Marvel Rivals is the Perfect Appetizer for Marvel's…

Marvel Games has had far more hits than misses in the last few years. For every disappointment like Marvel's Avengers, there have been three excellent Spider-Man games surrounding it. Now Marvel Rivals is taking the hero shooter world by storm, drawing in over 10 million players and getting ready to release its first full-length season of post-launch content.

But Marvel Games is only just getting started. Along with regular Marvel Rivals updates, Marvel has a bevy of gaming projects on the horizon, including Insomniac's Wolverine, EA Motive's Iron Man, Cliffhanger Games' Black Panther, and Skydance's Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra. And while it probably won't be 100% comparable to those upcoming singleplayer experiences, Marvel Rivals offers some effective introductions for the heroes about to take the spotlight.

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By Max Candelarezi

Marvel Rivals Offers a Great Introduction to Marvel Games' Upcoming Slate

Marvel Rivals Offers a General Understanding of Heroes' Powers

Captain America, Black Panther, Wolverine, and Iron Man are all set to star in upcoming Marvel video games. While most Marvel fans will already have a good idea of what each of these iconic heroes is capable of via their reading of the comics, playing past games, or watching various MCU or X-Men movies, Marvel Rivals does a great job of showcasing their unique abilities in a bit more detail.

By playing Marvel Rivals, fans quickly learn that Iron Man's ability set revolves around ranged attacks and flight, that Wolverine is all about leaping into combat and dishing out swift attacks, that Captain America charges into battle and uses his shield to block and deflect, and that Black Panther's fighting style sees him dash into the fray, pick off targets strategically, and dash back to safety.

Though Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra, EA Motive's Iron Man, Cliffhanger Games' Black Panther, and Insomniac's Wolverine are all tailored around their respective heroes and will thus likely have more in-depth combat mechanics for each character, Marvel Rivals does a good job of preparing fans for the type of gameplay experience they can probably expect from each one.

Marvel Rivals Offers Some Lore Background with a Twist

Marvel Rivals also offers a good foundation for each hero's comic book lore. While fans of the MCU and Fox's X-Men movies will, again, have a solid understanding of these heroes' origins and personalities already, some portrayals differ a little from the comic source material, which the upcoming Marvel Games slate might lean more into.

Marvel Rivals' character-specific lore pages offer some extra insight into Wolverine, Iron Man, Captain America, and Black Panther, often diving a bit deeper into their comic origins and motivations. Additionally, Marvel Rivals has a wealth of pre-match character interactions, whereby heroes talk among themselves, often referencing key moments of comic lore and key relationships with one another, such as how this version of Iron Man views his dynamic with Peter Parker.

However, Marvel Rivals does throw a few curveballs with some of its in-game lore, as some versions of its heroes are actually multiversal variants, such as Captain America, who comes from the 2099 universe. Regardless, Marvel Rivals still provides a strong foundational understanding of these heroes' lore ahead of Marvel Games' upcoming slate.

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Third-Person Shooter

Action

Multiplayer

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Systems

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OpenCritic Reviews: Top Critic Avg: 78 /100 Critics Rec: 84%

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Released: December 6, 2024
ESRB: T For Teen // Violence
Developer(s): NetEase Games
Publisher(s): NetEase Games

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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!