Marvel's Spider-Man (2018): Overview & Critic Reception
This is a research-based overview compiled from publisher information, official patch notes and published critic reception. It is not a hands-on review and ParryStack assigns no score of its own. How we research and verify · Report an error
Critic reception
Metacritic (critic aggregate): 87 (PS4)
Source: Metacritic, checked 12 Oct 2026. These are third-party critic scores, not ParryStack ratings.
Summary
Marvel's Spider-Man is a story-driven open-world action game with an original plot and a Focus-based combat system. It holds a Metacritic score of 87 (PS4).
Combat
Combat is built around the Focus meter: land successive attacks to build it, then spend part of it to heal or all of it for a finisher that takes an enemy down instantly. A white spider-sense icon warns of incoming attacks, and a precise dodge lets Spider-Man counter with webbing. Gadgets such as electric webbing, concussive blasts and impact webbing (which can launch enemies and pin them to surfaces) add options, and suit powers can be combined.
Traversal and side activities
Web-swinging is the main way to cross the city. Side activities include ambient crimes, Oscorp Research Stations, Fisk bases, Taskmaster challenges, Black Cat stakeouts and Peter's old backpacks, which reveal his backstory through recordings. Several reviewers felt there was too much side content.
Story and characters
The story begins with Spider-Man defeating Wilson Fisk. Otto Octavius is Peter's mentor and employer, and he becomes Doctor Octopus after developing a neuromuscular disease and using a neural-interface limb system. Mary Jane Watson is Peter's ex-girlfriend at the start and the two rekindle their relationship at the end, three months after the main story. Mary Jane and Miles Morales are playable in stealth segments focused on avoiding enemies; Peter's sections centre on puzzle-solving.
Platforms and the Remastered version
The game launched on PS4 on 7 September 2018 and sold 3.3 million units in its first three days. The Remastered version arrived on PS5 in November 2020 and on Windows on 12 August 2022. It includes The City That Never Sleeps, three additional suits, updated textures and performance improvements from Miles Morales, 3D audio and DualSense haptic feedback, and it changed Peter's face model to better match actor Yuri Lowenthal's performance capture. The Windows version is a port of the Remastered version.
Summary
Marvel's Spider-Man is a polished story-led open-world game; the main weakness reviewers pointed out is the amount of repeated side content.
Pros & Cons
- Original story with Otto Octavius as a mentor turned villain
- Focus-based combat with gadgets and combinable suit powers
- Large open-world Manhattan with varied side activities
- New Game Plus and Ultimate difficulty added after launch
- Remastered version adds suits, faster loading and PS5/PC support
- Some reviewers felt there was too much side content
- The Mary Jane and Miles Morales stealth sections divide players
- The Remastered version changed Peter Parker's face model
- The Remastered version is the only way to play on PS5 or PC
Sources & fact-check
Release facts, mechanics and boss details on this page were checked against these sources on 12 October 2026. Spotted an error? Tell us.
This review may contain affiliate links. Affiliate Disclosure