Marvel Rivals excels at adapting comics’ greatest heroes, but fails with its villains

Marvel Rivals, NetEase’s latest superhero shooter, debuted in the gaming landscape with a lineup that embodies the essence of Marvel’s most iconic heroes. This 6v6 free-to-play title, which debuted in late 2024, pits players against one another in epic battles while wielding the powers of heroes like Spider-Man, Iron Man, and Storm with astounding fidelity.

The game’s strength is its ability to transform these iconic heroes into playable characters, each with their own unique comic book flair — be it Hulk’s earth-shattering leaps or Black Panther’s claw-slashing agility. Despite its heroic victories, Marvel Rivals lacks heavily when it comes to its villains. While the heroes shine, the game’s antagonists feel like an afterthought, missing the depth and menace that Marvel’s comic heritage requires.

Marvel Rivals heroes outshine the rich villain lineup the game needs

The difference between heroes and villains in Marvel Rivals is clear. As of Season 1.5 in February 2025, the game has 37 playable characters, with heroes such as Captain America, Spider-Man, and Thor taking the forefront. Their kits are precisely crafted, evoking decades of comic history — Doctor Strange’s portals represent his mystic mastery, while Rocket Raccoon’s devices exude wild fun.

In contrast, the villain roster is quite painfully limited. With only a few villains, like Magneto, Venom, and Hela, the game relies mainly on a hero-centric concept. Magneto’s magnetic mayhem and Hela’s necrotic edge are highlights, but they’re the exceptions in an uninspired lineup. Whereas heroes have a wide range of archetypes with tanks like Hulk, supports like Mantis, and DPS like Hawkeye, villains lack that versatility.

Most are assigned to damage-dealing positions, which minimizes the strategic diversity that may set them apart. Loki, for example, is a trickster in the comics, but in-game, his arsenal relies on plain strikes and healing rather than the subtle deception fans anticipate. Even Venom, a fan favorite symbiote, feels like a brawler, lacking the psychological fear that distinguishes him.

Marvel’s villains are just as important to the universe as its heroes, frequently driving the stories that define the brand. The comics thrive on the conflict between good and evil — Thanos’ cosmic ambition, Doctor Doom’s cerebral menace, or Green Goblin’s erratic behavior. However, Marvel Rivals portrays its villains as secondary characters, limiting their ability to deepen the game’s storyline and competitive depth and pushing them to simply be non-playable entities.

The absence of villain variation also reduces gameplay variety. Heroes provide a diverse range of playstyles, from Star-Lord’s hit-and-run tricks to Namor’s area control. In contrast, villains rarely deviate from aggressive, forefront roles, restricting tactical possibilities. Magneto’s mastery over metal is a unique example of innovative design, whereas others, like Hela, rely on predictable damage outputs. This uniformity dampens the thrill of selecting a villain, making them feel less like masterminds and more like cannon fodder for heroic showdowns.

Marvel’s villains make everything look cool and NetEase must embrace them

To address this issue, Marvel Rivals needs to broaden its lineup of villains, introducing characters that not only offer innovative mechanics but also embody that quintessential Marvel threat. Kick things off with Doctor Doom, the formidable armored villain whose genius and mastery of the arcane could pave the way for a unique hybrid tank-support role. Picture him unleashing Doombots as clever decoys or conjuring energy barriers to shield his teammates from harm. Or simply take notes from how Fortnite treated him gloriously.

Next up, Thanos could unleash the power of the Infinity Gauntlet for some truly devastating area-of-effect attacks, snapping half the enemy team into a temporary oblivion. This high-risk, high-reward ultimate would undoubtedly send players into a frenzy. The Green Goblin, soaring through the skies on his glider, can unleash a barrage of pumpkin bombs while mocking his enemies with a sinister laugh, perfectly capturing the essence of mayhem. At last, Mystique’s shapeshifting prowess would allow her to replicate enemy abilities, transforming battles into intricate mind games filled with deception, at least better than Loki.

Villains do more than just fill out the lineup, as they elevate the gaming experience by introducing tension and flair. An expertly designed villain, reminiscent of Doom or Thanos, infuses a sense of weight into conflicts, elevating battles into iconic confrontations. Marvel Rivals shines in the realm of heroic fantasy, yet it’s the villains that hold the potential to transform it into a genuine Marvel masterpiece.