Why Shattered Dimensions is the Most Important Spider-Man Game

Why Shattered Dimensions is the Most Important Spider-Man Game

Spider-Man has starred in a lot of video games; in fact, more than any other superhero in existence. From the quaint, early days of the Atari 2600 to the big budget adventures with Sony and Insomniac, Spidey fans have had a lot of games to enjoy. While the latest series could be considered the best video game experiences that put us in the role of Spider-Man, and “Spider-Man 2’s” web swinging is influential to be sure, there’s one game that has had a greater impact on the character as a whole. One whose legacy extends far beyond the realm of video games. Welcome to MojoPlays, and this is why “Shattered Dimensions” is the most important Spider-Man video game ever.

Activision had been publishing Spider-Man games since the 2000 classic on the original PlayStation. While several developers spent time with the hero, 2010’s “Shattered Dimensions” was the first Spider-Man game developed by Beenox. One of the elements that the game was praised for was the inclusion of multiple versions of Spider-Man from alternate dimensions. The game follows Madame Web bringing together four iterations of the character to restore a broken, mystical tablet that has caused issues across different realities. It was pretty fun, with each of the four Spider-Men coming with different styles and a few unique abilities. But a storyline encompassing all of them is why it remains so important to the character all these years later.

The concept of bringing together alternate Spideys was inspired by one of the writer’s previous works. Before co-writing “Shattered Dimensions,” Mark Hoffmeier worked on the 90s animated series. And one of the episodes he penned was the first in the two-part finale that saw multiple versions of Spider-Man brought together, and is often considered a precursor for “Spider-Verse.”

However, while it takes some inspiration from the show, the game had a far greater influence on the IP. For one, it had been 12 years since the end of the animated series when “Shattered Dimensions” was released. And it isn’t like the concept of multiple Spider heroes, a storytelling goldmine in retrospect, was on many peoples’ minds. For another, there’s the matter of how it handles legacy. Each version is voiced by an actor who previously played Spider-Man in an animated show. The Amazing Spider-Man is voiced by Neil Patrick Harris, who played him in a short-lived 2003 series. Ultimate Spider-Man, who also gets the Symbiote suit, is voiced by Josh Keaton from “The Spectacular Spider-Man” of the late 2000s. Spider-Man Noir is voiced by Christopher Daniel Barnes, who played him in the 90s animated series. And finally, Spider-Man 2099 is voiced by Dan Gilvezan, who played Peter Parker in “Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends,” which aired in the early 80s. Legacy, and what the mantle of Spider-Man or Woman means to you, is a common theme in both the Spider-Verse comics and movies. But we’re getting a little ahead of ourselves, because there’s one more aspect of “Shattered Dimensions’” development that is a vital piece to the puzzle.

Although the game would receive a sequel one year later, the not-quite-as-good “Edge of Time,” the greater follow up would come in the form of a comic. One of “Shattered Dimensions’” other writers was Dan Slott, who was presumably brought on due to his experience in writing Spider-Man comics. He had become a writer on “The Amazing Spider-Man” in 2007, but his time on the game would lead to one of the most popular storylines of his career. Inspired by the idea of bringing different Spider-people together, not just alternate Peters, Slott wanted to bring as many of them into one storyline as he could. And in late 2014, the “Spider-Verse” event began.

This was a huge success for Marvel Comics. Readers enjoyed seeing all of these alternate Spider heroes together, some of which hadn’t been in the limelight for quite a long time. Not only that, but it led to the creation of two popular side characters in the overall “Spider-Man” mythos; Peni Parker with her mechanized suit and, to a much more major extent, an alternate version of Gwen Stacy commonly referred to as Spider-Gwen.

Because of “Shattered Dimensions” and the comic book story it inspired, this angle of bringing together alternate versions of the same hero influenced plotlines in TV and film going forward. We saw it pop up in “Ultimate Spider-Man,” the animated series that ran from 2012 to 2017. More importantly, it was the inspiration behind the 2018 animated film, “Into the Spider-Verse.” The movie was as successful as it possibly could have been. Praised for its characters and unique style of animation, it was a box office hit and won Best Animated Feature at the Oscars over usual winners like Disney and Pixar.

But it goes beyond that baseline success. The movie went through an extensive process to develop its look, which blended CGI with hand-drawn 2D animation. The result was unlike anything we’d seen in an animated feature film. It wasn’t just a visual marvel for audiences; it also caused film animation to evolve. Sony Pictures Animation has continued producing movies with similar approaches like “The Mitchells vs. the Machines” and “KPop Demon Hunters.” But other studios have followed in their footsteps. Dreamworks has produced several films inspired by the “Spider-Verse” animation, like “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” and “The Wild Robot.” Fellow comic heroes, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, got a visually beautiful update in 2023’s “Mutant Mayhem.” “Spider-Verse” itself got a sequel in 2023, with a third in development. And all of these movies were critical and commercial hits to varying degrees.

Meanwhile, Marvel has kept producing different “Spider-Verse” storylines in the comics, with the latest having been published in 2025. Fans who hoped to see the live-action Spideys crossover one day got that very wish granted in 2021 with “Spider-Man: No Way Home.” Since it became one of the highest grossing movies of all time, earning nearly $2 billion worldwide, it’s safe to say that the “Spider-Verse” concept was cemented in pop culture. And we even got a small nod to it in Insomniac’s “Spider-Man 2,” bringing us full circle.

By taking a concept from two episodes of television, more or less forgotten at the time, the team behind “Shattered Dimensions” unknowingly created an enduring staple of “Spider-Man.” But the game’s legacy is obviously far greater than itself, with multiple comic storylines, a historic box office juggernaut, and industry-changing animation techniques all stemming from it. And we may not yet be done feeling the effects of its influence. With a third “Spider-Verse” movie coming in the future, and other studios continuing on the path the first movie set, we’ll at least see the preservation of that groundbreaking visual style. As far as video games go, a leak in 2023 revealed Insomniac had canceled a Spider-Verse-like game, a multiplayer, live-service title called “The Great Web.” But who knows what the future holds. The side quest reference in the second game leaves room open for a future plotline, and the concept has more than proven itself popular. Regardless, “Shattered Dimensions” may not be the best Spider-Man game, but if there’s one thing that’s certain, it’s that it changed how we viewed the character forever.

Have you played “Shattered Dimensions?” What are your thoughts on the game? And how do you feel about the influence of “Spider-Verse” in overall “Spider-Man” media? Share your thoughts in the comments, and we’ll see you next time!