Play Ultimate Spider-Man Online

Swing through NYC as Spidey with tight controls, then switch to Venom to smash and snack on bad guys—just watch that health meter drain between meals. The comic-style cutscenes and clear objectives keep things moving fast.

Developer: Vicarious Visions

Genre: Action

Released: 2005

File size: 7.73 MB

Game Overview

If you grew up with the GBA, Ultimate Spider-Man was one of those licensed games that actually got it right. It’s a stripped-down 2D side-scroller compared to the console versions, but it nails the comic book vibe with sharp cutscenes lifted straight from the DS edition.

You alternate between Spidey and Venom—each with their own playstyle. Spider-Man’s all about web-swinging and quick combos (though you’ll constantly hunt for web fluid pickups), while Venom’s this brutal tank who heals by… well, eating people. Yeah, it’s as fun as it sounds. The levels are bite-sized "issues" with objectives like rescuing civilians or beating up bosses, and that little arrow pointing you toward the next goal saves you from endless backtracking.

It’s not perfect—Venom’s health drain gets annoying fast, and some of the timed missions feel rushed—but swinging through Queens still holds up. Definitely a solid pick if you miss when superhero games didn’t overcomplicate things.