Marvel’s Wolverine is making a few major changes to the Marvel’s Spider-Man series’ gameplay, which only makes sense. Logan’s grounded, aggressive abilities are far different from Peter Parker and Miles Morales’ web-slinging acrobatics, but there is one feature that Insomniac Games could have kept: stealth. I know Marvel’s Spider-Man‘s MJ stealth sections have been divisive. That feeling is valid, but the Marvel’s Wolverine cast has the perfect answer to stealth missions, so it’s surprising that Insomniac is skipping out on multiple playable characters that could offer different gameplay styles.
There have been some great characters confirmed for Marvel’s Wolverine, with one of the most intriguing of all being Mystique. She’s always been one of my favorite characters in the X-Men comics, and I’m eager to see how Insomniac adapts such a fascinating mutant. A huge opportunity is being missed by not making her playable, though. Insomniac insists that Logan is the only playable character this time around, and it has left me wondering if that was ultimately the right move or not.
Many See Jean Grey as Marvel’s Wolverine’s Biggest Missed Gameplay Opportunity, But It Actually Might Be Mystique
When it was confirmed that Marvel’s Wolverine has Jean Grey, a lot of fans like myself were hoping that she would be a playable side character. That doesn’t seem to be the case, though, and I and many others are a bit bummed about not being able to play around with telekinesis. Marvel’s Wolverine still looks like a fun, action-packed time, but characters like Jean Grey are far better options for playable characters than the likes of Marvel’s Spider-Man‘s MJ.
MJ is a great character who is integral to Peter’s story, but Marvel fans want to play their favorite web-slinging hero in a Spider-Man game, not an investigative reporter who doesn’t have any powers. Marvel’s Wolverine not having any other playable characters besides Logan feels like a direct response to the MJ stealth mission backlash. If that’s the case, it feels like Insomniac ended up learning the wrong lesson in the process, because there is still plenty of room for fun stealth missions in a Marvel superhero game. The character choice was just wrong.
Mystique Is the Perfect Character Choice for Stealth Missions
It’s hard to make a great stealth game, especially when it’s a superhero adaptation. Putting too heavy of a focus on slow-burn moments can bore certain gamers over time, so it’s understandable why stealth is mostly used in action-adventure games as a tool that offers a breather between the more intense sequences. This isn’t true for every action-adventure game, but it’s a big reason why Marvel’s Spider-Man‘s stealth missions were part of the core gameplay. Wanting to offer a more dynamic gameplay experience that paces itself every now and then makes sense, but Insomniac’s execution was just slightly off in the Marvel’s Spider-Man games.
In addition to Logan, Jean Grey, and Mystique, the other characters that have been confirmed for Marvel’s Wolverine include: Omega Red, Lady Deathstrike, Sabretooth, Ogun, Bolivar Trask, Nathaniel Essex, Callisto, and Leech.
Mystique would have been the ideal candidate to bring Insomniac’s original stealth vision to life in a way that makes sense. Her ability to shapeshift and copy other peoples’ identities has the potential to be a wildly fun stealth mechanic. Lurking through underground facilities and secret labs while trying to mimic the surrounding NPCs and keep guards from growing suspicious may have been the perfect way to balance out Logan’s hack-and-slash sensibilities. It doesn’t mean that Mystique won’t be an interesting part of Marvel’s Wolverine‘s story, but it’s hard to feel like the character’s full potential is being met.
Marvel’s Wolverine Could Be a Great Superhero Game, But I’m Crossing My Fingers That It Leads to More
One of the most surprising ways that Marvel’s Wolverine has deviated from the standard comic lore is that the X-Men don’t exist in this game’s world yet. Instead, Team X has been reworked into an underground group that works to save mutants in hiding. Since the Marvel’s Wolverine release date is still a few weeks away, there’s no way to know what the story is like. I’m eager to see if it ultimately paves the way for a full-blown X-Men game, though.
Insomniac insists that Logan is the only playable character this time around, and it has left me wondering if that was ultimately the right move or not.
Only time will tell, but it’s not impossible. When the Insomniac leaks happened back in late 2023, there were a few compelling details that pointed toward an X-Men game sometime in 2030. It’s important to remember that this is far from official confirmation, though. Insomniac was also working on an online multiplayer Marvel’s Spider-Man spin-off, but that ended up being canceled, so there’s no telling what’s really next on the developer’s timeline.
Other games that were listed in the Insomniac leaks were Marvel’s Spider-Man 3, a Venom spin-off, a new Ratchet & Clank game, and even a brand-new IP that doesn’t have a known name yet. Marvel’s Wolverine was a major part of these leaks, with early gameplay footage and images making the rounds online.
If an Insomniac X-Men game ever does happen, though, characters like Jean Grey and Mystique will hopefully get their time in the spotlight. Mystique could be used as the stealth go-to, while Jean Grey’s powers could finally be experienced first-hand. Logan is a great starting point for a larger X-Men arc, but his powers are limited. That limited scope means that it’s not as likely that his standalone game will birth a sequel like Marvel’s Spider-Man did, so an X-Men story is the most logical next step forward.
Right now, all Marvel fans can do is sit and wait to see what Marvel’s Wolverine‘s gameplay has in store. Despite my concerns, I’m still really optimistic about Insomniac’s take on the claw-wielding anti-hero. Going from Marvel’s Spider-Man‘s cast of multiple playable characters to a single-character focus might be jarring at first, but it’s also important to remember that Insomniac chose this route for a reason.
- Released
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September 15, 2026
- ESRB
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Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity, Strong Language, In-Game Purchases
- Publisher(s)
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Sony Interactive Entertainment
