Hero shooters are a relatively new genre that significantly ramped up in the mid-2010s, but have since seen a steady decline in popularity. Once beloved titles like Overwatch and Apex Legends have grown stale in the years since, leaving fans of the genre desperate for something new to play. Enter Marvel Rivals, developed by NetEase Games, a new free-to-play, third-person hero shooter based on the iconic comics and films. Released in early December, the game has already amassed a sizable following, with over 20 million players trying it out so far. Since most free-to-play Marvel games are lazy cash-ins with little substance, it’s refreshing to see Marvel Rivals break the trend, reviving a faltering genre at the same time.
Team Up to Victory
The basics of Marvel Rivals are pretty standard for the genre; it’s a 6v6 affair, where two teams of unique characters face off in various objective-based game modes. With 20+ playable characters, all of the top-billed superheroes are on display, including Captain America, Spider-Man, Hulk, Black Widow, etc. Heroes are split into three classes: Duelist, Vanguard, or Strategist, with each class playing a vital role on the battlefield. Duelists are best for dealing damage, Vanguards buff up the squad with tanky crowd control, and Strategists heal and support their teammates through various means. Overpowered synergies are fun to discover and encouraged through the “team-up” mechanic, which provides additional benefits when certain characters are paired together.
Thankfully, there are plenty of tutorials to teach the basics and help you figure out which characters fit your play style. Practice matches can be played against bots of varying difficulty, so you won’t feel like you’re weighing down your team while learning the ropes. When you want to test your skill against other players online, casual and ranked matchmaking is available, along with custom lobbies to browse and host. Conquest mode provides a burst of deathmatch-style action with short but exciting rounds, especially when you don’t want to bother with objectives. Unfortunately, you’ll also find all the trappings of a live service game, like copious cosmetics and a “luxury battle pass”, but the monetization isn’t too egregious at this point. All in all, for a brand new free-to-play game, there’s quite a bit on offer.
Hope for the Hero Shooter Future
In essence, Marvel Rivals is very much an Overwatch clone with a lot of money behind it, but that’s not exactly a bad thing. Firstly, it’s immensely fun to play, with fast-paced action and a low barrier of entry. Characters are varied and apart from a few exceptions, they all feel viable in battle and are a treat to learn. Especially when you get some friends together and tackle matches with a tactical eye, Marvel Rivals can feel exceptionally rewarding, with a high skill ceiling for those who want to climb the ranks. NetEase has also done a good job of releasing new characters, while ensuring that things stay balanced with patches and gameplay tweaks, keeping the competition fresh in the process.
Between the roster of recognizable heroes that are actually fun to play, a decent selection of modes and maps, and quality presentation, Marvel Rivals is a free-to-play game that actually makes sense for the genre. Tied to such a well-known theme, it’s drawn in millions of players who would’ve otherwise skipped it, while the nuanced gameplay has genre veterans intrigued. Over the past month, NetEase has not squandered the surge of interest either, with seasonal events and community updates to keep players engaged. Look no further than the recent Winter Celebration event, featuring a Splatoon-esque game mode starring the fan-favorite character, Jeff the Shark.
As 2025 begins, Marvel Rivals will kick off its first official competitive season, and it seems like the sky’s the limit. Currently, the game retains over 250,000 active players and that number is likely to grow. Unlike the disastrous release of Concord, Marvel Rivals has already earned significant trust with its player base by providing a quality experience from day one, all completely free of charge. As long as solid support continues, with new characters and content that keeps players interested, I doubt that the game will be shut down any time soon. Only time will tell if Marvel Rivals has what it takes to survive in the current gaming landscape, but for now, it’s a tremendously enjoyable hero shooter that players are rightfully embracing.
