PlayStation 5 Critic Reviews

The Marvel MaXimum Collection follows the trend of modern collections to simplify the game, which does take away some of the natural challenge and engagement. When lives are infinite in X-Men: The Arcade Game, then some of the tension of battles and the excitement of victory are undercut. The whole point of these collections is to recreate those original games in all their weird, fun, colorful glory. This isn’t a problem with the Marvel MaXimum Collection alone, but it does reflect the idea that this game feels more like a museum piece than a full-throated embrace of the titles. It’s still a very good piece of superhero gaming history that remains a lot of fun to play, but it doesn’t perfectly capture the feeling of playing those original games quite like some other collections have in the past. Luckily, the strength of the presentation and the enduring quality of the games featured in the collection deliver a timeless experience.

The Maximum Collection gets just about everything right, but there’s really only one game in the mix that I’d hold up as a true classic of its genre. Beyond X-Men, the experience here is likely for those hunting nostalgia or players with a particularly keen eye for understanding the early days of superhero video games. If that’s the sort of thing that makes your interior Colossus roar, you can expect a solidly good time.

Marvel MaXimum Collection revives an important chapter in the history of the publisher's adaptations prior to their rise to popularity in theaters, featuring six games with the strengths and limitations typical of their era. While the selection is interesting, the quality-of-life features could be more generous, as seen in other similar initiatives. On the other hand, the curation of supplementary material is exemplary, making the package a great option, especially for those who have an emotional connection to the works and the generation to which they belong.

The titles chosen for the MARVEL MaXimum Collection are quite interesting, ranging from the sorrowful Silver Surfer to the 16-bit Spider-Man duo and the celebrated arcade X-Men. Having them all together in one place is great; however, the weak point of this collection is precisely the gallery, which could be much richer and present the games contained within—all of which are over 30 years old—in a more convincing and detailed way for current generations.

A relentlessly nostalgic, often rewarding showcase of '90s games, Marvel MaXimum Collection relies on its arcade classics and hidden gems to paper over the cracks made by its duo of Spider-Man & Venom releases.

Whether or not you will enjoy this game depends on how familiar you are with the games featured in the collection. If you’re like me and you grew up hearing about X-Men: The Arcade Game or Maximum Carnage, then this is the experience for you. However, if your response to the game’s announcement was sheer bafflement at the identity of the 6 games within, then you likely aren’t the intended audience for this experience. In the end, despite my frustrations with the experience, I can’t wait to go back and watch Magneto welcome me to die once again.

Marvel MaXimum Collection is worth the price of entry for X-Men: The Arcade Game alone, but there’s a lot to love about this bundle. While not every game included is an all-timer, there’s a good enough mix here to make this a compelling collection of superhero brawlers, and the quality-of-life inclusions are excellent overall.

A small roster of games aside, the Marvel Maximum Collection is everything someone who wants to play these games in 2026 could want. Classic Marvel titles from three decades ago dusted off so they can join the growing list of old games being rescued from the past and made playable today. Throw in all the quality of life features that let you either play these games as they were intended, or with mod cons so that you can actually finish them, and this collection is a fantastic celebration.

There's a lot of Superheroes for your money in MARVEL MaXimum Collection. They're not all bangers but having thirteen titles to dig through is a lot. The usual quality of life features persist, as do some cheats which will help players get through the more challenging entries. The online play for the arcade titles is welcome, although performance hasn't been great at release. I'm always going to yearn for more archival content but, what they have here has been well preserved.

Although there are some hidden gems to be found here, this compilation is uneven, with some truly mediocre games and lack of options. If you are a Marvel or retro fan, you will truly enjoy port of what this has to offer.