Marvel Rivals

Marvel Rivals drops players into a chaotic, colorful battlefield where they can pick from over 50 Marvel heroes and villains and blast it out in third-person. This free-to-play hero shooter, developed by NetEase Games in partnership with Marvel Games, landed on PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S on December 6, 2024. A PlayStation 4 version followed on September 12, 2025, and a Nintendo Switch 2 port is in the works. The game supports cross-play across all platforms, so your friends can join no matter what they play on.

Matches feel like a comic book crossover event come to life. You might have Iron Man raining repulsor blasts from above while Spider-Man swings in for a quick takedown, all while Hulk smashes through the objective. The roster hits 51 characters at launch, drawing from decades of Marvel history. NetEase keeps the action fresh with regular updates, new heroes, and seasonal events. Beyond the game itself, Marvel Comics has spun off two digital series: Marvel Rivals Infinity Comic (2024) and Marvel Rivals: Unleashed Infinity Comic (2025), with characters also popping up in other Marvel titles.[edit]

Marvel Rivals is a 6v6 team-based hero shooter where players choose from four classes: Vanguard (tank), Duelist (damage), Strategist (support), and a hybrid class. Each character has unique abilities, an ultimate move, and team-up synergies with specific allies. For example, Iron Man can overcharge from Hulk's gamma energy, and Rocket Raccoon can ride on Groot's shoulders. Matches involve capturing objectives, escorting payloads, or dominating zones across destructible maps like Tokyo 2099, Asgard, and Wakanda. Environmental destruction is a key mechanic: walls and structures crumble under heavy fire, altering sightlines and strategies mid-battle.

The game offers ranked competitive mode with tiers from Bronze to Eternity, quick play, arcade modes such as All Brawlers and Capture the Infinity Stone, and a training range. Cross-play and cross-progression are supported across all platforms via a linked Marvel account. A party system allows up to six players, with voice chat and a ping wheel for non-verbal communication.[edit]

The narrative begins with a cosmic entity called the Timestream Entanglement merging multiple Marvel universes, forcing heroes and villains into chaotic battles across time and space. Doctor Doom is the primary antagonist, manipulating the conflict for his own ends, while Loki and Galactus play pivotal roles. Seasonal story arcs, such as Dooms' Rise, introduce new characters and map variations tied to the lore. Each season advances the overarching plot, with cinematics and in-game events revealing more about the Timestream Entanglement and its consequences.[edit]