What is Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls - How Is It Different From Marvel Rivals?

Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls is the latest team-based fighting game developed by Arc System Works (the studio behind the Guilty Gear series). The game was unveiled during Sony’s State of Play event on June 4, and has sparked questions about whether it is merely a knockoff of Marvel Rivals

After all, both are team based, share the same characters, are multiplayer and have Marvel lore integrated throughout. So, although we can’t really compare Marvel Tokon and Marvel Rivals as of right now — with Marvel Tokon coming out in 2026. We can cover the differences between the two, to see if Marvel Tokon might stand on its own or is just another Marvel copy out to get a quick buck. Let’s get into it.

Why You Should Play Marvel Tokon

Game Director and Lead Battle Designer, Kazuto Sekine pointed out Tokon’s exact qualities stating, “Generally_, a team VS fighting game requires the player to learn multiple characters, but for MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls, you only need to master one character in order to play the game. We have designed the mechanics in such a way that you can perform a variety of actions with either traditional fighting game inputs or simple inputs. With the press of a few buttons, multiple characters can appear on screen to provide backup or attack together – creating a new and exciting team VS battle experience.”

That is quite the promise and showcases glaring differences from the start. In Marvel Rivals, players need to master multiple characters to be competitive. This might make Tokon more attractive to beginners as there aren't as many mechanics with the reduced learning curve.

Characters In Marvel Tokon

Another difference between the two seems to lie in the characters. I know I said it’s similar but Arc producer Takeshi Yamanaka has brought forward an interesting claim, “_{There are so many amazing Marvel characters that it was quite a struggle to choose our roster, but we did have some criteria for the selection process. First and foremost, we wanted to include characters who we feel to be the ‘face’ of Marvel. At the same time, we also needed to select characters that would give us a balance of battle types and styles. Lastly, we wanted to sprinkle in a few surprises and leave room for characters who have never been playable in a fighting game before}.”

The last few lines are something that I am drawn towards more, besides the obvious characters Captain America, Iron Man and so on. The interest in bringing forth more obscure characters that have never been seen in another fighting game before is very intriguing as it builds a direct contrast with Marvel Rivals. Will they build on gag characters like Venom twerking in Marvel Rivals or go a more traditional path? Besides that, the most important difference between the two is the team format

The Difference In Team Formats Between Marvel Tokon and Marvel Rivals

Marvel Rivals follows 6v6, whereas Tokon takes upon a more interesting route of 4v4. With unique attacks being given to each character to make it solely unique to Tokon, it represents the notion that Tokon is serious about balancing the game while bringing new ideas forward in a way that pleases the fanbase. 

Overall, Marvel Tokon is preparing itself to be a game that isn’t a cash grab under the Marvel name. It seems like a game both casual and pros can enjoy. The 4v4 format ensures that the ability dump won’t be too distracting while ensuring characters are more balanced. That said, only time will tell if it can carve out its own spot in the Marvel Gaming universe. What do you think, is it worth keeping an eye on? or are you just happy that you finally have a game at your own skill level? For me, I'm more interested in the art style and team comp, with updates coming in, perhaps we'll see the shining defacto reason that will cement the game's uniqueness.

Written By: Sarah Dar (Writing Intern, India Today Gaming)