Marvel's Avengers: can the latest superhero game save us all?

PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X; Square Enix
The characters look nothing like their cinematic counterparts, but the thrill of playing superheroes makes this game a surefire winner

Marvel's Avengers ought to be a surefire winner. A third-person action-adventure game that puts you at the controls of a selection of beloved superheroes (six at launch, although to avoid spoilers we won't specify which), it also boasts a multiplayer mode that will keep going long after the story is over - and will be constantly honed and expanded, Destiny-style.

Before release, the game generated controversy. Critics felt the beta test lacked variety and fans took umbrage with the superheroes' total lack of resemblance to their cinematic counterparts. But Marvel's Avengers turns out to have plenty of good points, and a strong single-player story.