There are a ton of games where you can step into the slimy shoes of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 main antagonist, Venom, and I’ve rounded up a collection of some of the best. As a warning, though: Some are easier to get ahold of than others.
Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes
Venom was disappointingly absent from Marvel vs Capcom 3, and the less said about Marvel vs Capcom: Infinite the better. But in Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes, he’s in top form, using his symbiote abilities to dish out some real damage and scare the living daylights out of his opponents.
I don’t care how many hours Ryu, Ken and the other fighters in this one-on-one brawler have put in. When your opponent turns into a massive set of sharp-toothed jaws, it’s definitely brown trousers time.
Related: Does Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Have New Game+, Answered
Ultimate Spider-Man
Based on the comic of the same name, Ultimate Spider-Man has a younger Peter Parker swinging around New York, fighting bad guys. But this open-world web-em-up doesn’t just let you play as Spider-Man. The second, concurrent storyline has you playing Venom.
This isn’t just any Venom, though. Ultimate Spider-Man’s Venom was a much, much nastier piece of work, tossing back brains like candy. You get to roam around flinging cars, feasting on grey matter and dealing with cops who, understandably, aren’t happy about your diet.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 absolutely had to figure into this list. It doesn’t give you anyway as much Venom time as Ultimate Spider-Man, nor do you have the freedom to roam the whole world as Tony Todd’s Venom.
But being Venom is still a real rush and again, you’re voiced by Tony Todd. And it’s an absolutely fantastic game in its own right. What’s not to like?
Marvel’s Midnight Suns
Marvel’s Midnight Suns‘ base game doesn’t let you play as Venom. Instead, the symbiote is relegated to being a boss monster. But if you’re prepared to fork out $14.99 for the Venom DLC, you can add this long-tongued badass to your crew.
And, beyond being just another soldier, Venom has his own storyline. It’s a tale of regret, redemption and.. fighting Dracula. Yes, as Venom (and friends) you get to go toe to to with fiction’s most famous vampire. I wonder what bloodsucker brains taste like?
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2
Before Marvel’s Midnight Suns there was Marvel Ultimate Alliance which, while not strictly turn-based, had you putting together your own team to take on whatever villainous forces were menacing the world.
The second entry, alongside the Switch-exclusive Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3, lets you add Venom to your team. And while Venom doesn’t have his own story this time around, his head-chomping talents are exceptionally useful.
LEGO Marvel Super Heroes
Venom may be mini-figure sized in LEGO Marvel Super Heroes, but he’s still capable of giving Spidey a run for his money. And once you’ve beaten his mission, you can swing around LEGO New York as the blocky symbiote-wearing Eddie Brock. You also get the chance to unlock Carnage, Venom’s nastier, crimson offspring.
Disney Infinity
Toys-to-life may be dead, but Disney Infinity 3.0 still lives. No, I’m not kidding because, while it’s easy to overlook, you can purchase the game, with characters unlocked, on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC.
Running around as Venom is an awful lot of fun, as it is in Ultimate Spider-Man and Lego Marvel Super Heroes. But what makes Infinity so amazing is that you can introduce Venom to any other of the 100 or so characters.
Ever wonder who would win in a fight, Venom or Boba Fett? Disney Infinity 3.0 is your chance to find out. Just don’t take on Elsa from Frozen, you won’t stand a chance.
Those, then, are the best games where you can play as Spider-Man’s Venom. There are other not-so-great games where you can play as Venom, such as Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects, EA’s attempt to steal Marvel vs Capcom’s crown. And while there’s never been a solo Venom game that doesn’t mean it’s never going to happen.
