The one and only Marvel golden boy, Spider-Man, has had an exceptional career in the video game industry. While he’s most well-known for games like the Spider-Verse spanning Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions, the ultimate adventure of Ultimate Spider-Man, or the modern classics from the Marvel’s Spider-Manfranchise, he’s had some journeys over the years that did not get the recognition they deserved.
Whether they hit the likes of home consoles or mobile screens, some Spidey games flew under the radar, didn’t get the appropriate amount of critical attention, or have been forgotten by the sands of time. There are even some video games that aren’t even available to play anymore, which is a total tragedy. Therefore, it’s important to remember the Wall-Crawler’s games that have gone down in history as underrated, whether they’ve been forgotten when they shouldn’t be or not as beloved as they rightfully earned.
‘Spider-Man: Battle for New York’ (2006)
Spider-Man running at Green Goblin in Spider-Man: Battle for New YorkImage via Activision
Having been released on the handheld devices of the Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS, Spider-Man: Battle for New York is widely forgotten 20 years later, thanks to the quality not matching that of console games. It’s a total shame, because this 2006 title is actually connected to one of the best Spider-Man games of all time, Ultimate Spider-Man. With howpopular the Ultimate Marvel Universe is, this game should have been far more well-known than it ended up being.
This project reimagines the Ultimate Spider-Man comic book’s first conflict with that universe’s Green Goblin. This side-scroller is similar to the Ultimate Spider-Man video game not just in the fact that it takes place in the same universe, but because it also lets the player take control of the main villain of the game. Goblin is so much fun to play as and fight, and offers up some great variety in the gameplay style, exactly like the same format did in the more popular Ultimate game.
‘Spider-Man: Friend or Foe’ (2007)
Spider-Man and the Green Goblin standing together in Spider-Man: Friend or FoeImage via Activision
While Tobey Maguire‘s Spider-Man had several video games, they were exclusively in movie tie-in games. However, he actually got one with an original story in Spider-Man: Friend or Foe. While it’s an alternate universe—due to his villains all being, well, alive—these are the same characters, making this project extremely entertaining, especially for those who love the Sam Raimi Spidey flicks. Everyone loves a good alternate universe story, and this 2007 title for consoles and handhelds delivers just that. Not to forget, most people really love the Raimi Spider-Mantrilogy, so to get some more of it is always a treat.
This game doesn’t just allow players to fight and then play as the Raimi universe villains, but a player’s friend can hop into the storyline with them to play as one of the baddies. There are pretty much zero co-op video games surrounding the Web-Slinger, making Spider-Man: Friend or Foeextremely unique compared to others, and such a fun ride to enjoy with pals. Spider-Man teaming up with classic villains is a very fun approach, especially when someone has a good pal at their side to play said villain.
‘Spider-Man 2: Enter Electro’ (2001)
Spider-Man in front of Electro and a generator in Spider-Man 2: Enter ElectroImage via Activision
One of the most popular Spidey games of all time is none other than the 2000 title, Spider-Man. It is such an abundantly fun game, and remembered to this day as one of the best. However, it did, in fact, have a sequel named Spider-Man 2: Enter Electro. While it sold extremely well and got a “Greatest Hits” re-release, nobody talks about it in the modern day. It’s a classic tale of being overshadowed by one’s older sibling who’s just better than them at everything. It’s unfortunate, because it has a lot of sequences and gameplay that should have made it more memorable and beloved.
Spider-Man 2: Enter Electro simply is not as well-known or appreciated as its far more beloved prior game. So, while people are indeed aware of this sequel, they don’t appreciate it enough to remember it as much or talk about it today. But just because it’s not as good as the first game doesn’t mean it’s not a fun ride, and it is most definitely worth a playthrough, even 25 years later. Just because it doesn’t surpass Spider-Man doesn’t mean that it doesn’t have a ton of qualities that make this a super enjoyable game experience.
