If you've found yourself asking where the rest of Marvel's superheroes are while playing Insomniac’s Spider-Man 2 on PlayStation 5, you're not alone. While there are two Spider-Men in the game and multiple villains such as Kraven the Hunter and Venom, players may notice a lack of presence from other Marvel heroes like The Avengers.

As developer Insomniac explained, Sony's licensing of Spider-Man characters for the game is heavily controlled and expensive, making it impractical to include heroes like the Avengers. Some fans, however, have expressed their curiosity about the lack of other superheroes in the recreated New York scene of Spider-Man 2. This absence isn't explicitly discussed in the game, but it was referenced recently in a comic book.

nIn the fifth issue of the comic series Spider-Man Unlimited Infinity, exclusive to the digital Marvel Unlimited subscription, there's an exchange where 616 Spider-Man asks Insomniac’s Peter Parker about the number of superheroes in his Manhattan. The response indicates that there are significantly fewer heroes in this universe and they are frequently absent.

Despite this, Spider-Man 2 does reference the wider Marvel universe with Easter eggs indicating that The Avengers, Doctor Strange, Black Panther, and the Fantastic Four exist within Insomniac’s universe. Landmarks within the game’s version of New York, like the Avengers Tower, hint toward these characters' existence, even though players don’t directly encounter them in the game. As Peter Parker puts it in the game, “they’re always gone.”

Such a problem isn't unique to Insomniac’s Spider-Man games, as similar issues have arisen in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Future games, including Insomniac’s upcoming Wolverine game, may afford opportunities for potential crossovers which could see more Marvel superheroes in action.

nRegarding Spider-Man 2 gameplay, players can look forward to an updated combat system and web-swinging mechanics, but some players may find the open world activities in New York City somewhat repetitious. Nevertheless, Spider-Man 2 has scored well in reviews for continuing the series' exciting gameplay and narrative.