Marvel’s Avengers came out in 2020 with a bit of a disappointing launch by sole’s standards. It was glitchy and the servers weren’t working at a hundred percent either. Some fans and reviewers also thought that the grind was just too much for a multiplayer, games-as-service experience.
Feedback has been better on this Marvel game since then thanks to Square Enix patching it. Post-launch support with new characters and storylines has also helped. Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, on the other hand, is doing much better with its launch comparatively. The Metacritic score is higher but games are more than just numbers. Is Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy really the better game or does Marvel’s Avengers offer something more than numbers can’t account for?
10 Funny: Guardians
There are some funny lines in Marvel’s Avengers, which are delivered mostly by Kamala geeking out. Overall Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy has snappier dialogue though. The film series has two of the funnier films in the MCU.
It stands to reason then that the game version of the Guardians of the Galaxy would be funny as well. Some of the best lines are delivered by Drax and Rocket which should surprise no one.
9 A New Lead: Avengers
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy does go to new places compared to its MCU counterpart. It also adds some new characters like Adam Warlock and Nikki. However, the main crew is virtually the same as the films which makes the core reactions too similar.
Marvel’s Avengers brings something new to the table with Kamala Khan. The big difference here is that she is a lead and not a supporting character. It helped create a new vibe for the Avengers as a team.
8 Enemies: Guardians
Marvel’s Avengers is filled mostly with robots, vehicles, and soldiers. Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy has a lot of enemy soldiers as well, but there are more types of them from bounty hunters to the Nova Corps. More so than that Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy is filled with monsters as well.
This helps keep combat a little more engaging since there are more different types of foes to pummel from gelatinous cubes to hulking ape-like snow demons. On a variety scale, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy wins.
7 Gameplay: Avengers
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy may have more enemies to fight, but actually fighting them is more engaging in Marvel’s Avengers. Peter is the only one playable in the game. Gamers can play any one of the core Avengers in their game. Each brings a new flavor to the mix as well from melee brawlers to long-range snipers.
There is also a co-op mode which is nice. Plus Marvel’s Avengers has continued adding new characters post-launch. If Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy ever gets a sequel, it would be nice if they copied this swapping ability in combat. Gamora should at least get her time in the sun.
6 More Varied Environments: Guardians
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy also has more varied environments to complement the enemies. Players get to explore some of the coolest planets seen in any video game. There are also some familiar bits from the movie such as Nowhere.
Being able to explore the ship, Milano, is also great. The colors are vibrant which helps make Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy look unique too. Marvel’s Avengers has a lot of bland colors and there aren’t many areas to choose from.
5 Open Environments: Avengers
Marvel’s Avengers lacks variety in its environments but its areas do have something the ones in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy don’t: space. Every section in Marvel’s Avengers is like a wide-open sandbox. It’s very freeing especially when controlling flying characters like Thor.
Players can simply zip to the main targets, but there are plenty of side quests to tackle as well. Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy is completely devoid of side quests unless players want to count collecting scrap for upgrades or collecting costumes. That’s pretty much it.
4 Length: Guardians
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy is linear which may sound like a bad thing but it’s not all terrible. That’s because Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy is paced rather well. Sometimes it doesn’t feel like hours have gone by when they really have.
Marvel’s Avengers can get more repetitious fast and that’s because the game demands grinding in order to unlock everything. It's a short game that is padded out with grinding to make it seem longer. Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy uses quality over quantity in regard to its time management.
3 RPG Elements: Avengers
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy has some RPG elements such as upgrading characters through perks and abilities. There are also dialogue choices. That’s where the RPG effects stop. There is no true way to level up.
There isn’t even an equipment menu other than allowing players to dress up the team in various costumes. Marvel’s Avengers is the better RPG since it does indeed have equipment and leveling up as features. Yes, it’s a grind, but some players may prefer that over Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy’s lack of a true RPG system. The one RPG mechanics
2 Music: Guardians
There are actually some surprising hit songs that make it into Marvel’s Avengers. There are only a few though. Compared to Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy’s massive soundtrack, they’re barely a blip on the radar.
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy has some of the best rock, metal, and pop hits from the 80s. It’s fun being able to walk around and listen to music on the Milano. Being able to incorporate music in battle when times are tough is also neat.
1 Verdict: Guardians
Both games have something unique to offer Marvel fans out there. Marvel’s Avengers’ biggest strength is its character variety which then carries over into multiplayer. Marvel’s Avengers is a better game for those interested in getting together with friends.
As far as a more well-rounded single-player experience, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy is number one. The numbers don’t lie in this case. It may even be one of 2021’s top ten best games.
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy was released on October 26, 2021, and is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.