Marvel Rivals

Marvel Rivals is fantastic.

Perhaps one the slickest free to play PVP releases of recent times, allowing Marvelheads or laypeople to hero shoot with frightening levels of choice. Perhaps a bit too much choice, for those who take their competitive games seriously.

Marvel Rivals is a stellar multiplayer game that has plenty of potential in the years ahead. It sounds like it has a great content plan, as the game just added the Invisible Woman and Mr. Fantastic into the game a month into the game's launch. When you keep that in mind alongside the stellar gameplay and team-based mechanics, Marvel Rivals is likely to stay for many years ahead.

It really makes you feel like Spider-Man.

Going toe-to-toe with Overwatch is a tough ask, but Marvel Rivals brings an impressive roster and its own nuanced action to the table, competing with and even exceeding Blizzard's efforts.

Marvel Rivals is a Super Hero Team-Based PVP Shooter! Assemble an all-star Marvel squad, devise countless strategies by combining powers to form unique Team-Up skills and fight in destructible, ever-changing battlefields across the continually evolving Marvel universe!

“Marvel Rivals is the most entertaining hero shooter since Overwatch.”

With thirty-three playable characters at launch, Marvel Rivals sports an incredibly varied roster of beloved heroes and villains from the brand's lush history. Some are more recognizable than others, but each holds unique skills that must be used to damage opponents, help allies, or effectively navigate the battlefield. Each character fits into one of three categories: the tanky Vanguard, the damage-focused Duelist, and the supportive Strategist. While specific classes are nothing new to the hero shooter genre, the way Rivals encourages players to try out different characters with special team...

With 33 Heroes to play as, best-in-class presentation bookending matches, and a free-to-play monetization model, Marvel Rivals is almost too good to be true. There’s balancing issues, and some core problems with the way objectives play out, sure, but given that Marvel Rivals has only just launched, the future is very bright indeed. For now, you’ll be able to jump in and have a blast, whether you’re looking for a competitive challenge or casual fun.

It may be following closely in the slipstream of the hero shooters that have come before it, but by doing so Marvel Rivals has firmly placed itself in a strong position to take the crown for itself.

Marvel Rivals became one of the most highly anticipated games of 2024 the moment it was announced, with its striking visuals and new take on the hero shooter genre capturing the interest of hardcore gamers and casual Marvel fans alike. But, while the launch has been a tremendous success in terms of player count, there are some festering problems beneath the surface that are serious cause for concern.

NetEase's spin on the hero battler is complex and moreish, but rarely much actual fun. Its biggest impact is a renewed appreciation for the rivals that do it better.