Debuting in 1963, the original X-Men line-up included some very familiar faces, albeit with some unfamiliar twists, like Beast not being blue or furry. This initial X-Men run didn't actually sell too well, and it wasn't until Dave Cockrum, Len Wein, John Byrne, and Chris Claremont's groundbreaking run in the 1970s and 80s that the team finally became a household name. This revitalized X-Men run also came with a major roster change, and Marvel Rivals pays homage to that line-up in a few ways.
At launch, Marvel Rivals has a total of 33 playable heroes and villains, a good portion of which come from the X-Men's corner of the Marvel universe. Wolverine, Storm, Magik, Magneto, and Scarlet Witch are all present in Marvel Rivals, but that's still only scratching the surface of what the X-Men could offer the hero shooter.
How Marvel Rivals’ Destructible Environments Bring Out the Power of Its Heroes
One of Marvel Rivals' unique characteristics in the hero shooter genre is its destructible environments, which reinforce the power of the heroes.
Every Major Member of the X-Men Who Needs to Come to Marvel Rivals
Professor X
The founder and namesake of the X-Men, Charles Xavier made his debut in September 1963, and he deserves some kind of role in Marvel Rivals' future. In spite of his physical disability, Charles Xavier is an exceptionally powerful Mutant, and his telekinetic and telepathic abilities would lend themselves well to a support role in Marvel Rivals' line-up.
Cyclops
A founding member of the X-Men and one of its most popular leaders, Cyclops would be an excellent Duelist in Marvel Rivals, using his optic blasts to quickly dispatch foes while his superior strategies could help to buff teammates.
Jean Grey
Another founding X-Men member, Jean Grey debuted as Marvel Girl, but is most commonly known as Phoenix or Dark Phoenix. While Jean Grey's telepathic Mutant abilities are powerful in their own right, her connection to the Phoenix Force enhances her strength exponentially, and it'd be great to see that version of the character in Marvel Rivals.
Recent leaks suggest that Jean Grey could be coming to Marvel Rivals in a future update.
Colossus
One of the core members of 1975's revitalized X-Men team, Colossus' super-strength and larger-than-life stature make him an ideal pick for a future Marvel Rivals Vanguard. It's been rumored that Colossus could appear in Marvel Rivals in the near future, with his and Wolverine's iconic team-up, the Fastball Special, already being an ability in the game.
Beast
One of the smartest heroes in the Marvel universe, Hank McCoy's Mutant genes turn him into the blue-furred Beast. With Beast's skillset being so diverse, he would fit nicely into any one of Marvel Rivals' three roles. His fast claw attacks would make him a great Duelist, his larger frame would make him a good Vanguard, and his genius-level intellect would pave the way for some Strategist abilities.
Nightcrawler
While there are a few heroes who can teleport in Marvel Rivals, Nightcrawler's proficiency with the power would make him a great addition to the hero shooter. As a Duelist, Nightcrawler could teleport behind the enemy's back-line, take a few swipes, and teleport back.
Rogue
Her power absorption abilities may be a bit tricky to incorporate properly into Marvel Rivals' gameplay, especially as more heroes are added, but there's a lot of potential to adding Rogue to the roster, with it presumably allowing players to switch playstyles on the fly.
Gambit
After a recent resurgence in popularity thanks to Deadpool and Wolverine and X-Men '97, Gambit would be a welcome addition to Marvel Rivals' roster. With abilities focused on dishing out kinetic energy damage, the best role for Gambit would be Duelist.
Shadowcat
Known under a few different aliases over the decades, Kitty Pryde is a fan-favorite X-Men character who deserves a spot on Marvel Rivals' line-up in the future. Kitty Pryde's intangibility powers could pave the way for a really fun Duelist playstyle in Marvel Rivals, where players are able to phase through a wall, dish out some damage, and phase back to safety.
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
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter, Action, Multiplayer
- How Long To Beat
- 7.5 hours
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
- File Size Xbox Series
- 20 GB
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
