The story of Spiderman Maximum Carnage takes place in New York City, where a massive alien symbiote known as Carnage has infected several Spider-Man villains. These infected villains, including the likes of Kraven the Hunter and Mysterio, begin to wreak havoc on the city with Carnage's guidance.
The gameplay is fast-paced and action-packed, with Spiderman swinging through Manhattan and battling the infected villains in a variety of environments, from rooftops to streets. The player must use web-shooters to climb up buildings and traverse the city, while also dodging attacks from enemies. Combat involves quick time button presses, requiring precise timing to land hits.