Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales Review — Miles Steps Into His Own

Review originally dated: November 20, 2020

"I'm Spider-Man."

Not the other Spider-Man.

Not Spider-Man's sidekick.

Spider-Man.

That's the journey at the heart of Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, and I absolutely loved experiencing it.

Following the incredible Marvel’s Spider-Man in 2018 was never going to be easy, but rather than simply attempting to repeat Peter Parker's adventure on a smaller scale, Insomniac gives Miles an identity, a neighborhood, powers and relationships that make this game feel distinctly his own.

The result is another fantastic Spider-Man game.

This Is Miles' Story

Miles was an important part of the original Marvel’s Spider-Man, but this is the game where he truly becomes Spider-Man.

Peter is still important to him.

Peter is his mentor.

But Miles has to learn that being Spider-Man doesn't mean becoming Peter Parker.

It means becoming the best version of Miles Morales.

That distinction is incredibly important.

Miles moves differently.

He fights differently.

He has different powers.

His relationships are different.

Even the way he swings through New York has a different personality.

Insomniac has done an excellent job making the two Spider-Men feel related without making them interchangeable.

Venom Changes Everything

Miles' bioelectric Venom abilities are one of the biggest gameplay additions and they are so much fun.

Combat already felt fantastic in Marvel’s Spider-Man, and Venom attacks give encounters an entirely new layer.

You can unleash devastating attacks, launch enemies, control crowds and combine Miles' powers with the familiar web-based combat system.

Then there is camouflage.

Being able to disappear changes both stealth and combat encounters and reinforces the idea that Miles isn't merely Peter with a different costume.

He has his own toolkit.

His own strengths.

His own Spider-Man style.

Winter In New York

I also love this game's atmosphere.

Setting the story during winter gives New York an entirely different personality.

Snow covers the streets and rooftops. Holiday decorations fill neighborhoods. Warm lights glow against the cold city.

It is beautiful.

There is something incredibly cozy about swinging through snowy New York while Christmas decorations surround you.

And East Harlem gives Miles an actual community worth fighting for.

This isn't simply "the city."

It's his home.

You meet the people who live there. You experience the neighborhood. You understand why protecting it matters to him.

That makes the story more personal.

Miles, Ganke and Rio

The supporting cast is another major reason the game works.

Ganke is fantastic.

His friendship with Miles brings humor and energy throughout the adventure, and having someone who knows Miles' secret gives this Spider-Man a very different support system from Peter.

Rio Morales is equally important.

Miles isn't operating inside a vacuum. His actions affect his family, friends, and community.

The story keeps returning to those relationships, which gives the larger superhero conflict emotional stakes.

And when things eventually become extremely personal for Miles, those relationships are what make everything matter.

Shorter Doesn't Mean Lesser

Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales is noticeably more compact than Peter's 2018 adventure.

But I don't think that is necessarily a weakness.

This feels like a focused chapter.

There isn't much wasted time.

Miles begins the game still trying to prove himself and finishes it having established exactly what kind of Spider-Man he wants to become.

It leaves me wanting more — which, for this kind of story, is a pretty good problem to have.

A New Spider-Man

The most important thing Miles Morales accomplishes is making me want to see Miles standing alongside Peter in future games as an equal.

Peter Parker is Spider-Man.

Miles Morales is Spider-Man.

Neither statement diminishes the other.

By the end of this game, Miles has earned the mask.

He's earned the responsibility.

He's earned his place protecting New York.

And Insomniac now has two incredible Spider-Men to build this universe around.

Final Verdict

Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales is an excellent follow-up to one of my favorite superhero games.

Its campaign may be smaller, but its heart isn't.

Miles' Venom abilities are fantastic.

His swinging has personality.

Wintertime New York is gorgeous.

His relationships give the story emotional weight.

And most importantly, Miles emerges from Peter's shadow and becomes his own Spider-Man.

I loved Peter's story in 2018.

Now I love Miles' story too.

Whatever comes next for these characters, I am absolutely there.

FINAL SCORE: 10/10

Be Greater. Be Yourself.

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Archive Add-On 2026

Of all the games in this series, Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales has developed a special tradition for me.

I replay it during the Christmas and winter season almost every year.

Sometimes I return to it at completely random points during the year too.

I've played through the PS4 version, returned to the game repeatedly across the years, and even replayed it again only a few months before writing this archive update.

And you know what?

I loved it again.

The snowy New York setting has become almost inseparable from Christmas gaming for me. Returning to Miles, Ganke, Rio and Harlem when winter arrives feels strangely nostalgic now.

What began as a new Spider-Man game in 2020 has become one of those games I simply enjoy coming home to.

And after all these years, Miles' first solo adventure still puts a smile on my face.