Marvel Rivals ignited a fierce competition in the multiplayer hero shooter market, previously dominated primarily by Overwatch. While the games are similar, with teams contesting zones or pushing payloads, there are quite a few differences in gameplay and features.
Here’s a complete comparison between Marvel Rivals and Overwatch, including character design and gameplay, queue formats, and more, so that you can decide which game suits you best.
Table of contents
Overall feel and polish: Marvel Rivals vs Overwatch
| Marvel Rivals | Overwatch |
|---|---|
| – Higher hardware demand – Occasional performance drops |
+ Lower hardware demand + Smooth performance |
Being a 10-year game, Overwatch has the benefit of being a more polished and fleshed-out product. And although the new UI doesn’t do the game any favors in that sense, the features, gameplay, and overall experience are smoother compared to Marvel Rivals, which is still sometimes rough around the edges. Marvel Rivals can also be demanding on the hardware, which may cause it to stutter ot lag, depending on your setup.
First person and third person: Marvel Rivals vs Overwatch
| Marvel Rivals | Overwatch |
|---|---|
| +/- Only the third-person POV is available + Third-person mode allows for unique character designs |
+/- Only the first-person POV is available in regular games + First-person allows you to land shots more reliably + Both third-person and first-person are available in Stadium |
The immediate difference between Marvel Rivals and Overwatch is the point of view. Overwatch is primarily in first-person, except for the Stadium mode, where you can toggle between first-person and third-person. On the other hand, Marvel Rivals is exclusively in third-person.
The POV greatly affects how you play the game, with the first-person mode making it easier to consistently land shots. The third-person perspective offers a better look at the battlefield, though, with the added ability to do wall-peeks. Some of the character designs in Marvel Rivals take advantage of the third-person mode, too, as it’d be borderline impossible to play someone like Iron Fist or Spider-Man in first-person.
5v5, 6v6, and Role Queue: Marvel Rivals vs Overwatch
| Marvel Rivals | Overwatch |
|---|---|
| + Focus on the open queue allows for more diverse team compositions + Fast queue times |
+ 5v5 role queue + 6v6 open queue |
| – Only a 6v6 open queue | – Longer queue times – 6v6 open queue is an afterthought |
Another main difference between Overwatch and Marvel Rivals is the team formats. Overwatch has a 5v5 role queue and the 6v6 open queue, although the open queue is often an afterthought, especially when it comes to competitive play. Thanks to the role queue, you always know what you’ll be playing, even if that means waiting a little longer to find the match.
On the other hand, Marvel Rivals only has a 6v6 open queue, which often means filling in other roles to achieve the optimal team composition. Having only an open queue does have its benefits, as some heroes wouldn’t work in restricted compositions, and they are also designed with that in mind. You can opt to have two tanks, three supports, or whatever else.
Match gameplay: Marvel Rivals vs Overwatch
| Marvel Rivals | Overwatch |
|---|---|
| N/A | + More individual skill expression |
| +/- Very team and ultimate-oriented +/- Healing is more dominant +/- Map destructibility +/- Dynamic maps |
+/- Healing is less dominant +/- Less dynamic maps |
| – Less individual skill expression | N/A |
Despite having a similar concept, fights in these games are also quite different. Overwatch is more punishing – healing is not as potent, and a single wrong step may send you back to the spawn. Overwatch is more about precision, positioning, and individual skill expression.
Marvel Rivals is simpler in that sense. Healing is much more dominant, especially because you can pick more than two supports, and the games are often about who heals more and uses the Ultimates better. You can still show off with cool ability combos and secure fancy kills, but matches are more about macro play, especially in Competitive.
One distinct feature of Marvel Rivals is destructibility and more dynamic maps overall. You can destroy certain map elements, like bridges and walls, to change the flow of the game. Some maps also change on their own, creating new sightlines while closing others, unlike Overwatch, where maps remain mostly the same throughout the match.
