Marvel's Spider-Man 2

Truly a contender for Game of the Year, Spider-Man 2 is a game that justifies the purchase of a PS5 if you don't already own one.

80%Game Brain Score

story, graphics

optimization, stability

71% User Score Based on 12,928 reviews

Critic Score 88%Based on 71 reviews

Platforms

Buy Nowfrom $57.26

Buy NowGet on Steam€59.99

Buy NowGet on Epic Games Store

Buy NowGet on PS Store$69.99

About

"Marvel's Spider-Man 2" is a single-player, open world drama game with an interesting plot and good gameplay, featuring splendid graphics. In this game, Spider-Men Peter Parker and Miles Morales team up to protect the city from threats like Venom and other Marvel super villains. Players can switch between Peter and Miles, each with unique abilities, and make use of haptic feedback and adaptive triggers to truly feel the power of Spider-Man.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

71%

Audience ScoreBased on 12,928 reviews

story1.3k positive mentions

optimization690 negative mentions

The gameplay is fluid and engaging, with enhanced combat mechanics and enjoyable traversal options, particularly with the introduction of web wings.
The story features emotional depth and character development, particularly in the arcs of Peter Parker and Miles Morales, making it a compelling continuation of the Spider-Man saga.
The graphics are stunning, showcasing a beautifully rendered New York City that enhances the overall experience.

The game suffers from significant performance issues, including stuttering, crashes, and inconsistent frame rates, making it difficult to recommend in its current state.
Many players find the narrative pacing lacking, with some plot elements feeling forced or underdeveloped compared to its predecessors.
The monetization strategy has been criticized as exploitative, with excessive replaying required to collect all in-game content, leading to frustration among players.