‘Spider-Man Unlimited’ (2014)
Spider-Man punching on a rooftop in Spider-Man UnlimitedImage via Gameloft
Handheld and console devices aren’t the only ones that Spider-Man has thrived on. Spider-Man has had a couple of adventures on mobile devices, as well—as far back as 2009 with Spider-Man: Toxic City. One of the most underrated, however, is the Temple Run-esque—also known as an “endless runner” game—Spidey game titled Spider-Man Unlimited. When it was in the app stores of iOS, Android, and Windows phones, everyone loved it, but it’s still underrated today due to how far it’s fallen in public perception.
The game allows you to unlock dozens upon dozens of different kinds of Spider-People across the vast Spider-Verse. The best part of Spider-Man Unlimited is the fact that it takes the endless runner format and improves upon it by establishing a combat system and boss battles, featuring multiple iterations of classic and iconic Spidey villains. This game had people all over completely glued to their phones, unable to stop playing. It was wonderfully addicting, and consistently had online events where players could compete and win exclusive and rare Spider-People. There was a ton of content available in this mobile adventure, with so much to do. However, it’s been completely lost to time, with only a very niche cult following remembering it and trying to give it a comeback.
Collider Exclusive · Marvel Personality Quiz Which MCU Hero Are You? Spider-Man · Daredevil · Iron Man · Punisher · Thor · Cap
Six heroes. One destiny. Answer 10 questions to discover which Marvel Cinematic Universe hero shares your personality, values, and fighting spirit. Will you swing, fly, or thunder your way to glory?
🕷️Spider-Man
😈Daredevil
🤖Iron Man
💀Punisher
⚡Thor
🛡️Cap
01
What drives you to do what’s right? Choose the answer that feels most like you.
02
It’s 2 AM. Where are you? Your answer says more about you than you’d think.
03
How do you handle a villain who keeps escaping justice? Every hero has a method. What’s yours?
04
How do you feel about keeping a secret identity? The mask — or the lack of one — says everything.
05
You’ve lost someone important because of your heroism. How do you carry that? Every hero pays a price. The question is how they pay it.
06
What’s your role when working with a team? Who you are under pressure is who you actually are.
07
Where do you draw the line between justice and revenge? The answer defines what kind of hero you really are.
08
When you’re not saving the world, what does life look like? The person behind the mask is always the more interesting story.
09
What keeps you up at night? Fear is useful data — if you’re honest about what you’re actually afraid of.
10
The battle is lost. You’re outnumbered, outgunned, and exhausted. What do you do? This is your tiebreaker — choose carefully.
Your Hero Has Been Identified Your MCU Hero Is…
Based on your answers, the Marvel hero who matches your spirit, values, and instincts has been revealed.
Queens, New York
🕷️ Spider-Man
You carry the weight of the world on shoulders that are younger than they should have to be — funny, loyal, and endlessly self-sacrificing.
You do the right thing not because it’s easy, but because no one else will.
You understand that responsibility isn’t a burden you choose — it’s one that finds you.
Whether it’s a neighbourhood mugging or a multiverse crisis, you show up.
Peter Parker’s lesson — that great power demands great responsibility — isn’t a slogan to you. It’s the code you live by, even when it costs you everything.
Hell’s Kitchen, New York
😈 Daredevil
You fight in the shadows between law and chaos, guided by a fierce moral compass that refuses to let the guilty walk free.
You use every tool available — your mind, your body, your faith — to protect those the system overlooks.
You’ve looked into the darkness and chosen not to become it, though the line has never been easy.
Matt Murdock’s duality — champion in the courtroom, devil in the alley — mirrors your own.
Relentless, conflicted, and unwilling to stop. That is exactly you.
Stark Industries, Malibu
🤖 Iron Man
Brilliant, driven, and occasionally insufferable — but always the person who solves the unsolvable problem.
You lead with your mind and back it up with resources, innovation, and a stubbornness that borders on heroic.
You started out looking out for yourself, but somewhere along the way the world became your responsibility.
Tony Stark’s arc — from ego to sacrifice — is your arc too.
You build, you plan, and when the moment comes, you’re willing to give everything. Because in the end, you’re Iron Man.
New York City
💀 The Punisher
You’ve been through fire that would break most people — and it did change you, completely. What’s left is unyielding, relentless, and operating by a code forged in grief.
