Marvel Rivals officially launched in December 2024, making 2025 its first full calendar year as a live-service hero shooter developed by NetEase. During this period, the game has shown a fairly strong foundation as a long-term multiplayer title.
NetEase managed to keep its promise of releasing one new hero every month. In addition, the developers have been quick to respond to community feedback. Several major improvements were made, including better skin quality, extended special events like Marvel Zombies, and adjustments to Deadpool’s visual effects and voice lines that were considered too distracting.
Over the course of one year, a total of 12 new heroes across three classes have been added. While the roster has become more diverse, there are still design gaps that need to be addressed to keep the gameplay ecosystem balanced.
As reported by gamespot.com, here is a breakdown of what Marvel Rivals has done right and where it has gone wrong after one year.
Right: More Vanguard Variety for Aggressive Playstyles
NetEase expanded the Vanguard class with The Thing, Emma Frost, Angela, and Rogue. These heroes add more options for aggressive tank play focused on dive and brawl styles.
Previously, Thor and Venom were the main examples of offensive tanks. Now, players have more tools to control the pace of battle. Their presence makes the Vanguard role more appealing and encourages more players to try tank roles that were once unpopular.
Wrong: The Lack of Shield-Based Tanks
Despite the growing Vanguard roster, shield-focused tanks are still very limited. At the moment, only Magneto, Doctor Strange, and Groot truly function as defensive shield tanks.
Emma Frost technically has a shield, but she is not designed to be a dedicated protector. As a result, the meta is still dominated by Magneto and Doctor Strange. The absence of new shield tanks makes the role feel stagnant, especially for players who prefer defensive gameplay.
Right: More Strategic Ultimate Abilities
At launch, the Strategic role felt repetitive because most ultimates were simply large-area healing abilities. Luna Snow, Cloak and Dagger, Mantis, and Invisible Woman all had very similar ultimates.
However, Ultron and Gambit introduced fresh ideas. Ultron’s ultimate enhances his primary attacks, while Gambit’s ultimate buffs his teammates. This adds meaningful variety and makes Strategic heroes feel more distinct in matches.
Wrong: A Confusing Competitive Ban System
The competitive ban system is one of the most criticized features. Both teams can ban the same hero in a single round, which often results in too few characters actually being removed from play.
Another issue is the random selection system. Each player chooses a hero to ban, but there is no true voting process. As a result, bans are often decided randomly and can end up being identical on both teams.
Right: X-Men Are Taking Center Stage
Out of the 12 new heroes, four come from the X-Men: Phoenix, Emma Frost, Gambit, and Rogue. This is a welcome addition, as X-Men characters have been underrepresented in many modern games.
With so many iconic mutants still available, this trend is expected to continue in 2026. A tease of Cyclops in the Season 5 story further supports this possibility.
Wrong: Power Creep Is Starting to Show
“Power creep” is becoming noticeable as newer heroes come with much more complex kits than older ones. Gambit, Rogue, and Daredevil each have more than six abilities, while early heroes like Iron Man only have three.
This imbalance could leave older characters behind if no major reworks are made. If the trend continues, the list of rarely used heroes will keep growing.
Looking Ahead to Marvel Rivals’ Second Year
Season 6 marked a strong start with Deadpool as the first multi-role hero, followed by Elsa Bloodstone in Season 6.5.
If NetEase can fill key design gaps especially by adding new shield tanks and introduce new core game modes beyond payload and control point, Marvel Rivals has a strong chance to maintain its momentum.
Although future plans remain under wraps, the game’s first year performance suggests that Marvel Rivals is on track to become one of the standout hero shooters in the years to come.
Marvel Rivals is an action-packed hero shooter featuring iconic Marvel characters and fast-paced gameplay that will get your adrenaline pumping. To fully enhance your gaming experience, you’ll need access to exclusive skins, battle passes, and premium items that boost both your combat style and confidence in the arena. Don’t let the excitement pass you by now is the time to upgrade your Marvel Rivals account with a safe, fast, and convenient top-up through VocaGame.
With VocaGame, topping up Marvel Rivals is quick and hassle-free, with competitive prices and instant delivery. Simply choose your desired amount, enter your account ID, and complete the payment all in just minutes. So what are you waiting for? Prepare your favorite hero, look even cooler, and dominate every battle. Top up Marvel Rivals now on VocaGame and feel the difference!
