Is it your “time to shine”? Are you ready to “unleash the Vishantis’ power”? Or maybe, just maybe… you are Groot.
If you’ve played Marvel Rivals, you’ll have these captivating quotes, cosmic call outs, and comical catch phrases living rent free in your head even when you aren’t in the game. It’s become a real obsession within my friendship group, and whether I’m spamming battle squirrels or slinging webs left right and centre, the chaos and confusion is altogether addicting.
But how is the game, really? Is it worth playing? Or should you stick with Overwatch 2 and-no, I can’t even say that with a straight face.
Spoilers abound for gameplay.
Avengers, Assemble
The MCU introduced multiple generations to the concept of an expansive, imaginative shared universe, where stories collide and teams across the galaxies come together to defeat all manner of villains. Marvel Rivals continues with that theme, setting its game against the backdrop of a fractured multiverse. Heroes and villains from various realities must converge to prevent a catastrophic event, orchestrated by tyrannical dictator, Doctor Doom, and his future counterpart from 2099.
This serves as the perfect foundation for players to assemble teams from a diverse selection of Marvel characters in this free-to-play team-based PVP shooter. Players must choose from 3 classes to craft balanced, strategic teams of 6 to counter opponents and either take a point or move a payload to a designated location.
There’s not much more to it than that. Jump in alone, or grab some friends, pick a fun superhero to vibe with, and get massacring
It’s a great concept that really builds on the premises that games like Team Fortress 2 and Overwatch popularised. It’s a game that I don’t think would have come out before these and been as successful.
As Marvel is a household franchise, and now that players are used to this style of game, it’s so easy to jump in already knowing what you’re getting into.
Many players already have an idea of the balancing needed to win in a 6v6 PVP. You already know the majority of the characters (at least)-you know that Captain America will rely heavily on his shield, or that Hawkeye will be sniping, or that Thor will use his hammer and lightning to pulverise on the point. Ultimately, I believe that these preexisting assumptions are a key reason that Marvel Rivals is such a gripping and easy game to jump into.
Or is it primarily the gameplay?
Your Powers Are Mine!
Why not just play something like Overwatch 2 or even another shooter?
You know how I said that Marvel Rivals has built upon what came before it? The gameplay and combat are now familiar to many gamers, so Marvel Rivals really feels like it’s the next in a line of these games-but, in many ways, better. With new characters, it’s fresh, allowing you to essentially have the sequel to Overwatch that Overwatch 2 couldn’t deliver.
But, actually, the characters are not that new. And that’s the genius. When you first jump into the game, you know, at least to an extent, who Captain America and Invisible Woman are. You’ve seen X-men or The Avengers, or you’ve read some of the comics, and maybe you’re excited to finally see Squirrel Girl or Namor in something mainstream. You have an idea of what Groot, Loki, Black Widow or Psylocke’s powers might be, just because you’ve heard of them. So, unlike Overwatch, where there’s a bit of a steep learning curve when you first play the game, you can pick your character with somewhat of an idea of what you’re getting yourself into.
So, what have we got?
– Vanguard: characters with big health pools and uniting power. They often have a shield or wall to help absorb damage (like Dr Strange or Groot) or are big and bulky enough on their
own to soak up damage and disrupt a team (think Venom or Thor). Without these guys to rally behind, it’s likely the rest of your team will be picked off easily.
– Duelist: damage dealers. These guys are squishier than the Vanguard characters, but have effective and fun ways of taking down the opposition’s health. Will you snipe with Hawkeye or Black Widow? Lock on with Scarlet Witch? Pommel with punches like Iron Fist or Black Panther? Swing your sword with Magik? Fly high with Iron Man or Hela? Or bury enemies with bullets like Starlord or The Punisher? The possibilities are pretty endless, and can really change the meta of the match depending on your preference.
– Strategist: your ride or dies-your healers and buffers. In Overwatch, I always found healers to be pretty discarded, left at the sidelines until a player reluctantly took them up for the good of the team (unless you’re a Zenyatta stan like me). Here, the Strategists are so varied and interesting that I’ve played them all extensively. Whether you’re spray healing water at your friends as Jeff the Lank Shark, launching healing orbs, damage boosts, and armour packs as Rocket Raccoon, or duplicating your godly self for AoE heals as Loki, the choices are varied and fun.
Team-Ups are a unique way to encourage synergy and interesting strategies. Two or more heroes can combine their powers to receive buffs or extra abilities, giving them an edge in battle. I personally love:
– Rocket Raccoon’s team up with The Punisher and Winter Soldier, “Ammo Overload”, that gives them endless ammo and faster firing
– Adam Warlock’s team up with Mantis and Starlord, “Guardian Revival”, which gives them the power of cocooned revival for faster respawns
– Groot’s team up with Jeff the Land Shark and Rocket Raccoon, “Planet X Pals”, which allows the furry and finned fighters to ride on Groot’s shoulders and receive a damage reduction
– Venom’s team up with Peni Parker and Spider-Man, “Symbiote Bond”, which converts symbiotes into explosive spikes.
It really enhances gameplay to be able to not just synergise with your teammates, but to further consider team compositions to make the most out of these additional bonuses.
In terms of gameplay options, you can choose between Quick Play and Competitive. There are merits to both. In Quick Play, there are less stakes, meaning that you can try out whichever hero you want without much consequence. Who cares if you’re being sniped senseless as Iron Man or taken out constantly as a squishy Mantis? There’s only one way to get better, and that’s with practice, so have at it. In Competitive, chances are your teammates are locked in, willing to really consider team composition and adjust where needed to get the win.
Ultimately, Marvel Rivals provides a fun team experience that has refreshed the PVP experience for me. It would just be nice if the issues could be ironed out-my husband can’t play without severe lag, and my friend has frequent crashes, despite both of them having better PC set ups than me. Sort it out, guys!
My Friends Are Here
Venom and Spider-Man, Hela and Thor, Magneto and Wolverine. Friend or foe, they must all work together. It’s a real mishmash of characters and stories, and I love it.
Let’s dive into some of my favourite characters so far.
Marvel fans already know that Scarlet Witch is a powerhouse. In Marvel Rivals, she often dominates, provided she keeps her distance from the frontline. Her primary attack, Chaos Control, is a channelled energy beam that requires zero aiming-just point and click. It’s both devious and incredibly effective, especially since it deals bonus damage based on the target’s max health. Whether you’re up against a tank or a squishier opponent, she melts through them with ease. Just be mindful of her ultimate, Reality Erasure. It’s devastating but requires you to get dangerously close to opponents to succeed, making you an easy target.
Squirrel Girl is another high-damage favourite of mine. As a long-range menace, she bombards enemies with bouncing slingshot nuts that deal AoE damage from a distance. She can leap into the air for a better vantage point-or to escape danger-and she temporarily immobilises foes with a swarm of angry squirrels. And her ultimate? Unbeatable Squirrel Tsunami sends a rodent rampage across the battlefield, homing in on enemy players. Silly? Absolutely. Strong? Without question. If you love chaotic, persistent pressure, Squirrel Girl is a fantastic pick.
For tanky play, Peni Parker is my go-to Vanguard. She’s got a hefty health pool, which only grows thanks to her spider webs that provide gradual healing when she’s inside them. Her turret auto-deploys landmines for extra area denial, she never needs to reload-meaning non-stop pressure-and she can web enemies in place with a well-timed shot. She’s a defensive powerhouse, perfect for holding objectives and countering aggressive opponents.
The girls really do get it done.
I’ve also recently been loving Strategist favourite Cloak & Dagger. A two-in-one hero, we first have Dagger, who uses her primary fire, Lightforce Dagger, to both heal allies or damage enemies. She shoots out a spell field that heals all allies caught by it, and her secondary fire launches a bubble of light that provides healing-over-time. Swapping to Dagger gives you more options. His spell field obstructs enemy vision and amplifies their damage, whilst his primary fire is fantastic for a sneaky point-and-click method of damage infliction. Together, they are fantastic Strategists, with incredible versatility to support all team members.
And what about King of the Seas, Namor? Unique once again, Namor is a Duelist hero who snipes opponents with well-timed tridents and summons sea creatures. All Monstro Spawns aim automatically (but can be directed to opponents of Namor’s choice) and are a great anti-dive strategy. And who doesn’t love his Ultimate, Horn of Proteus, which summons the monstrous whale, Giganto, to deal damage and stun enemies in a massive radius.
Of course, there’s an entire roster of heroes waiting to be explored. Whether you prefer the speed of Star-Lord, the trickery of Loki, the tankiness of Groot, or the downright adorable healing power of Jeff the Land Shark, Marvel Rivals has something for every playstyle.
