Marvel Rivals is here and, overall, the response has been very positive. That said, there are a few nuances to consider. The game isn’t perfect and has its flaws, but it also brings some strong features and gameplay elements that can't be overlooked. It delivers on the core concept of a hero shooter (even if some say it’s too similar to Overwatch 2) while adding unique twists that could shake up the genre. Judging by its reception, it may be here to stay.

The Overwatch-Shaped Elephant in the Room

It’s hard to imagine any review of Marvel Rivals skipping over the obvious comparison: that it’s an Overwatch clone, so let's start there. I don’t fully agree with that sentiment, but I can see where the comparison comes from. At a glance, Marvel Rivals does borrow certain aspects from Overwatch, much like how Overwatch itself drew inspiration from Team Fortress 2.

Blizzard’s title essentially built on TF2’s class-based hero shooter concept, evolving it to the point where the similarities now feel surface-level. The same can be said for Marvel Rivals. Yes, it mirrors Overwatch’s 6v6 format, the tank-damage-support hero roles, and even some abilities that feel almost identical to certain Overwatch characters. But that’s where the similarities end. 

You won’t feel like you’re playing an "Overwatch clone." Instead, Marvel Rivals delivers a fresh, unique experience. Sure, you might occasionally think, “Oh, that ability reminds me of X hero from Overwatch,” but beyond those fleeting moments, the gameplay stands on its own. It’s distinctive and exciting, offering a lot for both Overwatch fans (myself included) and newcomers to the genre.

What Marvel Rivals Brings to the Table and Gets Right

To sum it up quickly, Marvel Rivals is a 6v6 open-queue, third-person hero shooter with a roster of 33 well and lesser-known Marvel characters. Players face off in modes that feel very familiar; escort the payload, capture objectives, and defend zones.

It’s standard stuff, similar to Overwatch 2. But here’s the twist: the gameplay takes those core concepts and knocks them out of the park to deliver a fun, controlled, almost brawl-like chaos that many of us love this genre for.

Let’s start with the roster. The variety is fantastic, with heroes and villains offering different playstyles and strategies. Whether you’re soaring through the skies as Storm or Iron Man, dishing out ranged attacks to control space, or getting up close and personal with tanky heroes like Thor, Venom, and Captain America, there’s a character for every mood.

What Marvel Rivals nails with its heroes though, is the balance. Every hero has clear strengths and weaknesses that you’ll notice right away. Take Luna Snow: her healing output is off the charts, but she’s squishy and doesn’t have much mobility.

Or Hawkeye, who’s amazing at long range but struggles up close and lacks escape tools. Thor? He’s an absolute juggernaut when ambushing players, but when his cooldowns are blown, he’s a sitting duck.

This balance means no hero is essential for a specific composition, shifting the focus to outplaying your opponents rather than constantly counter-swapping. Each hero has a skill ceiling that feels thoughtfully balanced (reflected in the game’s difficulty ratings for characters). Whether a hero is easier to master or more challenging, they can make significant plays when used effectively.

Take Spider-Man and Scarlet Witch as an example of this design philosophy. Spider-Man represents a high-skill ceiling hero, while Scarlet Witch is more accessible. If you don’t know how to play either, you’re likely to get obliterated in your first team fight of the match.

But invest some effort into learning their playstyles, and both can have an equally strong impact leading to some really fun moments. The difference is that high-skill ceiling characters offer more room for creative skill expression, not a win condition, which is exactly how it should be.

This also means players who prefer simpler heroes don’t have to force themselves onto high-skill characters just to stay competitive, and can just play the game to have fun. As long as you play your chosen hero well enough, you’ll have a fighting chance. And if your hero isn’t quite enough in certain situations, Marvel Rivals introduces the Team-Up abilities, a feature that elevates the game to an entirely new level I didn’t expect.

Here’s a great example from one of my matches: I was struggling as Spider-Man (skill issues), and we were getting rolled. My teammate switched to Venom, and suddenly, our team-up ability kicked in. I gained a new power that let me become a rolling ball of venom spikes, tearing through enemies in their backline.

And it doesn’t stop there. The Team-Up system opens up so many possibilities. Imagine seeing a well-coordinated Iron Man flanking your team, and you swap in Squirrel Girl for her team-up bonus with Spider-Man: a special web bomb that can easily knock flyers out of the sky. The potential for creative combos is endless, and it’s a feature I now wish every hero shooter had (Overwatch, take notes).

Speaking of things I want Overwatch to steal: destructible environments. These add a whole new layer to matches. Whether you’re breaking walls to give Black Widow a clear shot, smashing cover to ambush someone, or physically tearing down the high ground to deny an enemy advantage, it’s all incredibly satisfying.

Finally, Marvel Rivals nails it with its accessible and player-friendly content. The monetization system sticks strictly to cosmetics (at the time of writing), and while there’s an optional battle pass, the game never pushes you to buy anything. This makes the experience feel seamless and frustration-free.

On top of that, matchmaking is lightning-fast; you can boot up the game and be in a match in under two minutes, which is a breath of fresh air in today’s competitive gaming landscape with hour-long queue times.

The Cracks in the Mark I Armor

As much as I love Marvel Rivals, I can’t ignore its flaws. Let’s face it, no game is perfect. The balance, while solid overall, has a few shaky spots that stand out. Take Iron Fist: in the hands of a skilled player, he’s downright oppressive. 

Between his wall-running, triple jumps, and deflect ability that chains into massive combos, he’s an absolute menace. Sure, he has weaknesses (he’s squishy without a healer) but when someone plays him optimally, it feels like there’s no escape.

But then there’s the jank. Movement occasionally feels clunky, especially when you’re navigating destructible environments. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve gotten stuck on some random piece of rubble mid-fight. 

Don’t get me wrong, I love the chaos of big team battles, but the screen clutter during those moments is real. Abilities and ultimates go off in a whirlwind of effects, Scarlet Witch screams “PURE CHAOS!” and you’re left trying to piece together what just happened. It’s not unmanageable, but it does make some fights feel like a blur of color and sound rather than a tactical battle.

Speaking of tactical battles, there’s an issue with the uneven number of characters in each role. Out of 33, over half are Duelists (18), while Vanguard and Strategist only have 8 and 7, respectively. Damage roles are usually more popular, so it makes sense they get more attention, but I hope the other roles get some love as the game evolves. A limited selection for Vanguard and Strategist restricts team comps and could lead to a stale meta where your tank picks dictate the game.

And then there are the maps. Visually, they’re stunning, no complaints there, but in terms of gameplay, they can feel restrictive. Some areas funnel players into tight choke points, practically forcing you to pick dive heroes to break through.

This feels like it clashes with the game’s otherwise "play who you love" philosophy. I hope future updates or new maps address this because the potential for more dynamic and open layouts is there.

None of these issues are deal-breakers for me, but they’re cracks in the armor that I’d love to see patched up. Thankfully Marvel Rivals is still in its early days and the future patches, updates, and fixes are likely to remedy a lot of what might frustrate many players.

Assemble! The Future Is Bright For Marvel Rivals

Marvel Rivals delivers something special. It’s a hero shooter that feels familiar but still brings fresh ideas to the table. The massive roster of iconic Marvel heroes and villains, the Team-Up system, destructible environments, and player-friendly monetization (no pay-to-win here) make it worth your time.

Sure, it’s not perfect, but that’s okay. If this is how the game starts, I can’t wait to see where it goes. With free content updates already confirmed and a solid foundation to build on, Marvel Rivals could easily become a household name and a worthy competitor to Overwatch - a win for players everywhere.