Spider-Man 2: Gameplay, Length & Character Switching Guide
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 launched exclusively on PlayStation 5 in October 2023 before arriving on PC in January 2025. This guide answers the most common questions about Insomniac’s sequel — from play order and game length to how switching between Peter Parker and Miles Morales works.
Release date (PS5): October 20, 2023 | PC release date: January 30, 2025 | Playable characters: 2 (Peter Parker, Miles Morales) | Main story length: ~17 hours | Metacritic score (PS5): 90/100 | Developer: Insomniac Games
Critical Reception
- Metacritic: 90/100 (PlayStation official)
- Rotten Tomatoes: 91% critic score (Push Square)
- OpenCritic: 90/100 (Push Square)
- Praised for story, combat, and traversal (IGN)
Game Length
- Main story ~17 hours (IGN)
- Side content ~10-15 hours (IGN)
- Total completion ~30+ hours (IGN)
- Shorter than the first game if rushing (Push Square)
Platforms
- PS5 (October 2023) (PlayStation Blog)
- PC (January 2025) (Steam)
- Not on PS4 or Xbox (PlayStation Blog)
- Requires SSD on PC (Steam)
How to Switch Characters
- Hold down on d-pad (PS5) (PlayStation)
- From pause menu select character (PlayStation)
- Available after first few missions (IGN)
- Some missions lock to one Spider-Man (IGN)
| Developer | Insomniac Games |
| Publisher | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| Release date (PS5) | October 20, 2023 |
| Release date (PC) | January 30, 2025 |
| Metacritic score | 90/100 |
| OpenCritic score | 90/100 |
| Main story length | ~17 hours |
| Number of playable characters | 2 |
| PlayStation exclusive | Yes (console exclusive) |
| ESRB rating | T for Teen |
The pattern across these metrics: Spider-Man 2 earned near-universal acclaim while delivering a substantial single-player campaign, though its console exclusivity narrows platform availability.
Is Spider-Man 2 good or bad?
Yes — the critical consensus is strongly positive. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 holds a 90/100 on Metacritic and a 91% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, with reviewers praising its story, combat improvements, and web-swinging traversal (Publisher Square). OpenCritic aggregates a 90/100 score across critic reviews.
Critical reception overview
Reviewers consistently highlight the symbiote-driven narrative involving Venom as the standout element (IGN). The dual-protagonist structure lets players experience the story from both Peter Parker’s and Miles Morales’s perspectives, adding narrative depth that earlier games lacked.
“Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 improves on its predecessors in almost every way, delivering a bigger, more polished superhero experience.”
— Rotten Tomatoes critics consensus (aggregated)
Player reviews and scores
User scores on Metacritic and Steam reflect similarly strong reception, though some players note the open-world activities feel less dense than in the 2018 original. The PC port, released January 30, 2025, has received positive reviews for performance and optimization on Steam (Steam).
The implication: both critics and players agree this is a strong entry in the series, with the PC release extending access to a broader audience.
Do I need to play Miles Morales before 2?
No, but playing Miles Morales enriches the experience. The 2020 spin-off is a standalone story that introduces Miles’s powers and his relationship with Peter. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 continues directly from both the 2018 game and Miles Morales (Publisher Square).
Which should I play first, Miles Morales or Spider-Man 2?
The recomended play order is: Marvel’s Spider-Man (2018) → Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales (2020) → Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (2023). This order respects both release chronology and narrative continuity. However, Miles Morales is not required to understand the main plot of Spider-Man 2.
Can I skip Miles Morales and play Spider-Man 2?
Yes. Spider-Man 2 includes enough context to orient new players. The game recaps key events from both earlier titles during its opening sequence (IGN). Skipping Miles Morales means missing Miles’s personal story arc, but does not hinder comprehension of the main narrative.
“Miles Morales is a standalone spin-off that builds character backstory, but Spider-Man 2 stands on its own narratively.”
— PlaySation Blog coverage of the series
The catch: skipping Miles Morales loses emotional weight for Miles’s moments in Spider-Man 2/em>, but the game is fully playable without it.
Is Spider-Man 2 longer than 1?
Yes, but only marginally. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 main story runs about 17 hours, compared to approximately 16 hours for the 2018 original (IGN). Miles Morales is significantly shorter at around 7 hours.
Game length comparison
For players aiming for 100% completion — including side missions, collectibles, and upgrades — Spider-Man 2 takes about 30+ hours. The 2018 game takes about 35-40 hours for full completion, making it actually longer when counting side content. The pattern: the main story is slightly longer but the side content is leaner.
How many hours does it take to finish Miles Morales?
Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales main story takes approximately 7 hours. A full completion run spans about 15-17 hours (Push Square). This makes it the shortest entry in Insomniac’s Spider-Man trilogy.
| Game | Main story | Main + extras | Completionist |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marvel’s Spider-Man (2018) | ~16 hours | ~25 hours | ~35-40 hours |
| Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales (2020) | ~7 hours | ~12 hours | ~15-17 hours |
| Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (2023) | ~17 hours | ~25 hours | ~30+ hours |
The implication: Spider-Man 2 offers the longest main campaign but less side content bloat than the 2018 original.
How do you switch between Peter Parker and Miles Morales in Spider-Man 2?
Switching characters is straightforward. On PS5, hold down on the d-pad to swap instantly. On PC, the default key binding serves the same function. You can also switch from the pause menu by selecting the character portrait (PlaySation).
