Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy
A single-player Guardians adventure with branching dialogue and no microtransactions.
In 2021, Eidos-Montréal developed and Square Enix originally published *Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy*, an action-adventure game. It takes place in a fresh universe inspired by the Marvel Comics superhero team. The story kicks off when the Guardians try to capture a beast for a wealthy collector, but their actions accidentally set off a disaster that endangers galactic peace. Players take control of Star-Lord, the group’s self-appointed leader, and can direct teammates like Drax the Destroyer, Gamora, Rocket Raccoon, and Groot. Key moments let players make choices through dialogue trees, which influence how the Guardians relate to each other and can alter mission outcomes.
This was the second game made through a partnership between Marvel Entertainment and Square Enix. Unlike their earlier title, *Marvel's Avengers*, this one is strictly single-player, with no downloadable content or microtransactions. Marvel worked closely with Eidos to craft an original take on the Guardians. Although the game has a lighthearted tone, trauma and grief are core themes. The soundtrack includes an original score by Richard Jacques, licensed songs from the 1970s and 1980s, and a 1980s-style album by audio director Steve Szczepkowski.
Announced in June 2021, the game launched on October 26, 2021, for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S, with a cloud streaming version for Nintendo Switch the same day. Despite low anticipation following the poor reception of *Marvel's Avengers*, critics generally gave it positive reviews. They praised the narrative, music, characters, and voice acting, but opinions were mixed on the gameplay and combat systems. It earned several year-end award nominations, winning "Best Narrative" at The Game Awards 2021, plus "Adventure Game of the Year" and "Outstanding Achievement in Story" at the 25th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards. Even with strong critical feedback, it did not meet Square Enix’s sales expectations.
In the game, players see Peter Quill, or Star-Lord, from a third-person view. He fights with elemental guns that have four modes: ice shots freeze enemies, lightning stuns them, wind pulls distant foes closer, and plasma deals fire damage to bosses. The other Guardians—Gamora, Rocket, Groot, and Drax—are controlled by artificial intelligence, but players can give them orders during fights.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy
- Developer
- Eidos-Montréal
- Publisher
- Square EnixSelf-published under the name Eidos Interactive Corp following sale of Eidos-Montréal to Embracer Group in 2022
- Director
- Jean-François Dugas
- Producer
- Olivier Proulx · Hubert Corriveau
- Programmer
- Daniel Letendre
- Artist
- Bruno Gauthier-Leblanc
- Designer
- Patrick Fortier
- Writer
- Mary DeMarle
- Composer
- Richard Jacques
- Engine
- Dawn Engine
- Platforms
- PlayStation 4 · PlayStation 5 · Windows · Xbox One · Xbox Series X/S · Nintendo Switch (Cloud)
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy was the second game developed in partnership between Marvel Entertainment and Square Enix. The game is strictly single-player and has no downloadable content or microtransactions, marking a departure from Marvel Entertainment and Square Enix's previous game, Marvel's Avengers. Marvel collaborated closely with the team at Eidos to create an original version of the Guardians. Despite the game's lighthearted tone, themes of trauma and grief are central to the story. The soundtrack comprises an original score composed by Richard Jacques, various licensed songs from the 1970s and 1980s, and a 1980s-inspired album by the game's audio director, Steve Szczepkowski.
The game was announced in June 2021 and was released for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S on October 26, 2021. A cloud streaming version for Nintendo Switch was released on the same day. While anticipation for the game was low due to the lackluster reception of Marvel's Avengers, it received generally positive reviews from critics. It was praised for its narrative, music, characters, and cast performance, but its gameplay and combat systems drew mixed reactions. The game was nominated for several year-end accolades by gaming publications, as well as winning awards for 'Best Narrative' at The Game Awards 2021, along with 'Adventure Game of the Year' and 'Outstanding Achievement in Story' at the 25th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards. Despite positive critical reception, the game failed to meet Square Enix's sales expectations.
Reader's Guide
Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy is notable for its narrative-driven approach and its deliberate contrast with the live-service model of Marvel's Avengers. The game's emphasis on a single-player experience with no downloadable content or microtransactions was a significant departure from its predecessor. Critics praised the story, music, character portrayals, and voice performances, while the combat and gameplay systems received mixed reactions. The game won 'Best Narrative' at The Game Awards 2021 and 'Adventure Game of the Year' and 'Outstanding Achievement in Story' at the 25th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards. Despite these accolades and generally positive reviews, the game failed to meet Square Enix's sales expectations. Its legacy lies in demonstrating that a single-player, story-focused Marvel game could achieve critical success even when commercial performance fell short of projections. The game's original soundtrack, blending an original score with 1970s and 1980s licensed songs and a fictional 1980s-inspired album, contributed to its distinctive identity.
Did You Know?
- The game has no downloadable content or microtransactions, a departure from Marvel's Avengers.
- The soundtrack includes an original score by Richard Jacques and a 1980s-inspired album by audio director Steve Szczepkowski.
- The player controls only Star-Lord and issues commands to the other AI-controlled Guardians.
More in Adventure Games of the 2020s, Part 2 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced