Marvel Rivals: the best Hero shooter since Overwatch?

Beloved heroes in a new setting

Marvel Rivals is a free-to-play (!) PvP hero shooter featuring your favourite Marvel heroes. While the game did well after its release on December 6 2024, it recently got a lot more hype when popular Twitchers like Flats and TimTheTatman picked it up. And we’re very grateful that they did!

The game combines the best features from other popular hero shooters and adds an amazing character roster with very fun power-ups and lots of strategic team-up options. All this makes for a very fun shooter that’s honestly hard to put down. 

Is Marvel Rivals as good as Overwatch?

It’s very clear to see where Marvel Rivals got its inspiration. Some of the heroes’ abilities are almost exact copies from Overwatch. Take, for example, Scarlet Witch — her Ultimate move very closely resembles a D.Va Bomb. It’s not weird that Rivals chose the best free-to-play PvP hero shooter to model their game after, and it’s not a bad idea either. Because if you're creating a whole new game, why not stick with what works and build from that?

There are some areas where Marvel Rivals outshines its counterpart, especially in the way different characters complement each other's abilities. For example, Rocket and Jeff the Land Shark can ride on Groot's shoulders, and the Hulk can pick up Wolverine and throw him at enemies. These team-ups make for almost endless strategic combinations.

Classic Marvel heroes with a twist

Marvel Rivals has 35 characters to pick from, and discovering all the collaboration power-ups is very fun, making the game perfect for endless replayability. Aside from that, the characters just look really cool. The designs reference familiar aspects we know from the movies, but also take huge inspiration from the comics, as well as a personal twist.

Take Doctor Strange, for example. His outfit is basically a replica from the movies, but his cape has the trademark high collar from the comics. All of this is spiced up with some new details like a darker colour palette, gold details along the suit, and a more athletic build. These may be small things, but to us they show the dedication that went into reimagining these famous heroes for a different platform. It proves that the game (at least appears to be) more than a quick cash grab. 

Will the Marvel Rivals hype continue?

Marvel Rivals is hot right now, but does the game have what it takes to keep it going? Character-based PvP hero shooters like this usually need a loyal fanbase to stay relevant and gain that icon status. With a plethora of really cool characters and lots of strategic possibilities, we’d say Marvel Rivals is halfway there. Besides, Marvel already has a big fanbase of loyal followers, and with the game gaining popularity in gaming communities, it seems like Marvel Rivals may be around for a while.

The best Marvel Rivals characters for your play style

Want to absolutely dominate your first round of Marvel Rivals? We’ve got some tips for you! The match begins with picking a strategic field. Are you a tank (vanguard), duelist, or a strategist? We’ve summed up the best options for each play style.

Go immediately to:

• Tanks (vanguards)
• Duelists
• Strategists
  
  

Tanks (vanguards)

1. Peni Parker
   Peni Parker has a unique set of skills that make her perfect for area denial. She can set traps and place bombs that cover large areas, keeping the enemies on their toes.
2. Doctor Strange
   Doctor Strange’s abilities complement nearly any character. His shield can protect multiple players at once, and his shutdown powers counter some of the greatest threats in the game.
3. Venom
   Chaos ensues when Venom enters the battlefield. His play style relies on swinging into action, feeding on the energy of the fallen, and going back for seconds.
4. Thor
   Thor can be one of the strongest tanks to play with. When you use his kit smartly, you can gain lots of power-ups. However, his play style takes some getting used to.
5. Groot
   This tall tree is definitely one of the sturdiest tanks, making him a strong defender. However, his bulkiness is also his greatest weakness, as it makes mobility difficult.
   
   

Duelists

1. Storm
   Storm’s abilities are everything you’d want in a duelist: quick attacks that deal significant damage and hurt multiple enemies at once. She even has some healing powers, making her a Duelist and Strategist in one!
2. Hela
   Hela can unleash powerful attacks that make it all the way across the battlefield. She could easily take the number 1 spot, but to truly overpower her you’ll need a good team-up.
3. Wolverine
   Got some time to get to know a complicated duelist? Wolverine should be your go to! He’s incredibly durable and perfect for chasing down enemies in a storm of strikes.
4. Moon Knight
   Moon Knight is a good duelist as is, but his main power comes from his Ultimate ability. This move instantly summons a swarm of explosives from the sky that’s almost impossible to avoid.
5. Psylocke
   Are you good at flanking? Psylocke is the character for you! Her primary attacks deal decent damage from a moderate distance. This, combined with her Ultimate move, makes her a powerful fighter.
   
   

Strategists

1. Luna Snow
   Luna Snow is a menace on the battlefield. Her abilities enhance allies, weaken enemies, and boost key rewards. She can also freeze enemies in place, as well as strike a powerful blow herself.
2. Mantis
   Mantis is perhaps the best strategist in this game, but her abilities can be tricky to juggle. She uses life orbs to heal her teammates, which can also inspire them to deal higher damage.
3. Invisible Woman
   Being invisible is obviously a great benefit on the battlefield. Invisible Woman swiftly moves across the arena to heal allies, and her invisibility makes her a difficult target to take out.
4. Cloak and Dagger
   You get 2 for 1 with these rivals! Dagger takes on the healing role, while Cloak is more kill-focused. Balancing these elements can be tricky, but it can really turn your team’s chances around.
5. Loki
   The God of Mischief, obviously causes chaos. He can fill the battlefield with copies of himself that heal as well as deal damage and confuse the enemy. However, his healing and damage powers are significantly lower than others on this list.
   
   

The best Marvel Rivals team combinations

Now that we’ve ranked the best characters in their specific fields, the best team would consist of all the most powerful rivals, right? Not necessarily. Since certain characters can boost specific abilities, the strategic possibilities are almost endless. We did the research, and you should definitely try out these team-ups for battlefield domination:

1. Ammo Overload: Rocket Raccoon, Winter Soldier, and The Punisher

Winter Soldier and The Punisher both deal incredible damage, but they run out of ammo quickly. Luckily, there’s a crazy raccoon that can help with that. Combining these heroes with Rocket Raccoon creates a powerful synergy.

2. Ragnarok Rebirth: Hela, Thor and Loki

When you put Hela on the same team as Loki or Thor, she gains the ability to resurrect allies when they’re waiting to respawn. Before you unlock this power, Hela must ensure one elimination. If you’re an experienced player, this should be no problem.

3. Metallic chaos: Magneto and Scarlet Witch

Magneto and Scarlet Witch make an impressive duo on the battlefield. When you pair these heroes, Magneto gains a sword infused with Wanda’s powers that deals devastating blasts at enemies.

Play Marvel Rivals now with the game cards from Startselect

Ready for your Marvel Rivals adventure? You can play for free on PlayStation, Xbox, or PC right now! If you’re looking for that winning edge, gear up your character with one of our gift cards and secure your victory on the battlefield.

£20 PlayStation Gift Card

Digital code

£20.00

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£50 PlayStation Gift Card

Digital code

£50.00

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Xbox Gift Card 20 pounds

Digital code

£20.00

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Steam Gift Card £20 (UK account only)

Digital code

£20.00

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