Spider-Man 2 is an action-adventure game that was released on October 20, 2023. The game was developed by Insomniac Games and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It is based on the Marvel Comics character Spider-Man and features a narrative inspired by its long-running comic book mythology. This narrative is also derived from various adaptations in other media. It is the third entry in the Marvel’s Spider-Man series, acting as a sequel to Marvel’s Spider-Man (2018) and a follow-up to Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales (2020).
In this installment, Peter Parker and Miles Morales struggle to navigate the next steps in their personal lives while combating several new threats. These include a private militia led by Kraven the Hunter, who transforms New York City into a hunting ground for super-powered individuals, and the extraterrestrial Venom symbiote, which bonds itself to Parker and negatively influences him, threatening to destroy his personal relationships. The gameplay builds on the foundation established by its predecessors, with an emphasis on the multiple playstyles afforded by Peter Parker and Miles Morales as Spider-Men. The game expands on their existing traversal and combat abilities, including new web-based gadgets and suits that can be unlocked through progressing in the story. It also introduces the former Spider-Man’s symbiote suit, granting Parker unique abilities from his previous playable appearance.
As with the prior games, content outside the main story consists of completing side-missions and obtaining collectibles dispersed throughout the game’s open world. The player is able to switch between Parker and Morales to complete dedicated objectives for each of them. Discussions regarding a proper sequel to Marvel’s Spider-Man began during the game’s development, with open story threads for future titles being teased across both it and Miles Morales. The game was announced in September 2021. Creative director Bryan Intihar, game director Ryan Smith, narrative lead Jon Paquette and art director Jacinda Chew from Insomniac Games respectively reprise their duties from prior entries, while Yuri Lowenthal, Nadji Jeter and Laura Bailey return to headline the game’s ensemble voice cast, which comprises other returning actors and characters from the previous games. Jim Pirri and Tony Todd join the ensemble as the voices of Kraven and Venom, respectively. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 was released for the PlayStation 5 on October 20, 2023 to critical acclaim. The game sold over 2.5 million units in 24 hours and over five million in 10 days, becoming PlayStation’s fastest selling first-party title and among the best-selling PlayStation 5 games.
