Top Ten Greatest Comic Book Video Games of All Time (So Far)
May 28, 2015
Here at PREVIEWSworld, we love ourselves some video games… some of us can even remember the “Good Old Days” of the Atari 2600, Intellivision, and the Vectrex (look it up!). We also remember how video games began to enter the comic book market, merely as advertisers at first, but soon becoming the subjects of comic books themselves like Valiant’s early ’90s Nintendo Comics System and Marvel’s Quest Probe series, among others. These days, there are plenty of video game comic books, Halo, Dragon Age, Tomb Raider, Street Fighter, and Assassin’s Creed come readily to mind. There are also plenty of comic book video games. Much like the movies, comics have proven to be an ample and fertile source for video games, and there seems to be no end in sight for these comic book adventures.
In honor of our Video Game Month, we decided to tally our own list of the top ten greatest comic book video games… so far. You may or may not agree with our choices (we know there are a bunch not represented here), but we think these ten games have left their marks on the hobby, and are some of the most popular with players and fans alike!
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THE WALKING DEAD: A TELLTALE GAMES SERIES (Season 1)—This choice-driven adventure game took players by surprise with its complex characters and gripping story that perfectly adapted the comic book world of The Walking Dead.
Play the Game, Read the Book:
THE WALKING DEAD OMNIBUS VOL. 1 HC (SEP110441/$100)
BATMAN: ARKHAM ASYLUM—Batman: Arkham Asylum was the first game to make you truly feel like Batman. Complemented by a decent sampling of Batman’s Rogue’s Gallery, a gripping storyline crafted by Batman: The Animated Series’ Paul Dini, and featuring the return of Mark Hamill as the voice of The Joker, Arkham Asylum brought superhero video game adaptations to an all-new level!
Play the Game, Read the Book:
BATMAN: ARKHAM ASYLUM—25TH ANNIV. DLX ED. TP (JUN140278/$19.99)
LEGO MARVEL SUPERHEROES—The LEGO game formula paired with a huge open world and an enormous cast of Marvel Comics characters made this blocky take on the Marvel Universe something fans of all ages could enjoy… and revisit often!
Play the Game, Read the Book:
TOO MANY FROM WHICH TO CHOOSE!
BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY—This direct sequel to Arkham Asylum added an open world design and even more villains to the mix, refining the winning formula introduced in the first game while expanding the ever-expanding “Arkham” mythology in the process.
Play the Game, Read the Book:
BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY TP (JUN120243/$16.99)
THE DARKNESS—This early Xbox 360/PS3 gem from developer Starbreeze Studios came hot off the heels of their critically acclaimed Chronicles of Riddick game (a classic in its own right!) and managed to deliver a unique take on the first-person shooter with its mix of violent guns-vs.-Darkness mechanics paired with quiet and meaningful character development.
Play the Game, Read the Book:
THE DARKNESS: ACCURSED VOL. 1 TP (NOV088169/$9.99)
MARVEL ULTIMATE ALLIANCE—Steeped in Marvel Comics lore, this top-down Diablo-style RPG/battler won over the hearts and minds of Marvel fans with fun co-op gameplay and one of the largest rosters of playable characters featured in a video game.
Play the Game, Read the Book:
TOO MANY FROM WHICH TO CHOOSE!
FABLES: THE WOLF AMONG US—Fresh from their success with The Walking Dead Seasons 1 & 2, Telltale Games went back to the comics for this unique murder mystery game that acted as a prequel or sorts for Bill Willingham’s Vertigo Comics series, Fables, faithfully reproducing Fabletown and its storybook inhabitants in an adventure game setting.
Play the Game, Read the Book:
FABLES: THE WOLF AMONG US VOL. 1 TP (COMING SOON!)
MARVEL VS. CAPCOM 2: NEW AGE OF HEROES—Lauded for its complex fighting mechanics and huge character roster, this legendary fighting game takes you for a ride with the kinetic battles between Marvel characters like Spider-Man and Capcom characters like Mega Man. With a massive community of players still battling it out each year at tournaments like the Evo Championship Series, MVC 2’s long lasting legacy is hard to match.
Play the Game, Read the Book:
TOO MANY FROM WHICH TO CHOOSE!
SAM AND MAX HIT THE ROAD—Based on Steve Purcell’s cult-classic comic book series, this LucasArts adventure game perfectly captured the humor and style of Purcell’s “Freelance Police”.
Play the Game, Read the Book:
CURRENTLY (AND SADLY) OUT OF PRINT!
SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD: THE GAME—Released as a digital exclusive alongside Edgar Wright’s big screen adaptation of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, this beautifully drawn ode to classic arcade beat-em-ups pairs an amazing soundtrack by Anamanaguchi with copious amounts of in-jokes and references to Bryan Lee O’Malley seminal comic series. Put it all together, and it defines the Scott Pilgrim game as much more than just a movie tie-in, but a love letter to the entire series!
Play the Game, Read the Book:
SCOTT PILGRIM’S PRECIOUS LITTLE BOX SET (SEP101090/$72.00)