Introduction

Those who, hopefully, read my review of Marvel Rivals (Marvel Rivals Review) know that I didn’t give the game the highest score—just a 7.5. That score isn’t necessarily harsh, but it suggests that I wouldn’t be playing the game long after finishing my review.

Yet, as we approach the third month since its release—Marvel Rivals launched on December 6, 2024—I’m still playing it daily. Why? Is it because the game is secretly perfect and I was too critical? Am I just a die-hard Marvel fan who consumes anything with the name attached? Or am I a hypocrite who refuses to admit that I love Marvel Rivals? The answer may surprise you, so read on to find out why I’m still playing Marvel Rivals.

Fun Despite Flaws

If I made a drinking game based on how many times I compared Marvel Rivals to Overwatchin my review, I’m pretty sure people would be hospitalized. That being said, no one has been able to argue that my comparisons were unjustified. Even now, I still see Marvel Rivals as an Overwatch clone, but NetEase did something that even Blizzard Entertainment didn’t—they actually listened to their fans.

Since launch, Marvel Rivals has been updated and tweaked nearly a dozen times. Characters have been buffed, nerfed, and reworked. Several new heroes have been added, along with a new map. NetEase saw that Marvel Rivals was gaining a huge player base and understood that not adjusting the game would hurt its longevity. Despite my issues with certain aspects of Marvel Rivals, I find myself having fun and wanting more, even though I consider myself an average player at best. So far, I’ve only reached Platinum III (maybe a bit higher since writing this), and I’m happy with that achievement.

Where Overwatch failed—and where Marvel Rivals succeeds—is in understanding its player base. Blizzard tried too hard to reinvent the wheel with a sequel that no one asked for. Overwatch 1 wasn’t failing, and no one I knew wanted a sequel. Yet, Overwatch 2 launched, removing the story mode and forcing 5v5 gameplay, and it… didn’t work.

Marvel Rivals, on the other hand, has already introduced story tidbits (something I felt was missing at launch), new characters, and balance changes that keep the game fresh. If NetEase continues this trend, they could completely overshadow Overwatch 2. Only time will tell, but for now, things look promising for Marvel Rivals.

Would I Change My Score?

I can already see the comments asking, “Would you change your Marvel Rivals score?” My answer is: no. The game is still good, and it has clear appeal, especially for Marvel fans, but my overall thoughts haven’t changed.

After two months, there are still major conditions that need to be met for Marvel Rivals to maintain its momentum. Cosmetics are selling well, but online chatter suggests that some players are getting frustrated with costume prices. Additionally, while a new map and mode are rumored, they won’t necessarily elevate Marvel Rivals to a higher tier in the gaming landscape.

Maybe in a year, I might bump my score to a 7.8, but I doubt anything will make me go higher. The game still has issues that prevent it from being perfect, and the community can be…toxic. However, a game doesn’t need to be flawless to be fun.

Conclusion

Marvel Rivals has a dedicated development team that genuinely cares about pleasing players. They’re pushing forward, taking full advantage of Marvel’s massive universe.

Maybe in a year, I’ll move on and only hop back in when a character I love gets added. For now, as a casual player (I promise I won’t be entering any tournaments), I’m still enjoying Marvel Rivals. Plus, I’m praying we get characters like Blade, Daredevil, and Cyclops soon.

—Aaron