Marvel Rivals is a free-to-play 6v6, third-person, team-based PvP hero shooter, released December 6, 2024. Although the game did not win any major awards, it remains compelling. The addictive game modes and diverse heroes definitely make the game worth playing.

If you’re a longtime fan of the Marvel franchise, you may recognize a variety of signature characters and how accurate they are to the comics. That itself is a great reason to play the game, especially since it is action-packed with addictive elements like getting ko’s, a feeling of accomplishment, and winning. 

The game features well-chosen fan favorites like Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Spider-Man, and Daredevil, which increases my enjoyment of the game. I like how the game developers release cosmetics or outfits that reference the specific comic where each outfit appears.

The game mechanics are inspired by the popular shooter called Overwatch. The game has modes named Convergence, Convoy, Domination, and Resource Rumble. These game modes all emphasized strategy and teamwork.

I never liked Overwatch, but this game definitely changed my perspective on these shooter-based games. Marvel Rivals made me love a game that was team-based and involved taking over various points. It was a straightforward game with easy-to-understand objectives and ideas. You get into a match, and you have the match narrator tell you what’s happening. With the visual aids, it’s easy to understand. 

Convergence an asymmetrical game mode where attackers first capture a control point, unlocking a vehicle to escort, while defenders try to halt progress at checkpoints. Convoy is an escort mode where attackers push a payload to the end while defenders try to stop it, often playing out in single rounds in Quick Play. Domination “King of the Hill” style mode, where teams fight to control a central point, with the first to capture it twice winning the best-of-three match. Domination is a specific game mode in the hero shooter Marvel Rivals, where teams capture sequential points (A, B, C) to gather resources, transitioning to a “Rumble Phase” at the third point to steal points from the enemy and win.

There is controversy over which game mode is the best and which one needs to be removed from the game. In my opinion, all game modes are great; you experience the same gameplay with each hero, but each mode has different objectives.

When you go into a game, you can choose from various heroes to play. Heroes include the three main roles: Vanguards, Strategists, and Duelists. Each of these roles play an important part in your team composition (team comp). This refers to the strategic selection of heroes that can help your team win or cause your team to lose. A Vanguard’s role is to tank damage so that the team doesn’t get eliminated faster. A Strategist’s role is to heal and stay alive to heal teammates so they can overpower the opposing team. This balance is definitely the difference between winning and losing games. A Duelist’s role is to deal as much damage and secure final hits to win objectives.

I love how there are different roles and play styles for each role in the game. If you get bored with playing healer, you can switch to a different role and play completely differently. It’s so important because with a game, you don’t want to do the same thing all of the time; each role offers very entertaining gameplay. 

There is a mastery system to determine how much experience you gain with a certain hero. The ranks of each hero go in order: Agent, Knight, Captain, Centurion, and Lord. These ranks provide sprays, KO animations, and a new profile icon upon reaching lord. 

I personally love having this in a game where you can personalize your experience even further with your chosen hero, and the motivation to grind for that character. It gives you something to work towards so you can earn a fancy icon.

If competition within a game is what you look for, then Marvel Rivals offers a ranked mode that features ranks: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Grandmaster, Celestial, Eternity, and One Above All. You can play solo or with up to 5 people to rank up with. They have to be around your rank and play through up to 10 placement matches. Placement matches determine your rank, finding you a spot before you actually start playing ranked. 

I don’t play a lot of ranked matches, but I’m going to because you get rewards for reaching a certain rank. You can show off your achievements with a special nameplate border. Ranked mode is very stressful. People may criticize the heroes you choose, and matches could be less enjoyable.

With Season 6 of Marvel Rivals around the corner, on January 16th, 2026, a new hero joins the Marvel Rivals universe. Deadpool is expected to be released on the day of the new season, and Elsa Bloodstone later in the season. 

I’m excited for the new season because Deadpool has always been my favorite among all superheroes. The problem is that whenever a new hero comes, people instantly lock them. This means they select the character very quickly, so they get to play them, and nobody else can. You have to be fast when you want to play a new character.

Overall, the game is close to perfect in every way. It’s a great game to play with your friends or even by yourself. It’s also a great way to make friends online. I recommend playing this game because it doesn’t matter how good you are at it; all that matters is that you have fun. The game also includes a practice range to help improve your skills.