Marvel’s Spider-Man on PS4 was a great experience for Spidey fans. The open-world game provided a big open-world environment for everyone to show off their skills as the crimson-clad web crawler. The narrative felt like a true-to-heart Peter Parker story, and the conflict at the center was often complex. The icing on the cake was the number of Spider-Man’s antagonists that appeared within the game.
Instead of a slow burn and teaser for some of Spider-Man’s most infamous enemies, Marvel's Spider-Man on PS4 allowed players to duke it out with some of the most noteworthy. From Shocker and Kingpin to the Sinister Six, high-profile baddies were always waiting to take on Spider-Man. With rumors that the game’s sequel is beginning development for PS5, there are even more characters fans would probably enjoy seeing in the next installment.
Venom
An obvious first choice to appear in the next Spider-Man game is Venom. The symbiote has been synonymous with Spider-Man since they debuted in the late 80s. So far Venom has only been alluded to through cutscenes in the first game and Spider-Man: Miles Morales. As it stands now, the symbiote's introduction would likely be different than in the past, and it seems reasonable to assume its host may be Harry Osborne.
Mysterio
Mysterio is one of Spidey’s more fun villains thanks to his powerful handle on misdirection and special effects. While he might not be the most exciting to some fans, Mysterio’s skill with warping the reality of his targets could make him a notable foe. There is a lot of potential for problem solving and exciting gameplay when it comes to pitting players against the mysterious Quentin Beck that could feel remarkably fresh when put into a big game like Spider-Man 2 on the PS5.
Carnage
Carnage feels like somewhat of a long shot, but there is a chance that the symbiote could make an appearance in the next Spider-Man game. The relationship between Harry and Peter is built on a loving and trusting friendship, but it could be easily strained if Harry is the host for Venom. Carnage could serve as somewhat of a band-aid for their relationship should it come to blows.
The murderous symbiote finds security in the host of the equally bloodthirsty Cletus Kasady. While Carnage is a clear villain, Venom has long been viewed as more of an anti-hero. With a shared goal of stopping Carnage’s rampage and bloodbath, Spider-Man 2 could see Spider-Man and Venom working together in the end rather than against each other.
Kraven the Hunter
Kraven the Hunter was a member of the original Sinister Six in the comics and would make for an interesting foe in the game. His team-up with other members might be unlikely, but escaping the raft is something that can be done as well. Kraven’s skill set might not be as honed as Taskmaster’s in the first game, but he can still be a lethal opponent. His obsession with hunting Spider-Man could also have him introduced as a shadowy and less-than-respectable noble seeking to indulge The Daily Bugle’s, J. Jonah Jameson.
Green Goblin
Green Goblin is one of the most famous members of Spider-Man’s rogues' gallery, and many fans will remember Willem Dafoe's Green Goblin from the 2000s Spider-Man trilogy. The maniacal villain is often the evil identity of Norman Osborne, father of Peter's friend Harry. The character has a bit of complicated history in the comics, but there were some clear narrative threads at play in the Spider-Man game.
Norman’s superiority complex and obsessions in the game were displayed prominently. While his end goal may have a hint of altruism given that he wants to save his son, other incarnations have fallen thanks to similar levels of devotion. The potential for Norman Osborn to become the Green Goblin in Spider-Man 2 is rooted in tragedy and paternal love. None of this will excuse his actions, but it could provide for a Green Goblin that is more emotionally complex than the character that was initially revealed in the comics decades ago.
Enemies in Spider-Man PS5
These characters only scratch the surface of enemies available for another Spider-Man game. With how Spidey has grown since his introduction into pop culture there is a Pandora’s Box worth of villainy to face off against. Whether that means bringing in brand-new characters, multiverse characters like Spider-Man: No Way Home is rumored to be doing, or relying on classics like The Lizard, there is no shortage of ways that Spidey can encounter conflict.
What kind of Spider-Man and Peter Parker a future game might portray is also important to consider. Peter went through life-changing events in the previous games, and it could deeply affect his character. While he has always been a kind of counter to the dark persona that is Batman and other popular comics characters, he also had to face a lot of emotional, psychological, and physical trauma the last time fans got to play as him. How these affect his hero side should be directly addressed as he faces off against a new set of rogues.
Marvel's Spider-Man is now available on PS4 and PS5.