GamesThird Person ShooterMarvel RivalsMarvel Rivals: Everything we know so farWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
GamesThird Person ShooterMarvel RivalsMarvel Rivals: Everything we know so farWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: NetEase)
Marvel Rivals is here, with the free-to-play superhero PVP shooter now available across multiple platforms. As NetEase’s answer to Overwatch, the team-based experience lets you pick from a roster of Marvel heroes and villains, with characters from Guardians of the Galaxy, X-Men, Spider-Man, and more.
To get our thoughts on game, be sure to head on over to ourMarvel Rivals review,in which we explore that Overwatch comparison and why it gets in the way of Rivals playing to its own strengths. And if you’re a Marvel fan, you’ll be happy to know that we still have some excitingupcoming Marvel gamesto look forward to following the launch of Marvel Rivals.
If you’re looking to get an overview of everything you need know about Marvel Rivals to decide whether or not to jump into the PVP adventure for yourself, read on below.
Marvel Rivals release date
(Image credit: NetEase)
Marvel Rivals is officially out now!It’s available as a free-to-play experience on all platforms listed below, and all 25 heroes will be available to play right away, no unlocking required.
Marvel Rivals platforms
(Image credit: NetEase)
The Marvel Rivals platforms are confirmed as PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X. There is full Marvel Rivals crossplay support between these platforms, with the only exception to this being that PC and console players will be separated for the Competitive ranked mode. Additionally, you won’t need a PlayStation Plus or Xbox Game Pass subscription to play on either of those consoles. NetEase confirmed that there will be no Marvel Rivals PS4, Xbox One, or Switch editions.
Marvel Rivals trailer
Marvel Rivals | Stars Aligned - Official Launch Date Announcement Trailer - YouTubeWatch On
Marvel Rivals | Stars Aligned - Official Launch Date Announcement Trailer - YouTube
Marvel Rivals | Stars Aligned - Official Launch Date Announcement Trailer - YouTube
As the above trailer shows,Captain Americaand theWinter Soldierare the latest characters to be joining the roster, bringing their own unique abilities to the hero shooter. Cap looks to be an incredibly nimble tank character and obviously uses his shield a lot to bash enemies and even deflect certain enemy attacks back at them. Meanwhile, Winter Soldier’s tendril-infused robot arm lets him grapple enemies and perform some lethal ground slams, before following up with powerful pistol shots.
If you want to know a bit more about the setting for Marvel Rivals, be sure to check out thecinematic trailertoo, which gives you an action-packed look at some of characters as they fight or team up across the multiverse and the timestream.
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This is essentially the narrative justification for Marvel Rivals as, thanks to two diabolical Doctor Dooms – one past, one future – havoc is being wreaked on both time and space, forcing heroes to team up and fight for their worlds. If you need an MCU refresher to make heads or tails of these trailers, don’t worry as we have a super helpful guide on how to watch all theMarvel movies in orderfor you as well.
Marvel Rivals gameplay
(Image credit: NetEase)
Of course, the main draw is the massive cast of heroes and villains to pick from. There will be 25Marvel Rivals charactersavailable to play as at launch, taken from all over the comic maker’s superhero repertoire. As the above trailer shows, Captain America and the Winter Soldier are the latest characters to be joining the likes of Spider-Man, Iron Man, Loki, Storm, and Star-Lord.
(Image credit: NetEase)
Every character has a range of passive and active abilities to use and there are a lot of possible playstyles available, from brawling tanks and aggressive flankers to more protective backline characters and super supports. The heroes your teammates choose can also determine whichMarvel Rivals Team-Upsactivate, granting extra buffs and powers to certain heroes with the right combination, adding an extra layer to team composition.
Regarding maps and modes, these have been limited so far, seeing players push or resist a moving payload or fight for control over a single objective across both Tokyo 2099 and Yggsgard. With that many heroes to choose from, however, matches can be very chaotic and varied even with a handful of maps, and more will be present for the game’s full launch. There will also be also aMarvel Rivals ranked modefor those looking for something a bit more competitive.
Will there be another Marvel Rivals beta?
(Image credit: NetEase)
NetEase is yet to share more details on anotherMarvel Rivals beta, so the short answer is “we don’t know.” The most recent beta test, which ran until early August was a closed test, meaning participation was invite-only, so we wouldn’t be surprised to see an open beta in the next couple of months to iron out balancing issues and, importantly, stress test the servers before launch.
Again, absolutely nothing has been confirmed and this is speculation based on other games and previous tests for Marvel Rivals, but keep an eye out for potential news on how to getMarvel Rivals keysor access for any upcoming tests.
Whether Marvel Rivals will make its way into our list of thebest Marvel gamesremains to be seen, but while you wait for it to land on December 6 check out some of the othernew games of 2024that are on the way.
CATEGORIESPC GamingXbox Series XPS5PlatformsXboxPlayStation
CATEGORIES
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More about third person shooterAfter hours of number-crunching, one Marvel Rivals player has laid out the true meta – and Iron Fist’s ranking feels alarmingMarvel Rivals joins Manor Lords, Palworld, and Helldivers 2 as one of Steam’s best-selling and most-played new releases of 2024 despite launching at the end of the year
More about third person shooter
After hours of number-crunching, one Marvel Rivals player has laid out the true meta – and Iron Fist’s ranking feels alarmingMarvel Rivals joins Manor Lords, Palworld, and Helldivers 2 as one of Steam’s best-selling and most-played new releases of 2024 despite launching at the end of the year
After hours of number-crunching, one Marvel Rivals player has laid out the true meta – and Iron Fist’s ranking feels alarming
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Marvel Rivals joins Manor Lords, Palworld, and Helldivers 2 as one of Steam’s best-selling and most-played new releases of 2024 despite launching at the end of the year
Marvel Rivals joins Manor Lords, Palworld, and Helldivers 2 as one of Steam’s best-selling and most-played new releases of 2024 despite launching at the end of the year
LatestSquid Game season 3: Everything we know about the Netflix show’s final seasonSee more latest►
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Spy x Family season 3: Everything we know so far
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I’m proclaiming 2024 to be the year of outstanding indie puzzle games
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GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now"2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now"2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now"2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1
Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2
Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
3
Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
4
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
5
Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
2
Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3
Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5
Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”
1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”
1
Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”
2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
2
Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
3
Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
4
Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5
Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”