Among all the various comic book heroes that are out there, Superman is considered the greatest of them all. Not only is Superman the foundation for the superhero genre, but he’s a character that has become an iconic symbol of justice, hope, and inspiration toward the best aspects of humanity. There have been so many stories that include Superman in various entertainment mediums, including a number of video game adaptations. While not all of them have found great success, there are a select few games that do the character of Superman and his world justice. They let players step into the role of the Man of Steel and fulfil a fantasy of becoming the greatest hero of all-time.
So, which Superman games are considered must-play titles for any fan of the last son of Krypton? Unlike other DC characters with many more video game releases, Superman hasn’t always starred in critically successful games. But if you look hard enough, you can find games that are considered classics among comic book fans and gamers alike. And with a new Superman movie finally releasing in theaters, now is the best time to revisit some of Kal-El’s best adventures in gaming. Here are four of the greatest Superman games that you should play.
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4 Superman: Shadow of Apokolips
The better adaptation of the cartoon
Source: Infogrames
One of the most infamous games about Superman is the one on the Nintendo 64. To many people, Superman 64 is considered one of the worst games of all-time, and for big reasons. That game was based on the Superman: The Animated Series cartoon, which included multiple characters from the show. But did you know there was a game that was a better adaptation of the series on the PlayStation 2 and GameCube? Superman: Shadow of Apokolips was developed by Infogrames Sheffield House and is a better game overall compared to its predecessor. The plot involves Superman clashing with multiple villains from the show who are working for Lex Luthor and Darkseid.
Superman: Shadow of Apokolips plays like an action game and takes Superman to different locations within Metropolis, pitting him against groups of enemies and boss fights with DC villains. He’s able to use a number of powers, including heat vision and his super strength, to battle enemies in each stage. Most of the voice cast from the animated series reprise their roles as their respective characters, making the game feel authentic to the show. While the game did have some technical issues during gameplay and controls that critics panned, the overall presentation of it was given a lot of praise for being cell-shaded to look like the animated series. Any Superman fan that wants to enjoy a simple
3 Superman: The Video Game (1988)
Classic arcade heroics
Source: Taito
Most people may remember Superman: The Video Game from the arcades, especially if they heard the iconic John Williams music that played loudly. Superman: The Video Game was released in arcades in 1988, and was developed by Taito. It’s a very simple game that puts players in control of the Man of Steel over the course of five stages, letting them battle enemies across different locations. Emperor Zaas comes to Earth and immediately starts causing havoc in Metropolis, so it’s up to Superman to defend the citizens of Earth and put a stop to the invader’s plans. Superman himself can punch enemies and fly around the screen, as well as charge up a punch that he can launch energy as a projectile. Each stage has multiple parts to them and a boss battle at the end.
The game itself has no direct connection to the 1978 Superman movie, but it uses two musical scores during the experience, including the iconic Superman theme and another from the movie called “Can You Read My Mind”, which is from the scene with Lois and Superman flying together. The game also has the option to include a second player, which renders them as a red version of Superman with a gray cape. There is no plot reason for this, and it is just used as a means for another person to play cooperatively. Fans of Superman really enjoyed this game, but it was never ported to any other platform following its release.
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2 The Death and Return of Superman
Becoming the brawler of steel
In the comic book world, the storyline of The Death of Superman was a big deal that rocked pop-culture circles. Superman’s final battle with the monster Doomsday was an epic clash that is still referenced to this day. It was also a big deal when Superman finally made a return to comics after being dead for a while, which was a common occurrence in comic books. A video game tie-in based on the iconic story was developed by SUNSOFT and Blizzard Entertainment for the Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis, released in 1994 and 1995 respectively. The game follows the events of the comic arc, including multiple playable characters that appear in the comics and the villains they fight. Superman himself is the main star, but other characters like Steel, Superboy, Cyborg Superman, and The Erradicator get stages focused on them.
The game is a brawler that pits the heroes against legions of enemies, as well as boss fights against different villains from the storyline. Superman and his allies can punch their way through foes, while also using multiple powers throughout the different stages. Some sections include characters flying and using heat vision, which plays like a side-scrolling shooter to mix things up. Both versions of the game are identical in their gameplay, but the soundtracks between them sound different. While the game doesn’t give a complete look at the entirety of the iconic comic arc, it has enough of the main plot for anyone to follow, even if they have never read the comics. All the major events are in place and the characters relevant to them.
1 Superman Returns
A surprisingly legit rendition
For a modern Superman game to work, the concepts of how powerful the character is and his mission need to be done in a way that makes sense. Superman is incredibly powerful and can’t be hurt like other characters normally would, so it can be difficult trying to find a challenge for him. This is where a game like Superman Returns comes to the rescue, making the interesting choice to have the city of Metropolis as Superman’s vulnerability. Superman Returns is based on the 2006 movie of the same name, and has a story that is loosely based on it. Some of the movie’s events happen in the game, but the majority of the content within the story is original and pulls from different parts of Superman’s history. Comic characters like Bizarro, Mongol, and Metallo make an appearance in the game, despite never being part of the movie.
The gameplay is what distinguishes Superman Returns from other Superman games, where players have the whole city of Metropolis to fly around and explore. Mission objectives occasionally pop up with objectives for Superman to complete, which often include saving civilians or taking down a group of enemies. Sometimes the game will have a villain show up for Superman to fight, which can lead to larger sections that advance the main story. Superman himself may be invincible, but Metropolis is in constant danger and needs to be protected. Rather than having a traditional health bar representing Superman, the game has a health bar for the city that depletes when damage to the area happens during missions.
Players can use a number of powers that Superman has, including his different visions and other abilities, to fight enemies or save people during missions. Stopping large fires or fixing damaged structures can require Superman to use his freeze breath, while at the same time stopping enemies from causing more havoc nearby. The game allows Superman to be creative with how he saves the day, while also keeping it interesting enough to not get too repetitive. Flying around the city of Metropolis is what many people love about this game, since it’s one of the few that let you do so. There are also multiple unlockables and Easter eggs that reference different parts of Superman’s long history, including the golden age suit from the first appearance of Superman in Action Comics #1.
Looking up to the sky
People love following the stories about Superman, and they really enjoy seeing him in video games. Unfortunately, there haven’t been as many hits for the Man of Steel in games compared to other DC heroes like Batman, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t great ones to play. Overall, Superman is a character that is difficult to make a great gaming experience that feels authentic to him, while offering a challenge that makes sense and is fun to engage with. But hopefully, with time, more games featuring Superman can be developed and tackle the many different aspects of the character that people love to follow. After all, he is the greatest hero of them all, so he should get a few great video games that people can call back to.
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