Skylanders: Giants vs Skylanders: Swap Force
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.
Skylanders: Giants is the 2012 direct sequel to Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure, blending physical toy collectibles with video game action. Players place real-world action figures onto the Portal of Power to bring them to life in the fantasy adventure. Featuring brand new characters known as Giants who are twice the physical size of regular Skylanders, the game introduces expanded gameplay mechanics, puzzles, and enemies. Developed by Toys for Bob and published by Activision, it continues the beloved action RPG and hack-and-slash franchise experience.
Skylanders: Swap Force is the third main entry in the Skylands franchise, blending platforming, RPG elements, and hack‑and‑slash combat. Players collect physical Skylander figures that can be split and recombined, creating new abilities and strategies. The story follows the SWAP Force heroes who were banished to Earth after a volcanic eruption, and now must help Flynn and Tessa stop Kaos' Greeble army. Featuring voice talent like John DiMaggio and Troy Baker, the game supports single‑player, co‑op, and split‑screen multiplayer on PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One.
- Engaging toy-to-life integration that kids love
- Fun cooperative local multiplayer gameplay
- Introduces larger and more powerful Giant characters
- Expands upon the successful formula of the first game
- Innovative figure‑splitting mechanic adds deep customization.
- Engaging co‑op split‑screen experience for up to four players.
- Strong voice talent enhances the story immersion.
- Available on multiple current‑generation consoles.
- Requires purchasing additional physical figures to experience all content
- Can become an expensive hobby due to toy purchases
- Core gameplay loop feels similar to the predecessor
- Requires physical Skylander figures for full functionality.
- Split‑screen performance can be less smooth on older hardware.
- Limited online multiplayer options.
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The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataBoth games cost the same and require physical figures, but Skylanders: Swap Force scores higher with critics and supports up to four-player split‑screen, while Giants adds larger Giant figures but offers a similar core experience.
Key differences
- •Swap Force lets you split and recombine figures for custom characters; Giants does not.
- •Swap Force supports up to four players on split‑screen; Giants supports local co‑op but fewer players.
- •Critic scores differ: Giants 69/100 vs. Swap Force 83/100.
- •Giants introduces larger Giant Skylanders, adding a size‑based gameplay twist.
- •Swap Force released on more recent consoles (PS4, Xbox One) whereas Giants is limited to older generation.
Gameplay & fun factor
Swap Force adds figure‑splitting customization and four‑player split‑screen, expanding play styles beyond Giants' similar hack‑and‑slash loop.
Platform availability
Swap Force lists PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One; Giants only lists release date, no multi‑gen platforms.
Price & value
Both have a $59.99 MSRP and require buying physical figures, so upfront cost is equivalent.
Multiplayer / co‑op
Swap Force supports up to four players split‑screen; Giants supports local co‑op but fewer participants.
Content & replayability
Higher critic score (83 vs 69) suggests more polished content; Swap Force also adds hybrid figure combos for replay value.
Difficulty & accessibility
Giants' core loop mirrors the first game, likely more familiar to newcomers; Swap Force adds figure‑splitting complexity.
Graphics & performance
Swap Force released on newer consoles, implying better graphics and performance than Giants' older hardware.
Choose Skylanders: Giants if…
Families who already own Giant figures and prefer larger characters over extra customization.
Choose Skylanders: Swap Force if…
Players wanting deeper customization, four‑player co‑op, and a more critically praised experience.
Common questions
Do I need to buy extra figures for either game?
Yes, both titles require physical Skylander figures to access full content.
Which game supports more players simultaneously?
Swap Force supports up to four players split‑screen; Giants supports local co‑op with fewer players.
Is there a noticeable quality difference between the two games?
Critic scores show Swap Force (83/100) is better received than Giants (69/100).