Marvel Spider-Man 2 and Super Mario Bros. Wonder - which will you choose?

(Image credit: Future)

published 3 October 2023

We know who would win in a real fight, (unless Mario found an invincibility star of course) but we're actually talking about the fact that October 20th is going to be one of the biggest days for gamers in years. Super Mario Bros. Wonder and Marvel's Spider-Man 2 both release on the same day, and those who own both a Nintendo Switch and a PS5 have a serious decision to make.

Both games are big-name exclusives with a lot riding on them. Super Mario Bros Wonder is the first 2D Mario title in a decade (excluding Mario Maker) and could be the Switch's swansong, with many believing a new Nintendo console will be released next year. Spider-Man 2 however is the game that Sony will be hoping finally showcases the true power of PS5. Both the original Spider-Man and Spider-Man: Miles Morales released on PS4 and PS5 but this latest web-slinging adventure is PS5 only.

As for picking which one to pick up, for many the answer will of course be both, but what about those on a budget? Perhaps it's best to grab one and ask for the other as a Christmas present? With Call of Duty arriving on November 8th too, it's clearly the busy season for gaming once again.

Back to our dilemma then, there could be a big deciding factor, multiplayer. Although Spider-Man 2 features two different Spidermen, there will be no co-op (boo) while Mario is, of course, inviting his friends to join his adventure (with up to 4 players local and online multiplayer). If you're the kind who likes to save the world (or Mushroom Kingdom) alone, however, Spidey may be your best bet as all of the gameplay shown so far has the hallmarks of a generational title with mind-blowing graphics.

This is all providing of course you can drag yourself away from Starfield, Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty and EA Sports FC 24 of course. Phew. So many games, and so little time.

Andy was T3's Tech Staff Writer, covering all things technology, including his biggest passions such as gaming. If he had to save one possession from a fire it would be his PlayStation 5. He previously worked for Tom’s Guide – where he got paid to play with ChatGPT everyday. When it comes to streaming, Andy will have his headphones glued in whilst watching something that will make him laugh. He studied Creative Writing at university, but also enjoys supporting his favourite football team (Liverpool), watching F1, teaching himself guitar, and spending time with his dog.