Based on reviewer feedback, notes from fans, and sales, it’s safe to predict that Square Enix might greenlight a sequel to Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy. Hopefully, it doesn’t take another almost decade to get a game based on this Marvel property. The original movie came out in 2014 so it’s crazy to imagine something so popular get ignored in games for so long.

Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy sets itself up for some big story revelations if a sequel does get made. There are plenty of avenues the second entry could cover from the comics and films, but the story stuff isn’t the big concern. Most issues players had with the game invoke its mechanics. What do fans want to see in a Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy sequel beyond a few patches? There will be some spoilers.

6 Non-Linear Gameplay

One of the biggest setbacks Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy has is that it is very linear. There were side paths to find upgrade scraps and costumes but that was about it. There were no true side quests in the game. In all fairness, the linear pacing was well executed but most RPG fans expect their games to have some sort of side quest system.

For the sequel, it would be great if it could be more open like Mass Effect. Peter Quill can never be like Commander Sheppard, but he can try. Mass Effect’s overarching story is great, but the in-between quests and moments are what truly made players fall in love with the characters and world. The sequel to Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy should invoke that same sense of adventure.

5 Expand The Playable Roster

Another setback for Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy is focusing combat around Peter. Thankfully, players can issue commands to the other members of the team, so they aren’t completely stuck with just Peter and his twin pistols. Mass Effect followed the same combat principles. However, Square Enix should not look at Mass Effect for future combat advice.

They should turn their attention inward and vibe off of Final Fantasy 7 Remake instead. One of the reasons why battles are so fun in that game is because each of the playable characters brings something fresh to the table. Swapping between a ranged character like Peter to a melee character like Gamora could create a good dynamic. It would be like switching between Barret and Tifa in Final Fantasy 7 Remake.

4 More Dogfights

There are not many space battles in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy. It’s a shame because they can be fun even if they are fleeting. This could tie back into the idea of adding in more side quests. Dogfights are not for everyone, so they should be added into the sequel as optional missions.

Doing this would please both ends of the spectrum. It would also be interesting if players could customize their ship for battle by adding more guns or swapping colors. Maybe another character like Rocket can take the wheel on this one. Being able to actually build a side vessel would be cool too like the ship-building elements in the Kingdom Hearts franchise.

3 More RPG Elements

Overall as an RPG, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy is lacking. There are dialogue choices, perks for Peter’s guns, and combat skills to buy. None of these things made the game feel truly like an epic, traditional RPG. Naturally, not every RPG needs to follow the same trends.

However, a real leveling-up system would be appreciated in the sequel. Being able to upgrade characters with skills that are bigger than the three choices in the game would also be nice. Finally, adding in some equipment from armor to weapons would also beef up the RPG elements.

2 Add Multiplayer

Square Enix’s other Marvel game, Marvel’s Avengers, can be played alone. However, players still need to be always connected online which is not ideal. Not everyone has a stable internet connection or wants to always be online in the first place for various reasons.

If the sequel to Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy does add a multiplayer mode, it should be optional like the dog fights. There could be a separate mode for multiplayer like in other games. Another idea would be to make multiplayer a side quest and to set it on Lady Hellbender’s planet. It already looked like she had arenas set up for fighting in the first game so applying this idea to the sequel would be interesting to see.

1 Expand The Marvel Scope

There are a lot of Easter eggs for the greater Marvel universe in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy. Fin Fang Foom was a big surprise. He was not only name dropped early on in the game by Drax, but he was also a boss toward the end. It was a bit of a mind-blower. The Marvel nods were fun to see, but the sequel could do a lot more. There are a lot of cosmic characters that could drop in.

Captain Marvel comes to mind as she is basically a space cop. Who better for the team to run into than her? Adding in Thor could also be interesting and it seems like he will also be in MCU’s third Guardians of the Galaxy movie based on the ending of Avengers: Endgame. It would be a perfect way to tie the two things together in some way. Going away from the MCU would also be appreciated to satiate the longtime comic fans out there. Defy expectations. That’s what any good sequel should do.

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.