Character gameplay: Marvel Rivals vs Overwatch
| Marvel Rivals | Overwatch |
|---|---|
| + Team-Up abilities to get new active abilities or passive buffs | + In-game perks to add another layer to defining your playstyle |
| +/- More complex hero kits, allowing for more combos | +/- Primarily simple hero kits (with a few exceptions) |
As hero shooters, character kits define different playstyles and strategies you can use in a match. Every character comes with their own set of abilities, like a primary fire, alternate fire, a movement ability, an offensive ability, and an Ultimate.
Heroes in Marvel Rivals have far more complex kits compared to Overwatch. Many characters have ability combos you can execute to maximize impact, and those require more mechanical input, unlike Overwatch. Of course, there are simpler heroes in Marvel Rivals and more complex ones in Overwatch. But overall, Marvel Rivals is the more complicated one.
Both games also have additional gameplay features on top of base character kits. In Overwatch, there are perks that you unlock as you play the match that slightly modify some of the abilities. In Marvel Rivals, there are Team-Up abilities, which require specific heroes on the team to activate new abilities or passive buffs.
Game modes: Marvel Rivals vs Overwatch
| Marvel Rivals | Overwatch |
|---|---|
| + Social spaces like Times Square | + A second core mode, Stadium, with unique powers and items + Custom games and server browser + Many (maybe even too many) arcade modes |
| – Only a few arcade modes – PvE modes only appear for a limited time |
– PvE mode is small and forgotten |
If you ever get tired of the standard playlists, both games offer a couple of alternative and casual options. In 2025, Overwatch introduced a major new mode, Stadium. The hero choice in Stadium is smaller, but as the rounds go on, you can choose powers and build items that completely change the way you play the character.
For example, Ashe has a power that makes her ultimate, B.O.B, much smaller and also cheaper, allowing for faster ultimate spam. Think of Stadium as a round-based version of Deadlock with Overwatch characters and simpler objectives. It has its own ranked mode, with ranks to climb and rewards to earn.
Apart from Stadium, Overwatch also has plenty of arcade modes, a short PvE mode (that you need to buy separately), and even custom games.
Marvel Rivals may not have the same number of modes, but there are still several unique modes you can explore, like the 18v18 Annihilation and occasional PvE modes. Where Marvel Rivals really shines is in social spaces, including Times Square and The Clobberin’ Club, where you can jump in and hang out with other players while also enjoying some event-specific additions.
Lore, character design, and story: Marvel Rivals vs Overwatch
| Marvel Rivals | Overwatch |
|---|---|
| + Supported by the might of Marvel IP (characters, locations, etc.) | + Extensive universe spanning over 10 years + In-game events, high-quality cinematics, and more to tell the story |
| – Little to no in-game worldbuilding | – Only recently went back to focusing on the story |
Overwatch arguably has one of the strongest original universes, supported by distinct characters, cinematics, soundtrack, and lore bits released over the years. As Overwatch enters its new era, dropping the “2,” it refocuses on the story, with more cinematics and in-game events that tell you what’s happening in the world.
Marvel Rivals has the power of Marvel behind it, from beloved characters to locations; there’s plenty to enjoy if you’re a comic (or MCU) fan, and endless possibilities of what the developer can pull from comics into the game.
The current wordbuilding in Marvel Rivals is still lacking, though, as storytelling is limited to trailers and developer videos. While there’s a connection between new characters, maps, and more, it can be nearly impossible to understand it by just logging in and playing the game.
Which one should you play? Marvel Rivals vs Overwatch
A lot of it comes down to personal preference when choosing between Marvel Rivals and Overwatch. Whether you want to play in first-person or third-person, care about additional game modes, or are simply a Marvel fan who wants to play as popular superheroes.
Overall, if you’re looking for a more polished competitive experience, where individual mechanical skill matters more and where you can always make sure which role you play to climb the ranks, Overwatch is a better choice.
While Marvel Rivals still offers a Competitive playlist and complex hero kits with high skill ceilings, the game is leaning towards a more casual side, with its flexible team compositions and dominant healing, as well as social spaces for you to hang out.
