Insomniac’s take on Wolverine is ferocious, destructive and cinematic - but a little predictable

Insomniac Games has released extensive hands-on previews of Marvel’s Wolverine ahead of its September 15 PS5 exclusive launch. The story-driven game, set in the same Earth-1048 universe as Insomniac’s Spider-Man games, opens with an assault on a Weapon X base and follows Logan uncovering mysteries of his past. Unlike the developer’s open-world Spider-Man titles, Wolverine is a linear, narrative-focused adventure that allows for exploration between story missions.

The game features ferocious, destructive combat centered around Wolverine’s claws, with a rage tier system emphasizing visceral violence. Co-op gameplay with characters like Sabertooth and Jean Grey includes dynamic interactions—notably, Sabertooth will steal Wolverine’s kills during teamups. Players can hunt for resources to unlock new suits, collect whiskey bottles for progression, participate in combat trials, and tackle “Nightmare Doors” for additional challenges.

Technical achievements include 60 FPS with ray tracing on base PS5, a first for Insomniac. The physical release will be “fully playable” on disc without mandatory downloads. A self-healing suit mechanic sparked community discussion but was explained by developers as a creative choice.

The X-Men don’t exist in this continuity—Logan is instead a member of Team X with characters including Sabertooth, Jean Grey, Mystique, and Lady Deathstrike. Preview coverage has been largely positive, with critics praising the bloody combat and character depth, though noting the narrative follows familiar Wolverine story beats. New Game Plus will be available from day one, with significant post-game content extending playtime beyond the main campaign.

Sources

• Insomniac’s take on Wolverine is ferocious, destructive and cinematic - but a little predictable
• Marvel’s Wolverine “fully playable” on disc when it releases, Insomniac clarifies, perhaps making it one of the last few PlayStation games that will be
• Marvel’s Wolverine Has You Hunting For Resources, Drinking Whiskey, And Beating Up Nightmares
• Wolverine Hands-On Preview Impressions
• Wolverine Uses Blind Rage And Violence To Make Combat Feel Authentic
• Sabretooth Will Actually Steal Wolverine’s Kills When They Team Up in Gameplay
• Insomniac Confirms Marvel’s Wolverine Performance Mode Details
• Everything New We Learned About Marvel’s Wolverine From Our Big Interview With Insomniac
• Insomniac Explains Why Wolverine’s Suit Heals Itself
• Insomniac Says There’s Plenty in Marvel’s Wolverine to Keep People Playing After the Credits Roll, Including New Game Plus Day-One
• Why the X-Men Don’t Exist in Marvel’s Wolverine
• Marvel’s Wolverine Runs at 60 FPS on Base PS5
• Marvel’s Wolverine Rage Tiers and Combat Explained
• Round Up: Marvel’s Wolverine Sounds Like Another Great Superhero Blockbuster in PS5 Previews
• Wolverine on the PS5 made me care about Marvel’s mutant for the first time
• Wolverine directors explain why Insomniac’s latest game has the Weapon X-factor