Marvel’s Wolverine Review Roundup: Strong Story, Weak Combat

Insomniac Games’ Marvel’s Wolverine launched to a divided critical reception on September 10, 2026, with reviewers broadly praising its narrative and production values while pointing to repetitive combat and dated mechanics as the game’s most damaging weaknesses.

A Story Worth Watching, Gameplay That Wears Out Its Welcome

Set before Logan’s time with the X-Men, Marvel’s Wolverine positions itself as a universe-builder for Insomniac’s mutant corner of the Marvel world. Wolverine teams up with Sabretooth, Mystique, and other familiar faces on a mission to protect their fellow mutants. According to Video Games Chronicle, the game’s strongest asset is its cast of characters. Logan’s relationship with Jean Grey is singled out as a highlight, as is Troy Baker’s performance as Nathaniel Essex. Liam McIntyre’s portrayal of Wolverine is also praised as an authentic, comic-book-rooted take on the character rather than an imitation of any prior on-screen depiction.

The story, however, can only carry the experience so far. VGC reports that the third-person hack-and-slash combat barely evolves from hour one through hour twelve, with a small set of abilities that never meaningfully shift the power fantasy. Wolverine’s claws feel lethal in stealth kills and aerial drops, but in direct combat against armored human opponents, the sensation of strength simply is not there.

Repetition, Spongy Enemies, and Dated Design Choices

Eurogamer and GamesRadar echo VGC’s concerns about enemy variety, noting that despite cosmetic changes, opponents fall into a narrow set of archetypes. Large enemy types are described as health-sponge slogs that sap momentum rather than create tension. Boss fights lean heavily on parry sequences that players will master well before the encounters conclude. GameSpot summarizes the problem bluntly, suggesting the game only aims as high as its compact hero.

Beyond combat, the game’s structure draws criticism. Walking-and-talking segments frequently take control away from the player, and XP crates scattered across environments feel out of place in an otherwise high-production title. VGC notes that a new set of enemy-themed crates even appears when the game introduces a fresh faction late in the story, a design quirk that feels at odds with the game’s cinematic ambitions.

Where the Game Earns Its Keep

On the technical and visual front, critics are far more generous. Push Square calls it the ultimate Wolverine simulator from a presentation standpoint, and Eurogamer highlights the benefit of working within a linear structure rather than an open world, allowing Insomniac to push detail further than its Spider-Man titles could. Locations including Madripoor and Tokyo carry strong visual identities and make good use of Logan’s comic-book history. Character models, particularly Logan and Jean Grey, are flagged across multiple outlets as best-in-class. Gamekult is less forgiving overall, suggesting the game fails to elevate itself to the level its pedigree demands. The consensus landing point is a technically impressive, narratively engaging game held back by combat that never makes the player feel like Wolverine at his best.

Sources: Video Games Chronicle, Eurogamer, GamesRadar, GameSpot, Push Square, Gamekult