Marvel Rivals

"Marvel Rivals" is a team-based PVP shooter where players can choose from a variety of Marvel Super Heroes and Super Villains to form a squad and battle in destructible environments. The game offers fast-paced action with ever-changing game dynamics and encourages players to coordinate unique combinations between characters to ignite surprising Team-Up Skills.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Co-Op Team up with friends to complete levels or missions together
PvP Player versus Player - Fight against other players in real-time, often in arena-style combat

Reviews

83%

Audience ScoreBased on 46,874 reviews

gameplay1,061 positive mentions

optimization808 negative mentions

optimization
2,638 mentions
16 % positive mentions
53 % neutral mentions
31 % negative mentions
The optimization of "Marvel Rivals" has received widespread criticism, with many players reporting severe performance issues, including significant frame drops, stuttering, and crashes, even on high-end systems. While some users have managed to achieve stable performance with specific settings, the overall consensus is that the game is poorly optimized, particularly for lower-end hardware, making it difficult to recommend until substantial improvements are made. Many players express hope for future patches to address these optimization concerns.
- “Optimization can also be improved on, but other than that, enjoyable so far.”
- “There are some optimization issues in the game here and there, but it's very solid and a very fresh take on shooter games.”
- “The game is absolutely a great game, but I was wondering if NVIDIA app optimization compatibility could possibly be implemented in the future.”
- “Very poorly optimized and I really don't like third person, really jarring.”
- “Only major complaint is optimization - random Unreal 5 crashes, the game uses so much of my GPU, random lag spikes in certain maps - the game needs major optimization updates in order to get it smoothly running for everyone on all platforms.”
- “The game is extremely poorly optimized, making it basically unplayable.”
gameplay
2,281 mentions
47 % positive mentions
49 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Marvel Rivals" has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its fun, fast-paced action and unique character abilities that encourage teamwork through a "team-up" mechanic. However, some criticisms highlight issues with balance, optimization, and a lack of depth compared to established titles like Overwatch, leading to chaotic and sometimes overwhelming experiences. Overall, while the game offers an engaging and visually appealing experience, it faces challenges in performance and gameplay refinement that could impact its long-term appeal.
- “Fun and varied gameplay with a variety of hero options, with great care put into each.”
- “The gameplay feels more refined, the mechanics are engaging, and the overall balance is impressive.”
- “Well-designed characters and levels combined with addictive gameplay will have you staying up to finish just one more game, then maybe another.”
- “As it stands, the gameplay is chaotic and overwhelming, with poor indicators of what's happening, making it difficult to focus.”
- “The gameplay feels like a bad 2010 action game; a lot of these heroes' abilities don't really make any sense.”
- “The gameplay is so generic; it feels like a reskinned version of other hero shooters without any unique mechanics.”
graphics
1,829 mentions
52 % positive mentions
44 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Marvel Rivals" have received mixed feedback from players. Many praise the vibrant art style and detailed character designs, highlighting the game's comic book aesthetic as a standout feature. However, numerous users report significant performance issues, with high graphical demands leading to low frame rates and crashes, particularly on mid-range PCs, suggesting that optimization is a critical area for improvement.
- “The art style is genuinely one of the most jaw-dropping and epic styles, not only in team PvP games, but in gaming.”
- “The graphics are vibrant and capture the essence of the Marvel universe, bringing your favorite heroes and villains to life.”
- “The visuals are stunning, with breathtaking environments and fluid animations that make each battle feel like a blockbuster Marvel movie come to life.”
- “Great game, but being newly released, it needs improvement, especially from a graphic optimization perspective.”
- “The game crashes constantly with a GPU crash on NVIDIA 4090, no matter the graphics settings.”
- “The performance is absolutely terrible; I put all my graphics settings down to bare minimum and can barely manage 20fps.”
monetization
429 mentions
22 % positive mentions
58 % neutral mentions
20 % negative mentions
The monetization model of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its non-predatory approach that focuses solely on cosmetic items and offers a permanent battle pass that doesn't expire. While some users express concerns about the potential for future greediness and the presence of multiple currencies, the overall sentiment leans towards it being fair and respectful of player time, especially compared to other titles like Overwatch 2. However, there are still criticisms regarding the pricing of skins and the game's reliance on microtransactions, which some view as excessive.
- “The microtransactions are mild but meaningful (battle passes are cheap comparatively and once bought, last forever, so you can finish at your own pace).”
- “The monetization strategy is generous, it has a huge cast of diverse characters, and it's just fun to play.”
- “The monetization is very fair and I love how it allows players to gradually get skins over time, rather than locking skins and other cosmetics behind a purchase barrier.”
