Guardians of the Galaxy is now on Nintendo Switch 2, and it arrives as the Encore Edition, a new version of the 2021 action-adventure game with exclusive outfits, a brand-new song and a set of upgrades built specifically for Nintendo’s new console. If you missed the original, or you have been waiting for a good reason to play it on a handheld, this is that reason.
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy: Encore Edition is available now on Nintendo Switch 2. It was developed by Eidos-Montréal and published by Square Enix, and it brings the single-player story of Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax, Rocket and Groot to Nintendo Switch 2 for the first time, with the full original game included.
The original Guardians of the Galaxy, released on October 26, 2021, was praised for its writing, its humour and its 1980s soundtrack. It was not a live-service game, and it was not built around multiplayer. It was a story-driven, single-player adventure, and that focus is part of why it has held up so well. The Encore Edition keeps that game intact and adds new content and new technical options for Switch 2 players.
Guardians of the Galaxy Encore Edition: What Is New
The headline addition in Guardians of the Galaxy: Encore Edition is five exclusive glam-rock outfits, one for each Guardian. Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax, Rocket and Groot each get a new look, and the outfits are exclusive to this edition. They are a fitting addition for a game that is so closely tied to music, and they give players a visible reason to pick up the Encore Edition rather than the original release.
The Encore Edition also includes a new single, “Encore”, by the Star-Lord Band, the in-universe duo of Steve Szczepkowski and Yohann Boudreault. The song is now available on streaming services, and it is a reminder that music is not just background in Guardians of the Galaxy. It is part of the game’s identity, from the licensed 1980s tracks to the original songs written for the Star-Lord Band.
Beyond those additions, the Encore Edition is the complete Guardians of the Galaxy experience on Switch 2. It includes the original single-player campaign, with its original story, its dialogue choices and its team-based combat, where Star-Lord can call on Gamora, Drax, Rocket and Groot for special abilities in battle.
Guardians of the Galaxy on Nintendo Switch 2: Graphics and Controls
Guardians of the Galaxy on Nintendo Switch 2 has been built with the new console’s hardware in mind, and it offers three graphics modes for players to choose from. TV Quality Mode runs at 30 frames per second at 1440p, Performance Mode runs at 40 frames per second at 1080p on TVs that support 120Hz, and Handheld Mode runs at 30 frames per second.
Those modes give players a genuine choice. If you want the sharpest image on a big TV, TV Quality Mode is the pick. If you want smoother motion and you have a 120Hz TV, Performance Mode is the better option. If you are playing handheld, Handheld Mode is tuned for that experience. It is a sensible set of options, and it shows that the Switch 2 version was not just a quick port.
The Switch 2 version also supports Joy-Con 2 mouse controls, HD Rumble 2 and gyroscopic aiming. Mouse controls are a useful addition for a third-person action game, especially for aiming, while HD Rumble 2 and gyro aiming should make the combat feel more responsive in handheld and docked play. Those features are specific to Switch 2, and they are part of what makes the Encore Edition feel like a native Switch 2 game rather than a game that happens to run on it.
Why Guardians of the Galaxy Still Works in 2026
Guardians of the Galaxy works because it understands its characters. Star-Lord is a charming, overconfident leader who is often in over his head. Gamora is the deadliest member of the team and the most reluctant to admit she cares about them. Drax takes everything literally and is funnier for it. Rocket is brilliant, angry and fiercely loyal. Groot says very little and means a great deal by it. The game lets those personalities drive the story, and it is at its best when the Guardians are arguing, joking and slowly becoming a family.
The story is original, not a retelling of the films, and it gives the game room to surprise players who think they know where it is going. The dialogue choices matter, too. They do not just change a line of dialogue. They change how the team reacts, how missions play out and, in some cases, what happens next. That makes Guardians of the Galaxy a game that rewards a second playthrough, because different choices lead to different moments.
The combat is team-based, and it is built around Star-Lord’s leadership. Players control Star-Lord directly, while Gamora, Drax, Rocket and Groot can be called on for special abilities. That system keeps the combat fast and varied, and it makes the team feel like a team, rather than four characters who happen to be in the same room.
Guardians of the Galaxy Encore Edition on Switch 2: Is It Worth It
For Switch 2 owners who have never played Guardians of the Galaxy, the Encore Edition is an easy recommendation. It is a complete, story-driven Marvel game with no live-service grind, no multiplayer requirement and no need to have played anything else first. The new outfits and the new single are a bonus, but the core game is the reason to buy it.
For players who already own Guardians of the Galaxy on another platform, the decision is harder. The Encore Edition is a Switch 2 version, with Switch 2 graphics modes and controls, and the exclusive glam-rock outfits and the new “Encore” single are not available in the original release. If you want to play it handheld, or you want the definitive Nintendo version, it is worth considering. If you have already finished it on PlayStation, Xbox or PC, the new content alone is unlikely to justify a second purchase, unless you want to revisit it on Switch 2.
It is also worth noting how strong the Switch 2 library is becoming. This week’s Nintendo Switch releases include a wide range of games, and you can see the full list in our weekly round-up, New Nintendo Switch Games This Week: Ocarina of Time Tops the eShop Drop — Week of November 5, 2026. Guardians of the Galaxy is one of the biggest names on that list, and it is a sign that Switch 2 is becoming a home for major third-party games, not just Nintendo’s own releases.
That trend is also visible in other Switch 2 news. 007 First Light, for example, is coming to Switch 2 in March 2027, and you can read more in 007 First Light FINALLY Has a Switch 2 Date — March 18, 2027, and Pre-Orders Are LIVE. Guardians of the Galaxy arriving now, with a Switch 2-specific edition, is part of the same story: major publishers are taking Switch 2 seriously, and they are building versions of their games for it.
How to Play Guardians of the Galaxy Encore Edition
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy: Encore Edition is available now on Nintendo Switch 2. Watch the launch trailer at YouTube, find out more from publisher Square Enix, and see the original announcement via Games Press.
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