When it comes to the best superhero games ever made, most fans (and I) would probably nominate Marvel’s Spider-Man or Batman: Arkham City as two top-tier choices. However, just because those games are good with iconic heroes in them, it doesn’t mean they have the most powerful, Earth-shattering superheroes in gaming history. Even the worst or mid-tier games can have overpowered characters in them.
5 Superhero Games That Have Better Writing Than The MCU
These games may not boast the degree of spectacle that you’ll see in big budget MCU films, but they certainly have great writing and characters.
Because the power dynamic in fighting games is so wild, no superheroes from fighting games will be nominated. That’s a whole other list idea. So, for now, let’s focus on superheroes and anti-heroes who are the best of the best in terms of raw power and abilities, whether they are playable or not in the following games.
Also, these heroes might be stronger in other media, but the only thing that matters is how strong they are and feel in the game.
10
Jackie Estacado
A Demon Run Mob
In The Darkness, Jackie Estacado ascends from a mob thug to a mob boss in this sequel. In the second game, he again makes a pact with demons to power up his soul beyond his skills with guns. He can use demonic tentacles to grab enemies and rip them apart, or grab objects to use them as weapons, like launching a pool stick as a spear. He can also send little goblins to do his bidding for him, from attacking enemies to grabbing things like car doors to use as shields. The demons are weak to light, leaving Jackie vulnerable to attack, so there are disadvantages, too.
9
Phoenix
A Fiery Mage
In the X-Men comics, Phoenix is the reborn version of Jean Grey, and she exists as a cosmic entity. She’s less cosmically charged in Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order, but she certainly is a very strong character. To get her, DLC must be purchased, and then her mission must be cleared. Even at her base, with light and strong attacks, Phoenix can command any battlefield with her fiery waves, which have a devastating area of effect. Her flight is also advantageous in battle to avoid attacks. Her specials, while strong, are more like the cherry on top of an otherwise powerful character whose strengths are better in the comics and less versatile in this game.
Comics Phoenix would be either 1st and 2nd, but she doesn’t come close to that in Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3.
8
Wolverine
He Could Go All Day
Wolverine is a classic superhero from the X-Men comics who has been in a ton of video games, but among them all, X-Men Origins: Wolverine is the one that best demonstrates his lethality. At his core, Wolverine’s powers outside video games are super strength, enhanced by his Adamantium skeleton, which gives him extra defense and claws that can tear through anything. He also has regenerative powers, where he ages slowly and cannot die. X-Men Origins: Wolverine is a video game, so players can lose, but during missions, health will recharge. Wolverine is like a force of nature with his claws in the game, so overall, his will keeps him going.
7
Viewtiful Joe
Controlling Time And Looking Cool While Doing It
Joe, or Viewtiful Joe as he turns into in the game, is from the Viewtiful Joe series, and most of the main entries find Joe with similar power builds. He’s an ordinary guy who loves movies until one day he gets powers of his own to transform into a red Power Rangers-like uniform to fight evil.
Superhero Games With The Best Graphics
From space travel to travel by web, these superhero games all look cutting-edge thanks to their top-of-the-line graphics and stellar art direction.
In his super suit, Joe can slow down time, and in this state, not only is it easier to dodge enemies, but his punches and kicks carry more weight. He can also speed up time, which makes his attacks lightning fast. Any hero who has some form of time manipulation is guaranteed to have an advantage in a fight.
6
Symbiote Spider-Man (Peter Parker)
Infused With Venom
In Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, players can assume the role of either Peter Parker or Miles Morales, and while Miles is a strong hero, Peter has the advantage. The story follows the Venom storyline from the comics, albeit with an Insomniac Games twist, where Peter’s powers get enhanced with his Black Suit version, giving him the agility of his normal build along with strength and area-effecting attacks that even The Hulk would have trouble fighting. Later, he gets the Anti-Venom white suit, which is like a god-tier set of abilities that allows Peter to control Venom instead of it affecting his mind. As a late-game addition, it’s like getting Mario’s Super Star power-up for a few hours, so this is definitely the stronger version of Peter in a Spider-Man game.
