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Marvels Wolverine
Wolverine has never been the kind of superhero who walks away from a fight without getting his hands dirty. With Marvel's Wolverine, Insomniac Games finally gives Logan his own major PlayStation adventure, trading Spider-Man's web-swinging for adamantium claws, brutal takedowns and a much darker story.
The result is a violent, cinematic action game that understands what makes Wolverine such an interesting character. But impressive visuals and bloody combat can only carry a game so far. Does Logan's first big adventure from Insomniac have enough behind those claws to make it truly special?
Marvel's Wolverine: A Darker Marvel Adventure
Unlike Insomniac's Spider-Man games, Marvel's Wolverine takes a more serious approach to the superhero genre. Logan is not interested in saving the day with jokes and a friendly smile. He is a troubled character with a violent past, and the game makes that clear from the beginning.
The story takes place before the X-Men have been established. Logan becomes involved in a conflict surrounding kidnapped mutants, bringing him into contact with familiar characters such as Mystique, Sabretooth and Jean Grey. The story also explores parts of his past, adding another layer to a character who has spent much of his life trying to escape it.
Logan Is More Than Just His Claws
One of the game's strongest points is its portrayal of Wolverine. Beneath the anger and violence is a character who struggles with his memories, his relationships and the consequences of his actions. Liam McIntyre delivers a convincing performance as Logan, while the supporting cast helps give the story its emotional weight.
The relationship between Logan and Jean Grey is one of the more interesting parts of the adventure. It gives the story quieter moments between the larger action sequences and helps make the characters feel like more than familiar Marvel faces.
Combat and Adamantium Claws
Combat is the heart of Marvel's Wolverine. Logan fights with his claws, his fists and the kind of aggression you would expect from the character. Enemies can be slashed, thrown around and finished with brutal animations that make every encounter feel considerably more violent than the average superhero game.
There is a satisfying sense of speed and impact to the action. Logan can chain attacks together, dodge incoming strikes, counter enemies and unleash special abilities when the situation gets out of control.
Brutal Finishing Moves and Special Attacks
As the adventure progresses, new moves and abilities become available. These give players more ways to deal with groups of enemies, including powerful attacks that can turn a difficult encounter around. The rage system also plays an important role, rewarding aggressive fighting and making Logan even more dangerous when it builds up.
However, the combat system does not always develop as much as you might hope. Some encounters begin to feel familiar after a while, and the basic fighting mechanics can become repetitive. There are plenty of spectacular moments, but the game does not always give players enough reasons to experiment with different approaches.
Exploration, Missions and World Design
Anyone expecting another huge open-world experience like Marvel's Spider-Man should adjust their expectations. Wolverine follows a more linear structure, taking players through carefully designed environments and story-driven missions.
This approach makes sense for Logan. He is a character who moves from one dangerous situation to another, rather than spending his days swinging around a single city. The adventure also visits different locations, giving the campaign a more varied setting than one large open-world map.
A More Focused Adventure
The downside is that exploration can feel restricted. Some areas look like they should offer more freedom, but the actual routes are often quite limited. Optional activities and side content also do not always provide enough variety to make exploring feel particularly rewarding.
The result is a game that keeps the action moving, but sometimes feels more like a sequence of connected combat encounters than a world you can really get lost in.
Graphics, Atmosphere and Performance
Visually, Marvel's Wolverine is one of the game's biggest strengths. Insomniac Games has created detailed environments, expressive character models and impressive animations. Logan's appearance also changes during the action, with damage and torn clothing helping sell the brutality of the fights.
The different locations give the adventure plenty of visual variety. From darker environments to more colourful city settings, the game makes good use of its PlayStation 5 hardware to create a cinematic presentation.
A Strong Technical Showcase
The character animations deserve particular attention. Logan's movements feel heavy and aggressive, while the combat animations make his claws look as dangerous as they should. The sound design adds to the impact, giving attacks and finishing moves plenty of weight.
There is also solid support for the DualSense controller, helping make the action feel more physical. Overall, the presentation is a major reason to experience the game, even when some of the gameplay systems could have used more depth.
Is Marvel's Wolverine Worth Playing?
That depends on what you want from a superhero game. If you are mainly looking for a large open world filled with activities, collectibles and plenty of freedom, this adventure may feel a little restrictive.
But if you want a darker Marvel story with a strong central character, cinematic presentation and plenty of violent action, there is a lot to enjoy here.
What Works Well
- A convincing portrayal of Wolverine and his troubled personality.
- Brutal combat that captures the character's aggressive fighting style.
- Impressive graphics, animations and cinematic presentation.
- Strong voice performances and familiar Marvel characters.
- A focused adventure with several different locations.
What Could Be Better
- Combat encounters can become repetitive.
- The linear level design limits exploration.
- Some missions offer little variety beyond fighting enemies.
- The combat and progression systems could offer more depth.
Final Verdict: A Strong Wolverine, But Not a Perfect Game
Marvel's Wolverine gets the most important thing right: it makes Logan feel like Wolverine. The brutal action, darker atmosphere and strong character performances give the game a clear identity of its own. Insomniac also delivers a visually impressive adventure that feels very different from its Spider-Man games.
Unfortunately, the experience does not reach its full potential. Repetitive combat encounters, limited exploration and a lack of variety in some missions prevent the game from becoming something truly exceptional. The foundations are strong, but there is room for more depth.
Even so, Marvel's Wolverine is a worthwhile adventure for fans of the character and anyone looking for a more violent take on the superhero genre. It may not be Insomniac's strongest game, but Logan still has plenty of bite.
Marvel's Wolverine - Game Information
- Released: September 15, 2026
- Platforms: PlayStation 5
- Genre: Action, Adventure
- Players: Single-player
- Developer: Insomniac Games
- Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Voice Cast: Liam McIntyre, Troy Baker and others
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