Marvel Rivals vs Overwatch – What Are The Differences?

Since the release of Marvel Rivals, many comparisons have been drawn between the game and Overwatch. That’s no surprise, since there are a lot of similarities between the two games. However, there are also some huge differences between the two games. These differences set Overwatch 2 and Marvel Rivals apart as two distinct games within the same genre. In this article, we’ll highlight the differences between Marvel Rivals and Overwatch.

Theme, Character Design, and Universe

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Marvel Rivals leans heavily into the Marvel Comics universe, allowing players to embody iconic superheroes like Spider-Man, Iron Man, and Scarlet Witch. Each character is steeped in lore, with abilities and designs that stay true to their comic and cinematic roots. This familiarity appeals to fans of the Marvel franchise, offering a sense of immersion as players experience the powers of their favorite heroes firsthand.

In contrast, Overwatch presents an original cast of characters, ranging from futuristic cyborg ninjas like Genji to sentient robots like Bastion. Each hero has a unique backstory, detailed in animations, comics, and in-game interactions, creating a fresh and diverse universe. Unlike Marvel Rivals, which leverages an existing universe, Overwatch has built its world and characters from the ground up. This does mean that the Overwatch universe isn’t as expansive and detailed as the world in which Marvel Rivals takes place.

Gameplay Differences

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Both games are hero shooters and share mostly the same game modes, such as payload escort and capture the point. However, there are major gameplay differences between the two games.

Third Person vs First Person

The most noticeable difference between the two games is that Marvel Rivals is third-person while Overwatch is first-person. This in itself is a huge difference and the gameplay completely changes. Overwatch can feel more like a classic shooter feel with a bit of chaos mixed in, whereas Marvel Rivals can feel more casual and/or more like a MOBA or other non-shooter games.

Destructible Environment

One of the most liked things about Marvel Rivals is its destructible environments. Being able to break down walls and structures makes the gameplay more dynamic and adds another layer to the strategy. While Overwatch has maps that can slightly change (depending on which checkpoint is active etc.), there isn’t really any destructible environment in Overwatch (2).

Melee Characters

A lot of superheroes like to fight crime with their fists, and a game based around the Marvel Universe is bound to have a lot of melee characters. Imagine Wolverine with a gun or Spider-Man with a rifle it doesn’t make much sense, does it? 

This is where Marvel Rivals differs a lot from Overwatch. While Overwatch does have a couple of melee characters like Reinhardt or Brigitte, Rivals has a huge roster of melee characters like Black Panther, Iron Fist, Hulk, and Magik just to name a few.

Having melee characters is actually a great way to keep the game versatile. Not all players have insane aim, so having melee characters that don’t rely on aim but more on positioning and combos makes the game approachable to a wider audience.

With this wider roster of melee characters, Overwatch can feel a bit more like a shooter game than Marvel Rivals.

Focus on Team Up Comps

The core gameplay of Marvel Rivals revolves around fast-paced action with a focus on Team-Up abilities. This unique mechanic allows heroes to combine their powers, such as Hulk throwing Wolverine in a classic “Fastball Special,” creating a highly collaborative and strategic experience. The game emphasizes quick cooldowns and high-impact abilities, catering to players who enjoy explosive and visually stunning combat.

On the other hand, Overwatch emphasizes tight, role-based gameplay with an emphasis on strategy. The game requires balanced team compositions and coordination to succeed, making it highly competitive. Abilities in Overwatch are more tactical and often geared toward creating synergies between team roles rather than pure spectacle. The gameplay is slower-paced but more focused on positioning, timing, and carefully executed strategies.

Heroes

Both games have a big roster of available heroes to play with, but Overwatch’s roster feels a bit more special and unique. Every hero feels unique and very different to play with, even if you leave their abilities out of the equation. On the other hand, in Marvel Rivals, a lot of heroes can feel similar at the base level, with the only difference being their abilities.

Maps and Objectives

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The maps in Marvel Rivals are designed with iconic Marvel locations in mind, such as Wakanda, Avengers Tower, and Asgard. Each map does justice to its Marvel origins. They feature small easter eggs and other interactive elements that make the maps feel more alive. Objectives often tie into the narrative, such as retrieving artifacts or defending key Marvel lore locations, which adds to the game’s immersive appeal.

Overwatch, however, takes players to fictionalized real-life locations like King’s Row in London or Lijiang Tower in China. 

Maps in Overwatch are designed to be more balanced and competitive-friendly. They are more basic and stricter in terms of layout, whereas maps in Marvel Rivals can (sometimes) feel a bit less thought-out and tested.

Polish

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While both games have very similar aesthetics, it’s a commonly accepted argument that Overwatch is a more polished game. This might change in the future, but Blizzard is (or was, depending on who you ask) known for releasing very polished games. Different heroes are extremely easy to recognize, different sounds are easy to distinguish, and maps seems to generally make a lot of sense and feel intuitive to navigate.

While Marvel Rivals is by no means an unpolished game, it doesn’t quite match up to Overwatch.

Performance

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Overwatch 2 runs well on a variety of hardware systems, and the framerate doesn’t often drop to annoyingly low levels. Marvel Rivals, on the other hand, can perform poorly even on relative high-end hardware.

This might change in the future, but as of right now there’s no doubt that Overwatch is a game that’s better optimized.

Conclusion

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While Marvel Rivals and Overwatch share similarities as hero shooters, they cater to different audiences. Marvel Rivals excels in delivering the superhero fantasy, allowing players to step into the shoes of their favorite Marvel icons and unleash awe-inspiring powers. Overwatch, on the other hand, shines in its strategic depth and competitive nature, making it a staple in the esports scene.