5 Best Video Games Based on Comic Books

We've all seen our fair share of movies and envisioned how well they'd play out as video games. Unfortunately, we can't quite say the same for comic books which, in all honesty, receive the cold shoulder for whenever developers come knocking. But that's partly the reason why were drawn to the format—because it's an untapped market with endless quantities of money-making material. The fact only a small amount of it has flourished into a video game is beyond not only me—but most of us gamers.

It's 2022, and to say the market is still somewhat neglectful of the comic book realm would only be an understatement. The matter of the fact is, there's so much room for growth loitering around it, that it's a darn shame developers are stepping forth to utilize the assets while they're clearly present. Though, having said that, there are a number of quality games based on comic books out there. Of course, they're in somewhat short supply, and often hard to unearth—but they're quality tributes nonetheless. And as for the best of the best, well—here's how we'd slate it.

5. Telltale's The Walking Dead

Robert Kirkman's The Walking Dead lives on in various formats; AMC's star show being just one of the major links in the chain. Its comic book origin story, however, is where the foundations for the franchise were first paved way back in 2003. Since then, numerous factions have stepped up to cash-in on the premise and further boost the undead sensation. Telltale, of course, being one of them.

True to the signature Telltale formula, The Walking Dead lays out a story-driven experience, and one that is tailored by the way you, the player, unravel key events. Every choice has a consequence—even more so when world is littered with flesh-eating corpses that long for an opportunity to divide your chances of survival.

4. Batman Arkham

To be fair, DC Comics' poster child was born to rock the gaming industry. Ever since his debut appearance back in 1939's Detective Comics, Batman has been in line for an unfathomable amount of media-based merchandise. Video games, making up just a small pocket of entertainment from the franchise, just goes to bolster that fact.

That being said, it's the Arkham chapters that have made the biggest impact over on our corner of the world. Brewed with the classic beat 'em up recipe, each chapter has gone on to deliver timeless experiences, all of which encompass story-driven worlds and innovative combat systems. And so, while Bruce Wayne has seen his fair share of video games—only Arkham has gone deep enough to satisfy long-term fans of the Bat.

3. Marvel's Spider-Man

Spider-Man is hands down one of Marvel's biggest—if not the biggest—superheroes of all time. The fact an incredibly charming set of video games have fallen from the same vein only amplifies our respect for the franchise even more. Though, to be fair, Marvel's Spider-Man (that being the PlayStation exlcuisve) was a turning point for the series, and one that would later define an entire era of action-adventure video games.

Marvel's Spider-Man was a thing of pure beauty. Built with a living, breathing open-world metropolis to explore, Insomniac Games ushered in a new generation of story-driven games, where the Big Apple played a key role in the tellings of Peter Parker's development. From the engrossing tale between civilians and superheroes, to the generous selection of side activities and collectibles—Marvel's Spider-Man brought the whole package, and then some.

2. Injustice

It may not be on par with the likes of Tekken and Mortal Kombat, but Injustice is still among the best fighting series in the industry. Its expansive roster of familiar faces is what drives the double-barrell package into the spotlight, and it's understandable why so many comic book enthusiasts flock to it to get their fix.

As well as the impressive art style the series employs, Injustice also packs in a next-level palette of fighting styles and combos. Multiplayer-wise, it puts competition at the heart of the experience, and it meshes well with both fighting fans and comic book fanatics alike. All in all, it's one of the few staples on the market that we, as gamers, are proud to accommodate.

1. The Wolf Among Us

Knowing who's who in Fabletown is common knowledge. Knowing where the very city stems from—perhaps not so much. Although being a key player on the comic book board for 20 years, many players fail to link Telltale's The Wolf Among Us with DC Comics' Fables. But the fact is, Telltale rustled up a prequel to the 150-book catalog way back in 2013.

Of course, Telltale has a reputation for procuring beloved franchises and cashing in on their reputation. The Wolf Among Us, being a hybrid of multiple universes and one celebrated comic book series, was just one of the many smart choices the team made. As for the rest, well, it's tough to stack anything else as high as Fabletown and its band of unruly storybook creatures. Call it what you will, but Telltale hit the nail on the head with The Wolf Among Us, and if there is any particular series that deserve a second chance—it's this one.

So, what's your take? Do you agree with our top five? Let us know over on our socials here or down in the comments below.

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