'Marvel's Wolverine' Is an Intense, R-Rated New Take on the X-Men Formula | Review

13 hours ago 6

Wolverine screaming with his claws out in Marvel's Wolverine

Published Sep 10, 2026, 11:00 AM EDT

Lucas Kloberdanz-Dyck is a writer for Collider. He grew up creating lists, stories, and worlds, which led to his love of anime and video games. He attended Sheridan College where he earned an Honours Bachelor of Game Design. Lucas and his group won 1st place for technical innovation at LevelUp Toronto 2023, and he was also an intern for the Oakville Film Festival of Arts.

Insomniac is a prolific game studio known for classic masterpieces like Ratchet & Clank and modern sensations including Marvel’s Spider-Man. They have been one of the most consistent game studios over the past decade, meaning each new title is automatically a must-play. In fact, it might just be the go-to studio for superhero video games nowadays, which is why their new title, Marvel’s Wolverine, is one of the most anticipated video games of 2026.

The studio knocked it out of the park with each Spider-Man game, and now they are moving into new territory with another beloved character. Logan has been an iconic hero for a long time, and while it took a while for him to get a video game adaptation, it is here now, and it must be said, it doesn't disappoint, to the point where it might be the best superhero game since Insomniac's Spidey duology. Sharpen your claws and get ready for the next best superhero video game, because Marvel’s Wolverine is here, bub!

What Is 'Marvel's Wolverine' About?

Marvel's Wolverine is the next must-play PS5 game on the market. It is a 3D action-adventure video game where players take on the role of Wolverine (Liam McIntyre), also known as James Logan Howlett, and set off on a grand adventure around the world in search of answers. Honing their skills, players use their brutality and fierceness to fight anyone who stands in their way, and with plenty of upgrades, there is a lot to experiment with.

Brought into Team X by Nathaniel Essex (Troy Baker), Wolverine joins the team alongside Sabretooth (Brett Gipson) and Mystique (Nicole Pacent). Just when he thought he could forget being Wolverine, Logan rejoins the team in order to rescue Essex from Bolivar Trask, a scientist and anti-mutant extremist who dedicates his resources to eradicating them from the world. However, his journey doesn't end there, because a fateful encounter with another group of mutants puts him on the path to helping save mutantkind from those who wish to destroy it. This noble goal takes players across the world, including Canada, Madripoor, and Japan, where they will meet familiar enemies with revamped goals.

'Marvel's Wolverine' Reinvents the X-Men Story

Wolverine fighting the Hand in Marvel's Wolverine

Right off the bat, one of the most polarizing aspects of Marvel's Wolverine will be its story. This game tells a very different story than what fans are used to, and by that I mean it takes familiar elements and story beats and turns them into something else. This isn't a typical X-Men story, but rather a retooled narrative that relates everything to Wolverine's past and other prominent groups in the universe. Some concepts, like the Sentinels, are also altered and differ from their original purpose. Is it a bad thing? That is entirely dependent on player preferences. Some diehard fans who love the original version will be upset, but from a personal perspective, I thought the changes were magnificent.

If you are a fan who loves revamped narratives that alter origin stories, it's a must-play. It rewrites Wolverine's origin to better connect to the X-Men mythos and current narrative. Marvel's Wolverine is its own thing, but it pays respect to the lore and keeps all the hits we love, creating a retooled narrative that felt like a definitive Wolverine story. Still, the story isn't perfect. Some points felt forced to get a big reaction later; for example, the plot twist that was supposed to be the payoff fell flat. It also had a bit of a slow start and doesn't really hook you until around midway through. This game takes place all over the world, including Japan and Madripoor, which are both explored in depth. However, Canada, Wolverine's birthplace, has much less focus, a disappointment to this Canadian.

Marvel's Wolverine is action-packed and cinematic, but it doesn't lose its intimate view of Logan and the emotional side of the story. The Nightmare Trials don't just offer focused gameplay challenges, but they reward players with tidbits of Wolverine's backstory and memories he forgot. Short, sweet, and insightful, these are touching small moments that had big impacts on the character. Another narrative highlight was the character dynamics, allowing Wolverine to make somewhat genuine relationships with each side character. The grand operatic scale of the main conflict is intense and engaging, but the romance between Logan and Jean Grey (Krizia Bajos) is just as important and engaging.

