This Friday, April 18, DC and Urban Comics are organizing the very first Superman Day. While Batman has been used to his annual celebration for some time now, Clark Kent has until now had to settle for a big party every five years. But with the new DC Cinematic Universe about to kick off with the release of James Gunn's Superman on July 9, it's high time for the vigilante straight from Krypton to have his own dedicated day.
While comic book fans can enjoy a free black-and-white volume with the purchase of two albums at participating retailers, others may prefer to celebrate Superman Day in front of their screens. Unfortunately, outside of his glossy adventures, the Justice League leader's appearances aren't always unanimous. While you wait to see James Gunn's attempt this summer, you might be tempted to forget about the most recent feature films in favor of other types of media, like video games... Except that Superman suffers even more on consoles than on the big screen.
Once again, it's Batman who wins: with his Arkham franchise, the Dark Knight is as good a video game protagonist as he is a good superhero. But when it comes to the Man of Steel, his legendary status has absolutely not protected him from video game flops. So to save you from wasting money on a retro game that is absolutely not worth it, here is our list of the worst Superman games that should be avoided at all costs.
Superman (Atari 2600 – 1978)
From the very beginning in the video game industry, nothing was going right for poor Superman. Loved by some and hated by others, the first video game adaptation dedicated to the vigilante ultimately didn't do too badly for a title released on the Atari 2600. The player controls Superman in an open world with the goal of repairing the damage caused by Lex Luthor. But unless you played it as a kid and are blinded by nostalgia, no one wants to put themselves through these visuals, let alone these sounds, which are more like a terminal fax than a soundtrack.
Superman (NES – 1987)
If this game isn't available in the Nintendo Switch Online NES collection, it's because it's better forgotten. The name of the Japanese studio Kemco doesn't ring a bell? This isn't the game that's going to make you want to get to know them. With its redundant platforming and incomprehensible puzzles, this adaptation of Superman does nothing to honor the Man of Steel's powers. We're talking about a time when video games were booming and children dreamed of playing Superman: imagine the disappointment when discovering this version of the hero on their console.
Superman (Gameboy – 1997)
Released on Gameboy in 1997, this Superman game was the first to sabotage the famous animated series Superman, the Angel of Metropolis. Its only link to the program it was inspired by? Two drawings of the hero, drawn and displayed once at launch, and once at the end. Otherwise, the adaptation is content with repetitive levels without any logical design, as well as catastrophic controls in flight. Fortunately, this purge doesn't last very long: ten minutes are enough to complete this "adventure".
Superman 64 (Nintendo 64 – 1999)
It's impossible not to mention the worst Superman adaptation in history. You probably already know it from an episode of The Attic Player, but it had to be represented here too. The 90s cartoon has definitely had to deal with the worst video games. It's also a production of the Titus studio, also behind the terrible Gameboy adaptation. This transition to 3D is a disaster in every way, it's ugly, hard to control and boring to death. This is a real turd that makes us want to shout: “Kal-El! No!“
Superman Returns (PS2, Xbox, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS – 2006)
Let's hope that James Gunn's new film is spared such adaptations. In 2006, Bryan Singer's Superman Returns received video game adaptations on multiple platforms of the time. But with the exception of a rather passable Xbox 360 version, the other ports were all walking disasters. 3D really doesn't do Superman any favors, as he constantly runs into walls and has trouble controlling his powers.
So, which Superman game should you play?
Unfortunately, even in 2025, no game branded Superman has truly managed to stand out. So you'll have to make do with the fighting games Injustice, which offer the possibility of playing different versions of the Man of Steel, or the MMORPG DC Universe Online, where you can boost your own character with powers similar to those of Superman.
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