Jabril GoodnerMarvel Rivals is the latest hero shooter hit, and it plays exceptionally well on Xbox Series S|X. There are plenty of settings to tweak, including crosshair tilt, color, shape, team colors, health bar color, and hero cosmetics. It feels like a premium, PC-like experience on Xbox, with all the advanced settings and fluid gameplay. Since Marvel Rivals runs at 120 FPS on Xbox and offers quick matchmaking — ranked matches are found in seconds — it’s no surprise that it’s one of the most popular games in the world, made even more so with its multi-platform release and crossplay support.
The game is a blast to play, but what really sets it apart, even more than the gameplay and cheeky dialogue, is its design. Not just the incredible character design, which does stand out, but the user interface. It’s brilliantly crafted — one of the most colorful and visually appealing games I’ve seen in years. Every second spent looking at the game is a treat for the eyes. The sounds when navigating menus, the flashing lights around heroes’ profiles, and the seamless transitions between screens are all nearly perfect. The comic book elements in the game are phenomenal too.
Even though the game is free-to-play, the menu design alone shows that the developers spent a significant amount of time perfecting the smallest details. When I play Marvel Rivals, I’m constantly reminded of all the care that went into the game — from how seamlessly the lore is interwoven into map designs, to how characters interact before matches, staying true to the source material. They’ve even added digital comic books you can unlock in-game. It’s a treasure trove of fun and beauty, especially for Marvel fans.
As for gameplay, especially in ranked mode, it’s relentless and competitive. But even after getting “cooked,” at least you can admire the gorgeous in-game menus. The game is free — go download it and give it a spin.