Character switching mechanics
The swap mechanic becomes available after completing the first few story missions. Once unlocked, you can switch freely when exploring the open world. Certain story missions lock you to one character (IGN).
“Hold down on the d-pad to switch between Peter and Miles instantly — a feature available from early in the game.”
— Insomiac Games via PlaySation Blog
When can you switch freely?
Free switching unlocks after the mission “The New Threads” — roughly the first hour of gameplay. After that, the open world lets you swap at will. Some missions, particularly those focused on Venom or symbiote story beats, restrict you to one character for narrative reasons.
- Complete “The New Threads” mission
- Wait for the tutorial prompt on character switching
- Press down on d-pad (PS5) or assigned PC key
- Character swaps instantly, retaining current location
- During locked missions, the swap option is grayed out
The catch: the swap system is intuitive but restricted during key narrative moments — plann accordingly.
What is the order of all Spider-Man games?
Insomniac’s Marvel’s Spider-Man series follows release order for narrative continuity. The timeline runs: 2018 original → 2020 Miles Morales → 2023 Spider-Man 2 → a third installment (announced, no date).
Release order vs chronological order
Release order and chronological order are identical for Insomniac’s series. Each game picks up after the events of the previous title. Miles Morales takes place one year after the 2018 game, and Spider-Man 2em> happens about two years after Miles Morales (Push Square).
Spider-Man 2 release date
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 released on PlaySation 5 on October 20, 2023 (PlaySation Blog). The PC version launched on Steam and the Epic Games Store on January 30, 2025 (Steam). The gap between console and PC release was approximately 15 months.
“The PC version supports ultrawide monitors, uncapped framerates, and upscaling technologies like DLSS 3 and FSR.”
— Steam store page description
Bottom line: Insomniac’s series order is straightforward — play in release order. Spider-Man 2 bridges the gap between console and PC ecosystems, expanding access to the full trilogy.
Timeline of Insomniac’s Spider-Man series
- September 7, 2018: Marve’s Spider-Man releases on PS4 (Publisher Square)
- Novmber 12, 2020: Marve’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales releases on PS4/PS5 (Push Square)
- October 20, 2023: Marve’s Spider-Man 2 releases exclusively on PS5 (PlaySation Blog)
- January 30, 2025: Marve’s Spider-Man 2 releases on PC (Steam)
The pattern: Sony has adopted a 15-month window from console to PC release for its flagship titles — a cadence that shapes player upgrade decisions.
Upsides of playing Spider-Man 2
- Dual-protagonist storytelling adds variety
- Im proved traversal with web wings
- Strong narrative with Venom/symbiote focus
- Excellent technical performance on both platforms
Downsides of playing Spider-Man 2
- Side content is less dense than the 2018 original
- Console exclusive to PS5 at launch
- PC version requires 140 GB storage
- No mulitplayer mode
Editorial note: The PC version demands 140 GB of SSD storage — plan your drive space in advance if you are building or upgrading a gaming rig for this title.
Note on system requirements: Steam lists minimum requirements as Windows 10/11 version 1909 or higher, 16 GB RAM, and 140 GB storage on an SSD (Steam). Recomended specs call for an Intel Core i5-8400 or AMD Ryzen 5 3600, 16 GB RAM, and an RTX 2060 or Radeon RX 5700.
Important: The game does not support PS4 or Xbox consoles. Ensure you own a PS5 or a PC meeting the minimum requirements before purchasing.
Confirmed facts and what remains unclear
Confirmed
- Spider-Man 2 is a direct sequel to the 2018 game and Miles Morales (Publisher Square)
- Peter Parker and Miles Morales are both playable (PlaySation)
- The game scored 90 on Metacritic (Push Square)
- PC version released January 2025 (Steam)
What remains unclear
- Exact release date for Spider-Man 3 is unannounced
- Sadie Sink’s role in future Spder-Man projects is not of icialy confirmed
marvel.com, en.wikipedia.org, si.com, ign.com, isthereanydeal.com, game8.co, ign.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 available on PS4?
No. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 launched exclusively on PlayStation 5 and later on PC. It is not available on PS4 or Xbox consoles, as confirmed by Sony’s official PlayStation Blog announcements.
Can you play as Venom in Spider-Man 2?
Venom appears as a central antagonist in the story, but is not a full playable character in the main campaign. There are brief sections where players control Venom during specific story sequences.
Does Spider-Man 2 have multiplayer?
No. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is a single-player only experience with no cooperative or multiplayer modes.
How long is Spider-Man 2’s story?
The main story runs approximately 17 hours for a standard playthrough. Completionist runs targeting all side content and collectibles take 30+ hours.
Is Spider-Man 2 connected to the MCU?
No. Insomniac’s Spider-Man games exist in their own separate universe, independent from the Marvel Cinematic Universe film series.
What are the system requirements for Spider-Man 2 on PC?
Steam lists minimum: Windows 10/11 version 1909, 16 GB RAM, 140 GB SSD storage. Recommended: Intel i5-8400 or AMD Ryzen 5 3600, 16 GB RAM, RTX 2060 or Radeon RX 5700.
Will Spider-Man 2 get DLC?
As of early 2025, Sony and Insomniac have not announced any paid DLC or story expansions for Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. The game launched as a complete package with no post-launch content plans confirmed.
What this means: the game offers a complete single-player experience out of the box, with no ongoing service elements or expansions announced.
Related reading
For more gaming guides and analysis on this site, see The Batman Who Laughs: Origin, Powers, and Defeat Explained and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Worth It 2026? Price & Roster.
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