The undead have invaded Midtown Manhattan, and for the first time, Marvel Rivals asks players to fight something other than each other. But is this Halloween treat a full course meal—or just empty calories?
After months of fans asking, “When do we get PvE?”, NetEase Games has finally delivered with Marvel Zombies Mode—a limited-time co-op event running from October 23 to November 14, 2025. Inspired by the Marvel Zombies Disney+ series, it pits you and three teammates against waves of undead under the watchful eye of Khonshu, culminating in an epic showdown against the Queen of the Dead.
As someone who’s spent hours cleaving through this chaotic horde, I can confidently say: this is not just a novelty mode. Marvel Rivals Zombies is a fully realized, addictive PvE experience that successfully transforms the game’s hero-shooter DNA into survival gameplay gold.
🎮 What Is Marvel Rivals Zombie Mode?
More Than a Reskinned Bot Match
At its core, Marvel Zombies is a 4-player squad-based survival mode—not a simple PvP match with zombie skins. It’s a standalone experience with its own rules, mechanics, and progression.
You’ll:
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Battle waves of undead and special infected
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Earn currency between rounds
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Purchase buffs and upgrades
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Face massive bosses like Zombie Namor and Scarlet Witch, the Queen of the Dead
What elevates it above typical horde modes are two major systems:
⚔️ Amped-Up Hero Roster
You can’t play the full cast. Instead, five supercharged heroes take center stage—each feeling more powerful and cinematic than in standard PvP:
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Blade – Lifesteal monster with bouncing Moon Blades and near-immortality.
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Magik – Permanently in Darkchild form with limitless teleport-cleaving chaos.
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The Punisher – Brings AoE devastation and deployable auto-turrets.
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Thor – Constantly awakened, raining lightning and thunder over huge crowds.
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Jeff the Land Shark – The adorable powerhouse who burrows underground and plows through undead like a tiny, unstoppable tank.
🌀 Roguelike Progression & Rewards
Between waves, you’ll earn Khonshu’s Blessings—temporary upgrades that enhance health, damage, or even alter abilities. Outside matches, permanent Traits and hero upgrades provide long-term growth.
Completing the “Voyage to Astonish” event board also unlocks the free Blade Knight costume (inspired by the animated show) and other limited-time rewards.
⚔️ Strengths: What the Mode Gets Right
🔥 Co-op Chaos & Power Fantasy
From the moment you spawn in with 2,000 HP, you’ll feel it—Marvel Rivals Zombie Mode is pure, chaotic fun. Seeing Thor’s lightning storms decimate a horde while Magik slices through enemies never gets old. The synergy between overpowered heroes turns every wave into cinematic madness.
♻️ Surprising Depth & Replayability
Don’t expect a one-and-done event. With seven difficulty tiers—from Normal up to the brutal Nightmare I-IV leaderboards—there’s serious replay value here. Each run feels fresh thanks to randomized Blessings, skill scaling, and the thrill of surviving just one more wave.
🎬 Excellent, Cinematic Boss Fights
The boss fights are the highlight.
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Zombie Namor summons deadly whale crashes and Monstro Spawns.
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Scarlet Witch, as the Queen of the Dead, fills the screen with crystals and threatens a devastating “Reality Erasure” ultimate if you don’t stop her in time.
These encounters feel like full-blown raid fights rather than filler content—packed with mechanics, phases, and teamwork moments.
⚠️ Weaknesses: Where It Falls Short
🧍♀️ Limited Hero Roster
Only five playable heroes means limited variety. While their kits are well-designed, not being able to use your favorite PvP main can be disappointing.
🔁 Potential for Repetition
Wave-based gameplay can get predictable. