Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy

About

In Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy, play as Star-Lord, leading an unique crew of heroes on a thrilling third-person action-adventure journey through the cosmos. Engage in combat, explore diverse worlds, and experience a story filled with humor and emotion, set against the backdrop of a catastrophic chain of events. This single-player game offers a true superhero experience with a memorable soundtrack and heartfelt storytelling.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy screenshot

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 30,812 reviews

story9.3k positive mentions

stability1k negative mentions

story
15,944 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
40%
2%
The story of "Guardians of the Galaxy" has been widely praised for its engaging narrative, well-developed characters, and emotional depth, often compared favorably to the Marvel films. Players appreciate the humor and camaraderie among the Guardians, with dialogue that feels authentic and entertaining, while the plot features unexpected twists that keep the experience fresh. Despite some criticisms regarding repetitive gameplay and technical issues, the overall consensus is that the story is the standout element, making it a must-play for fans of narrative-driven games.
- “The story is engaging and builds up well with certain unexpected outcomes that stop it from being predictable.”
- “The story is captivating, satisfying all Marvel enthusiasts.”
- “The story, characters, and world alone are stellar, and carry this game to new heights.”
- “The story feels drawn out, with long dialogue scenes that slow down the pacing.”
- “The story was really lame and out of order.”
- “The story really lacked originality and didn't implement the cliches it used well enough to make it good.”
gameplay
6,178 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
46%
9%
The gameplay of "Guardians of the Galaxy" has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its fun and engaging mechanics, particularly the team-based combat and the unique "huddle" mechanic that enhances battles with music and boosts. However, several reviews highlight that the gameplay can become repetitive and lacks depth, often feeling simplistic and linear, which detracts from the overall experience. While the story, characters, and humor are frequently praised, some players feel that the gameplay does not match the high quality of the narrative and visuals, leading to a perception of it being more of an interactive movie than a fully-fledged game.
- “I highly recommend this game to anyone seeking a captivating storyline and exceptional gameplay mechanics.”
- “The gameplay itself is fairly simple, but responsive enough and does a good job of incorporating the entire team during battles.”
- “The gameplay is unique, requiring you to monitor multiple different team members at once.”
- “The gameplay is a bit repetitive, some enemies are a bit bullet spongey and at times it feels like just fighting waves of enemies for no real reason aside from 'making gameplay' - but it's 'fine' it's still quite fun and works well that it's not a big problem to me.”
- “The gameplay itself is fairly simple and not very difficult, but it is pretty enjoyable.”
- “The gameplay loop is combat, light environmental puzzles and exploring the beautiful worlds.”
music
5,272 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
38%
1%
The music in "Guardians of the Galaxy" has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its vibrant soundtrack filled with iconic 80s hits and original tracks from the fictional band "Star-Lord." The integration of music into gameplay, particularly during the "huddle up" mechanic, enhances the overall experience, making battles feel more dynamic and engaging. While some players noted that the licensed music could be underutilized in certain contexts, the general consensus is that the soundtrack significantly contributes to the game's charm and nostalgic appeal.
- “The soundtrack is phenomenal and I personally love the album created for the game.”
- “The soundtrack had also been a highlight, filled with 80s classics that perfectly complemented the action-packed moments, making the gameplay even more thrilling.”
- “The music kicks it up a notch as well especially during combat.”
- “The soundtrack for the actual game contains some licensed music... but you still have to listen to the terrible, made-up 'starlord' band because the studio decided they needed something to put in the 'digital deluxe edition' and if they didn't use their terrible studio musicians in the game, they couldn't sell their sub-par work as a 'soundtrack'.”
- “The music seems lack luster, as you see music plays every time you use huddle and it's random, but the major issue is with it that sound effects and voice dialogue are louder than the music playing which music is set to 100%, even turning effects and voice down with leaving music the way it is doesn't do nothing.”
- “The soundtrack was also incredibly bland and annoying, with about 4 classic hits constantly on repeat, that you only get about a 60 second portion of.”
graphics
4,326 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
66%
32%
2%
The graphics in "Guardians of the Galaxy" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals, vibrant colors, and detailed character models, often described as breathtaking and next-gen quality. Many players noted the impressive use of ray tracing and the overall artistic design that brings the game's environments to life, although some reported occasional graphical glitches and performance issues. Overall, the game's visuals are considered a major highlight, contributing significantly to the immersive experience and storytelling.
- “The graphics really shine in this title and the environments truly come to life, and despite the odd texture flicker or stutter during a transition or screenshot are extremely immersive.”
- “The visuals are amazing and really next-gen.”
- “The graphics are stunning, the storyline is engaging and the characters are lovable.”
- “Lags a lot, can't play even in low graphics.”
- “The game feels poorly optimized, like my computer is struggling to render everything on screen when other games with comparative graphics run smoothly.”
- “Even at the lowest graphics settings and GPU optimization, everything is still jumpy and looks terrible.”
humor
3,132 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
