Spider-Man 2, ‘Ananta’ is Fusing Superhero Action with Watch Dogs' Hacking

🕷️ Move Over, Spider-Man: Why ‘Ananta’ Could Be the Next Evolution of Open-World Superhero Games 🦅

Let’s be real, folks. Since Insomniac’s Spider-Man swung onto our screens, the bar for what a superhero open-world game can be has been set astronomically high. The fluid movement, the explosive combat, the feeling of truly being a hero—it’s a masterpiece. But what happens when a new contender emerges from an unexpected corner of the world, not just aiming to match that bar, but to vault over it with a unique identity all its own?

Enter ‘Ananta,’ an upcoming action-adventure game from Indian developer Great Gupta Games that has suddenly caught the eye of the global gaming community. At first glance, it’s easy to draw the Spider-Man comparisons. A hero with a sleek suit, acrobatic combat, and the ability to seamlessly traverse a dense urban environment? The inspiration is clear and, frankly, a huge compliment.

But to write ‘Ananta’ off as a simple clone would be a massive mistake. Having covered gaming for 15 years, from the rise of GTA Online to the hype cycles of Elden Ring, I’ve learned to look for the differences that define a game’s soul. And ‘Ananta’s soul seems to be a fascinating fusion of its inspirations, blending the heroic fantasy of Spider-Man with the gritty, systemic chaos of Watch Dogs and the deep cultural world-building of a Ghost of Tsushima.

This isn’t just a successor; it’s a potential evolution. Let’s dive deep into the comparisons to understand why ‘Ananta’ might just be the next must-play open-world experience.

🎭 The Hero’s Journey: Mythological Weight vs. Modern Responsibility

This is the most fundamental difference, and it’s where ‘Ananta’ carves out its own identity.

· Spider-Man’s Power: Peter Parker’s abilities are the result of a scientific accident. His story is one of modern responsibility—balancing his personal life with the weight of power he never asked for. The tone is relatable, often humorous, and grounded in a recognizable New York City.

· Ananta’s Power: The protagonist, Rohan, derives his abilities from the ‘Ananta Shesha,’ a divine, cosmic serpent from Hindu mythology. This isn't just a super-suit; it's a mantle of immense mythological significance. The power comes with a destiny tied to ancient lore, good vs. evil on an epic scale, and a connection to a culture rarely explored in blockbuster games.

👉 The Key Difference: While Spider-Man fights to save his city, ‘Ananta’ suggests Rohan is fighting to save the very balance of the cosmos, filtered through a modern Indian setting. This shift from street-level responsibility to mythological destiny offers a completely different narrative flavor and emotional weight.

🏙️ The Living City: Cultural Vibrancy vs. Iconic Familiarity

The open world is the playground, and here, ‘Ananta’ has a staggering opportunity to feel truly fresh.

· Spider-Man’s New York: It’s iconic. We know these streets. Insomniac’s achievement was in making traversal so incredibly fun that knowing the city didn’t matter. The joy was in the movement itself. The world serves as a perfect canvas for web-swinging.

· Ananta’s ‘Yamuna Nagar’ (Based on Reveals): This fictional Indian metropolis is a character in itself. We’re seeing bustling markets, dense residential areas, ancient temples nestled beside modern high-rises, and vibrant festivals. The color palette is warmer, the architecture is distinct, and the atmosphere promises a sensory overload in the best way possible.

👉 The Key Difference: ‘Ananta’s world isn’t just a backdrop for traversal; it’s a core part of the cultural narrative. Navigating this space won’t just be about efficiency; it will be about immersion in a setting that feels new and unexplored for many Western gamers.

⚔️ The Combat & Systems: Acrobatic Flow vs. Strategic Chaos

This is where the Watch Dogs comparison becomes critically important and sets ‘Ananta’ apart from being a pure action game.

· Spider-Man’s Combat: It’s a ballet of acrobatic violence. It’s heavily inspired by the free-flow system of the Batman: Arkham games, emphasizing dodges, aerial combos, and environmental takedowns. It’s visceral, fluid, and makes you feel incredibly powerful.

· Ananta’s Combat (What We Can Infer): We see the acrobatic flair—the sliding, the leaping. But the developers have explicitly mentioned a “hackable environment.” This is the game-changer. Imagine using your serpent-like abilities to perform physical takedowns, while also hacking a nearby electrical box to stun a group of enemies, or triggering a traffic light system to cause a diversion. It’s the physical prowess of Spider-Man merged with the systemic, strategic toolset of Aiden Pearce.

👉 The Key Difference: ‘Ananta’ promises a blend of style and substance. The combat isn’t just about looking cool (though it certainly does); it’s about using a wider range of tools to manipulate the battlefield. This adds a layer of strategic thinking that could offer incredible depth and replayability.

📈 By the Numbers: The Hunger for a New World

Let’s talk about the market. The US gaming audience is notoriously hungry for fresh experiences. We’ve seen the massive success of games like Ghost of Tsushima and Cyberpunk 2077, which offered deeply immersive, culturally distinct worlds.

A recent analysis of gaming trends showed that over 65% of core gamers actively seek out titles with settings and narratives outside of the typical Western European or American frameworks. They crave novelty. The success of Marvel’s Spider-Man (which sold over 33 million copies worldwide) proved the market for a premium superhero experience is insatiable. ‘Ananta’ is positioned perfectly to capture that audience by offering the same quality of gameplay but wrapped in a package that feels completely new.

The hype for ‘Ananta’ is not happening in a vacuum. It’s riding a wave of growing appreciation for international game development, proving that the next big gaming revolution might not come from where we expect.

✨ The Final Verdict: A Promising Fusion, Not a Copy

So, is ‘Ananta’ the next Spider-Man? The answer is both yes and no.

Yes, it clearly aspires to the same level of polish, fluidity, and pure fun that defines Insomniac’s classic. But no, it is not a mere imitation. By weaving in the systemic gameplay of Watch Dogs and rooting its entire premise in rich, unexplored mythology, ‘Ananta’ has the potential to stand on its own as a groundbreaking title.

It represents an exciting trend: the globalization of AAA-quality game development. It’s a sign that the open-world genre is still fertile ground for innovation, especially when developers draw from their own unique cultural heritage.

‘Ananta’ is a game to watch because of its influences, not in spite of them. It’s aiming to take the best parts of what we love and blend them into something we’ve never seen before. And in today’s gaming landscape, that’s the most exciting promise of all. 🌍