Thus far, fans only know a few things about Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. The game will be a PlayStation 5 exclusive and launch in 2023, with both Miles Morales and Peter Parker confirmed to feature. Not only will the two wall-crawlers be doing battle against Kraven The Hunter, but Venom as well - with many excited to see the terrifying villain in action.
However, while Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 featuring Venom is exciting, his inclusion instantly opens up the opportunity for other Symbiotes to make an appearance. There have been many interesting Symbiotes over the years in Marvel comics, with one in particular coming close to Venom in terms of his popularity. Still, fans should keep their expectations in check, as it is hard to imagine the sequel shifting focus away from what has already been teased.
Other Symbiotes That Could Feature Alongside Venom
If Insomniac Games wanted to make Venom an introduction to a wider array of Symbiotes, it would have no shortage of options to choose from. Scream has managed to make a name for herself, while Riot’s appearance in the divisive Venom movie has made him more of a household name. Knull the Symbiote god would be fun to see too, though he might be a bit over-the-top for Insomniac’s universe. The other versions of Venom, Agent Venom and Anti-Venom, could also crop up.
However, the one character that fans will surely want to appear in the Insomniac titles at some is Carnage. One of the most terrifying villains in Marvel comics, Carnage and his host Cletus Kasady come together to create a remorseless, superpowered serial killer. Arguably Spidey’s darkest villain, it is easy to imagine a questline where Peter and Miles track Carnage’s victims throughout New York City, eventually finding and battling the blood red Symbiote. However, now may not be the time for such a moment.
Carnage and Other Symbiotes Should Be Saved For Marvel’s Spider-Man 3
Based on what has been shown for Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, and the plot threads that have been set up in the previous games, the story will be plenty busy without other Symbiotes running around. Not only will it feature two Spider-Men, but two major villains in Kraven and Venom. It also has set up a minor villain in Wraith and a conflict between Miles and Kingpin, giving Insomniac a lot of things to juggle within its next narrative.
Considering how Insomniac Games set up Venom through two Marvel’s Spider-Man post credits scenes, it would be a shame to see his spotlight stolen by a more ferocious Symbiote like Carnage. Kraven will already be taking up a bit of screentime, so making sure that Venom is a showstealer whenever he appears will be important. Based on the reveal trailer, he looks terrifying, and that feeling should be present throughout the entire game. Adding another Symbiote to Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 would not only complicate the plot in an unnecessary way, but risks making Venom feel less special and possibly even underused.
Much like the Spider-Verse, Green Goblin, and other interesting storylines, another Symbiote like Carnage is something that can come further down the line. It makes more sense to have Carnage and any other Symbiotes appear after Venom’s story arc has been wrapped up, as it would not only give Venom more time to shine, but them as well. Venom has and likely always will be the most beloved Symbiote, so focusing on getting him right should be a priority. Other Symbiotes could even serve as antagonists in a potential Venom solo game, but Miles and Peter have enough problems to deal with in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 as is.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is scheduled to release in 2023 on PS5.
