Central Park is part of the Empire of Eternal Night and is designed for the Convergence game mode. In this mode, teams of six players either attack or defend. Attackers must first capture Ratatoskr's Prison to unlock a vehicle, then escort it through Dracula's Castle Gate and The Ritual to win. Defenders try to stop them.

The map transforms the iconic Central Park into a gothic, vampire-infested area with Dracula's castle, set under eternal night. It's described as having a complex layout with many angles and rooms, making it challenging to navigate, and may include self-building structures or destructible environments.

An unexpected detail is the secret area accessible from Checkpoint 2 (The Ritual), where players can find Blade, hinting at future content. There’s also a known exploit with Groot, allowing quick access to capture points, which might affect gameplay balance.

This note provides an in-depth examination of the Central Park map in Marvel Rivals, a free-to-play, team-based PVP shooter developed by NetEase Games in collaboration with Marvel Games, released in December 2024 for PS5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S. The map, released on February 21, 2025, during Season 1.5, is part of the Empire of Eternal Night and is designed for the Convergence game mode. Below, we detail its features, layout, and strategic implications, drawing from official sources, wikis, and player discussions.

Central Park is a transformed version of the real-world New York City park, overtaken by Dracula's forces following a "Timestream Entanglement" caused by Doctor Doom. The map features an eternal night theme, with gothic architecture like Dracula's castle integrated into the park's landscape. This setting is immersive, with players noting its eerie cemetery and vampire-infested areas, enhancing the visual and thematic experience.

Given its Convergence mode, the map requires attackers to first capture Ratatoskr's Prison, then escort the vehicle through Dracula's Castle Gate and The Ritual. Defenders must prevent the capture and disrupt the escort, potentially using ambush tactics. The map's complexity, with many angles and rooms, suggests it favors characters with high mobility or area control, such as Duelists like Human Torch, who can fly and create walls of flame. An interesting gameplay element is the "Groot Skip" exploit, where Groot can use his Thornlash Wall ability to quickly reach the capture point, potentially finishing matches in seconds.

A notable feature is the secret area accessible from Checkpoint 2, where players can find Blade. To access it, attackers must reach The Ritual, turn left to a newly opened spawn point, enter, and interact with a misty door to teleport to a room with Blade. This Easter egg is seen as a tease for future character releases. The map also contains hints for Season 2, set to begin in April 2025, with references to future content and character leaks.

Since its release, Central Park has received mixed feedback. Some players appreciate its beautiful art and thematic depth, while others find the layout challenging, with complaints about too many angles and rooms leading to chaotic fights. The Groot exploit has sparked discussions about balance, with some calling for patches to address such oversights.

Central Park in Marvel Rivals is a dynamically designed map that blends the iconic New York park with Dracula's gothic castle, offering a complex battlefield for Convergence mode. Its key locations, secret areas, and evolving strategies make it a significant addition, though its recent release means the community is still adapting.