Marvel’s Spider-Man

Insomniac Games

PS4, PS5 (Remastered on PC)premium + DLC

Health Score

GOOD

Official Website Watch Gameplay

About This Game

Super Review

Marvel’s Spider-Man delivers an exhilarating open-world adventure where players embody a positive hero. While the web-swinging and story are engaging, frequent combat and mature crime themes mean this action game is best for children 9+ who are comfortable with PG-13 level superhero violence and occasional mild language.

Super Review

Parent verdict

This is a good fit for families seeking a premium, story-driven superhero game for older children. With a health score of 60 ('Good'), Marvel's Spider-Man offers a compelling narrative about responsibility and helping others, balanced against regular combat and some darker thematic elements. It's a solid choice for those comfortable with action on par with a superhero movie.

What players actually do

Players swing through a detailed New York City, using momentum and timing to navigate the open world, exercising spatial reasoning and agile control.
Players engage in fast-paced combat against various criminals and villains, utilizing punches, kicks, web attacks, and gadgets, developing reaction time and strategic thinking.
Players follow a cinematic story, completing missions that involve investigation, puzzle-solving, and protecting citizens, practicing narrative comprehension and objective-based play.

Where it shines

The fluid and exhilarating web-swinging mechanic is a core draw, offering a unique sense of freedom and movement across a vibrant cityscape.
The game provides a strong narrative emphasizing positive role modeling and the themes of responsibility and good versus evil, offering a hero-centric experience.

Parent watch-outs

Combat is frequent and can be intense, with players repeatedly punching and kicking criminals, though largely non-lethal.
Some story missions delve into darker crime themes and feature mild language and occasional blood, contributing to its Teen rating.

Family rules worth setting

Limit play sessions to a set duration, as the open world and mission structure can encourage extended engagement.
Discuss the difference between fictional superhero violence and real-world consequences, especially regarding the non-lethal nature of in-game combat.

Talk about this

Discuss the game's emphasis on responsibility and helping others: What does it mean to be a hero, and how does Spider-Man demonstrate responsibility?
Talk about problem-solving: When Spider-Man faces a difficult situation, what strategies does he use, and how could those apply to challenges outside the game?

Play style

Marvel's Spider-Man is primarily a single-player, story-driven experience. Sessions can vary from short explorations to longer narrative arcs. The difficulty is adjustable, offering accessibility for various skill levels, though some boss fights or combat encounters can be challenging, potentially requiring player persistence. It's an offline story, so there’s no social exposure.

Score Breakdown

Positive Aspects

Educational Value

3/5

Creativity

2/5

Pro-Social

0/5

Risk Factors

Addictive Monetization

0/5

Time Pressure / FOMO

0/5

Social Risk

0/5

Content Intensity

3/5

Why this rating

Educational Value

3/5

While not directly academic, the game promotes problem-solving through its varied missions and encourages strategic thinking during combat and traversal. The narrative also emphasizes moral choices and the importance of helping others, providing positive social lessons.

Addictive Monetization

0/5

Marvel's Spider-Man is a premium title with no in-game purchases designed to drive addiction or coerce spending beyond the initial game and optional story DLC. There are no loot boxes, randomized rewards, or other predatory monetization mechanics present.

Content Intensity

3/5

The game features frequent, dynamic combat involving punching, kicking, and web-based attacks against human opponents, though it's largely non-lethal superhero violence. Additionally, the narrative touches on darker crime themes, and the game includes mild language and occasional blood effects, contributing to its 'T for Teen' rating.