Collider Exclusive · Marvel Personality Quiz Which MCU Hero Are You? Spider-Man · Daredevil · Iron Man · Punisher · Thor · Cap

Six heroes. One destiny. Answer 10 questions to discover which Marvel Cinematic Universe hero shares your personality, values, and fighting spirit. Will you swing, fly, or thunder your way to glory?

🕷️Spider-Man

😈Daredevil

🤖Iron Man

💀Punisher

⚡Thor

🛡️Cap

FIND YOUR HERO →

What drives you to do what's right? Choose the answer that feels most like you.

AWith great power comes great responsibility — I protect those who can't protect themselves. BMy faith and my conscience — I believe justice must be served, even in the dark. CLegacy and ego, honestly — but I've learned that others depend on me now. DThe system failed. Someone has to make sure the guilty actually pay. EDuty to the innocent and honour to my name — I was born to protect realms. FThe values I was raised with — freedom, decency, and never backing down from a bully.

NEXT QUESTION →

It's 2 AM. Where are you? Your answer says more about you than you'd think.

ASwinging between skyscrapers, keeping an eye on the neighbourhood. BRunning rooftops in Hell's Kitchen, listening for trouble. CIn my lab, upgrading my suit with a cold cup of coffee nearby. DStaking out a target I've been tracking for three weeks. ESomewhere between the stars, or at a feast that got out of hand. FOn a morning run — I was up at 4, actually. Couldn't sleep.

NEXT QUESTION →

How do you handle a villain who keeps escaping justice? Every hero has a method. What's yours?

AWeb them up and leave them for the police — again. BBuild an airtight case and dismantle their entire operation from the inside. CDeploy a containment system I designed specifically for them. Tech wins. DMake sure they don't escape a third time. Permanently. EChallenge them to single combat. Honour demands a decisive end. FRally allies, adapt the plan, and bring them in — by the book, even if it's hard.

NEXT QUESTION →

How do you feel about keeping a secret identity? The mask — or the lack of one — says everything.

AEssential — my loved ones would be in danger if anyone found out who I am. BCritical — the mask protects my mission as much as my face. COverrated — I announced myself to the world and I'd do it again. DI'm a ghost. The less people know about me, the better. EMy name is known across the Nine Realms. There's no hiding it. FI don't hide — but I understand why some need to. Transparency builds trust.

NEXT QUESTION →

You've lost someone important because of your heroism. How do you carry that? Every hero pays a price. The question is how they pay it.

AWith guilt that never fully goes away — it pushes me to do better, every single day. BI channel it into purpose — their memory is the reason I keep fighting. CI buried myself in work for years. I'm only recently learning to face it. DIt transformed me completely. I'm not the same person I was before. EWith warrior's grief — I honour them by fighting with everything I have. FI keep moving forward. Stopping means letting the loss win.

NEXT QUESTION →

What's your role when working with a team? Who you are under pressure is who you actually are.

AThe enthusiastic wildcard who somehow makes it work — and keeps the mood up. BThe strategist who works best alone but shows up when it matters most. CThe one who funds it, equips it, and occasionally takes over the whole operation. DI don't do teams. I'm more effective operating solo, on my terms. EThe heavy hitter — I crash in, draw fire, and turn the tide of battle. FThe leader — I earn trust, build the plan, and make sure no one gets left behind.

NEXT QUESTION →

Where do you draw the line between justice and revenge? The answer defines what kind of hero you really are.

AClearly — I don't kill, and I wrestle with that line constantly. BI try to hold the line, but I've come terrifyingly close to crossing it. CPractically — I do what's necessary to protect people, including hard calls. DI crossed that line long ago. What I do is justice — the system just won't admit it. EIn battle, victory is justice. Mercy is earned — not automatic. FFirmly. The moment we abandon our principles, we become what we fight against.

NEXT QUESTION →

When you're not saving the world, what does life look like? The person behind the mask is always the more interesting story.

ATrying to juggle school, a part-time job, and not failing my friends. BWorking as a lawyer by day, fighting for justice in court and on the streets. CRunning a global company, attending galas, and pretending I'm sleeping enough. DQuiet. Isolated. Surviving with a clear mission and no distractions. ENavigating a bizarre and fascinating mortal world — coffee is extraordinary. FAdapting to a world decades ahead of everything I knew. Quietly, stubbornly.

NEXT QUESTION →

What keeps you up at night? Fear is useful data — if you're honest about what you're actually afraid of.