- “The monetization is really greedy as well; three types of currency, usually small morsels of premium currency are part of the reward track for battle passes.”
- “I cannot begin to explain how much of an obvious cash grab this is.”
- “The downside to the monetization is they have three different in-game currencies that makes it feel like a cheap mobile game from the 2000s trying to trick you into accidentally spending money.”
story
349 mentions
13 % positive mentions
79 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting a lack of a cohesive narrative or dedicated story mode. While some appreciate the character lore and engaging interactions, others criticize the mission-based progression system that detracts from the overall storytelling experience. Overall, players express a desire for more substantial story content and improvements to the mission structure to enhance their engagement with the game's narrative.
- “The care put into the story and making sure all the details are correct and comic accurate instead of relying on the MCU solely.”
- “The story is gripping and filled with unexpected twists, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats from start to finish.”
- “What sets 'Marvel Rivals' apart is its ability to blend high-stakes action with moments of humor and emotion, making the story both engaging and relatable.”
- “But this game has horrible storytelling, which impacts everything: the game’s plot, characters, voice lines, and even the character designs.”
- “The story isn't even there, it's just cobbled together voice lines and text in places sometimes.”
- “There isn't even an opening cut-scene that explains the story and what's going on.”
stability
322 mentions
15 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
85 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting frequent crashes, freezes, and significant performance issues, particularly during high-action moments. While some users have managed to play without major problems, a substantial number have experienced frustrating bugs that disrupt gameplay, leading to penalties for disconnections caused by these issues. Overall, the game appears to require further optimization and bug fixes to enhance stability and provide a smoother experience for players.
- “The first game always runs great, nice stable 160+fps.”
- “This game is amazing, smooth, not buggy, plays well.”
- “Runs great on my eight year old four core, core i5 7500 CPU, totally smooth and no crashes, the game's a blast and lots to do for a free-to-play hero shooter.”
- “This game crashes every hour I play it; the troubleshooting they've provided is unable to help.”
- “The game freezes after playing a few games, and I have to manually open task manager to end the process and restart the game.”
- “Game is poorly optimized, has multiple crashing issues, and randomly freezes.”
character development
309 mentions
67 % positive mentions
31 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highlighted by a strong emphasis on character design, with many players praising the vibrant and faithful representations of Marvel heroes that evoke their comic book origins. While the character designs are generally well-received for their uniqueness and appeal, some players note inconsistencies in character balance and gameplay mechanics, which can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the character designs are seen as a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's visual appeal and enjoyment.
- “The character designs are fantastic and I appreciate having hero representation from across the Marvel universe.”
- “The art style is attention-grabbing, for sure, and pairs nicely with the unique character designs, most of which are some of the best renditions of these characters ever made.”
- “Character designs are both iconic and innovative, capturing the essence of beloved heroes while pushing the boundaries of visual storytelling.”
- “But this game has horrible storytelling, which impacts everything: the game’s plot, characters, voice lines, and even the character designs.”
- “The art style is also mid and doesn't suit Marvel at all, with the character designs being worse than their comic versions.”
- “The worst aspect of the game is the class/hero/character design.”
humor
182 mentions
98 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The humor in "Marvel Rivals" is a standout feature, with players frequently highlighting the game's chaotic and absurd moments, such as the antics of characters like Jeff the Land Shark and Spider-Man's witty remarks. Many reviews note that the game's comedic elements, including funny character interactions and over-the-top abilities, contribute to a lighthearted atmosphere that keeps players engaged and laughing, even amidst gameplay frustrations. Overall, the humor is described as a key aspect that enhances the fun and casual nature of the game, making it enjoyable to play with friends.
- “I spent 15 minutes laughing at Spider-Man's witty remarks alone (that guy’s funnier than my actual friends).”
- “King Shark, in particular, is an absolute troll—grabbing enemies, eating them, and then throwing them back at their teammates is both hilarious and super satisfying.”
- “The interactions between characters are another highlight – they have funny and engaging conversations with each other that add a layer of charm and humor to the game.”
- “Only complaint I have right now is some of the voice lines are hilariously bad or cringey, but you can always turn those off.”
- “Such an unfunny game, don't waste your resources on Marvel games; all Marvel games are bad, even the films and series.”
grinding
112 mentions
3 % positive mentions
37 % neutral mentions