story
3,666 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
58%
7%
The story of "Marvel's Spider-Man 2" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it engaging yet not as strong as its predecessors. While some praise the emotional depth and character development, particularly in the arcs of Peter Parker and Miles Morales, others criticize the pacing and feel that certain plot elements, especially involving Mary Jane's missions, detract from the overall experience. Overall, the narrative is seen as a solid continuation of the Spider-Man saga, but it suffers from pacing issues and a lack of depth compared to the first game.
- “The story is phenomenal, graphics are great, no real complaints.”
- “The story had me hooked from start to finish.”
- “The story is engaging, keeping me invested in both Peter and Miles’ journeys, while the side missions add variety and depth to the game world.”
- “The story is absolutely abysmal compared to the likes of peter going up against the sinister six and frankly, that was always gonna be hard to beat.”
- “For a story centered around venom, i at least expected something entertaining but like i don't think there's any other way to put it, this game's story is just bad, really bad.”
- “The story itself is fine, but feels very predictable, so it's not particularly interesting.”
optimization
2,578 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
56%
27%
The optimization of "Spider-Man 2" on PC has received significant criticism, with many players reporting severe performance issues, including stuttering, crashes, and inconsistent frame rates, even on high-end hardware. While some users have managed to achieve stable performance after tweaking settings or applying patches, the overall consensus is that the game requires substantial optimization improvements before it can be recommended for purchase. Players are advised to wait for further updates to address these issues.
- “Performance-wise the port of this game was mostly smooth for me.”
- “I would just like to point out that within two weeks of its release, its performance (at least for me) has gotten so much better.”
- “Nixxes, known for their solid pc ports, has done a commendable job optimising the game, but I am hopeful that future patches will further improve stability and performance.”
- “This game is really great, I platinumed it already on PS5 and wanted to redo the 100% playthrough on PC with max settings 1440p on my 7900XTX, but I can't recommend playing this game in its current state. Nixxes really dropped the ball on this one and the game constantly stutters, drops performance, and crashes all of the time.”
- “I know buggy, unoptimized games are par for the course these days, but even Spider-Man 2 sets a new bar for being terrible.”
- “The game is great but the performance is horrible and makes the game unsatisfying and disappointing.”
graphics
1,726 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
65%
6%
The graphics of "Marvel's Spider-Man 2" have received mixed reviews, with many players praising the stunning visuals and detailed environments, particularly when utilizing high-end hardware. However, numerous reports highlight significant performance issues, including frequent crashes, graphical glitches, and frame rate drops, especially when settings are maxed out or ray tracing is enabled. While some players have found success by adjusting graphics settings to medium or low, the overall consensus suggests that the game requires further optimization to fully realize its graphical potential.
- “The graphics are amazing as always.”
- “With stunning graphics, excellent performance, fluid gameplay, and a compelling story, it’s a must-play for any fan of Spider-Man or action-adventure games.”
- “Marvel's Spider-Man 2 immediately impresses with stunning visuals, a vibrant New York City, and fluid gameplay that truly makes you feel like Spider-Man.”
- “However, I must say in its current state, I ran into many graphical issues and bugs.”
- “This game caused my computer to shut down 10 times, there were multiple graphical glitches, and several gameplay bugs like the trails in certain missions not working and prompts to do things not showing up unless I reload.”
- “There are so many graphical issues with this game, it's almost unplayable.”
gameplay
1,502 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
52%
2%
The gameplay of "Marvel's Spider-Man 2" has received praise for its fluid mechanics, enhanced combat, and engaging traversal options, particularly with the introduction of web wings. While many players find the core gameplay enjoyable and a significant improvement over its predecessors, some have noted issues with bugs, crashes, and performance, especially during cutscenes. Overall, the game is seen as a fun and immersive experience, though some players feel it lacks the depth and challenge of earlier titles.
- “Awesome gameplay, superb story, addicting skill trees and plenty to do.”
- “Swinging through a beautifully rendered New York City feels incredibly fluid and responsive, and the enhanced combat mechanics are a joy to master.”
- “The gameplay is where Marvel's Spider-Man 2 truly shines, with fluid combat, refined web-swinging, and an expanded set of abilities for both protagonists.”
- “This game caused my computer to shut down 10 times, there were multiple graphical glitches, and several gameplay bugs like the trails in certain missions not working and prompts to do things not showing up unless I reload.”
- “The gameplay is fine except for the boss fights but everything else just sucks and it gets worse the further you get into it.”
- “I can’t even get through a few minutes of gameplay without my game crashing.”
stability
1,118 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
1%
87%
The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with many players reporting frequent crashes, freezes, and various graphical glitches, even after multiple patches. While some users have managed to play without significant issues, the overall consensus is that the game is currently a "buggy mess," making it difficult to recommend until further optimizations are made. Players are advised to wait for additional updates to address these stability concerns before purchasing.
- “No bugs, no glitches, no screen tearing, no sound issues, and absolutely no crashes.”
- “The game runs great after the patches they introduced recently and I have not experienced a single crash or performance issue since I started to play.”
- “Can't recommend enough - runs very smoothly, no glitches, bugs or hiccups and that intro - that intro!”
- “Game constantly crashes and freezes up, even after the latest patch it's still freezing every 5 seconds.”
- “This game caused my computer to shut down 10 times, there were multiple graphical glitches, and several gameplay bugs like the trails in certain missions not working and prompts to do things not showing up unless I reload.”
- “In its current state, I can't even play the damn game, it's buggy and so poorly optimized it's like watching grass grow just trying to swing through the city.”
emotional
128 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of Marvel's Spider-Man 2 has been widely praised for its ability to blend wholesome moments with darker themes, creating a compelling narrative that resonates with players. While some reviewers feel it doesn't quite reach the emotional heights of its predecessor, the game still delivers impactful character development and intense emotional stakes, particularly through the interactions between Peter Parker and Miles Morales. Overall, the game is described as an emotional rollercoaster, effectively balancing action with heartfelt storytelling that engages players deeply.
- “The narrative is rich with emotional depth, exploring Peter and Miles' struggles as young men balancing their superhero duties with their personal lives.”
- “The story continues to deliver strong emotional moments, balancing Peter’s struggles with the symbiote and Miles’ journey to define himself as a hero.”
- “The game is an absolute masterpiece, stunning visuals, fluid gameplay, and an emotional rollercoaster of a story.”
grinding
78 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
34%
62%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, often requiring significant time investment for side quests and collectibles. While some appreciate the diversity in combat and the enjoyment of swinging as Spider-Man, many still feel that the grinding can detract from the overall experience, with several noting that it feels like a slog at times. Despite these criticisms, some players acknowledge that the game has improved upon previous titles by reducing the most tedious elements.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “A lot of grinding.”
