When I first saw Marvel Rivals, I thought, “Ah, another cash-grab where Spider-Man’s swinging will somehow be locked behind a $20 DLC.” But then I played it, and let me tell you, this game is as refreshing as Hulk's thunderclap in a stuffy room.

It’s like Valorant and Overwatch had a baby, and that baby was fed a strict diet of Marvel fan service. The gameplay is so simple yet satisfying that I played it for hours without needing a break—or a headache pill. That alone deserves a standing ovation.

Sure, the cosmetics are priced like Tony Stark designed them himself, but hey, at least you can play Thor without waiting for a monthly paycheck. All the heroes are unlocked from the start, meaning I can Hulk-smash without smashing my wallet.

The battle pass? It’s actually reasonable—no more rushing to grind like Doctor Strange trying to rewind time. And if I lose, it’s not the game’s fault; it’s because Jeff (probably Thanos in disguise) decided to yeet my entire team off the map.

This is the Overwatch I wish we had years ago. If Marvel keeps this up, the only villain we’ll be fighting is our own bedtime. Play it. Trust me, you’ll marvel at how good it is.

When I first saw Marvel Rivals, I thought, “Ah, another cash-grab where Spider-Man’s swinging will somehow be locked behind a $20 DLC.” But then I played it, and let me tell you, this game is as refreshing as Hulk's thunderclap in a stuffy room. It’s like Valorant and Overwatch had a baby, and that baby was fed a strict diet of Marvel fan service. The gameplay is so simple yet satisfying that I played it for hours without needing a break—or a headache pill. That alone deserves a standing ovation. Sure, the cosmetics are priced like Tony Stark designed them himself, but hey, at least you can play Thor without waiting for a monthly paycheck. All the heroes are unlocked from the start, meaning I can Hulk-smash without smashing my wallet. The battle pass? It’s actually reasonable—no more rushing to grind like Doctor Strange trying to rewind time. And if I lose, it’s not the game’s fault; it’s because Jeff (probably Thanos in disguise) decided to yeet my entire team off the map. This is the Overwatch I wish we had years ago. If Marvel keeps this up, the only villain we’ll be fighting is our own bedtime. Play it. Trust me, you’ll marvel at how good it is.