Marvel Characters and Their Overwatch Counterparts: A Complete Guide

In the bustling realm of game design, originality can sometimes feel elusive. While it’s normal to honor longstanding genre templates and admit influences, the peril of descending into imitation is ever-present. A case in point is PocketPair, whose legal battle exemplifies the fine line between inspiration and copying. Fortunately for Marvel Rivals, they have managed to pull off a legally distinct mimicry of Overwatch, resulting in a marked decline in Overwatch’s player count.

This article aims to explore the character designs of Marvel Rivals and highlight their uncanny similarities to various Overwatch heroes. While not every character draws a direct comparison, many showcase gameplay mechanics and visual elements that evoke memories of Overwatch. Herein lies your guide to identifying which Marvel Rivals character might resonate with your favorite Overwatch main, allowing for an effortless transition into this new gaming experience.

Marvel Rivals vs. Overwatch: Character Comparisons

While no characters in Marvel Rivals mirror their Overwatch counterparts directly, many share gameplay styles that may appeal to fans of Overwatch. Below is a detailed breakdown of these parallels.

Vanguards

Hero/Villain	Overwatch Counterpart	Explanation
Captain America	Mount/Juno	Captain America’s gameplay involves sprinting and leaping into enemy lines similarly to Mauga, while Juno’s speed buffs parallel his supportive undertones.
Doctor Strange	Symmetra	Doctor Strange’s ability to revitalize teammates recalls Symmetra’s capacity to ensure teammates rejoin battles quickly, enhancing team dynamics.
Magneto	Sigma	Magneto’s standard attacks and area-of-effect ultimate abilities closely align with Sigma’s combat mechanics.
Big	May	Both Groot and Mei create barriers that can hinder enemy movement and provide strategic advantages during encounters.
Hulk	D.VA	As formidable tanks, both Hulk and D.VA excel at absorbing damage, though each character presents a fragile secondary form that can be easily dispatched.
Thor	Reinhardt	Thor’s hammer plays a major role in his attacks, echoing Reinhardt’s melee capabilities while amplifying both characters’ damage-absorption strengths.
Venom	Doomfist/Wrecking Ball	Venom shares movement mechanics with Wrecking Ball while his powerful melee aspects recall Doomfist’s hit-and-run tactics.
Penny Parker	Ana/Orisa	Peni’s Web Snare skill mimics Ana’s sleep darts, and her capacity to merge with surfaces hints at Orisa’s defensive capabilities.

Duelists

Hero/Villain	Overwatch Counterpart	Explanation
Black Panther	Genji	Black Panther’s speed and agile abilities parallel Genji’s movement-centric gameplay while maintaining unique flair.
Black Widow	Widowmaker	Both characters excel in long-range engagements, showcasing sharpshooting abilities combined with strong defensive mechanics.
Hawkeye	Hanzo	With shared accuracy requirements and agile escape skills, Hawkeye is a counterpart to Hanzo, making them formidable snipers.
Whole	Hanzo/Pharah	Hela’s projectiles mirror Hanzo’s tactical gameplay while her ultimate ability draws parallels to Pharah’s aerial assaults.
Iron Fist	Lucio/Doomfist	Iron Fist matches Doomfist in melee combat while incorporating Lucio’s versatility, allowing for seamless transitions between attack and healing.
Iron Man	Pharaoh	Iron Man’s aerial bombardments share mechanics with Pharah, emphasizing long-range attacks from above with explosive results.
Magic	Ramattra/Tracer	Magik combines Tracer’s mobility with Ramattra’s ability to call upon minions, creating a versatile combat experience.
Moon Knight	Echo/Cassidy	Moon Knight’s diverse playstyle allows for aerial maneuvers akin to Echo and deadly close-range capabilities reminiscent of Cassidy.
Namor	Torbjörn	Namor’s weaponry shares characteristics with Torbjörn’s and includes an aquatic spawning ability that mimics turret placements.
Psylocke	Genji/Sombra	Psylocke’s melee skills align her with Genji, while her stealth abilities echo Sombra’s tactical approach.
Scarlet Witch	Moira	Scarlet Witch employs chaotic attacks akin to Moira’s abilities, blending damage and escape mechanisms seamlessly.
Spiderman	Roadhog/Genji	Spiderman embodies elements of both Roadhog and Genji, harnessing both utility and speed for engaging combat.
Squirrel Girl	Junkrat	Squirrel Girl enhances Junkrat’s explosive gameplay with improved mobility options, creating unique strategic advantages.
Star Lord	Tracer	Star Lord’s fast-paced gameplay showcases characteristics common to Tracer, focusing on agility and rapid-fire attacks.
Storm	Lucio/Pharah	As a support character, Storm offers buffs akin to Lucio while also engaging in aerial combat reminiscent of Pharah.
The Punisher	Soldier 76/Bastion	The Punisher serves as a tutorial character, paralleling Soldier 76’s straightforward gameplay while mimicking Bastion’s turret mechanics.
Winter Soldier	Roadhog	Winter Soldier capitalizes on tactical repositioning in combat similar to Roadhog, utilizing a bionic hook for surprise attacks.
Wolverine	Orisa/Zarya	While Wolverine showcases unique traits, aggressive tank play reminiscent of both Orisa and Zarya can sometimes draw parallels.

Strategists

Hero/Villain	Overwatch Counterpart	Explanation
Adam Warlock	Mercy/Zenyatta	Similar to Mercy, Adam Warlock can revive allies and boasts offensive capabilities reminiscent of Zenyatta’s projectile mechanics.
Cloak and Dagger	Moira	Cloak and Dagger offer players duality—balancing offensive and defensive strategies through interchangeable characters, enhancing their tactical depth.
Jeff The Land Shark	Venture/Illari/Moira	Jeff’s ability to evade enemy fire underwater resonates with Venture’s stealth, while also possessing healing abilities similar to Moira.
Loki	Shadow/Echo	Loki’s stealth and trickery evoke Sombra’s tactical gameplay, while his ultimate transformation mirrors Echo’s abilities.
Luna Snow	Zenyatta/Lucio	Luna Snow’s gameplay stitches Zenyatta’s projectile healing with AOE buffs akin to Lucio during her ultimate, achieving a harmonious blend of roles.
Mantis	Lifeweaver/Ana	Mantis combines Ana’s crowd control with Lifeweaver’s healing abilities, effectively blending support functions.
Rocket Raccoon	Baptiste/Brigette	Rocket Raccoon’s ability to deploy healing orbs aligns with Baptiste, while also borrowing tactical elements from Brigette.