Why Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 still sets the PS5 open-world standard

Insomniac Games’ Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, released in 2023 for PlayStation 5, is described by Polygon (Jan. 31, 2026) as a high-water mark for PS5 open-world games.

Polygon argues the game leans fully into an icon-driven, checklist-style open world rather than hiding that structure, and that this deliberate design makes the map feel more elegant and frictionless than many peers.

The piece notes Spider-Man 2’s alternate New York City, with condensed neighborhoods and villains like Sandman, Mysterio and Kraven, supports a wide range of bite-sized activities and meatier side quests — from stealth infiltrations and environmental puzzles to story strings about arsonist cults and Miles helping classmates — plus charming “Friendly Neighborhood” vignettes.

Polygon highlights systems that reinforce exploration: the world map shows completion percentage, menus list exact counts and rewards, and fast travel for neighborhoods unlocks only after enough optional objectives are done. The review also praises PS5 features like DualSense haptics, a wingsuit and “wind tunnels” that change traversal dynamics.

The author says one of the game’s best touches is how character quips nudge players between main missions and side activities, and notes the piece’s relevance as Insomniac’s forthcoming Wolverine is set in the same canonical MCU-lite universe.

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