Logan’s claws fail to cut deep

Marvel’s Wolverine Lands with a Respectable but Unusually Reserved Critical Response

Bdbusinessdaily.com – Insomniac Games enters launch week for Marvel’s Wolverine facing a reaction that is far cooler than the one usually attached to the studio’s superhero releases. The PlayStation 5 exclusive arrives on 15 September, but reviews published five days ahead of release have placed it in a distinctly different position from Insomniac’s celebrated Spider-Man titles.

With more than 110 reviews counted, the game holds a 78 on Metacritic, while OpenCritic places it at roughly 80. Those figures point to a generally positive reception, and many developers would consider them a solid result for a major release. For Insomniac, however, the score carries extra weight because its previous Marvel games set a much higher benchmark: the studio’s three Spider-Man releases recorded Metacritic scores of 87, 85 and 90.

The result makes Marvel’s Wolverine Insomniac’s lowest-rated original game since 2016’s Song of the Deep. It is not a widespread critical collapse, but neither is it the sort of overwhelming approval that audiences have come to associate with the developer’s work in the superhero genre.

A Familiar Hero, but a Narrower Play Style

Much of the response centres on the difference between Wolverine and Spider-Man as game protagonists. Spider-Man’s agility, aerial movement and gadget-driven combat gave Insomniac’s earlier games a wide range of options. Wolverine, by contrast, is built around a more direct fighting style: claws, close-range attacks, counters and parries.

Several reviewers felt that this toolkit does not broaden enough as the adventure progresses. Concerns about repetitive combat and limited variation appeared repeatedly, particularly across the game’s estimated 15-to-20-hour campaign. The criticism is not that Logan lacks impact as a playable character, but that his combat systems can lose their freshness before the story reaches its end.

IGN’s Simon Cardy awarded the game 6/10 and singled out Liam McIntyre’s performance as Logan for praise. However, the review argued that the action eventually becomes less compelling than it initially appears.

“wears thin well before its conclusion.”

GameSpot, GamesRadar+ and VGC also settled on 6/10 scores. Their reviews echoed the same broad concern: the game’s action and environments do not develop with enough variety to sustain the experience at the level expected from a major Insomniac production.

Storytelling and Pacing Draw Sharper Criticism

While the common reaction was more restrained than hostile, some outlets were considerably harsher. Giant Bomb gave the game 5/10, identifying problems with both its narrative execution and momentum.

“mediocre storytelling, poor pacing.”

Polygon described the game as a major letdown for the current console generation, while Skill Up declined to recommend it at all.

“I do not recommend.”

These responses suggest that the mixed reception is not limited to mechanical complaints. For a character such as Wolverine, whose appeal often comes from his aggression, inner conflict and long history within Marvel, players may expect both brutal action and a strong emotional core. Reviews that found the pacing uneven or the story underpowered appear to have judged the game especially severely because the character offers so much potential.

That context matters for a project positioned as one of Sony’s larger single-player releases. PlayStation does not release an unlimited number of blockbuster, narrative-led games each year, so each major exclusive can carry heightened expectations. A Wolverine game developed by the team behind the Spider-Man series was always likely to be viewed as more than a routine licensed title.

Positive Reviews Show a More Divided Picture

Not every critic came away disappointed. Push Square and Destructoid each scored Marvel’s Wolverine at 8/10, while Game Informer gave it 8.5. Hardcore Gamer went further, awarding the title a perfect 100.

The divide between reviews is striking. Larger mainstream outlets often landed around the 6/10 range, whereas several enthusiast-focused publications rated the game far more highly. That gap may reflect differing priorities: some critics appear to have placed more emphasis on combat depth, campaign structure and narrative pacing, while others found enough pleasure in Wolverine’s personality, action and presentation to overlook those limitations.

For players, the disagreement makes the game less straightforward to assess before trying it. Those looking for another Spider-Man-style experience with constant new movement abilities, broad combat options and escalating spectacle may need to adjust expectations. Players more interested in inhabiting Logan’s violent, close-quarters world may find the game’s focused approach more appealing.

A Good Score That Feels Smaller in Context

A 78 average is still evidence that many critics found worthwhile elements in Marvel’s Wolverine. The game has been described as generally favourable rather than broadly disliked, and its strongest reviews demonstrate that it has connected powerfully with part of the critical audience.

Yet the number cannot be separated from Insomniac’s previous achievements. The studio’s Spider-Man games became standard-bearers for polished, accessible superhero adventures, combining recognisable characters with fast traversal, cinematic storytelling and a wide audience appeal. Against that record, a score in the high 70s can feel less like a triumph and more like a missed opportunity.

Wolverine’s claws may still leave an impression on PS5 players, particularly those eager for a more physical and brutal Marvel adventure. But the early critical verdict suggests that Insomniac’s latest superhero outing has not cut as deeply or as consistently as many expected.