Hero shooter games have commanded a huge following through the years, and it's no surprise that a franchise as huge as Marvel has decided to dip its toes into it.
So, if you happen to be looking for a new hero shooter to play with your friends, the game we're about to talk about may just be what you need it.
Here's what gamers have to say about Marvel Rivals.
'Marvel Rivals'
Released on December 6, 2024, Marvel Rivals is a hero shooter video game developed and published by NetEase Games. It is a player-versus-player game wherein you get to compete in teams of six.
The game is free-to-play and, as of press time, has a total of 33 playable characters. These playable characters are as follows:
- Adam Warlock
- Black Panther (Bashenga as an alternate skin)
- Black Widow
- Captain America
- Cloak & Dagger
- Doctor Strange
- Groot
- Hawkeye
- Hela
- Hulk
- Iron Fist
- Iron Man
- Jeff the Land Shark
- Loki
- Luna Snow
- Magik
- Magneto
- Mantis
- Moon Knight (Mister Knight as an alternative skin)
- Namor (PlayStation 5 version includes exclusive Peni Parker skin)
- Psylocke
- Punisher
- Rocket Raccoon
- Scarlet Witch
- Spider-Man (PlayStation 5 version includes exclusive Scarlet-Spider skin)
- Squirrel Girl
- Star-Lord
- Storm
- Thor
- Venom (Anti-Venom as an alternative skin)
- Winter Soldier
- Wolverine
'Mostly Positive' Reviews on Steam
As of press time, Marvel Rivals has more than 41,000 user reviews on Steam. Steam has categorized these reviews as "Mostly Positive."
"Very fun and free hero shooter, with every character unlocked from the start — a Battle Pass that never expire, and a license they can expand on for potentially years to come," user pwnz0r3 said in a Steam review.
"There's room for both optimization and balancing, but equally crucial with a game like this — and one thing they absolutely nailed, is server capacity," pwnz0r3 added. "I've not been disconnected once since launch."
"Good easy game to get into," user Luso Lawliet said in a separate review. "Balancing issues here and there with some abilities not making sense but of course there's room to grow."
3.9 Stars on Google Reviews
Gamers have been leaving reviews for the game over at Google Reviews, where it holds a 3.9 star-rating as of writing.
"While I appreciate the game, the faster pace of the maps can make the gameplay feel repetitive over time," Google user Kollin said in a review. "Introducing more dynamic elements or slower-paced levels could help maintain a fresh and engaging experience for players."
"That said, the game shows great promise and has made a strong debut," Kollin added. "As players continue exploring the diverse roster of characters, I anticipate a natural progression toward better team balance."
"Roster wise, it has a nice mix of well-known and lesser-known characters, and each one plays uniquely from the others," user kosaba11 said in a separate review.
"Balance wise, this is probably the most balanced game I've played," kosaba11 explained. "Each character is super strong and capable of carrying the team and pulling off some really impressive stuff - it just comes down to your ability to master the character."
Official Launch Trailer
Watch the official launch trailer for Marvel Rivals below.