AThe people I couldn't save — and the ones I might not reach in time tomorrow. BWhether the monster I fight every night is starting to live inside me too. CThe threats I can see coming and whether my tech is actually good enough. DNothing. Silence is the only peace I get. I've made my choices. EWhether I'm truly worthy — of the hammer, of the throne, of the people I protect. FA world where no one stands up anymore. Where good people do nothing.

NEXT QUESTION →

The battle is lost. You're outnumbered, outgunned, and exhausted. What do you do? This is your tiebreaker — choose carefully.

ACrack a joke to buy a second, then find the one web shot that changes everything. BBlock out everything except the sound of the next threat — and keep going. CActivate the emergency protocol I built for exactly this scenario. Always have a plan. DI don't accept that it's lost. I keep fighting until I physically cannot anymore. ECall the lightning. All of it. The storm answers to me. FPick up the shield. Stand up. Because as long as I can stand, it's not over.

REVEAL MY HERO →

Your Hero Has Been Identified Your MCU Hero Is…

Based on your answers, the Marvel hero who matches your spirit, values, and instincts has been revealed.

🕷️ Spider-Man

You carry the weight of the world on shoulders that are younger than they should have to be — funny, loyal, and endlessly self-sacrificing.

You do the right thing not because it's easy, but because no one else will.
You understand that responsibility isn't a burden you choose — it's one that finds you.
Whether it's a neighbourhood mugging or a multiverse crisis, you show up.
Peter Parker's lesson — that great power demands great responsibility — isn't a slogan to you. It's the code you live by, even when it costs you everything.

😈 Daredevil

You fight in the shadows between law and chaos, guided by a fierce moral compass that refuses to let the guilty walk free.

You use every tool available — your mind, your body, your faith — to protect those the system overlooks.
You've looked into the darkness and chosen not to become it, though the line has never been easy.
Matt Murdock's duality — champion in the courtroom, devil in the alley — mirrors your own.
Relentless, conflicted, and unwilling to stop. That is exactly you.

🤖 Iron Man

Brilliant, driven, and occasionally insufferable — but always the person who solves the unsolvable problem.

You lead with your mind and back it up with resources, innovation, and a stubbornness that borders on heroic.
You started out looking out for yourself, but somewhere along the way the world became your responsibility.
Tony Stark's arc — from ego to sacrifice — is your arc too.
You build, you plan, and when the moment comes, you're willing to give everything. Because in the end, you're Iron Man.

💀 The Punisher

You've been through fire that would break most people — and it did change you, completely. What's left is unyielding, relentless, and operating by a code forged in grief.

You don't ask for forgiveness, and you don't expect gratitude.
You see a corrupt, broken world and you've decided to do something about it, consequences be damned.
Frank Castle's war is born from love twisted by loss — and so is yours.
Uncompromising and unflinching — the world may not agree with your methods, but your conviction is absolute.

⚡ Thor

Powerful, proud, and on a lifelong journey to become worthy of the legend you carry.

You lead with strength but have learned — sometimes painfully — that true greatness comes from humility and growth.
You're larger than life, yet more vulnerable than you let on.
Thor's story is one of transformation: from arrogant prince to worthy king, from isolated warrior to beloved protector.
You bring the storm when it's needed — and the warmth when it matters just as much.

🛡️ Captain America

You believe in something bigger than yourself — and you fight for it even when the world has moved on and nobody else will.

You don't bully the small guy, and you never stop when it gets hard.
Steve Rogers didn't become a hero when he got the serum — he was always one. So were you.
Your strength isn't in your fists; it's in your refusal to compromise what's right, no matter the cost.
In a world full of people taking the easy road, you're the one who picks up the shield and stands up — every single time.

↻ RETAKE THE QUIZ

'Marvel's Wolverine' Lets Players Embody Logan

Wolverine slashing a gun away from someone in Marvel's Wolverine

We now take a look at the gameplay, and for many, this is what it is all about. Insomniac clearly wanted to hook fans at the very start: the fast pace is almost immediate, leaving no room to breathe. The tutorial was fast and pretty much threw you into the chaos immediately. At first, I found it annoying, dying over and over again and not progressing. However, what felt unfair at the start slowly becomes natural with this forced learning, allowing combat to move fluidly and letting players get into an unstoppable groove of killing that feels second nature before long. Although it was non-stop exhilaration, this fast pace does mean that what felt like 3 hours was actually 1, the only blight on an otherwise flawless first level.

