Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 finally landed on PC in 2025, but the port had a rough early life — frame-pacing issues on common hardware, AMD FSR frame generation bugs, and a launch night where the executable crashed on a meaningful chunk of Steam Decks. Patches resolved most of it, but the perception that Insomniac’s port pipeline isn’t ready for PC launches set in. We spent weeks playing the modern superhero and open-world action scene on PC and put together this list of seven Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 alternatives for desktop in 2026.
This guide covers action-adventure games with cinematic stories, traversal-driven open worlds, and the kind of polish a Sony first-party game brings. Some are direct Insomniac titles. Others come from other studios in the genre. Each runs on Windows in 2026.
Quick comparison
| Game | Best for | Cost | Where to buy | Standout feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered | The original PC port | $59.99 | Steam | Best PC Spider-Man port |
| Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales | Shorter Spider-Man story | $49.99 | Steam | Tighter standalone story |
| Batman: Arkham Knight | Best superhero open world | $19.99 | Steam | Gold standard for superhero games |
| Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy | Marvel single-player story | $59.99 | Steam | Best Marvel narrative game |
| Marvel Rivals | Marvel competitive multiplayer | Free | Steam | Hero shooter with Marvel roster |
| Sunset Overdrive | Insomniac’s traversal-focused TPS | $19.99 | Steam | Same Insomniac DNA, original IP |
| Hogwarts Legacy | Open-world action-adventure | $59.99 | Steam | Largest modern action-adventure RPG |
Why people leave Spider-Man 2 on PC
The complaints concentrated on the PC port specifically:
Frame-pacing issues at launch
The initial PC release had stuttering on hardware combinations that played the predecessor (Spider-Man Remastered) cleanly. The Nixxes team patched most of it within the first month, but the launch reputation lingers in early reviews.
FSR frame-generation bugs
AMD FSR 3 frame generation didn’t work correctly at launch in certain modes. Patch 1.202.0.0 addressed the main bug, and subsequent updates continued to refine FSR behavior, but players who bought hardware specifically for frame generation hit a wall.
Upgrade-from-Spider-Man-1 path unclear
Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered (2022 PC release) handled the original story. Miles Morales (2022 PC) covered the prequel-spinoff. Spider-Man 2 PC came years later. The franchise gap on PC means newcomers had to play three titles to catch up.
Online sharing features dropped
PlayStation-version online features (photo sharing, certain leaderboards) didn’t carry over to the PC release. Single-player gameplay is intact but ancillary features are reduced.
The alternatives
Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered — Best Spider-Man predecessor
Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered is the original 2018 PS4 Spider-Man rebuilt with PS5 enhancements and ported to PC. The story introduces Insomniac’s Peter Parker and his open New York. Web-swinging mechanics are nearly identical to Spider-Man 2’s. Combat is slightly simpler but the foundation is there.
For Spider-Man 2 players, the original is the prerequisite if you skipped it. The story matters for Spider-Man 2’s emotional beats and the gameplay loop is familiar.
Where it falls short: Smaller New York than Spider-Man 2’s expanded map (Queens and Brooklyn added in the sequel). Older combat depth. Some boss fight mechanics feel dated compared to the sequel.
Pricing:
- $59.99 base game (sales to $20)
- The City That Never Sleeps DLC: $14.99
- vs Spider-Man 2: Cheaper, older game.
Switching from Spider-Man 2: Familiar swinging and combat foundation. Older story content. Smaller open world.
Download: Steam
Bottom line: Pick Spider-Man Remastered if you haven’t played the original. Skip if you have.
Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales — Best standalone Spider-Man story
Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales is the shorter standalone between the first Spider-Man and the sequel. Miles’ Venom powers introduce a different combat flavor and the smaller scope keeps the pace tight. Story runtime is 8-10 hours.
For Spider-Man 2 players who finished the main game, Miles Morales is the option when you want more of the same combat in a shorter package. The events lead directly into Spider-Man 2’s setup.