The humor in "Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy" has been widely praised for its clever writing, engaging character banter, and ability to evoke genuine laughter throughout the gameplay. Players appreciate the witty dialogue that captures the essence of the characters from both the comics and films, often finding themselves laughing out loud at the interactions between team members. The game successfully balances humor with emotional depth, making it a standout experience for fans of the franchise.
- “You will enjoy this game's silly sense of humor even if you are not into superheroes.”
- “I found myself looking forward to the banter between characters as it was always witty and often times hilarious.”
- “The dialogue is witty and humorous, delivering memorable one-liners and laugh-out-loud moments that stay true to the spirit of the Guardians franchise.”
- “Filled to the brim with unfunny dialogue, constantly yapping characters and dumb, inconsequential story.”
- “While the game is overall a solid 6/10, it has a lot of issues that can make it insufferable at times, the combat does just enough things right to be fun, but can get extremely frustrating with bullet sponge enemies that keep spawning, and with the constant unfunny quips and banter, you will have to mute the game during long fights unless you enjoy listening to the same line 20 times, the story keeps getting derailed every time the game wants to pad itself out for one more chapter, and the final boss is just a bunch of starter enemies which is extremely anticlimactic.”
- “The only entertainment value I got from this is the background dialogue which for the most part is okay, not funny and sometimes just cringe.”
stability
1,116 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
92%
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with many players reporting numerous bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, including character freezes, cutscene issues, and occasional crashes. While some users noted that these issues could often be resolved by reloading checkpoints, the frequency and severity of the glitches have led to a consensus that the game feels unfinished and can be frustrating to play. Despite these problems, many players still found the overall experience enjoyable, citing the engaging story and characters as reasons to overlook the technical shortcomings.
- “No hiccups, no glitches, no crashes, nothing.”
- “Bug free after 19 hours with excellent visuals and sound design.”
- “Runs great, steady 150fps with ultra settings at 1440p using a 10700KF + RTX3080 + 32GB RAM; enjoyable gameplay has all the humor that Guardians of the Galaxy movies have, very enjoyable.”
- “Unfortunately the backside of this are numerous glitches in the cutscenes, when the game does not progress to the next stage because some dialogue has not happened or the character is stuck at the door.”
- “The biggest downside to this game, where it leans into "don't recommend" territory is how buggy this game is.”
- “Seeing how it was released in 2021, I can't fathom why the game is still such a buggy mess in 2024.”
optimization
892 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
37%
20%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its ability to run smoothly on high-end hardware and even older systems, achieving impressive frame rates with ray tracing enabled. However, numerous players have reported significant performance issues, including stuttering, frame drops, and inconsistent performance across different hardware setups, particularly on PC. While some users found the game well-optimized overall, others described it as one of the worst-optimized ports they've encountered, indicating a need for further improvements.
- “Great optimization, 120fps with ray tracing, what else could you ask for!”
- “This game looks amazing and is very well optimized.”
- “Outstanding story, great gameplay, insane graphics, and mad optimization.”
- “However, it feels like the optimization for PC wasn't done well, making the gameplay not very smooth, which is a bit disappointing.”
- “The performance is terrible (I've had to lock in at 30 on an RTX 3080), the combat is a mess and levels either have too much or not enough of it, dialogue gets cut off frequently as sequences aren't timed to fit it all in, flying sections are confusing and infrequent enough that you forget the controls, and overall it just feels lacking in refinement.”
- “It is one of the worst optimized PC ports I have ever seen.”
emotional
884 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
The emotional aspect of "Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy" is widely praised, with players highlighting its ability to blend humor and heartfelt moments seamlessly. Many reviews note that the game's narrative is rich and engaging, featuring well-developed characters whose personal struggles resonate deeply, often leading to genuine emotional reactions, including tears. The combination of witty dialogue, touching backstories, and a compelling soundtrack enhances the overall emotional experience, making players feel connected to the characters and their journey.
- “This game made me feel again.”
- “The story is fantastic, and it delivers emotional, strong and powerful moments.”
- “Whether you're trading quips with Rocket or sharing a heartfelt moment with Gamora, the interactions between the Guardians feel genuine and authentic, making you truly care about the fate of this dysfunctional family.”
- “Shallow cliché characters, boring story (should have been expected by a Marvel thing but I didn't have anything else to play), lame gameplay... but the worst of it is the never-ending dialogue - someone is speaking all the bloody time!”
- “Bad designs, bad writing, boring story, reuses the same 5 lines, poor fighting system, Adam Warlock carried.”
- “Boring story, boring progression through the game, boring fights.”
character development
466 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
41%
1%
The character development in "Guardians of the Galaxy" is widely praised for its depth and emotional resonance, allowing players to connect with the unique personalities of each guardian. Reviewers highlight the well-crafted interactions and banter that evolve throughout the game, showcasing a journey from initial discord to a cohesive team dynamic. The character designs, while initially met with mixed reactions, ultimately contribute to a rich narrative experience that enhances the overall storytelling.
- “The character development and interactions between the team members are well-crafted, adding depth and emotional resonance to the overall experience.”
- “The character development is outstanding, making me truly connect with the unique personalities of the Guardians.”
