Hydrogels are capable materials for tissue engineering owing to their notable resemblance in physical and structural attributes to natural tissues. This unique resemblance sets them apart from other biomaterials, positioning them as highly advantageous options in this field. The covalent bond formation among the polymer chains through chemical cross-linking promotes better mechanical stability for the hydrogels. The present study used two cross-linkers, glutaraldehyde, and glyoxal, to fabricate the gelatine and polyvinyl alcohol composite hydrogel. The influence of two cross-linking agents on hydrogels’ compressive and swelling properties is evaluated comparatively. The uniaxial compression test under unconfined conditions was conducted at a crosshead speed of 0.1 mm/s for the developed hydrogels. The swelling properties of hydrogels are assessed at different temperatures and pH levels. The failure strength of the hydrogels cross-linked with glutaraldehyde was perceived to be relatively lower than that of the hydrogels cross-linked with glyoxal under compressive loading conditions. The glyoxal cross-linked hydrogels can retain their shape upon removal of the compressive load due to their elastic nature, whereas the hydrogel cross-linked with glutaraldehyde behaves like a brittle and foamy material. Glyoxal cross-linked hydrogels exhibited relatively better swelling properties.