Where it falls short: Shorter than the main Spider-Man titles. Smaller map (Harlem-focused). Less character variety than Spider-Man 2’s dual-protagonist format.
Pricing:
- $49.99 base game (sales to $20)
- No DLC
- vs Spider-Man 2: Cheaper, shorter, focused.
Switching from Spider-Man 2: Same swinging foundation. Different combat flavor (Venom powers). Tighter story.
Download: Steam
Bottom line: Pick Miles Morales for a focused Spider-Man story between the main releases. Skip if you specifically want the big-scope sequel format.
Batman: Arkham Knight — Best superhero open world
Batman: Arkham Knight is the gold-standard superhero open-world game. Rocksteady’s combat system influenced every superhero game that followed, including Spider-Man. The Gotham open world is dense, the Batmobile traversal divides opinion but offers variety, and the story sticks the landing on the Arkham trilogy.
For Spider-Man 2 players, Arkham Knight is the option when you want a different superhero traversing a different city with the same cinematic polish.
Where it falls short: PC port had infamous launch issues — long since patched, but the reputation persists. Batmobile sections divide players. Combat predates the Spider-Man series and may feel less fluid in direct comparison.
Pricing:
- $19.99 base game (sales to $4)
- All DLC bundled in Premium Edition
- vs Spider-Man 2: Cheaper, different superhero.
Switching from Spider-Man 2: Grappling and gliding replace web-swinging. Same cinematic story polish. Different combat flavor.
Download: Steam
Bottom line: Pick Arkham Knight for the gold-standard superhero game. Skip if Spider-Man-specific gameplay is what you want.
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy — Best Marvel narrative game
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy is the Eidos-Montréal single-player Marvel game. Star-Lord-controlled third-person action where you direct the rest of the Guardians in combat. The story is the most acclaimed of any Marvel single-player game outside the Insomniac Spider-Men.
For Spider-Man 2 players, Guardians is the option when you want a Marvel single-player story in a different format. Less open-world traversal, more set-piece cinematic action.
Where it falls short: No open world — linear chapter structure. Combat is busier and less elegant than Spider-Man’s. Marketed poorly at launch (sales were disappointing despite quality).
Pricing:
- $59.99 base game (sales to $10)
- No major DLC
- vs Spider-Man 2: Cheaper in sales, different format.
Switching from Spider-Man 2: Linear chapters replace open world. Squad-management combat replaces solo. Same Marvel universe DNA.
Download: Steam
Bottom line: Pick Guardians of the Galaxy for the best single-player Marvel narrative outside Spider-Man. Skip if you want open-world traversal.
Marvel Rivals — Best Marvel multiplayer
Marvel Rivals is the 6v6 hero shooter from NetEase Games and Marvel. Forty-plus playable Marvel characters (including the major Spider-Verse roster), team-based competitive play, and the kind of free-to-play hero-shooter live service that Overwatch popularized. Active scene globally in 2026.
For Spider-Man 2 players, Rivals is the option when you want to play Spider-Man (and Miles, and Spider-Punk, and other Spider-Verse heroes) competitively against other players. No single-player story, but the multiplayer scratch is significant.
Where it falls short: No single-player story. Competitive hero shooter format is a significant genre shift. Live-service grind for skins and cosmetics. Team-based play depends on coordination.
Pricing:
- Free base game
- Battle pass: $9.99
- vs Spider-Man 2: Free entry, completely different format.
Switching from Spider-Man 2: Competitive PvP replaces single-player narrative. Multiple Marvel heroes replace solo Spider-Man. Live-service economy.
Download: Steam
Bottom line: Pick Marvel Rivals for free competitive Marvel multiplayer. Skip if single-player narrative is what you want.
