Marvel Rivals came out of the gate swinging, with an impressive total of 33 playable heroes at launch. Admittedly, Marvel Rivals' launch day roster was fairly uneven, with the Duelist class receiving more than double the number of heroes present in the Vanguard and Strategist classes, but there were still more than enough characters in each one to keep fans experimenting for the game's first month or so.
Before fans could even think about getting bored with Marvel Rivals' day-one line-up, two new characters were added to the game at the start of the year: Mr. Fantastic and the Invisible Woman. The other half of Marvel's First Family joined the roster halfway through Season 1. That brings the total number of playable heroes in Marvel Rivals up to 37, and The Thing's recent introduction proves that fans don't need to worry about where the hero shooter's roster could go next.
All Datamined & Leaked Heroes In Marvel Rivals (March 2025)
There have been many different potential upcoming heroes found in Marvel Rivals game files through datamining. Find out about them in this guide.
Marvel Rivals' The Thing Proves The Vanguard Class Has Plenty of Room to Expand
Marvel Rivals' The Thing Feels Surprisingly Distinct
When The Thing was first rumored to appear in Marvel Rivals, there was some worry among fans that he might function too similarly to Hulk. In many comics and adaptations, Hulk and The Thing have fairly similar ability sets, often using their superhuman strength and larger stature to tank damage and dish out powerful melee attacks.
Though the two heroes do share some unavoidable similarities in Marvel Rivals, developer NetEase has done a good job of making The Thing and Hulk stand out from one another in terms of gameplay. The Thing is surprisingly mobile in Marvel Rivals, being able to use his dash to close the gap and disrupt an enemy team's formation. The Thing's 'Embattled Leap' ability also allows him to jump towards an ally, granting them both bonus health and allowing The Thing to get into the fight or escape from it with ease. Though The Thing's primary fire is a simple one-two jab, his charged 'Stone Haymaker' is a more distinct melee attack that encourages the player to focus on one target.
This playstyle is quite a bit different from the Hulk's, whose leap ability is primarily used to get to the heart of the battle as quickly as possible, and whose melee attack can be used to target small groups of enemies at once. Where The Thing is best utilized as a backline attacker, Hulk is designed to stay in the center of the enemy's firing line.
The Thing Should Teach Marvel Rivals a Valuable Lesson
The Thing has quickly become one of Marvel Rivals' most beloved Vanguards, and that's in no small part due to his well-thought-out ability set. But The Thing isn't just a great Vanguard, he's the proof that Marvel Rivals' roster can be even more expansive than some fans initially thought possible. Heroes with similar powers in the source material can still work together in Marvel Rivals, just as long as those powers are implemented in engaging and distinct ways.
This opens up a wealth of possibilities for all of Marvel Rivals' classes, but it's especially important for the Vanguards, as the Marvel heroes most likely to fit the role usually have similar abilities in the comics. For instance, X-Men's Colossus would be a natural fit for Marvel Rivals' Vanguard class, but his melee-focused attacks could result in some overlap with Hulk and The Thing. But if Colossus' powers were presented in a way distinct from Hulk and The Thing's abilities, his appearance on the roster would feel more than justified.
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!
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op
- Cross-Platform Play
- Limited - console crossplay, no PC crossplay
- Cross Save
- No
- Franchise
- Marvel
- Number of Players
- 1-6
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Unknown
- PC Release Date
- December 6, 2024
- Xbox Series X|S Release Date
- December 6, 2024
- PS5 Release Date
- December 6, 2024
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter, Action, Multiplayer
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- How Long To Beat
- 7.5 hours
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
- File Size Xbox Series
- 20 GB
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
