Marvel Rivals centers on delivering enjoyable gameplay over stringent competitive balance, aiming for a delightful experience for everyone involved. While competitive balance isn’t the highest priority, developers review game data to ensure no character becomes overwhelmingly dominant or frustrating to face. The game combines spectacular, engaging abilities with accessibility, appealing to both casual and competitive gamers.
A Marvel Rivals developer recently spoke out about the game’s focus, emphasizing how fun takes precedence over competitive balance. Available on PC, PS5, and the Xbox Series X/S, Marvel Rivals assembles heroes and villains from the Marvel multiverse for exciting team-based battles.
Despite its recent release, Marvel Rivals has swiftly climbed the ranks to become one of the year’s leading multiplayer sensations. With millions drawn in by its expansive roster of creatively reimagined Marvel icons, the game is poised to expand even further with upcoming content seasons and new characters.
Balancing characters for competitive play in Marvel Rivals poses a significant challenge, but as Danny Koo, Executive Producer at Marvel Games, explained in a PC Gamer interview, competitive balance isn’t the development team’s main focus. “Fun, first and foremost,” as Koo puts it, remains the guiding principle at NetEase, the game’s developer.
Koo elaborated that while competitive balance doesn’t top their list, the team analyzes win rates and other metrics for every character to ensure none become too “painful” or “oppressive” in the play experience. Essentially, should a character’s power level rise too high, affecting others’ enjoyment, adjustments will be necessary.
The focus on fun aims to make the game inviting and easy for casual players who value enjoyment over victory. Marvel Rivals features numerous flashy and impressive skills, like Doctor Strange’s crafty portal maneuvers with the Invisible Woman or antics from Jeff the Land Shark. While both casual and competitive players coexist in the game—though the casual crowd is larger—the game caters to competitive enthusiasts as well. They crave ways to demonstrate their prowess, prompting the team to continuously fine-tune matchmaking and analyze community feedback.
As Marvel Rivals’ popularity flourishes in 2025, the developers’ prioritization of a fun-driven approach seems to be yielding results. Whether this strategy remains sustainable, especially as competitive balance encourages long-term player engagement, is a question that only time can answer.
