Both DC and Marvel have been putting out some very high quality video games, especially in the last decade or so. While some of these games have quite a few similarities, others are distinct and offer a unique flavor.
First and foremost, it should be said that both properties are putting out a ton of fantastic games, and there are multiple games coming out in the future that fans are looking forward to, like the nextSpider-Mangame andGotham Knights. Only games that have come out in the last few years are going to be included for comparison, since they’re the only ones that are really relevant. That being said, both comics franchises have put out some incredible games in recent history.
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DC (Batman: Arkham Series)
The first on the list of recent great DC video games has to be theBatman: Arkhamseries.Batman: Arkham Asylumwas the first entry, and more or less started the beginning of modern video games based on comic book properties. This series set the bar high when it comes to fan expectations for these games, and games since then have had to do a lot to compete. These games took Batman, and the characters around him, and treated them all with a seriousness that had rarely been done before in a comic-based video game, and fans responded to it wonderfully. On top of this, there was a VR Batman game set in the Arkham universe that, while short, was quite a fun time.
Marvel (Marvel’s Spider-Man)
Marvel’s closest competition to DC’sArkhamseries has been its recentSony-exclusiveSpider-Mangames on PS4 and PS5. Neither of these games stole anything from theArkhamgames, but they both feel very much in the same vein. These games also take Spider-Man and his cast of characters and treat them with some real weight, making a game that feels as much aSpider-Mangame as theArkhamgames felt likeBatmangames.
DC (Injustice Series)
Another DC series that’s still relatively new,Injusticehas achieved massive popularity not only as a series of video games, but as a setting in the DC Universe in and of itself. The firstInjusticegamewas very popular and hit all of the traditional notes expected of a fighting game with an above-average story. The secondInjusticeexpanded on this, with another stellar story and a pretty interesting endgame and online components.
Marvel (Marvel vs. Capcom Series)
A series that’s been around for more than two decades now,Marvel vs. Capcommight not have the popularity of the Injustice series recently withMarvel vs. Capcom Infinite, but it’s still remained popular enough to have such a long lifespan. With its tag-team fighting mechanics,Marvel vs. Capcomremains one of the more original-feeling fighting games on the market. Though the story isn’t quite on the same level as the Injustice series, it’s still a good time, and fans of the characters are going to enjoy playing through it.
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DC (DC Universe Online)
DC’s resident MMORPG,DC Universe Onlinehas been going strong for almost a decade now. There have been ups and downs along the way, but the game has continued churning out new content, continuously expanding the endgame and allowing players to live out their superhero and/or supervillain fantasies in the DC Universe. While this game definitely feels a bit like a traditional MMORPG, it had some action and fighting mechanics that others of that time didn’t really have.DC Universe Onlineis both a solid DC game, and a solid MMO.
Marvel (Marvel’s Avengers)
The closest thing Marvel has toa game like DCUO isMarvel’s Avengers, though this game feels more likeDestinyorBorderlandsin its construction than it does a MMORPG. This game did not release to the acclaim (or active playerbase) that Square had hoped, though it’s also continued creating content for the game, albeit at a slower pace than originally intended due to situations outside of the developer’s control.
DC Games vs. Marvel Games
As mentioned before, both of these companies are producing very high-quality games; there are plenty that haven’t been mentioned here either, such asMarvel’s Ultimate Alliance 3, a couple of Telltale properties likeBatman: The Telltale SeriesandGuardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series, as well as a whole slew of Lego games. These games treat the characters with care, and even if the games don’t necessarily do anything revolutionary, they are largely solid with few exceptions.
It really depends on what players are looking for in games, in terms of which properties are doing the better job. Many people have a preference of either DC over Marvel or vice-versa, and so usually, these people are going to prefer one company over the other based solely on that preference. Other players might like both properties, and for them, the type of game is going to matter more.
For games that focus strictly on a single-player, story-driven adventure, both theArkhamseries and theSpider-Manseries are well-worth the time. For players looking for co-op gameplay, or a game that they can play for a longer time than just getting through the story, they should look forDC Universe OnlineorMarvel’s Avengers. These are two pretty different games, so it’s going to come down to player preference.
At the end of the day, there’s really no way to tell if DC or Marvel is putting out higher quality games; both companies are putting out real gems, and giving one the advantage over the other would do a disservice to them, because opinion is going to be split between the two in almost every single case. The good thing is, this means that forfans of comic booksand the characters that live in them, and for fans of great games in general, it’s a pretty great time to be alive.
