Marvel Rivals has cemented itself firmly into the rotation of live service games I enjoy spending all my time in. It contains all the necessary hooks to keep me coming back: addicting gameplay, great cosmetics options, and seasonal content allowing me to grind for that Toby McGuire emote for Spider-Man. The game hasn’t let up on the gas since launch, consistently adding more characters that change the way teams strategize their way to victory, all while giving some Marvel fan service in the process. That said, there are still quite a few fan-favorite characters yet to be included, and I’ve brought forth some fantasy casting I would enjoy seeing in the next season or beyond. Here are the top five characters I want to see added to Marvel Rivals.
5. Gamora
The Guardians of the Galaxy have gone from obscure space team to Marvel’s favorite found family in the past decade, and they have been well represented since launch. That said, a glaring omission from the team is Gamora. The skill floor for melee-focused characters is enjoyable to master, and utilizing the strength and agility of the most dangerous woman in the universe could be an instant-lock for players looking to potentially unleash a flurry of devastating sword swipes and utilize the maneuverability we’ve seen her pull off before.
4. Drax the Destroyer
Speaking of missing guardians, Drax the Destroyer is the remaining member of the team to be excluded from the game’s roster. The abilities he possesses in the comics and films would work well as a new vanguard character, a class not boasting a large number of the roster, but nonetheless important to good team composition. With all the Guardians in the game once Drax and Gamora make it, a slew of new team-up possibilities could be introduced, such as a massive AOE attack with the Guardians covering each other’s backs, so fingers crossed for a potential Guardians of the Galaxy season.
3. Silver Surfer
Coming off the back of The Fantastic Four: First Steps being in people’s minds, The Silver Surfer would be an inspired choice to join in on the hero shooter fun. Flying characters are a large part of the meta at certain points of the game, and having a new option that could hone in on speed and maneuverability over damage output, would be a new wrinkle compared to how the last few worked. Couple this character drop with a Galactus-themed season, and I can envision the Silver Surfer being a new strategist, supporting the team with a ton of speed to boot.
2. Deadpool
Being teased all over the game, from stickers scattered across maps to being an accessory hanging off Jeff the Landshark, Deadpool is an obvious addition in a later season. I’d hope for a return of Nolan North voicing the character, bringing his signature wit to this new audience. Never at a loss for words, the amount of interactions, fourth wall breaking quips, and general buffoonberry could bring some new life into the rotation of in game chatter. Gameplay wise, Deadpool’s kit seems pretty set in stone, a skilled swordsman and marksmen, who could easily terrorize a healer in the back row. All they’d really need to get right is the wise cracking jerk fans love, and Deadpool will be a favorite yet again.
1. Cyclops
One of the best parts of Marvel Rivals is the copious amounts of X-Men love thrown into its roster, and allowing the eye beam master Cyclops into the clubhouse would make a lot of fans happy. Interestingly enough, I could see Scott Summers working well in a few roles, whether it’s as a pure blaster duelist racking up kills, or as a team leader type, boosting and supporting allies as a strategist. When the primary ability of the character feels basic, we usually get some creativity to make them worth playing, and I can see NetEase giving us something unique with him besides just shooting beams. Plus, the drama in voice lines between him and the different X-Men would be worth his inclusion alone.
