The relationship between superheroes and video games has always been a fascinating one. Society is currently in a period where superheroes seem to dominate every form of pop culture, but even before this massive boom, they were still a frequent presence in video games.
Some superheroes have only recently gotten games to showcase their stories, but the X-Men have been a part of video games for decades now. As the characters find themselves in an unusual place within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it’s likely that some new X-Men games are on the horizon. Until then, it’s worthwhile to re-visit the former attempts to create the ideal X-Men video game.
10 X-Men Destiny (Score: 50)
X-Men: Destiny is a multi-platform release that tells an original story which actually has a unique premise. Players control mutants who can either align themselves with the X-Men or the Brotherhood of the Mutants as they make moral decisions along the way.
Unfortunately, production of X-Men: Destiny was taking place during Disney's acquisition of Marvel, which led to budgetary issues with the title and ultimately a lawsuit over the game's incorporation of the Unreal Engine 3. X-Men: Destiny is such an extreme situation that all digital copies were de-listed and any unsold copies of the game were destroyed.
9 X-Men: The Official Game (Score: 52)
Movie tie-in video games are usually a mixed bag, but they feel even more irrelevant with the X-Men franchise since quality X-Men games were coming out for years before the movies caught on. X-Men: The Official Game is meant to bridge the gaps between X2 and X-Men: The Last Stand and it’s more of a Last Stand game than anything else.
The game prioritizes Logan, Nightcrawler, and Iceman and manages to bring in new characters like HYDRA, but it suffers from the typical problems that most movie adaptation titles suffer from.
8 X-Men: Reign Of Apocalypse (Score: 62)
X-Men: Reign of Apocalypse is an admirable beat-'em-up action title for the Game Boy Advance that tries to do some creative things with the X-Men license. The game is set in an alternate universe that's ruled by Apocalypse, which pits Wolverine, Cyclops, Storm, and Rogue against standard mutant villains, like Magneto, as well as former allies who Apocalypse has turned in this reality.
The incorporation of a two-player option and battle mode is appreciated, but ultimately the game is highly repetitive and over too quickly, even with 12 levels to work through.
7 X-Men: Next Dimension (Score: 63)
X-Men: Next Dimension is actually the third installment in the X-Men: Mutant Academy fighting series. Next Dimension pushes the games into 3D and the improved character models and 3D environments make a big difference this time around, as well as the inclusion of a story mode to the fighter.
There are over 20 playable characters in the game and an original story, but this really just plays like an X-Men version of Dead or Alive. The Gamecube version is technically the best, with the addition of extra game modes, but the Marvel vs. Capcom series is still leagues better.
6 X-Men: The Arcade Game (Score: 70)
The 1992 X-Men: Arcade Game is one of the most popular arcade cabinets of all time and those that frequented the video game hubs during the '90s definitely have fond memories playing this massive double-cabinet title. This 2010 re-release ports the arcade classic to online marketplaces and does an exceptional job recreating the co-operative experience.
Up to six players can work together, even with online functionality, and it's the perfect blast of nostalgia, even if the game isn't necessarily the deepest experience. The plot is the standard destroy Magneto narrative, but this tile is more about the teamwork.
5 X-Men: Mutant Academy 2 (Score: 72)
X-Men: Mutant Academy 2 only came out a year after its successful predecessor, but despite the lack of development time, this sequel is still a satisfying game that doesn’t just feel like a rushed expansion. Mutant Academy 2 benefits from upgraded 3D character models (although still in 2D environments) and a larger roster that even includes Spider-Man as a secret character.
Mutant Academy 2 excels with its combat and complex combo systems, but it’s ultimately a thin title that suffers from a lack of story mode and other options to increase replayability.
4 X-Men: Mutant Academy (Score: 75)
Curiously, it’s the original X-Men: Mutant Academy title that has the warmest reception of the three entries in the fighting franchise. The first entry was released on the PlayStation back in 2000 when it was inventive to have a fighter that focused purely on the X-Men.
Mutant Academy has a slim roster of characters, but they all feature unique gameplay styles and it’s reminiscent of how Street Fighter operates. There’s a strong foundation here that’s built upon in its sequels. As much as the “gritty” costumes from 2000’s X-Men were criticized, they’re actually featured as extra costume incentives for players.
3 X-Men Origins: Wolverine (Score: 77)
It’s pretty ridiculous that X-Men Origins: Wolverine, which is considered to be one of the worst X-Men movies of all time, actually has one of the highest-rated video game adaptations in the X-Men series. Inventively, Origins: Wolverine takes its cues from Devil May Cry and God of War as it delivers an extremely bloody and violent experience.
However, much like other ineffective hack-and-slash titles, a short campaign and repetitive gameplay hold this game back. X-Men Origins: Wolverine is a multi-platform release with comparable scores across the board, but it’s actually the PC version of the game that’s considered the best.
2 X-Men Legends (Score: 82)
The X-Men Legends series is largely considered to be the peak for X-Men video games and it’s a height that may not be topped until the characters are drastically re-worked for a next-gen title. X-Men Legends is an immersive four-player action RPG title that’s such a love letter to the franchise.
There’s endless chaos and it’s the success of this game that would lead to the Marvel: Ultimate Alliance series, which does the same thing, but with a larger cast of characters. All versions of the game are a treat, but it’s the Xbox port that fared the best.
1 X-Men Legends II: Rise Of Apocalypse (Score: 84)
X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse is everything that a sequel should be. The previous X-Men Legends game impressed everyone with its story, creative art design, and a large roster of characters. Rise of Apocalypse gets even bigger with the introduction of Apocalypse, which forces the X-Men and the Brotherhood of the Mutants to work together.
The ability to play as villains was a welcome surprise for many. Additionally, online functionality and more intuitive mutant powers make this one of the most entertaining action titles of the generation and a top original Xbox game.