difficult games on the list, and winner by default of being the only Spidey game on the NES, this at least does get the web swinging right.

4th Generation

32X

Spider-Man: Web of Fire

1996, SEGA

Hydra have put a laser web over New York City, and Spider-Man has to team up with Daredevil to stop them.

The motion is really fast and smooth, but the combat and swinging could do with some work. It's not perfect, but it's the only one to choose from.

Amiga

The Amazing Spider-Man

1990, Paragon Software

Mysterio has kidnapped Mary Jane, so Spidey dons his mask to rescue her.

One of the nicer ports of this game, there is everything that a good Spider-Man game needs. Unlike the repetitive The Amazing Spider-Man and Captain America in Dr. Doom's Revenge! (1989).

Atari ST

The Amazing Spider-Man

1990, Paragon Software

Mysterio has kidnapped Mary Jane, so Spidey dons his mask to rescue her.

This actually has something missing from most Spider-Man games - being able to stand on walls and ceilings, rather than just crawl. It’s more fun than The Amazing Spider-Man  and Captain America in Dr. Doom's Revenge! (1989), too.

Game Boy

The Amazing Spider-Man 2

1992, LJN

Hobgoblin is framing Spider-Man, and Spidey needs to stop him.

This was a choice between three bad Spider-Man games. At !east this one manages to get web swinging, thug punching and level design down. The Amazing Spider-Man 3: Invasion of the Spider-Slayers (1993) is boring, and The Amazing Spider-Man (1990) barely has any swinging ability.

Game Gear

The Amazing Spider-Man vs. The Kingpin

1990, SEGA

Kingpin has set up Spidey, and it's a literal race of 24 hours to get five keys from the Sinister Six to disarm a bomb.

With a blend of a good web swinging mechanic and decent fighting, it's miles ahead of the two other titles; Spider-Man: Return of the Sinister Six (1993) and X-Men and Spider-Man in Arcade's Revenge (1992).

Mega CD/Sega CD

The Amazing Spider-Man vs. The Kingpin

1990, SEGA

Kingpin has set up Spidey, and it's a literal race of 24 hours to get five keys from the Sinister Six to disarm a bomb.

With a rock soundtrack, this was certainly the best version of this title - but it also wins since it was the only Spidey game on the platform. They also removed the photography, and the awful voice acting should probably put you off of playing it, though…

Mega Drive/Genesis

Spider-Man and Venom: Maximum Carnage

1994, LJN

Carnage has broken out of Ravencroft Asylum, so Spidey has to team up with Venom to recapture him.

Somehow, this has better graphics than the sequel Venom/Spider-Man: Separation Anxiety (1995), as well as comic book-style cutscenes. I’m honestly not a fan of this version of The Amazing Spider-Man vs. The Kingpin (1991), Spider-Man and the X-Men in Arcade's Revenge (1992) has awful web swinging, and Spider-Man The Animated Series (1995) just doesn’t feel like a Spider-Man game.

Super Nintendo Entertainment System

Spider-Man and Venom: Maximum Carnage

1994, LJN

Carnage has broken out of Ravencroft Asylum, so Spidey has to team up with Venom to recapture him.

This was miles better than Venom/Spider-Man: Separation Anxiety (1995), which managed to look worse somehow. Spider-Man and the X-Men in Arcade's Revenge (1992) and Spider-Man the Animated Series (1995) just aren't as fun.

5th Generation

Game Boy Color

Spider-Man: The Sinister Six

2001, Activision

When the Sinister Six kidnap Aunt May, Spidey sets off for Coney Island.

This has much better combat than Spider-Man (2000), which may very well have decent web swinging, but having goddamn birds chase you to attack? The Sinister Six was miles ahead.

Nintendo 64

Spider-Man

2000, Activision

A mysterious fog envelops the streets of New York, and Spidey wants to know what’s going on.

When you’re only going to release one Spidey title on your platform, of course you go for one of the best. Winner by default, and because it’s quite good.

PlayStation

Spider-Man

2000, Activision

A mysterious fog envelops the streets of New York, and Spidey wants to know what’s going on.

The first Spider-Man game I ever played, and still better than Spider-Man 2: Enter Electro - though marginally. It has a What If? mode, which the sequel removed, so there's that.

Make sure to check out Part Two, where I will cover every other platform, from the SEGA Dreamcast to the PlayStation 4.