For better or worse, Marvel Rivals and Overwatch 2 are in the exact same boat right now.

Leading up to December 2025, Marvel Rivals and Overwatch 2 Fans were quick to notice a huge similarity between the hero shooters: they were both releasing a new hero, and said hero would be the 45th option in both games. Since then, Rogue and Vendetta have been released Marvel Rivals and Overwatch 2 Generally, two characters are the same. Overall, both heroes are highly-skilled and fun in the right hands, but stop being insta-locked pretty quickly because they require too much skill to do well. However, the similarities between the two competitors don't stop there, both the good and the bad are shared.

The Good: Marvel Rivals and Overwatch 2 ring in style with the holidays

On the positive end of the spectrum are holiday events for both games. As shown below, Marvel Rivals and Overwatch 2 There's a lot to write home about this year:

Overwatch 2	Marvel Rivals
Many returning winter skirmishes, such as Mei's Snowball Offensive and a new map for the prop hunt variant Mischief and Magic.	The Jeff-themed Winter Splash mode returns, this time with three variants of The Land Shark, which boast unique abilities like a Beyblade-like water splash and a snowball that can trap opposing players.
Two earnable recolors for Junkrat and Cassidy.	Two earnable recolors for Jeff the Land Shark.
Three reward paths for completing cookie challenges, with Tracer, Torbjorn, and Junkrat offering Battle Pass tier skips, cosmetic items, and loot boxes in exchange for cookies.	Handcrafted special Jeff-themed map for winter LTM.
Lots of paid skins for heroes like Ashe, Wuyang, Mauga, and Juno.	Skins themed around the holidays for Daredevil, Star-Lord, and Penny Parker. A Premium Pass also includes Christmas-themed skins for Squirrel Girl and the Winter Soldier.

Overall, these events check every box that they should. Of course, there are nitpicks that players might have about the kind that can be earned since both titles are recolors, but realistically, the events do more right than they do wrong. The festive version of Mischief and Magic and the deep version of Winter Splash are the perfect kind of casual fun for the season, while some of the paid skins are truly incredible, be it Ashe's long-awaited look from the holiday menu art or Penny's snowman-themed make. Whichever Hero Shooter players go with this year (or if they split their time between the two), they'll definitely be able to get into the holiday spirit.

The Bad: Overwatch 2 and recent balance passes of Marvel Rivals miss the mark

However, it's not all sunshine, rainbows and candy canes at this moment, as there is also room for criticism. Both hero shooters issued disappointing balance passes. For example, in the case of Overwatch 2DV is going unchecked even though it has been extremely strong for some time. Meanwhile, characters like Reinhardt and Junker Queen have received some questionable nerfs, possibly as a result of the stadium, with players wanting Zarya to take a hit. Frieza remains weaker than he should be, while the Mercy Men wait for a re-action that never comes.

One of the few positive changes in this patch sees Juno allowed to deal critical damage, which should make her more effective. Still, there are plenty of frustrations, like Reinhardt's Earthshatter charging too slowly or the way D.Va is dropped.

While Marvel Rivals Could have scored a big win with his own well-balanced passes, in reality, things aren't looking too good Overwatch 2The main competition this December. The triple support meta that many players dislike has become very viable again thanks to Ultron's buff giving him a second drone, meaning many fights last for ages. Invisible Woman remains very strong after receiving many buffs many consider redundant, while Gambit feels like a character to choose from as he can do so much. And then there's Daredevil, whose long-requested nerf saw an extra 25 health removed from his team-up – effectively leaving him unchanged.

While it's important to realize that both games are another balance patch away from being fun again, it's a bit of a bummer that their stellar winter events have been hampered by some lackluster mechanical changes (or lack thereof). In the case of Marvel Rivals Developer NetEase, being less reactive and not changing heroes would be a boon because of the loudest complaints in the community. On the flip side, Blizzard could benefit more from listening to its fan base, as a nerf to a hero like Zarya isn't exactly a new request. If players feel festive, and if the good outweighs the bad if they spend most of their time in LTM, the core experiences of both of these hero shooters need some significant adjustments.