Marvel's Avengers
A third-person action-adventure game featuring an original Avengers story.
Marvel's Avengers is a 2020 action-adventure game developed by Crystal Dynamics and originally published by Square Enix. Based on the Marvel Comics superhero team the Avengers, the game follows Inhuman teenager Kamala Khan, who gains superpowers during a celebratory day for the Avengers that ends in tragedy. Blamed for the disaster, the Avengers disband, and five years later Kamala embarks on a quest to reassemble them to combat the science corporation A.I.M.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Marvel's Avengers
- Developer
- Crystal DynamicsAdditional work by Eidos-Montréal, Crystal Northwest, Crystal Southwest, and Nixxes Software
- Publisher
- Square Enix (2020–2022) / Crystal Dynamics (2022–2023)
- Director
- Morgan W. Gray · Shaun Escayg
- Designer
- Michael Brinker · Philippe Therien
- Artist
- Brenoch Adams · Josh Bapst
- Engine
- Foundation Engine
- Writer
- Nicole Martinez · Shaun Escayg · John Stafford
- Composer
- Bobby Tahouri
- Platforms
- PlayStation 4 · Stadia · Windows · Xbox One · PlayStation 5 · Xbox Series X/S
- Released
- PS4, Stadia, Windows, Xbox One · 4 September 2020 · PS5, Xbox Series X/S · 18 March 2021
- Genre
- Action-adventure, beat 'em up
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Marvel's Avengers is played from a third-person perspective and offers both single-player and multiplayer modes, including an online co-op mode for up to four players. The initial roster consists of six heroes, with additional characters added through free post-launch updates that also introduced story expansions and new regions. Each hero has costume customization options and a skill tree for upgrading powers and abilities. The game was released for PlayStation 4, Stadia, Windows, and Xbox One on 4 September 2020, with PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S versions following on 18 March 2021; players on previous consoles could upgrade for free. The plot centers on Kamala Khan, who gains Inhuman powers during A-Day, a celebration that ends with a terrorist attack and the apparent death of Captain America. Five years later, A.I.M. threatens to eliminate all Inhumans, prompting Kamala to reunite the Avengers. The story features a roster of playable heroes including Kate Bishop, Clint Barton, T'Challa, Spider-Man (PlayStation exclusive), Jane Foster, and Bucky Barnes, as well as villains such as MODOK, Abomination, Taskmaster, and Loki.
Reader's Guide
Marvel's Avengers received mixed reviews upon release, with critics praising its story and combat but criticizing its repetition, lack of substantial content, technical issues, and release model. Despite strong initial sales, the game was a commercial disappointment, selling only 3 million copies. Support from Crystal Dynamics ended in September 2023, and the game was delisted from digital storefronts in the same month. The game's significance lies in its attempt to blend a single-player narrative with a live-service multiplayer model, featuring a diverse roster of Marvel heroes and free post-launch content. Its legacy is marked by the contrast between its ambitious scope and the mixed reception, as well as its relatively short support window. The game's delisting and end of updates reflect the challenges of sustaining a live-service title in a competitive market.
Did You Know?
- The game's initial roster includes six heroes, with additional characters like Black Panther and Spider-Man added post-launch.
- Marvel's Avengers was delisted from digital storefronts in September 2023.
- The game features an original story centered on Kamala Khan / Ms. Marvel.
More in Adventure Games of the 2020s, Part 2 1-24
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