61 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback from players. While some appreciate that all characters are available from the start and that the game avoids excessive monetization, many feel that the progression system, particularly for cosmetics and battle passes, is overly tedious and time-consuming, often requiring significant commitment to achieve desired rewards. Overall, players suggest that while grinding can be rewarding, it may deter those who prefer a more casual gaming experience.
- “You can jump in and have fun with every character at default, no grinding required.”
- “Battlepass uses a no FOMO policy; if you buy it, you keep it until you finish it, no grinding BS.”
- “Importantly, all characters—both current and future—are unlocked immediately upon release, with no grinding or farming required.”
- “It essentially makes grinding for costumes in this game nearly impossible for most people that aren't constantly able to play or even willing to put up with playing it for that long.”
- “On the downside, one thing I didn’t enjoy much was the grinding aspect.”
- “This lack of balance is grinding my gears—one character should not be able to dominate the battlefield so easily.”
music
97 mentions
45 % positive mentions
49 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising its quality and ability to enhance the overall experience, describing it as "great" and "phenomenal." However, some players criticize the audio mixing, noting issues with overlapping sounds and a lack of memorable tracks during gameplay. Overall, while the soundtrack is often highlighted as a strong point, there are calls for better integration and optimization within the game.
- “Now this is how you make a hero shooter, absolutely beautiful characters, delightful music, and an amazing community.”
- “Marvel Rivals brings the iconic Marvel score to life, complementing the action with a powerful soundtrack that intensifies the thrill of battle.”
- “The art style, music, loading screens, and animations are all very cool looking and pretty.”
- “Audio clutter is horrible; announcers, characters, and music all blasting at once, without an option to disable it completely.”
- “The worst part is trying to fall asleep with all those weird German songs they sing while getting drunk.”
- “Couldn't even be bothered to give the matches some exciting music.”
emotional
46 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players express a wide range of emotional responses to the game, from nostalgia and empowerment to frustration and disappointment. Many feel a strong connection to the characters, recalling fond memories of past games, while others criticize the gameplay mechanics and balance issues, leading to feelings of anger and disillusionment. Overall, the game elicits both joy and frustration, highlighting its potential to evoke deep emotional engagement among players.
- “For the first time in a long time, I got out of bed—not just physically, but emotionally too.”
- “I cried when I opened this game for the first time.”
- “It’s a testament to the developers’ storytelling prowess that you can be laughing at Deadpool’s antics one moment and emotionally invested in a dramatic showdown the next.”
replayability
31 mentions
23 % positive mentions
68 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability due to a diverse roster of characters, strategic gameplay, and the ability to play all characters from the start without additional costs. However, some users express concerns about performance issues on older hardware and a lack of balance, which could hinder the overall experience. Despite these criticisms, many players find the multiplayer aspects and character variety contribute significantly to the game's replay value.
- “This adds a lot of depth and replayability to the game.”
- “Strategic gameplay keeps every match exciting, while the roster of heroes and villains offers endless replayability.”
- “The variety of characters to choose from, each with unique abilities and playstyles, adds depth and replayability.”
- “Already waiting to charge your wallet with a flurry of micro-transactions for cosmetics and pay-to-win options, this game is a simple clickfest with no real outcome or replayability that is worth mentioning.”
- “This game does not have replayability; I genuinely think the game would be better off being a PvE game rather than a PvP game.”
- “Good luck moderating, devs, as the toxicity of this game will probably kill it faster than its replayability.”
atmosphere
12 mentions
33 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
25 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is generally described as fun and engaging, reminiscent of classic hero shooters, with vibrant graphics and creative maps that appeal to fans of the genre. However, some players express disappointment, feeling that it lacks the depth and quality of earlier Marvel titles, and criticize the toxic environment and monetization practices that detract from the overall experience. While the art style and world-building are praised, the gameplay itself is seen as repetitive and uninspired by some reviewers.
- “Very fun, very exciting, very friendly atmosphere.”
- “The heroes and atmosphere of this game are unmatched.”
- “Marvel Rivals offers good gameplay and a fun atmosphere with nice graphics and creative maps.”
- “I get that most people love Marvel for the films and shows, but as an avid life-long comic book fan, the atmosphere really let me down.”
- “Casual players should stay far away from this unless you don't mind the toxic atmosphere, cheaters, brain dead chickens, and dying every 10 seconds (at times).”
- “The art style and the world building is great, I enjoy the atmosphere, but the actual gameplay is boring and choppy.”