Marvel's Wolverine is a third-person action-adventure game from Insomniac Games, the studio behind the Marvel's Spider-Man series, published by Sony Interactive Entertainment exclusively for PS5. It launched September 15, 2026, priced at $69 (or $79 for a Digital Deluxe Edition with extra suits). Unlike the open-world Spider-Man games set in New York, Wolverine is a mostly linear experience without an open world, reflecting the character's nomadic nature, though Wccftech notes later levels offer larger maps and more room to explore.
Both outlets praise the original comic-inspired story, which skips an origin tale and instead follows an already-established Wolverine on a mission to save father figure Nathaniel Essex from villain Bolivar Trask, encountering familiar X-Men faces including Mystique, Sabretooth, Lady Deathstrike, Jean Grey, and the faction The Hand. Tom's Guide calls the narrative 'enjoyable' and 'well-paced' despite some predictable story beats, particularly around Essex's arc, while Wccftech says the story is the game's biggest highlight, reaching 'phenomenal emotional depth' for fans familiar with the comics. Both sources highlight the Wolverine-Jean Grey romance as a strong element, aided by voice performances from Liam McIntyre as Wolverine, Troy Baker as Nathaniel Essex, and Krizia Bajos as Jean Grey, all of whom lend their likeness as well as their voice to their characters, according to Wccftech.
The two reviews diverge most on combat. Tom's Guide found the violent, claw-based fighting flashy but repetitive within a few levels, criticizing damage-sponge late-game enemies, predictable boss movesets, and an unnecessary stealth option that doesn't fit the character. Wccftech had a similar initial reaction, saying combat didn't land immediately and took about half the game to click, but ultimately found it satisfying once Wolverine's Rage mechanic—split into three tiers that unlock deadlier combos and a black, white, and blood visual filter at max rage—came together, calling the resulting carnage a 'slaughterhouse' aided by procedural dismemberment technology. Both games let players tone down gore via accessibility options, and Tom's Guide notes Insomniac offers extensive accessibility features overall.
Side content includes optional Nightmare Doors/Trials that unlock memory fragments and combat or traversal challenges ranked from bronze to a top platinum-tier reward, plus collectible whiskey bottles and suit-crafting materials; Wccftech explains whiskey bottles grant AP used for a skill tree called Adaptations, while suits, though cosmetic, are tied to upgrading Wolverine's health. Tom's Guide found the traversal-based Nightmare Door challenges more engaging than combat ones and noted a light roguelite mode with wave-based combat trials. Wccftech found the traversal trials underwhelming but the combat trials more interesting, and completing all trials unlocks an additional Jean Grey cutscene.
On technical performance, both reviews praise the game's visuals and performance on PS5 Pro, with Tom's Guide reporting a locked 60fps and Wccftech confirming the game runs well with options for Advanced Ray Tracing or a more stable frame rate; Wccftech also notes there is no PC version and Sony's current policy makes PS5 Pro the best way to play. However, Tom's Guide reported technical issues including floating enemy bodies, glitches, and about six hard crashes during a 15-hour playthrough, two of which occurred during boss fights and forced restarts. Length estimates are close between the two reviews—about 14 to 15 hours—and Wccftech notes a New Game Plus mode is available but says the linear structure limits replay incentive.
Overall, the two outlets reach different conclusions: Tom's Guide felt the game was well-made but forgettable, lacking the staying power to rank among PS5's best exclusives despite strong original story elements and gory spectacle. Wccftech rated the game 8.5, concluding that despite some overly linear maps and combat that takes time to flourish, Insomniac successfully captures Wolverine's essence, with the narrative standing out as the game's biggest strength. Both reviews mention a post-credits scene hinting at a sequel involving a villain previously adapted for film, and Wccftech adds context that Wolverine carries significant weight for Sony's 2026 first-party lineup following underwhelming receptions for Bungie's Marathon and Housemarque's Saros, with only Ghost of Yōtei: Complete Edition remaining on Sony's 2026 release slate.