So, you finally got your hands on a PlayStation 5 and you want to swing through New York. Smart move. Honestly, the way Insomniac Games handled this franchise is probably the best thing to happen to Marvel fans since Into the Spider-Verse. But if you’re looking for spider-man games in order ps5 owners can actually play right now, things get a little weird with the naming conventions and the remasters.
It’s not just a straight line.
You’ve got a "Remastered" version of a PS4 game, a spin-off that feels like a massive expansion, and a full-blown sequel that pushes the hardware to its limits. If you play them out of order, you’re basically spoiling some of the biggest emotional gut-punches in modern gaming. Peter Parker’s life is a mess, and you need to see that mess evolve chronologically to really care when the heavy stuff hits in the third act.
The Absolute Starting Point: Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered
Don't start with the shiny new one on the box. Start here. Originally released in 2018 for the PS4, the version you want on your PS5 is Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered.
Why? Because the PS5 version isn't just a resolution bump. It includes the controversial face model swap for Peter Parker (Ben Jordan replaced John Bubniak), which was done to better match Yuri Lowenthal’s facial capture. If you start with the original PS4 disc on your PS5, the face will change when you move to the later games, and it’s jarring. It’s weird. It feels like Peter had a very specific type of plastic surgery between games.
This game introduces us to an experienced Peter. He’s been Spidey for eight years. He’s broke. His suit is peeling. This is where you meet Yuri Watanabe, Aunt May’s volunteer work at F.E.A.S.T., and the beginnings of Miles Morales’ journey.
Most people forget that the DLC, The City That Never Sleeps, is mandatory. It’s not just "extra content." It introduces Black Cat properly and sets up the friction in Peter’s relationship with Mary Jane that carries directly into the next titles. If you skip the DLC, you’ll be wondering why certain characters are acting so distant later on. It’s all connected.
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The Bridge: Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
Technically, this is a "half-sequel." It’s shorter. It’s punchier. It’s set during a snowy Christmas in Harlem, and man, does it look incredible on the PS5.
When looking at spider-man games in order ps5 enthusiasts should follow, this is the essential middle chapter. It takes place roughly a year after the events of the first game. Peter is actually out of the city for a chunk of this, leaving Miles to figure out what it means to be the only Spider-Man in New York.
The gameplay tweaks here are subtle but huge. Miles has bio-electricity (Venom power) and invisibility (Camouflage). Once you get used to these mechanics, going back to Peter’s gadget-heavy style in the first game feels... slow. That’s why the order matters. The narrative weight of Miles finding his footing while Peter is away provides the necessary growth for his character before they team up as equals.
Miles Morales also serves as a technical showcase for the PS5’s SSD. The fast travel is instantaneous. You click a spot on the map, and you’re there. No subway loading screens. It’s a literal game-changer for how you traverse the open world.
The Heavy Hitter: Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
This is the big one. This is the reason you probably bought the console.
Released in late 2023, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 brings both Peter and Miles together as playable protagonists. You can swap between them almost instantly. It’s the culmination of everything built in the first two entries. You’ve got Kraven the Hunter turning Manhattan into a private jungle and the introduction of the Symbiote, which, as any comic fan knows, makes Peter a bit of a jerk.
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What makes this game work is the history. When Peter starts acting out because of the black suit, it only hurts the player because we spent 40 hours with him being a dork in the previous games. If you jump straight into this, you’re just watching a guy in a sleek suit being mean to his friends. If you’ve played them in order, you’re watching a hero you love fall apart.
The wingsuit (Web Wings) also changes the traversal entirely. You aren't just swinging; you're gliding through wind tunnels at 60 miles per hour. The map is doubled in size, adding Queens and Brooklyn.
A Quick Reality Check on Versions
Here is the part where most people get tripped up. You go to the PlayStation Store, and it’s a mess of "Ultimate Editions" and "Game of the Year" tags.
- If you buy Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales Ultimate Edition: This is the "pro move." It usually comes with a voucher for Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered. It’s the cheapest way to get the first two games in their best possible form.
- The Standalone Remaster: You can buy the first game's remaster separately, but only if you own the PS4 version or pay full price.
- Physical Discs: If you buy a used PS4 disc of the first game, it will work on your PS5, but you won't get the 60fps performance mode or the Ray Tracing unless you pay for the digital upgrade. Honestly? Just get the Remastered version. The 60fps "Performance RT" mode is how these games were meant to be played.
Why Chronology Beats "Best-To-Worst"
Some people say "just play the second one, it's the best." Those people are wrong.
Gaming isn't just about mechanics; it's about the emotional payoff. Insomniac’s New York is a character itself. Over the course of these three games, you see the city change. You see the fallout of the Devil’s Breath crisis. You see Miles’ neighborhood transform.
There's a specific side quest in Spider-Man 2 involving a character named Howard. If you haven't played the first game and interacted with Howard and his pigeons, that mission has zero impact. If you have? It’ll probably make you cry. That’s the "Spider-Man" tax—you have to invest the time to get the emotional reward.
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Dealing with "Spider-Man: The Great Web" and Rumors
You might have heard about a multiplayer game or a "Venom" spin-off.
Back in 2024, a massive internal leak at Insomniac revealed a cancelled multiplayer project called The Great Web. It looked cool. It looked like Spider-Verse the game. But it’s dead. Don't go looking for it on the store.
There are also heavy rumors and leaked roadmaps suggesting a Venom standalone game—similar in scale to Miles Morales—might arrive before a potential Spider-Man 3. As of right now, that's not on shelves. Stick to the trilogy we have. It’s more than enough to keep you busy for 60 to 80 hours.
Technical Settings You Should Actually Use
When you boot these up on PS5, don't just leave the settings on default.
- Performance RT: This is the "sweet spot." You get 60 frames per second (smooth swinging) but you still keep the ray-traced reflections in the windows of the skyscrapers.
- Film Grain and Chromatic Aberration: Turn them off. Or at least turn them down. They’re meant to make the game look "cinematic," but they usually just make the beautiful 4K image look fuzzy.
- Swing Steering Assistance: If you want to feel like a pro, turn this down to 0 or 1 in Spider-Man 2. It makes the physics much more punishing but way more rewarding when you actually nail a dive under a bridge.
Actionable Steps for New Players
To get the most out of spider-man games in order ps5, follow this specific path:
- Purchase the Miles Morales Ultimate Edition. This secures the first two chapters (Remastered + Miles) in one go.
- Play the first game's story plus all three DLC chapters. Do not skip the DLC; it bridges the gap to the sequel's character motivations.
- Play Miles Morales. Focus on the side activities in Harlem to understand Miles' connection to his community, which becomes a major theme in the sequel.
- Install Spider-Man 2 last. Check for the latest patches, as Insomniac frequently adds new suits and "New Game Plus" features that weren't there at launch.
- Toggle the "Game Speed" settings if you find the combat too chaotic. The PS5 versions include incredible accessibility options that let you slow down the action to 30%, 50%, or 70% speed at the press of a button.
The journey from a struggling Peter Parker to a city protected by two Spider-Men is one of the best arcs in gaming history. Start at the beginning. The skyscrapers aren't going anywhere.