MARVEL’S AVENGERS

Sometimes, all you want is to escape into a superhero power fantasy where you button mash your way to victory and look cool doing it. And for all of the criticism it has received, Marvel’s Avengers delivers that experience. In yet another year where it feels like I’ve tracked the passage of time through Marvel Cinematic Universe releases, it’s been satisfying to re-create that movie choreography with a controller in hand.

Plus, Crystal Dynamics, the studio behind Marvel’s Avengers, has continued to assemble a growing character roster since the game’s debut in 2020. Both Hawkeyes (Clint Barton and Kate Bishop), Black Panther and Spider-Man (for players on PlayStation consoles, at least) have joined the original cast, and with each addition there’s a new, unique set of moves to discover. The gameplay loop can become redundant after defeating thousands of enemies, but every so often a series of events will capture that cinematic quality for a moment. It’s that spark of joy that keeps me mashing away. — BRIAN HOERST, senior staff editor, News Technology