Marvel Rivals continues to be a major success since its launch this past December. The game's combination of an Overwatch-esque 6v6 competitive hero shooter format with a roster of the most popular characters from the Marvel multiverse immediately grabbed many fans' attention. If the fun premise and satisfying gameplay wasn't enough, Marvel Rivals has also kept players invested with regular updates throughout its first season.
While new characters like The Fantastic Four have been the most noticeable additions to Marvel Rivals in Season 1, new maps have helped to keep the game feeling fresh as well. Marvels Rivals has introduced two Quick Play maps that tie into the vampiric narrative of its first season: Midtown and Central Park. Getting to see New York through the Marvel Rivals lens has fans excited about what other notable Marvel locations could be coming in Season 2, as there is no shortage of options available to NetEase.
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Avengers Tower
One of the most striking buildings in Marvel's New York, Avengers Tower is the base of operations for Earth's mightiest heroes. The tower is prevalent both in the comics and the MCU, where it was first seen in The Avengers. With so many Avengers members already present in Marvel Rivals, it seems only fitting to add their headquarters to the game.
Exploring Avengers Tower
While Avengers Tower is technically already featured in Season 1's Midtown map, it is only a facade whose lobby is accessible before the start of a round. With how massive of a building Avengers Tower is, NetEase could still easily make an entire map based off of it. Players could face off on different floors of the tower, attempting to capture locations like Iron Man's armory — which would open the door for plenty of new Iron Man skins to enter the game — or the Quinjet's landing pad.
How Avengers Tower Could Introduce a Leaked Character
Both of the maps introduced in Season 1 tied into the story and the characters introduced in the season. If this is a pattern that Marvel Rivals intends to continue, then Avengers Tower would also make sense as a map. Not only could Avengers Tower serve as an easy continuation of Season 1's story, but it could tie into a leaked character that will supposedly be arriving in the game soon: Ultron. Ultron is a classic Avengers villain, so it would make sense for NetEase to bring an Avengers-centric map to the game — especially with the Avengers' iconic fight with Ultron at Avengers Tower in Avengers: Age of Ultron.
Knowhere
Knowhere is most well known for its appearance in the Guardians of the Galaxy films. It is a spaceport housed within the severed head of a Celestial — a god-like being that assisted with the creation of the known universe. Originally home to the Collector and the mining operation he used to fund his "museum" of captured beings, the station has since become the headquarters of the Guardians of the Galaxy.
Going Everywhere in Knowhere
Knowhere is a visually distinct setting with plenty of notable locations that could make for dynamic points of interest on a Marvel Rivals map. Playing the Convoy mode could see players attempting to escort a cosmic creature — like, say, a certain suit-sporting duck — from the eerie confines of the Collector's museum to the a Guardians of the Galaxy's base decked out with 80s nostalgia. Along the way, players could fight their way through Knowhere's criminal underbelly and spinal mines.
Knowhere's Place in Marvel Rivals' Lore
As a setting, Knowhere already has plenty of ties to Marvel Rivals' current maps and characters. Rivals' Symbiotic Surface map pits the Guardians of the Galaxy against Venom on the planet Klyntar. Klyntar is the home of Knull — a god responsible for decapitating the Celestial whose head eventually became Knowhere. Besides Knowhere's connection to Klyntar, the Collector has already been referenced in Marvel Rivals by way of character lore and pre-match dialogue between Mantis and Rocket Raccoon. These existing connections seem like the perfect tee-up for a Knowhere map to drop next season.
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Krakoa
Though the Krakoan era has come to an end in the X-Men comics, Krakoa still serves as an integral part of the mutants' lore in Marvel Rivals. Krakoa is a sentient island that Professor X, Magneto, and Moira MacTaggert allied themselves with in order to create a sovereign mutant nation. Krakoa quickly became an economic and political powerhouse, as the island's unique flora could be used to create life-saving drugs, living weaponry, and portals that allow mutants to traverse the galaxy in seconds.
Marvel Rivals' Most Interactive Map
While a location like the X-Mansion could also make for a fun X-Men-themed map, Krakoa has far more to offer in terms of gameplay and visuals. A tropical island would stand apart from any of Marvel Rivals' current maps, and Krakoa's vegetation could add interesting gimmicks for players to interact with. A Krakoa map could combine the portals of the Sanctum Sanctorum map with the interactive bridges and barriers of Symbiotic Surface to create a dynamic map that constantly keeps players on their toes.
Bringing the Quiet Council to Marvel Rivals
Krakoa has already been dropped both in the lore and dialogue of characters like Storm and Magneto, indicating that the mutants of Marvel Rivals are still in the midst of their Krakoan era. With Krakoa still an important part of the mutant storyline, it's no wonder that leaks have seemingly confirmed Marvel Rivals' plans to add one of Krakoa's main players to the game: Emma Frost. If Emma Frost arrives next season — or any of the other rumored mutant characters debut — then a Krakoa map is the perfect way to introduce them to the story.
Marvel Rivals
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 78 /100 Critics Rec: 84%
- Released
- December 6, 2024
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Violence
- Developer(s)
- NetEase Games
- Publisher(s)
- NetEase Games
WHERE TO PLAY
Marvel Rivals is a Super Hero Team-Based PVP Shooter!
Assemble an all-star Marvel squad, devise countless strategies by combining powers to form unique Team-Up skills and fight in destructible, ever-changing battlefields across the continually evolving Marvel universe!
A Deep and Varied Marvel Roster
Choose from a vast array of fan-favorite and cult-classic Marvel Super Heroes and Super Villains from across the Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, X-Men, and many more from across the Marvel Multiverse.
Fast and Fun 6v6 Action with Ever-Changing Game Dynamics
With intricate environments, fast-paced gameplay, and ever-changing battlefields, there's never a dull moment in Marvel Rivals! Battle as Super Heroes and Super Villains with incredible abilities and combine your powers to bring unexpected fun to the battlefield in a matter of seconds.
Dynamic Hero Synergy
Coordinate unique combinations between characters to ignite surprising Team-Up Skills! Unleash the synergy of combined superpowers and invent new tactics that can turn the tide of combat. Ride on Groot's back as Rocket Raccoon to take on your enemies as a dangerous duo, unleash Gamma energy as Hulk to charge Iron Man's armor for massive damage, and so much more!
Creative Environment Destruction
Tear your way through iconic Marvel worlds across destructible environments! From Asgard to the Tokyo of 2099, use superpowers to alter these environments, reshape the terrain, and craft a strategic advantage on the battlefield! Take cover to dodge attacks or use makeshift weapons to strike down enemies. Players will find countless ways to utilize the environment to claim victory!
Continually Evolving Universe and Robust Post-Launch Updates
The Marvel Multiverse brings infinite possibilities! Each seasonal drop will introduce new Super Heroes to the battlefield along with challenging and diverse maps! Unlock new content to implement across various gameplay strategies while experiencing thrilling action and endless possibilities in these adventurous team battles!
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter, Action, Multiplayer
