Marvel's Spider-Man – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Marvel's Spider-Man

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

game2018

79%

WISE Score

87%

IGDB

Swing through Manhattan as Spider-Man in this spectacular, polished superhero adventure—best for teens who can handle realistic combat and mature themes.

Marvel's Spider-Man

game

2018

79%

WISE Score

87%

IGDB

Swing through Manhattan as Spider-Man in this spectacular, polished superhero adventure—best for teens who can handle realistic combat and mature themes.

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Where to Play

PlayStation

Screenwise Verdict

This is the superhero game parents have been waiting for—polished, complete, and genuinely fun without the usual predatory nonsense. The web-slinging alone is worth the price of admission; it's joyful and exhilarating in a way that makes you feel like you're actually Spider-Man.

That said, don't let the friendly neighborhood hero fool you into thinking this is for younger kids. The combat is frequent and realistic, with blood, brutal takedowns, and occasional profanity. The story tackles drug use, loss, and moral complexity. It's rated T for Teen for good reasons, and I'd hold the line at 13+.

For teenagers, though? This is a home run. It's emotionally engaging, beautifully crafted, and models heroism and responsibility without being preachy. Plus, it's a complete game—no loot boxes, no season passes in the original, no online toxicity. Just a great story and fantastic gameplay. If your teen loves Marvel, this is a must-play.

Age Fit

This is squarely for teens 13 and up. The ESRB and PEGI ratings are spot-on—the realistic violence, drug references, and mature themes make it inappropriate for pre-teens, but it's an excellent fit for teenagers who love superhero stories and action games.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

The game centers on Peter Parker as a mature, responsible hero who helps people and protects his city. The narrative emphasizes doing the right thing, protecting loved ones, and balancing personal sacrifice with heroism. However, the combat is frequent and realistic-looking (punching, kicking, throwing enemies off buildings), and there's mild profanity ('sh*t') scattered throughout. The tone is earnest superhero fare—not mean-spirited or cynical—but the violence level and occasional drug references keep it from being fully wholesome for younger audiences.

Imaginative

This is where the game truly shines. The web-slinging traversal through a gorgeously detailed open-world Manhattan is exhilarating and genuinely creative—players invent their own routes, experiment with momentum and acrobatics, and feel like they're actually Spider-Man. The combat system encourages improvisation (web gadgets, environmental takedowns, aerial combos), and the side activities invite exploration and problem-solving. It's not a create-your-own-story sandbox, but the freedom of movement and tactical creativity in fights make it highly imaginative within its genre.

Safe

ESRB rates it T for Teen (13+) with descriptors for Blood, Drug Reference, Mild Language, and Violence. Combat is stylized but realistic enough to show impact; enemies get punched, kicked, and webbed up, with occasional blood effects. Drug references appear in the story (characters mention or use substances in context of crime). Mild profanity pops up in dialogue. The game has no loot boxes, no in-game purchases in the original 2018 version, and minimal online interaction (just leaderboards). For teens 13+, it's appropriately safe. For kids under 12, the realistic violence and mature themes are a concern.

Enriching

The game delivers a compelling, cinematic story about responsibility, loss, and heroism. Players engage with Peter's struggles to balance his personal life with his duty as Spider-Man, and the narrative tackles themes of loyalty, sacrifice, and doing the right thing even when it's hard. The gameplay builds problem-solving skills (combat tactics, puzzle-solving in labs) and rewards exploration. It's not educational in a traditional sense, but it's emotionally engaging and models positive values. The main knock is that it's fundamentally a beat-'em-up—entertaining and well-crafted, but not deeply enriching beyond the superhero narrative.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Web-slinging through New York City feels absolutely incredible—fluid, fast, and genuinely fun in a way few games achieve
A mature, emotionally resonant story about responsibility and sacrifice that treats Peter Parker as a real, flawed person
Combat is creative and improvisational—you're encouraged to experiment with gadgets, environment, and acrobatic moves
No microtransactions, loot boxes, or online toxicity—just a complete, single-player experience
Widely considered one of the best superhero games ever made, with an IGDB rating of 87

⚠

What to Watch For

Realistic combat violence—punching, kicking, throwing enemies off buildings, with occasional blood
Drug references in the story (characters mention or use substances in crime-related contexts)
Mild profanity ('sh*t') scattered throughout dialogue
Rated T for Teen (13+) by ESRB, PEGI 16 in UK—genuinely not appropriate for kids under 12

Conversation Starters

"What do you think makes Peter Parker a good hero? Is it just his powers, or something else?"
"How would you handle having to choose between helping someone you love and protecting the whole city?"
"What's your favorite way to get around the city? Do you swing fast or take your time exploring?"
"Do you think Spider-Man's villains have good reasons for what they do, or are they just bad guys?"

Deep Dive

The physics of joy

Most superhero games fail because they make moving around feel like a chore. Insomniac Games solved this by making the web-slinging physics the centerpiece of the experience. It isn't just pressing a button to move forward. You have to time your swings, use your momentum, and actually attach webs to buildings. For a teenager, this creates a flow state that is genuinely addictive. If they spend three hours just swinging around Manhattan without touching a single mission, they are playing the game exactly how it was intended.

Beyond the "Friendly Neighborhood" label

While the title says Spider-Man, the tone is closer to a PG-13 action thriller than a Saturday morning cartoon. This Peter Parker is 23 years old, dealing with rent, career stress, and a city falling apart. The combat is classified as a beat 'em up, but it’s fast and visceral. You aren't just bopping enemies on the head like in The Best Kid-Friendly PlayStation 4 Games; you’re slamming them into walls and using high-tech gadgets to incapacitate them.

If you are trying to gauge if the intensity is right for your kid, think about the middle-act fights in the recent movies. It’s cinematic and heavy. For parents who want to understand the line between "cartoonish" and "realistic" hits, our guide on Fantasy Violence in Games and Movies breaks down why these distinctions matter for different age groups.

The "Complete Game" rarity

In an era where every title seems to be a "live service" designed to drain your wallet, this 2018 release is a refreshing anomaly. There are no loot boxes. There is no "battle pass." Once you have the game, you have the whole story. This makes it a great choice for parents who want to avoid the social pressure and "micro-transaction creep" found in titles like Fortnite. It is a focused, single-player journey that actually has an ending.

Where the story goes next

This game serves as the foundation for an entire universe. If your teen finishes this and immediately asks for more, they are likely looking for the Miles Morales expansion or the massive 2023 sequel. Before you move on to the next chapter, it’s worth checking out the Spider-Man 2 Parents Guide to see how the intensity and themes ramp up in the later installments. The story started here is a long-form narrative, so playing them in order actually matters for the emotional payoff.

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