Sony’s biggest PlayStation 5 exclusive of the past few years has landed, and it is not great. Insomniac’s Wolverine is fine, good even in some ways, but it is not great, and that is a problem for a game that was positioned as one of the platform’s marquee releases.
Reviews are coming in, and the verdict is mixed: good character work, weak combat, and a story that leans heavily on emotion but struggles to justify its length.
The Review Roundup
GamesRadar gave the game a 3/5, calling the middle stretch of the campaign “lively, layered, and just a fun place to be,” but noting that “the rest of the game feels thin, and largely consists of boxy corridors that top and tail Tokyo with shallow combat luges broken up by cutscene checkpoints and little else.”
IGN went a bit higher at 6/10, praising Liam McIntyre’s performance as Logan: “Liam McIntyre’s performance grants Logan a personality to match his trademark blades – a sharp, surprising hidden depth, housed in a bulky, blunt instrument of a body. He delicately balances the shadows of his past with the future of mutantkind, all while managing his Jekyll and Hyde nature, as animal instincts sometimes break through the compassion he strives to show.” Actual gameplay, though, “wears thin well before the conclusion.”
Shacknews scored it an 8/10, saying the game “does an excellent job adapting the iconic mutant,” with “some excellent character moments in what is otherwise a fairly standard comic book story.” Combat became “repetitive” as the game progressed, but it remained “deeply satisfying” despite that.
DualShockers went further, giving the game 8.5/10. Christian Bognar wrote that Insomniac’s portrayal of the character is “a success,” thanks to its “deeply personal story that explores what it means to live with trauma, loss, and regret.” He also felt the combat in Wolverine was a step up from Insomniac’s previous Spider-Man game, despite lacking Spidey’s “freedom and versatility.”
GameInformer matched that high mark at 8.5/10, with Matt Miller writing that “the high speed, brutal slashing, and unstoppable force of Wolverine are captured better than any film or game to come before.” He called the game “an intense and unrelenting ride” that “doesn’t wear out its welcome.”
TechRadar landed at 4/5, with Matt Cabral saying the fighting mechanics “suffer from a lack of meaningful depth,” but praising the game’s production values: “Supported by visceral, varied, and extremely violent melee combat, this set-piece-packed, cinema-rivaling spectacle puts you behind the claws – and mutton chops – of the fan-favorite superhero like never before.”
GameSpot was less impressed at 6/10. Tamoor Hussain declared it “a fun but forgettable experience that’ll entertain you for a few hours.” He argued that the game demonstrates the limitations of the character himself, especially when compared to the open world and energetic dynamism of Insomniac’s previous Spider-Man games: “Wolverine might be the best at what he does, but what he does hasn’t let Insomniac’s developers be the best at what they do.”
VGC followed with a 3/5, noting that the game’s “tightly crafted and emotive story moments” were lacking. “The third-person hacking and slashing is fine, but it barely evolves from hour one until hour twelve,” Jordan Middler wrote. The other abilities at Logan’s disposal felt “ineffective” compared to his standard moveset.
Eurogamer closed the loop at 3/5, praising the characters and narrative while being cooler on the gameplay. Chris Tapsell wrote that the combat isn’t bad, it’s just overly repetitive.
The Problem With Combat
The reviews diverge sharply on combat, and the gap between them explains why the game’s score range is so wide. Some reviewers found the action deeply satisfying, others found it deeply repetitive. The game is full of action, but the action rarely changes.
“The third-person hacking and slashing is fine, but it barely evolves from hour one until hour twelve.”
That line, from VGC’s Jordan Middler, captures the core complaint. Players get the same enemy types, the same attacks, the same rhythm, again and again across twelve hours of play.
What The Reviews Agree On
The character work is the highlight, particularly McIntyre’s performance. The story is emotionally resonant, dealing with themes of trauma, loss, and regret. The production values are high, with cinematic set pieces that rival the movies.
The combat is where the game falls apart. Some reviewers found it deeply satisfying, others found it deeply repetitive. The gap between those two readings is significant, and it explains why the game’s score range is so wide.
A Platform In Trouble
This release arrives at a difficult moment for PlayStation. The platform’s live service portfolio has taken hits, including the death of Destiny 2 and questions about Bungie’s future. Sony pulled a major botch with Hideo Kojima’s Physint, leading to the auteur partnering with Xbox on the project instead.
The company is also facing pushback over its decision to end physical disc production in 2028, a move that may be rationally defensible but is pissing a lot of people off. Now a major PS5 exclusive lands with all the grace of an egg chucked at a school bus.
The Verdict
The critical consensus is that Wolverine is a competent, occasionally brilliant game that fails to sustain its promise over its full runtime. The highs are high, the lows are low, and the middle stretches are thin.
For fans of the character, the story and the performance are enough to recommend it. For players who want a game that holds their attention from start to finish, the repetitive combat may be a dealbreaker.
The game is not a triumph. It is a solid, flawed entry in a crowded superhero genre, and it does not do enough to justify its position as one of PlayStation’s flagship exclusives.
Comparison Of Reviews
| Outlet | Score | Main Focus |
|---|---|---|
| GamesRadar | 3/5 | Thin corridors, shallow combat |
| IGN | 6/10 | Character depth, Logan’s performance |
| Shacknews | 8/10 | Adaptation, character moments |
| DualShockers | 8.5/10 | Personal story, combat depth |
| GameInformer | 8.5/10 | High-speed action, pacing |
| TechRadar | 4/5 | Cinematic spectacle, shallow systems |
| GameSpot | 6/10 | Forgettable experience, limited scope |
| VGC | 3/5 | Thin combat, repetitive pacing |
| Eurogamer | 3/5 | Repetitive combat, strong story |
Final Call
The game is worth playing for its character work and its emotional payoff. It is not worth recommending based on its combat, which reviewers across the board describe as growing thin over time.
Sony has a lot riding on this release. The platform needs hits, and Wolverine is not one of them. The game is a missed opportunity, and the mixed reviews reflect that.
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