Games starring caped crusaders, mutants, and strange visitors from other worlds have a long, if not necessarily proud, tradition. And while consoles have gotten the lion's share of decent superhero games, the PC has been home to most of the ones that DON'T make you want to rip out your adamantium claws just so you can stab them into your eyes. To help celebrate WonderCon 2012, we've compiled a list of the 10 best superhero games that you can still play on the PC (okay, technically more than 10, but 10 is a nice, round number). So, assemble your avengers and gather together your titans -- the reading of the list is nigh!



#10: X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)

What's really surprising about this action adventure is that it's one of the few movie-to-game adaptations that's actually superior to the film it's based on. Ok, that's not saying very much considering the awful movie, but seriously, this is actually a good game. Combining the movie's plot that explores Wolvie's secret origin with new story elements, it endorses the notion of a mutant superhero with razor-sharp claws going to town on his enemies, slashing and eviscerating them in gory, bloody displays of berserker rage. Thankfully, the "Uncaged Edition" released on PC wasn't a watered-down port like those publisher Activision has been infamous for. (We're looking at you, Spider-Man 2!)


#9: Marvel Trading Card Game (2007)

Okay, I hear you laughing now. "A TRADING CARD game???" you ask. Yes, and it's awesome. Based on Upper Deck Entertainment's Marvel collectible card game, the virtual PC version follows the same rules and lets you match decks of cards that contain Marvel comics characters and abilities against other players or, in single-player mode, other heroes or villains depending on which side you're on. Getting into the gameplay may take some time if you're not already familiar with card games like Magic: The Gathering, but it's well worth the effort.


#8: LEGO Batman: The Video Game (2008)

While very similar in play style and humor to previous LEGO adventures, LEGO Batman does have one unique hook: it lets you play the story campaign from both the heroes' and villains' perspectives. Yep, 15 of the campaign levels have you playing as Batman and friends and the other 15 levels let you wield the electrified hand buzzers and whips of famous foes like The Joker and Catwoman. If you've ever wanted to a play a videogame version of the classic 1960's Batman TV show, this is the closest you'll get.


#7: X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse (2005)

When the king of all evil mutants, Apocalypse, kidnaps Professor X and Polaris, the X-Men and Brotherhood of Mutants must join forces in this captivating action RPG. A sequel, it manages to pack in even more marvelous mutants than its predecessor and has a better overall storyline. The best reason to play it is for four-player co-op which lets each player control a different X-Men hero or villain in the story mode.


#6: The Darkness II (2012)

Based on the comic book series from Top Cow, The Darkness II is one of the few first-person shooters about a superhero. (And no, Gotham City Imposters doesn't count.) Playing as a mobster who wields the supernatural power of The Darkness, you must fight against an organization that wants that power for itself. It's a gritty, psychological thriller that allows you to shoot conventional weapons while slashing, grabbing, and throwing bad guys with your Darkness-fueled Demon Arms. Okay, the term "superhero" is applied loosely here.


#5: City of Heroes/City of Villains (2004/2005)

The first massively multiplayer superhero RPG, City of Heroes was launched to enthusiastic praise when first launched in 2004, though it missed a few key features like capes and playable villains. Those ingredients were added the following year in the stand-alone expansion, City of Villains, and now--several mini and major expansions later--the hybrid game is still going strong as a free-to-play MMO. Though not based on an existing superhero license, City of Heroes has proven popular enough to inspire its own comic books, novels, and collectible card game.


#4: Marvel Ultimate Alliance (2006)

What's better than a game starring the X-Men and Brotherhood of Evil Mutants? A game starring the ENTIRE Marvel universe, obviously! The next logical step to the X-Men Legends series, Marvel Ultimate Alliance unites such disparate Marvel characters as Blade, Iceman, and Moon Knight in battle against the Masters of Evil, with over 140 characters making playable and non-playable appearances. The disappointment is that its sequel skipped the PC entirely.


#3: DC Universe Online (2011)

In the future, Lex Luthor screws us all by teaming with Brainiac to destroy the Earth's superheroes. When it turns out that Brainiac has global genocide on his computerized mind, Lex travels back in time to warn our heroes and seed the atmosphere with exobytes that transform average schmoes (us) into an army of new super-powered heroes and villains. More action-oriented than City of Heroes, this MMO (now free-to-play) has the added bonus of letting you fight alongside iconic characters like Superman and Joker.


#2: Freedom Force/Freedom Force vs. The Third Reich (2002/2005)

After its success with 1999's System Shock 2 and before its breakthrough with SS2's "spiritual successor," BioShock, Irrational Games tried something a little different. Freedom Force and its sequel are loving tributes to the glorious golden and silver ages of comic books with original superheroes that straddle the line between cheesy and tragic. Highly moddable, these tactical RPGs let you craft your own unique characters from different power sets and even import character and costume designs created by the fan community…much to the consternation (and legal chest-thumping) of trademark owners like Marvel. Both are must-plays for anyone who is a long-time comics fan.


#1: Batman: Arkham Asylum/Batman: Arkham City (2009/2011)

Arguably the greatest set of superhero games ever made, Arkham Asylum and its sequel manage to be what was once considered nearly impossible—Batman games that don't suck. Far from the kiddie beat-em-ups and movie-licensed dreck that had come before, this dynamic duo actually embraces its lead character's comic book heritage, making him a bad-ass detective ninja with wicked combat moves, cool gadgets, and an extensive rogues gallery of demented foes. And when backed up by the superb writing chops of Paul Dini and the vocal talents of Kevin Conroy as Batman and Mark Hamill as The Joker (all veterans of Batman: The Animated Series), they were able to accomplish a second amazing feat in Arkham City: make Robin seem cool.


Spy Guy says: Surely such a powerful team of super-games has never been assembled! We need a great Green Lantern game, though -- I like his fashion sense. What's your favorite superhero game on the PC?