- “The strength of the game is definitely in its narrative and character development, and it’s been a pure pleasure to listen, play, discover, and simply have fun in the GOTG universe.”
- “The character development feels way too abrupt and context is limited and sometimes not present.”
- “There was some character development and learning to get along like you'd hope, but it felt like too little too late in the case of this game.”
- “The combat is... passable, if a bit repetitive, without much character development, where you should expect just a few linear perk/ability unlocks and not any builds or variation.”
replayability
396 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
68%
11%
Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many reviewers noting that while it offers some choices that can alter dialogue and minor story elements, the linear nature of the gameplay limits significant replay value. New Game Plus and collectibles provide some incentive for multiple playthroughs, but many players feel that the experience is best enjoyed once, with limited motivation to replay beyond achieving 100% completion or exploring different dialogue options. Many recommend waiting for a sale due to the relatively short playtime and lack of substantial replayability.
- “It offers a whopping ~20 hours on the first playthrough and with new game + a lot of replayability at a reasonable price.”
- “A lot of replay value for reliving the story, the characters, humor & sheer enjoyable experience this game brings.”
- “The choices you make throughout the game may not have a huge impact but they have sort of consequences, adding depth and replayability to the overall experience.”
- “The choices you make don't really matter and are in place just to try and give the illusion of replayability.”
- “Good graphics, fair music, combat is tight but forgiving, but the story is way too drawn out at the end, and the game lacks replayability.”
- “Because the story and gameplay is so linear there is no replay value as the story doesn't change.”
grinding
318 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
22%
72%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, particularly in combat scenarios where enemies often feel like health sponges. While some appreciate the lack of excessive grinding mechanics and microtransactions, many still report that the gameplay can become monotonous, especially towards the end, with long cutscenes and unskippable dialogues exacerbating the experience. Despite these criticisms, the engaging story and character interactions help to mitigate some of the tedium.
- “Very refreshing there is no grinding, no crafting, no pseudo open world with repetitive quests.”
- “This is how a Marvel game should be, single player focused with no multiplayer, no DLC, no grinding or 100 hours of walking; what you see is what you get like it was back in the day.”
- “No distraction, no grinding, no online elements; hard to believe it's from Marvel.”
- “The only thing I disliked about the game is the tediousness of getting certain achievements, some of which cause you to replay parts of the game several times, taking about 1-2 hours for one mediocre achievement.”
- “Combat is tedious and boring; you just run around closed arenas using the same pea shooters throughout the entire game and use your companion powers via radial menu.”
- “It's a slow tedious slog with most of the enemies feeling very 'samey', and almost all of them tanking copious amounts of damage.”
monetization
290 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
52%
30%
The game is praised for its complete absence of microtransactions, DLC, and other monetization schemes, offering a pure single-player experience that focuses on storytelling and character development. Players appreciate the ability to unlock cosmetics and upgrades through gameplay rather than through additional purchases, marking it as a refreshing departure from the cash-grab mentality prevalent in many modern titles. Overall, the game's monetization model is seen as a significant positive, contributing to its reputation as a well-crafted and heartfelt project.
- “This is a complete, surprisingly good single player story with zero microtransactions, which is getting rarer and rarer these days.”
- “The game's progression system is well designed, with no microtransactions, and everything is unlocked by either exploring or progressing through the story.”
- “I love that a AAA game in 2021 came out with no future DLC announcements, no microtransactions, and the ability to unlock items through gameplay.”
- “It's rare to see devs putting that much love and passion into their games these days, and instead fill them with tons of useless microtransactions and lame content to grab as much money as possible.”
- “This game is essentially what the Avengers game should have been, a game designed with the primary purpose of being only a narrative-driven single-player experience, not being a 'live games as a service' monetization type crap.”
- “I was hesitant to buy the game because of its association with the atrocious Marvel's Avengers game; I thought it would be similar in gameplay and in its monetization, but no, Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy is an amazing game.”
atmosphere
188 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
41%
2%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its vibrant environments, engaging character interactions, and a soundtrack that captures the essence of the Guardians of the Galaxy films. Players appreciate the detailed world-building and humor, which enhance immersion, although some find the constant character banter can occasionally detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game successfully evokes the feel of a Guardians movie, making it a memorable adventure for fans.
- “The atmosphere is enriched by detailed environments, from bustling spaceports to eerie alien landscapes.”
- “With a classic rock and metal soundtrack amplifying the atmosphere, charismatic characters, and visually stunning environments, this game delivers a memorable adventure that becomes increasingly enjoyable as you journey closer to its epic conclusion.”
- “The characters and atmosphere Eidos created for this game is second to none, and you can tell that the developers took their time to get this right.”
- “Annoying and frequent enough to detract and take you out of the plot and atmosphere (which is most of the reason to play the game), but not game breaking.”
- “Somehow it feels like older single player games... I assume it's that the focus is so heavy on the story and atmosphere.”
- “Gameplay is nothing to write home about but it's enjoyable and the game manages to deliver the Guardians of the Galaxy atmosphere that you're looking for.”