Who’s That Character?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Easy (7.5s)Medium (5.0s)Hard (2.5s)Permadeath (2.5s)
5
The Hulk
You Wouldn’t Like Him When He’s Angry
The Hulk is another classic Marvel character who is no stranger to video games, and anyone who knows the comics or the MCU movies understands that scientist Bruce Banner becomes The Hulk after suffering radiation poisoning and then also gets mad. The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction highlights Bruce as The Hulk, and in his powered-up state, this hero is near impervious to damage, has incredible speed for his size, and can tear through cars like they were nothing and even run up buildings. With his fists, The Hulk can smash anything into pieces and can even turn metal into boxing gloves. Anyone who wants to feel empowered in a game should give this title a spin, even though the hero in the comics and movies is shown to be even stronger.
4
The Boss
Breaking The Fourth Wall Of Superhero Reality
The Boss is the player-created character in Saints Row 4 who is not only in charge of the 3rd Street Saints gang, but also becomes the President of the United States. After an alien attack, players are thrown into an alternate reality created by the invaders, which then gives The Boss superpowers after her allies help break part of the programming. Through gathering resources and continuing the campaign, players can level up The Boss however they want with superpowers. They can learn to fly, freeze enemies, run at lightning-fast speeds, throw things via telekinesis, and so much more. The Boss is potentially unstoppable, but only inside the simulation, except for the final mission. With the help of armor, The Boss can continue using their powers, so while strong with gadgetry, The Boss is not naturally gifted.
3
Alex Mercer
The Anti-Hulk
Prototype was developed by the same studio as The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction, Radical Entertainment. This original idea started Alex Mercer, a human who goes through experiments and catches a virus that allows him to transform his body at will. He can turn his arms into giant blade-like swords or fists that can smash through things. He can go up to anyone on the street, absorb them into his bloodstream, and then replicate their DNA to become them, like the ultimate disguise kit. He can run up buildings and glide, too, and these are just a handful of basic abilities. With his transformative powers, Alex is like a one-man army.
2
Cole MacGrath
Letting The Beast Out
Cole MacGrath is the hero of the first two inFAMOUS games, with his powers becoming much stronger in the sequel. His body is imbued with electricity so he can zap enemies with various strikes, grind on rails like an electric engine, or glide around the open-world of New Marais. He is also able to absorb some powers from two new allies, Lucy and Nix, who can control ice and fire powers, respectively.
10 Action Games Where Movement Is The Real Superpower
You’ll feel like a speed demon in these movement-forward games that are jam-packed with thrilling action.
inFAMOUS 2 is a game of choice, and if players decide to be evil during their campaign, then they can essentially become The Beast, the villain of the story. Cole can absorb its powers and become a god-like entity with near-unlimited power, which hasn’t been explored fully in a game yet, but the potential is scary.
1
Phenomaman
A Noble Hero Who Could Go Nuclear
Phenomaman is one of the strongest and most revered superheroes in Dispatch, but his life sort of crumbles early on in the game. He’s an alien who came to Earth years ago and has the power of super strength, flight, and super speed as his base. While most of his normal powers are demonstrated during the game, it’s the absorption power that is more of a threat. He tells the protagonist, Robert Robertson III, that he could absorb the power of the sun and then nuke the Earth with it. It’s not a threat; he’s just depressed, but this revelation has merit. If that doesn’t sound like a scary superhero power, then nothing will.
Bonus Top Pick: Saitama
We went back and forth on whether to use Saitama, as he is more of a mechanic than a character in One-Punch Man: A Hero Nobody Knows, but he is technically the strongest superhero in any game. Like the manga and anime, he defeats every opponent with a single punch, regardless of their strength. While he wouldn’t be able to do anything if Phenomaman decided to nuke Earth from space, he would win a one-on-one fight.
Video Games Like The Boys
If you like the humor, gore, and superhero antics in The Boys, then check out these games that caputre the esssence of Amazon Prime’s hit series.
