When comparing Marvel's Avengers to other titles that use the live-service model, it is easy to find criticisms from even diehard fans of the game. That being said, there are some areas where the title succeeds among the genre, especially when compared against the loot-based process of leveling in games like Destiny 2.
The specific area where Marvel's Avengers succeeds the most is through the availability of single-player content and the ability to play through most of the game solo. While the ability to play alone might seem like a minor aspect for a multiplayer game, it can have a large effect on an individual player's overall experience with any live-service title.
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It might be strange for a game billed as a live-service, multiplayer title where fans can join together as groups of up to four heroes, but the focus on single-player starts from the very beginning of the first campaign. Most of the Reassemble Campaign, the starting story from before any Marvel's Avengers DLC started rolling out, is entirely played solo, with few missions even allowing online matchmaking. However, the singe-player content isn't limited to the start of the game, or even the story, as there is also high-level content meant to be challenged alone.
One of the most impressive ways Marvel's Avengers includes high-level solo content is through the Last Avenger Standing Hive Gauntlet, which can only be played in single-player. This high-level hive in Marvel's Avengers won't help push players to the current maximum power, but it is a great test of skill while only able to rely on basic AI companions. Beyond the pre-made gauntlets, players can also test their skills at custom HARM Room challenges on their own.
Beyond the scope of high-level activities that are built to be played solo, almost every other mission in the game can also be attempted without other players. With the exception of Marvel's Avengers' first Raid and Omega-Level threats, any other mission the game offers can be challenged either as a group or solo. So, regardless of what type of encounter any given player is looking for, they don't need to rely on matchmaking or having friends online in order to engage with the majority of content.
Unlike Marvel's Avengers, other titles under the live-service model tend to emphasize multiplayer to the point that large amounts of content can't be finished without relying on other players. Most notable among competitors would have to be Destiny 2, which has a long history of requiring multiplayer in order to engage with high-level content and obtain certain pieces of gear. This is the case for several exotics, with the pre-Beyond Light method of finding Destiny 2's Whisper of the Worm through the secret Whisper quest being a prime example of a quest that can't normally be completed solo.
In addition to several of these missions being built to require multiple players due to difficulty, there is then the highest points that live-service games are able to achieve. The raids in Destiny 2 are easily the most exciting encounters from the game, requiring multiple players to take on different tasks that work in tandem to accomplish a single shared goal. However, the complexity of these raids incentivize the developer Bungie to continue to shy away from including matchmaking during this high-level content.
This necessity for multiplayer, combined with a lack of matchmaking, makes Destiny 2's best content even more difficult to engage with, especially as a solo player. Between Destiny 2's Grandmaster Nightfall and the raids, the only way to reach to the highest levels and play the most impressive content is to ether work out schedules among multiple players, or try to find a group through forums. Unfortunately, the requirements for strong gear or high levels can make filling out a raid group difficult without already having friends that are regularly able to challenge these encounters each week.
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Outside the content that is single-player focused, there are still a few activities in the current version of Marvel's Avengers that requires a team of four active players. Currently, these include Marvel's Avengers' Discordant Sound Raid and the Omega-Level Threat mission Family Reunion, which are the highest level content available. While Discordant Sound might not be on the same level as Last Wish, Deep Stone Crypt, or Vault of Glass, it's still the best example of the high-end content that keeps people coming back to live-service games through to the end.
Even if the first raid in Marvel's Avengers is somewhat simpler than the higher-level content of other competitors, it still has all the hallmarks of an activity that requires a lot of skill and communication. In that way, Discordant Sound is the type of activity that a title like Bungie might have required be completed with multiple players, but without an automated matchmaking system. However, it would appear that developer Crystal Dynamics is committed to making sure that all content is equally accessible and allows for matchmaking even in some of these most difficult activities.
While it might be easier nowadays to pull together a group of friends to hop on Destiny 2 thanks to the base game being free-to-play, getting through high-level content can be a daunting task. On the other hand, with Marvel's Avengers now on PS Plus Extra and on Xbox Game Pass, the looter is nearly as accessible as other live-service competitors. In that case, looking at Marvel's Avengers as both a multiplayer and solo experience means that players can engage with all the game's content whether trying to schedule a time to play with friends or jump into even the highest-level areas alone.
At the end of the day, when it comes to either title that is primed for players to sink hundreds of hours into, the better option may have more to do with opportunity than actual gameplay. For players who only have the time to jump in alone and complete a few daily activities, Marvel's Avengers has a more complete experience. That being said, when it comes to gameplay, that comes down to whether players prefer playing with Destiny 2's powerful guns or Marvel's Avengers' more melee focused heroes.
Marvel's Avengers is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S.
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