You don’t ask for forgiveness, and you don’t expect gratitude.
You see a corrupt, broken world and you’ve decided to do something about it, consequences be damned.
Frank Castle’s war is born from love twisted by loss — and so is yours.
Uncompromising and unflinching — the world may not agree with your methods, but your conviction is absolute.
Asgard · Protector of the Nine Realms
⚡ Thor
Powerful, proud, and on a lifelong journey to become worthy of the legend you carry.
You lead with strength but have learned — sometimes painfully — that true greatness comes from humility and growth.
You’re larger than life, yet more vulnerable than you let on.
Thor’s story is one of transformation: from arrogant prince to worthy king, from isolated warrior to beloved protector.
You bring the storm when it’s needed — and the warmth when it matters just as much.
Brooklyn, New York · The Avengers
🛡️ Captain America
You believe in something bigger than yourself — and you fight for it even when the world has moved on and nobody else will.
You don’t bully the small guy, and you never stop when it gets hard.
Steve Rogers didn’t become a hero when he got the serum — he was always one. So were you.
Your strength isn’t in your fists; it’s in your refusal to compromise what’s right, no matter the cost.
In a world full of people taking the easy road, you’re the one who picks up the shield and stands up — every single time.
‘Ultimate Spider-Man: Total Mayhem’ (2010)
Spider-Man standing surrounded by criminals in Ultimate Spider-Man: Total MayhemImage via Gameloft
While Spider-Man Unlimited was most certainly addicting and super fun to play, the best Spider-Man mobile game—and somehow far more niche and forgotten—is Ultimate Spider-Man: Total Mayhem. For a mobile game released in 2010, the team at Gameloft put a plethora of work into it, and made it one of the most fun games on the App Store at the time. This one wasn’t someaddicting typical mobile experience; it was genuinely a whole, complete adventure with a fun story and a very decent runtime for a phone-based project.
Ultimate Spider-Man: Total Mayhem was a 3D battle platformer that featured some of the coolest Spider-Man villains and a great combat system. The visuals are great, as well, with a very comic book-inspired visual style and effects, much like all of the other Ultimate-based game products from the past. On top of that, the project had some wonderful web-swinging mechanics when a segment of the game called for it. It’s genuinely a crime that it is no longer available to play because it made for an incredibly fun experience. For a while, Ultimate Spider-Man: Total Mayhem was a great experience that many players had not experienced on mobile apps before. Gameloft didn’t need to cook as hard as they did, but they did anyway and made something that deserves far more attention than it has been lacking in the last 10+ years.
‘Spider-Man: Edge of Time’ (2011)
Peter Parker and Miguel O’Hara speaking across time in Spider-Man Edge Of TimeImage via Activision
Spider-Man: Edge of Time is well-known, but it didn’t get the love it deserved at the time of release. Being somewhat of a spiritual successor to the extremely popular Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions, it was always going to be difficult to follow it up. Spider-Man: Edge of Time has a great story, playing with time travel and two different Spider-Men at once. Controlling these two heroes with similar but different abilities, in different timelines, is super fun and makes for a great time. It is also very creative, with a new villain and reimaginings of pre-established ones to bring a whole new vibe.
While the combat mechanics can get a bit repetitive at times, the pros truly outweigh the cons here. The story at play—written by comic veteran Peter David, Ramiro Bélanger, and Gérard Lehiany—really delves into what it means to be Spider-Man, and a hero in general. Not to mention, it’s brought to life by some wonderful performances by leads Josh Keaton (Amazing Spider-Man) and Christopher Daniel Barnes (Spider-Man 2099). There is so much about Spider-Man: Edge of Time that is worth praising and loving. Just because a “sequel” isn’t as good as the product that came prior doesn’t mean it’s necessarily a bad product.The gameplay is decent, the story is original and engaging, and the performances are even better. All of these elements combined make Spider-Man: Edge of Time an experience that every Spider-Man fan should play at least once and enjoying it for what it is: a fun, thought-provoking, and inventive Spider-Man game.