Without a doubt, the best part of Marvel's Wolverine is the combat. Slashing, stabbing, and leaping are the core attacks, but that expands into a whole range of abilities that players gain through upgrades. Upgrading was fairly easy, and you can get everything at a reasonable pace throughout the game. There is something so cathartic and freeing about the combat in Marvel's Wolverine, but it also presents tense situations where your back is constantly against the wall, only seconds away from defeat. Despite always being overwhelmed, it was extremely satisfying in terms of experience. The abilities unlocked added extra combos, special attacks, or neat conditions, slowly introducing new ways to play which kept the gameplay fresh. The game magnificently paces the upgrades: the techniques become part of your combat vocabulary until you've unlocked them all and have become fluent in Wolverine’s fighting style.

A game about Wolverine presents some interesting boss battle opportunities, but as for Marvel's Wolverine, it is a mixed bag. The boss battles are mostly remarkable, posing just the right balance of difficulty, scale, importance, and combat; however, there just aren't as many. With only a handful of actual boss fights, this game missed the opportunity to really capture the challenges Logan faces against strong opponents. Traversal is fluid and natural, making it easy to find a rhythm when exploring or making your way through a level; running around cities and lumberyards is enhanced by the parkour system. On the other hand, exploration did not feel important at all. While there were a handful of objects to collect, you never needed to go out of your way to find them, which is especially true for the Nightmare Trials. It's also frustrating at times when the level won't let you explore past a certain area even without clear borders.

All this leads me to the biggest criticism of Marvel's Wolverine: guidance. Many aspects of this game basically tell you what to do, having a heavy-handed approach to progression. The scent trail is a glorified yellow arrow pointing you in the right direction, and it is no different than scent trails that lead to whiskey bottles. But even worse are the constant character prompts, which remind me of what I need to be doing at every second. It's a common issue for PlayStation games, but it feels even more egregious in Marvel's Wolverine. From a technical standpoint, the game runs well, with barely any issues of note or importance. The controls are nice and reasonably intuitive. What's more, Marvel's Wolverine is an absolutely stunning game, providing jaw-dropping, immersive scenery. The character models and animation are also excellent, a visual bonus to a gameplay masterclass.

Is 'Marvel's Wolverine' a Game of the Year Candidate?

Wolverine facing off against a sentinel in Marvel's Wolverine

In the end, Marvel's Wolverine does what it sets out to achieve. The combat is visceral, and the experience is relentless, fitting in with the motifs of the game. It's definitely a worthy experience, way better than any unfounded recent criticism it has somehow been facing. Now, the question on everyone's mind is whether it can win Game of the Year. 2026 already has Game of the Year candidates galore, and Marvel's Wolverine throws its hat into the ring. It is as good as anything else this year, easily competing with early favorites like Resident Evil Requiem or Pokémon Pokopia, but the real challenge comes in November. Even if it doesn't get the big award, it could be nominated, and I am confident it will win in other categories. At the moment it is almost a shoo-in for best action game, because no other title released this year has better or more compelling combat.

Bartle's Taxonomy of Player Types suggests there are four types of gamers, which include achievers, explorers, socializers, and killers. If you fit under the category of socializers or explorers, this game is not for you. However, if players fit under the killer category, Marvel's Wolverine might be a must-buy. Anyone who is a Wolverine or Marvel fan will enjoy it, but even general gamers can get addicted to the insatiable combat that lets you let loose on a killing spree. It has some flaws, but it reinvents core themes to create an essential X-Men story that serves as a great excuse to let loose with its well-designed combat. In a game like this, the most important thing is that the player feels like Wolverine, and I can assure you without a doubt that Marvel's Wolverine achieves that by giving off the exaggerated rage of a drunk Albertan.

Marvel's Wolverine

Marvel's Wolverine is one of the best adaptations of the character in a long time, with players getting a first-person view of the slaughter fest through engaging combat and a remixed story.

Released September 15, 2026

Pros & Cons

It reinvents lore and famous stories to create a brilliant new take on Wolverine and X-Men while respecting the mythos.
The combat is fast-paced, vicious, addicting, and becomes natural the more you play.
It's a definitive R-rated Wolverine experience that lets you embody the best and worst parts of the character.