Marvel Rivals vs. Overwatch

As Marvel Rivals approaches its December 6 launch, many long-time Overwatch players are curious about how the two games stack up. Both are team-based hero shooters with distinctive roles and abilities, but Marvel Rivals introduces fresh twists, drawing on iconic Marvel characters and refining gameplay mechanics. In this article, we'll break down the key similarities and differences between Overwatch and Marvel Rivals, giving you an idea of what to expect — and why you might find Marvel Rivals a refreshing alternative if you're feeling burned out on Overwatch.

Role Comparisons

At first glance, Marvel Rivals and Overwatch feature similar role structures, but the nuances between the games create meaningful differences in how each role plays.

Vanguards vs. Tanks

Vanguards in Marvel Rivals serve a familiar role as the frontline damage soakers, similar to Overwatch tanks. However, in Overwatch 2's shift to 5v5, a single tank per team bears most of the burden, often leading to a stressful experience with leading teams solo and the rising rock-paper-scissors trend of Counterwatch, where tanks simply take turns with swapping to counter each other.

Marvel Rivals sticks with the 6v6 format, meaning that vanguards share the weight with another tank-like hero. This reduces the pressure on vanguard players and lets players enjoy more tactical character picks who can cover each other's weaknesses.

Duelists vs. DPS

Both roles focus on dealing damage and securing eliminations. Where Overwatch DPS heroes like Tracer or Soldier: 76 are fast-paced and capable of high burst damage, Marvel Rivals' duelists generally have more utility baked into their kits. For example, Namor can summon sea creatures to function as sentries, adding a tactical layer to his damage-dealing role. Smart use of abilities and cooldowns is vital in Marvel Rivals to maximize a Duelist's effectiveness in teamfights.

Strategists vs. Supports

Perhaps the biggest difference comes with how Marvel Rivals treats its support role. In Overwatch, supports like Mercy or Baptiste are primarily focused on healing teammates. While healing exists in Marvel Rivals, strategists have broader responsibilities and more utility in their kits. Strategists in Marvel Rivals offers an array of offensive and defensive abilities that impact fights in multiple ways, being surprisingly potent at dealing damage and shutting down overly confident divers. Strategists also have more access to both soft CC (slows/disables) and hard CC (stuns/freezes) than characters in Overwatch typically do.

Marvel Rivals boasts fan-favorite heroes and villains from across the rich Marvel universe

Character Overlaps

For players who've spent years mastering specific Overwatch heroes, transitioning to Marvel Rivals can feel intuitive thanks to some character parallels. However, each hero in Marvel Rivals offers unique mechanics that create new challenges and opportunities.

Scarlet Witch vs. Moira: Both characters rely on lock-on damage abilities, making them strong options for players who like consistent output without worrying about aim. Scarlet Witch, however, introduces more versatility with additional crowd control and area-of-effect damage, broadening her impact on the battlefield.

Psylocke vs. Genji: Both are fast-paced, high skill ceiling assassins who can dart around the map with agility and deliver punishing bursts of damage. Psylocke can teleport short distances, briefly turn invisible, and her ultimate — like Genji's Dragonblade — unleashes devastating damage with her odachi. However, Psylocke auto-locks onto enemies during her ultimate, making it easier to execute than Genji's ultimate, where aim and positioning are critical.

Hulk vs. D.Va: Like D.Va, who ejects from her mech when defeated and fights in a vulnerable pilot form, Hulk reverts back into Bruce Banner upon dropping to zero health. In this state, Banner is much weaker, but players who manage to survive long enough can regain the energy to return to the powerful Hulk form, similar to D.Va resummoning her mech.

Marvel Rivals embraces popular 6v6 gameplay

Team Fights and Tactical Depth

One major distinction between the two games is how teamfights are won. In Overwatch, ultimate abilities often swing battles decisively — many fights are determined by the careful timing and coordination of ultimates like Graviton Surge or Earthshatter. While Marvel Rivals ultimates are still impactful, they don't single-handedly determine the outcome of fights to the same extent, though ultimates do generally charge much faster in Marvel Rivals than in Overwatch.

In contrast, Marvel Rivals places a stronger emphasis on moment-to-moment gameplay. Players in Marvel Rivals rely more on tactical positioning, smart use of cooldowns, and overall gamesense to turn the tide of battle. For instance, properly using Karmic Revival or Fate of Both Worlds can prove more decisive than simply unleashing an ultimate ability at the right time.

A key difference with Marvel Rivals is the element of team-ups — an interesting system tapping into the existing alliances, friendships, and teams of the Marvel universe. Having a particular composition of characters on your team unlocks and enables new abilities, such as Luna Snow enhancing the abilities of water-based allies such as Namor or Jeff the Land Shark with her ice powers.

Some examples of team-ups include:

Maps and Objectives

When it comes to map design, Marvel Rivals follows many of the same principles as Overwatch, with objective-based modes like payload pushing or capturing static points. Both games encourage team coordination and emphasize the importance of controlling key areas of the map.

One significant difference lies in the environment destruction mechanics. Players can destroy walls or obstacles to create new routes or disrupt enemy positioning, adding a layer of strategy that doesn't exist in Overwatch. This system rewards players who can adapt to a constantly changing battlefield, further highlighting Marvel Rivals' focus on flexibility and decision-making.

Hulk and Iron Man can team-up, empowering Iron Man's abilties with gamma radiation, here showing off destructible environments

Why Marvel Rivals Feels Different

Many long-term Overwatch players are feeling burnt out for a variety of reasons: the shift from 6v6 to 5v5 in Overwatch 2, the increased pressure (and the loss of two-tank synergies) for tanks, and frustrations with matchmaking and hero balance. If you're one of those players, Marvel Rivals could provide a refreshing change.

With Marvel Rivals sticking to the classic 6v6 format, team compositions feel more flexible and less dependent on a single Tank or hyper-focus on one role. This alone reduces the pressure many Tanks experience in Overwatch 2, where a single Tank often becomes the focal point of a match.

Players looking for a more skill-based experience will appreciate the tactical depth of Marvel Rivals. The third-person perspective and emphasis on macro-level decisions, like choosing flank routes or destroying parts of the map, allow for more thoughtful gameplay. Overwatch's first-person shooter format emphasizes fast reflexes, but Marvel Rivals balances moment-to-moment action with broader strategy.

For some, the simple fact that Marvel Rivals features iconic Marvel characters is enough of a draw. While Overwatch has built its own roster of beloved heroes, Marvel Rivals has the advantage of tapping into one of the most recognizable franchises in the world. This could attract a much broader audience — comic book fans, MCU enthusiasts, and even casual gamers — who may never have considered Overwatch but are eager to step into the shoes of their favorite Marvel heroes.

In the lead-up to Marvel Rivals' launch, it's clear that the game has both familiar elements and exciting new mechanics that differentiate it from Overwatch. Whether you're feeling the fatigue of Overwatch's evolving meta, or you're simply looking for a new challenge, Marvel Rivals offers a unique take on the genre. With its emphasis on utility, strategic play, and the added appeal of the Marvel universe, this upcoming title could be just the breath of fresh air you've been waiting for.