Marvel’s Spider-Man features the most fleshed out version of Peter Parker to appear in a game thus far, both in terms of his story and his moveset. While Insomniac’s Peter is unique in several ways, from his signature suit to his relationships with several characters, he still feels like the character Marvel fans have grown to love over the years. The same can be said for Miles Morales, who debuted in the first game but was given a chance to shine through the Spider-Man: Miles Morales spinoff.
With Peter playable in Marvel’s Spider-Man and Miles being the star of his self-titled follow-up, this marks two games in a row where a different character is playable. While the sequel to Marvel’s Spider-Man will surely be exciting enough already, as the possibility of playing as both Miles and Peter is thrilling, this trend should not stop here. Instead, a third character should be made playable in the sequel, marking three games in a row where a Spider-Man game introduced a unique character with a fresh moveset.
Option #1: Venom
One great option for a playable character is Venom, the main villain for Marvel's Spider-Man 2. Playable in past games like Ultimate Spider-Man, Venom’s moveset would be particularly fun to use in-game. From his huge leaps to the ability to grab cars and enemies, Venom would play far differently from the two Spider-Men. Further, a unique rage system could see the Symbiote building up, allowing players to deal more damage and use unique powers and combos once full. Possibly having a different charge up mechanic to Miles’ Venom powers that sees the character consuming foes to get stronger, playing as Venom could be truly interesting.
Beyond that, playing as a villain would be a first for the Marvel's Spider-Man games, and it could be used sparingly throughout the game so that it carries more weight. Venom could have different objectives and side activities when playable, and like Peter and Miles, there would be no shortage of alternate suits for the character to wear. After all, anything from Carnage to Anti-Venom would be on the table, something that only adds to the possible abilities that Insomniac can great for its heavily teased villain.
Option #2: A New Spider-Man
Another possibility would see Insomniac pulling from the Spider-Verse, bringing over another version of the hero. While comical heroes like Spider-Ham are limited as to what they can do, several of these alternate Spider-Men have had incredible story arcs of their own along with some unique personalities. Characters like Spider-Man Noir, for example, can offer some stealth abilities and a darker narrative. The futuristic technology provided by Spider-Man 2099’s Miguel O’Hara could prove just as fun, offering another style of gameplay.
With the comics featuring several pop-ins like these over the years, it would not be too hard for Insomniac to find a way to justify such a team-up. However, if they do pull from the Spider-Verse, a playable Spider-Gwen would be a must. Not only is the hero’s universe and kick-based fighting style intriguing, but Gwen Stacy is likely already dead by the time of the first Marvel’s Spider-Man game. As such, seeing her and Peter reunite would be incredibly emotional, while her romantic relationship with Miles could add another layer.
Option #3: Another Marvel Hero
Finally, the least likely option for another playable character would be another Marvel hero. After all, games like Spider-Man: Web of Shadows have seen Wolverine getting a major role in the supporting cast, and the same could be done with this game. Seeing Spider-Man in Marvel’s Avengers could only add to the hype of a crossover, as Peter interacting with those characters in a video game could make fans want the same thing to happen during Insomniac’s sequels. While The Avengers do exist inside Insomniac’s universe, even more exciting options have been teased.
Black Panther and the nation of Wakanda have both been through collectibles and map locations, as have the Inhumans. Intriguingly, Doctor Strange’s Sanctum Sanctorum can also be seen, with the hero’s base of operations possibly serving as a gateway for a playable appearance. Controlling Stephen Strange could be incredible, as magic would play far differently from what players are used to. Strange could also portal Spidey to different dimensions, providing a different locale to fight through while potentially setting up the Spider-Verse. Lastly, Matt Murdock has been teased, and controlling the Defender of Hell’s Kitchen for a few levels could setup a future Daredevil game.
While Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 will likely be a great game with or without another playable character, including another hero would be thrilling. For now, though, players should only expect to see more Peter Parker and Miles Morales content brought to their PlayStation consoles.
Marvel's Spider-Man and Spider-Man: Miles Morales are available now on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. A sequel has yet to be officially announced.