Marvel Rivals: from another 'dismissed' hero shooter to what the genre needed.By Aaron James Stead July 3, 2025

The Marvel Rivals logo

When Marvel Rivals was first announced, the gaming world responded with cautious optimism. Another team-based hero shooter? In a genre crowded with Overwatch clones and quickly forgotten entries, skepticism was warranted. But just a few months after its closed beta, Marvel Rivals is proving it’s not just another flash in the pan — it might be exactly what the hero shooter genre needed. Especially with the numbers that they had at launch/all-time peak, especially on Steam, which is 642,333 people online at the same time.

Developed by NetEase in collaboration with Marvel Games, Marvel Rivals combines the fast-paced, objective-driven gameplay of traditional shooters with a layer of strategic synergy unique to its superhero roster. Players choose from a diverse lineup of Marvel icons — including Spider-Man, Iron Man, Storm, and Loki — each boasting unique abilities that feel true to their comic book identities.

What sets Marvel Rivals apart isn’t just its flashy character designs or impressive visuals, but its fresh approach to gameplay mechanics. Players can pair up for "Team-Up Abilities," synergistic moves that dynamically alter battles. A Rocket Raccoon riding on Groot while they charge into battle? That’s not just fanservice — it's a viable strategy.

At launch some of these included;

Ragnarok rebirth

Planet X Pals

Guardian revival

Critics had valid concerns early on. Hero shooters have seen a boom-and-bust cycle in recent years, with games like Battleborn, LawBreakers, and even Overwatch 2 struggling to maintain momentum. But Marvel Rivals has struck a different chord. By grounding its mechanics in familiar but innovative ways and leveraging one of the most beloved IPs in the world, it’s captured both casual players and competitive gamers alike.

Early feedback from beta participants has been overwhelmingly positive. Streamers praise the game’s fluid movement and tight gunplay, while fans are already speculating about future roster expansions. With ongoing support and a strong roadmap promised by developers, Marvel Rivals could have the staying power its predecessors lacked.

In terms of the past few seasons of the game, the balance has been great with every season. The reason why this is the case is that the developers play their own game, so they can gather data from inside of games. Additionally, every time there is a major update, they do what is called a ‘Dev Vision.’ The two major figureheads of the game go over a 15-20 minute summary of what is going to happen within each half of the season ahead, and even give commentary on the current metagame.

When Marvel Rivals was first released it was a wake-up call for the Hero shooter genre as the game swept through the giant of the time that was OverWatch 2 and made people think about what needed to change within the genre.