The highly anticipated "Marvel's Wolverine," developed by Insomniac Games and slated for a September 15, 2026 release on PlayStation 5, has officially seen its media review embargo lift. The game currently holds a Metacritic score of 78, based on 115 critic reviews.
While generally positive, this score falls short of the studio's previous critical highs, with "Marvel's Spider-Man" earning an 87 and "Marvel's Spider-Man 2" achieving a 90.
"Marvel's Wolverine" did receive significant praise from some outlets. COGconnected awarded a perfect 10, stating that the game successfully unleashed Wolverine's most brutal and ferocious side, with combat evolving as abilities unlock. Wccftech gave it an 8.5, commending Insomniac for moving away from the "Spider-Man" open-world formula in favor of a more linear, focused action experience. Both TheGamer and Game Rant scored the game an 8, with TheGamer particularly praising the character development of Logan and Jean Grey, as well as the emotionally resonant and high-stakes story.
However, several prominent mainstream outlets delivered notably lower scores. IGN gave the title a 6, noting that while the core gameplay was solid, it failed to build enough unique content upon its initially satisfying action mechanics, leading to combat feeling repetitive before the end. IGN added that the approximately 15-hour campaign largely relied on its story and character performances, ultimately deeming it "just okay" and a tier or two below Insomniac's previous superhero titles.
GameSpot also rated the game a 6, suggesting that while there were no truly bad elements and it delivered an authentic Wolverine experience, the overall package felt more like a "barebones third-person action game," lacking surprising design choices and at best being "fun but forgettable." GamesRadar+ similarly scored it a 6, criticizing the combat as too basic and the story as muddled, ultimately lacking the necessary depth, nuance, and variety.
Similar sentiments were echoed by other outlets, with VGC, Eurogamer, and The Guardian also landing in the 6-point range. The Guardian specifically praised Logan's character portrayal and emotional beats but criticized the combat for gradually becoming a repetitive chore.
Overall, the game's brutal presentation, character development, and cinematic delivery received widespread acclaim. However, recurring criticisms centered on its linear level design, repetitive combat, uninspired boss battles, and an overly conservative overall design.
via： Metacritic