Sunset Overdrive — Best Insomniac traversal TPS
Sunset Overdrive is Insomniac’s pre-Spider-Man traversal-focused third-person shooter. Grind on rails, wall-run, swing from poles, and shoot weird weapons at mutated soda zombies. The traversal DNA that Spider-Man would later inherit is here in proto form. The vibe is irreverent rather than cinematic.
For Spider-Man 2 players, Sunset Overdrive is the option when you want to see where Insomniac’s traversal design came from. Same studio, different IP, different tone entirely.
Where it falls short: No cinematic story polish. Visual style polarized players. PC port arrived late (2018) and minor optimization issues persist. Smaller open world.
Pricing:
- $19.99 base game (sales to $4)
- DLC included
- vs Spider-Man 2: Cheaper, completely different tone.
Switching from Spider-Man 2: Traversal DNA preserved in different form. Irreverent tone replaces cinematic. Original IP rather than licensed.
Download: Steam
Bottom line: Pick Sunset Overdrive for the Insomniac traversal DNA in different IP. Skip if cinematic story matters.
Hogwarts Legacy — Best open-world action-adventure
Hogwarts Legacy is the open-world Harry Potter game that succeeded where many film tie-ins failed. The open world spans the school grounds, the Forbidden Forest, Hogsmeade, and a larger surrounding region. Combat is spell-based with deep customization. Story runs 30-50 hours.
For Spider-Man 2 players, Hogwarts Legacy is the option when you want the same scope and polish in a completely different setting and combat system.
Where it falls short: Setting may not appeal to non-fans. Combat is spell-cycling rather than acrobatic. No multiplayer.
Pricing:
- $59.99 base game (sales to $25)
- Digital Deluxe extras
- vs Spider-Man 2: Comparable price, different genre.
Switching from Spider-Man 2: Spell combat replaces acrobatic. Open world is larger but less verticality-driven. Same cinematic story polish.
Download: Steam
Bottom line: Pick Hogwarts Legacy if you want a large modern action-adventure outside superhero IP. Skip if Marvel-specific is the appeal.
How to choose
Pick Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered if you haven’t played the original. It’s the prerequisite emotional setup for Spider-Man 2’s story.
Pick Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales for a focused 8-10 hour Spider-Man story between the main releases.
Pick Batman: Arkham Knight for the gold-standard superhero open world.
Pick Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy for the best single-player Marvel narrative outside Spider-Man.
Pick Marvel Rivals for free competitive Marvel multiplayer with the Spider-Verse roster.
Pick Sunset Overdrive for the proto-traversal Insomniac DNA in original IP.
Pick Hogwarts Legacy for a comparable-scope action-adventure in different IP.
Stay on Spider-Man 2 if you specifically want the dual-protagonist Peter/Miles structure, the modern New York open world, and the cinematic story scope that no alternative directly matches.
FAQ
Is Spider-Man Remastered better than Spider-Man 2?
For a focused open-world Spider-Man story, the original is tighter and cheaper. Spider-Man 2 has more mechanics, more characters, and a larger map. Most fans play both; the original works as the prerequisite for the sequel.
Can I import Spider-Man Remastered save data to Spider-Man 2?
No. Insomniac’s Spider-Man titles don’t transfer save data across releases. Each starts fresh.
What is the cheapest Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 alternative?
Marvel Rivals is free. Sunset Overdrive and Batman: Arkham Knight both go under $5 in sales. Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy is frequently discounted heavily.
Is there a free version of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2?
No free version exists. Marvel Rivals offers free Spider-Verse character access in multiplayer format.
What do people use instead of Spider-Man 2 for superhero traversal?
Batman: Arkham Knight is the closest superhero open-world counterpart. Sunset Overdrive shares the Insomniac traversal DNA in different IP. No alternative directly replicates Spider-Man’s web-swinging.
Will there be a Marvel’s Spider-Man 3?
Insomniac has announced a Wolverine title and continued investment in Marvel partnerships. A direct Spider-Man 3 is widely expected based on hints in Spider-Man 2’s ending, but no official release date exists.
