The Marvel Rivals vs Overwatch argument has changed a lot this year. First, a naming note that trips up almost everyone. Blizzard dropped the “2” in February 2026, so the game is simply called Overwatch again. Second, and more surprising, the two games now sit at exactly the same roster size.
Both hit 52 heroes this summer. Overwatch added Shion as hero 52 on June 16, and Marvel Rivals answered with Jubilee on July 10. Rivals has already announced The Hood as its 53rd. So the old “Overwatch has way more characters” line no longer holds.
How they actually play differently
Perspective is the first split. Marvel Rivals plays in third person, so you always see your hero. Overwatch is first person, though its Stadium mode is a third-person exception. Team size differs too. Rivals runs 6v6, while Overwatch built its modern identity on 5v5.
That said, Overwatch now offers both. Competitive carries a 5v5 Role Queue and a permanent 6v6 Open Queue. Rivals, meanwhile, has no enforced role queue at all. Players tend to settle into 2-2-2 by habit, not by rule, and the community still argues about whether that should change.
Each game has one signature trick. Rivals leans on Team-Up abilities, where heroes lend powers to allies, plus destructible buildings that reshape a fight. Season 9 overhauled that system in July. Every hero now carries two Team-Ups and can use them even without the partner hero on the team. Overwatch counters with perks, hero bans, map voting and sub-roles, which give each match more pre-game decisions.
Player numbers tell a complicated story
Steam figures favour Rivals. In the last 30 days it averaged about 81,900 players and peaked near 197,000. Overwatch averaged roughly 53,300 and peaked around 82,300. Encouragingly, both games are growing rather than shrinking right now.
However, those numbers need context. Rivals is down heavily from its January 2025 peak of 644,269, so its current form is a recovery rather than a high. Overwatch also sells most of its player base through Battle.net, which Steam charts never see. So Rivals leads on Steam, but nobody should claim it is the bigger game overall.
Which one should you play?
Money is not the deciding factor. Both are free to play, both sell cosmetics only, and neither locks heroes behind a paywall. Rivals does have one quiet advantage, though. Its battle passes never expire, so you can finish an old one later. Overwatch made every new hero free back in 2024 and brought loot boxes back as earnable rewards.
Pick Rivals if you want Marvel characters, third-person action and looser team rules. Pick Overwatch if you prefer tighter structure, first-person shooting and a longer-tuned competitive system. Overwatch also runs on more machines, including Switch and Switch 2, while the Rivals Switch 2 version is confirmed but still undated.
Frequently asked questions
Is Overwatch 2 still called Overwatch 2? No. Blizzard dropped the “2” in February 2026, so it is officially just Overwatch.
Which game has more heroes? Neither. Both reached 52 this summer, though Marvel Rivals has announced a 53rd.
Are both free to play? Yes. Both are free with cosmetic purchases, and neither charges for heroes.
The honest answer is that this rivalry made both games better. Overwatch sped up its hero output after Rivals arrived, and Rivals keeps loosening its systems in response. Roster and player figures here come from the official hero pages and Steam Charts. If you play the Marvel side, we also have a Marvel Rivals Captain America guide.
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