Despite a wave of online criticism and mocked gameplay features, Marvel's Wolverine has achieved significant commercial success, becoming the best-selling game in the United States for September. Industry analyst group Circana reported that the PlayStation exclusive topped the sales charts for both physical and digital purchases.
September saw a crowded release window, with eight of the top ten best-selling games launching that month. Sports titles performed strongly, with NBA 2K27 claiming second place, EA Sports FC 27 in third, and Madden NFL 27 at tenth. Other notable entries in the top ten included Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave, The Blood of Dawnwalker, Wardogs, Onimusha: Way of the Sword, Halloween: The Game, and Ace Combat 8.
While the U.S. figures represent a significant achievement, Sony also released European PlayStation Store data indicating that Wolverine secured the second spot in that region, trailing only EA Sports FC 27. Further analysis from Ampere Analysis suggested that Wolverine had a strong physical sales component, with 35% of its sales being disc-based. This data offers a counterpoint to Sony's stated plans to discontinue disc production for PlayStation games by 2028. Ampere’s data estimated total sales for Wolverine at approximately 2.35 million copies in September.
The game faced considerable criticism following its release, with reviews citing repetitive gameplay, shallow mechanics, and a weak narrative. While some aspects, such as its visuals, received praise, the critical reception did not match the accolades often given to Sony's other major first-party titles. Adding to the controversy was Sony's decision to end support for physical discs, a move that coincided with Wolverine's promotional period and fueled fan dissatisfaction in online comment sections.
However, the game's perceived design flaws, such as the much-discussed "fart trail" UI and overreliance on cinematic presentation, made it an easy target for viral criticism on social media, further contributing to the negative buzz surrounding its launch.