Embrace The Light
When you’re darting around in a pink flurry of death as Psylocke or swinging across the map as Venom, you might forget to touch the pixelated grass and take in your surroundings. But having exciting graphics to reflect and complement the overload of movement and combat is so important. Good thing Marvel Rivals is very pretty!
The graphics and art design of Marvel Rivals seamlessly blends comic book aesthetics with 3D rendering. Environments are detailed but retain an almost painterly look reminiscent of the Marvel comics, which is very welcoming.
We currently have 13 maps, which are mostly located in either Yggsgard, Tokyo 2099, the Intergalactic Empire of Wakana, or the Empire of Eternal Night. Every map tells a story, whether it’s a war-torn battlefield between dimensions or a peaceful cityscape caught in the crossfire of superpowered combat.
These iconic locations, seen in films and comics like Thor, Black Panther, and Spider-Man, are a visual treat for players, with mystical and technological landmarks that fans will recognise. The game leans into bold, saturated colours that pop, making each environment visually striking while still maintaining clarity in fast-paced battles. It’s even better that much of the terrain is interactive and destructible, altering the flow of battle. Blasting through walls or crumbling bridges can create new pathways or remove cover, making every skirmish feel unpredictable.
The heroes are also clearly designed with care. As pre-existing characters, the design team could have inserted them into the game with very similar models, outfits and powers and call it a day. But every character seems lovingly designed with that comic book aesthetic that blends so well with the dynamic energy of a superpower-charged battle system.
And that’s very important for characters with powerful, flamboyant, and extremely well-known powers. We know that Thor has control over lightning, but it’s still a treat to watch him float around the map and zap enemies into oblivion. Doctor Strange’s Eye of Agamotto is a stunning move that rips souls from opponents’ bodies in a clever and cool visual. Jeff the Land Shark’s water effects are appealing to watch splash around the field as you heal your friends. Loki’s shimmering illusions are meticulously crafted to ensure clarity during fast-paced battles.
There’s something that scratches my brain about the way characters can be viewed in the menus, too. Watching Cloak & Dagger swirl around the intro screen or Luna Snow dance around with icy shards is just beautiful and makes you want to try out each and every character to see what suits you and your playstyle.
Ultimately, the aesthetic is both cinematic and true to Marvel’s legacy. Whether you’re zipping through New York rooftops, battling in the heart of Wakanda, or facing off in cosmic war zones, the environments feel alive and reactive to the chaos unfolding within them.
Magic Is Not To Be Owned, But To Be Felt. Experienced. Lived.
The best thing about Marvel Rivals for me is the multiplayer experience.
I’m a single player at heart. I love getting lost in a virtual universe, making friends, falling in love, and changing the world for the better. But games like Marvel Rivals allow you to bond with your IRL friends-and maybe even learn who they really are!
There’s nothing like making a comeback with your friends after you thought all hope was lost. Taking the point or moving the payload to the destination with 30 seconds to spare. Cheering for your buddy as they get MVP of the match. Swearing into your microphone when your Ult gets interrupted by a well-timed headshot. Laughing at the chat as the opposite team squabbles amongst themselves. Teaming up to take out your enemies with multiple Ults or defending each other when things get bad. Complaining that the opponent Iron Man or Spider-Man are “just so goddamn annoying!” Healing your friend as they tank it out in the front line.
The list goes on. You get to know your friends’ strengths and weaknesses, devise strategies, and experience loss and victory together. It’s fun and stressful in equal measure. And so, I’m happy these kinds of games exist. If only to share pain, success, and the highs and lows of high school football.
Final thoughts
Marvel Rivals is a fantastic update to the team-based PVP shooter category. It takes what made games that came before it so popular and cleverly updated the genre with new and innovative powers, maps, and team ups that refresh gameplay and make each new addition exciting.
But it’s the fact that we already know the heroes that’s the clever part. You already know what you’re getting into, and the innovative ways characters interact and battle makes it a fun experience for everyone. Get your friends together and either bond or fall out over the high energy gameplay.
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Scores
Zatu score: 80%
Ratings
Graphics: 4
Multiplayer: 4
Story: 2
Originality: 3
You might like:
· Comic book style graphics
· Fantastic roster of heroes
· Team ups and fun powers
· Multiplayer fun
· Free to play
Might not like:
· Limited maps
· Steep difficulty curve for characters you don’t gel with
· Unoptimised gameplay for some users/PCs
· Toxic players
· Skins etc locked behind battlepass