- “A bit grindy sometimes.”
- “But this game goes from being tons of fun into being a tedious slog around the time when the symbiote enemies get introduced.”
- “It's full of graphical bugs, it crashed my game 3 times and it's extremely tedious.”
- “Some of the side missions can feel a bit repetitive or tedious, but that’s common in most open-world games.”
music
78 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
60%
4%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising the soundtrack as epic and emotionally resonant, effectively enhancing key moments and action sequences. While some players found it memorable enough to add songs to their playlists, others noted issues with audio syncing and sound design. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a solid complement to the gameplay, particularly for fans of the Spider-Man franchise.
- “Such an incredible story with jaw-dropping visuals and an awe-inspiring soundtrack to match.”
- “The music feels epic and emotional at key moments, enhancing the battles and important scenes, such as those involving Venom, and creating an atmosphere that perfectly matches the on-screen action.”
- “The sound design and soundtrack are also excellent, with the music perfectly capturing the heroic, high-energy atmosphere that Spider-Man fans have come to expect.”
- “Characters were talking and I could hear the music but no voices at all, and this happened often.”
- “The music stopping and obstacles disappearing in a cutscene, very long loading screens, and very bad performance.”
- “So at the end of the game, everything is wrapping up, the music is going full blast, the boss fight is intense and the actors are all giving it their all, and I just feel nothing.”
humor
58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
97%
3%
The humor in the game is largely derived from its bugs and glitches, which many players find amusing rather than frustrating, with instances like characters phasing through environments and unexpected physics creating laugh-out-loud moments. While some players appreciate the comedic elements, others note that frequent crashes and performance issues can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game is seen as funny, with a mix of intentional humor and unintentional comedic moments stemming from technical flaws.
- “Very fun game, the few bugs I have experienced were minor, temporary, and very funny (young Peter phased through Midtown High floor and was below the school lol).”
- “They're working on optimizations and such, but some of the cut-scene bugs are so funny I almost don't want them to fix it!”
- “Mj taking out the most skilled hunters in the world with a stun gun is just funny as hell.”
- “This game crashes so many times it's not funny.”
replayability
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
72%
14%
Overall, the game's replayability is considered low, with many players expressing disappointment in the lack of compelling content to encourage multiple playthroughs. While some appreciate the improvements in traversal and combat, they feel that the story's pacing and underwhelming villain arcs detract from the experience, leading to a sense of finality after completing the main story and side quests. New Game Plus offers minor enhancements, but many players find it insufficient to warrant replaying the game.
- “And almost endless replayability with new game plus and all of the variations of combat.”
- “Great replay value (even though you don't have your 100%/NG+ like me) really good graphics and I'm now just waiting for the mod community to do their thing.”
- “Replayability is mid as you only get minor things in new game+ which does improve gameplay or anything significant.”
- “For me, in this installment of the SM games, replayability is literally dead.”
- “Once you finish the main story and all collectibles + side-quests, there is not much replay value.”
- “[u]Replayability:[/u] bad, mostly because of long history-dump missions that do not exist to entertain, only to tell a tale we've already been told.”
character development
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
41%
9%
Character development in "Marvel's Spider-Man 2" has received mixed feedback; while many praise the emotional depth and growth of main characters like Peter Parker and Miles Morales, some feel that the pacing and narrative choices detract from the overall experience. Critics note that significant character growth occurs mainly in the final chapters, and while the game excels in storytelling, certain elements may feel forced or agenda-driven. Overall, the character arcs are engaging, but the execution leaves room for improvement, especially compared to its predecessor.
- “The main story is exceptionally well-written, with great pacing, emotional depth, and incredible character development.”
- “The story pulls you in right away, and the character development is on point, with both Peter Parker and Miles Morales getting their time to shine.”
- “The storytelling, character development, and gameplay improvements make it a must-play title for superhero and action game fans alike.”
- “While he does have character development, it wasn’t as much as you’d expect for someone who is supposed to be a co-main character.”
- “Maybe nostalgia plays a role, but I think the writing, pacing, and character development could have been stronger—most growth happens in the final chapters, with a lot of familiar beats being rehashed.”
- “While I respect diverse perspectives in media, I feel that some narrative choices here seemed more like agenda-pushing than organic character development.”
atmosphere
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
36%
21%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its epic and emotional music, which enhances key moments and battles, creating a perfect match with the on-screen action. Reviewers commend Insomniac for their exceptional sound design and visuals, noting that the atmosphere significantly improves upon previous installments, making players feel more connected to the Spider-Man experience. Overall, the combination of storytelling, gameplay, and atmospheric elements contributes to a highly immersive experience for fans.
- “The music feels epic and emotional at key moments, enhancing the battles and important scenes, such as those involving Venom, and creating an atmosphere that perfectly matches the on-screen action.”
- “The sound design and soundtrack are also excellent, with the music perfectly capturing the heroic, high-energy atmosphere that Spider-Man fans have come to expect.”
- “I would have had some understanding if the crash happened during gameplay, but not in a bloody freaking video that is meant to introduce you to the game and introduce the atmosphere on first launch!!!!”
- “As a Spider-Man fan, this is perfect, basically a huge improvement from the first game in every possible way whilst also building on/retconning what has been previously established in the previous two games. I find the immaculately crafted story and boss fights to be amazing, and whether or not it's the atmosphere or the stories, compared to the previous installments, I felt so much more like your 'friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.'”
- “Insomniac does an excellent job on these games in terms of story, gameplay, and atmosphere.”
monetization
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy for the game has been criticized as a cash grab, particularly due to the delayed PC release and lack of advertising, which left players feeling frustrated. Users noted that collecting all in-game content requires excessive replaying, further emphasizing the perception of exploitative practices by the developers and publishers. Overall, while some still recommend the game, the monetization approach has left a negative impression.
- “Not surprised this was a cash grab by PlayStation, as how they put the release just about a year after the game released for PS5.”
- “Overall I do recommend now, still a cash grab though, and by the way Sony, it's frustrating to make it impossible to actually collect everything without replaying the game three times.”
- “And the way Nixxes and Insomniac handled certain aspects, like putting PC specifications to the very last day and limited advertising for it, raises questions about their intentions.”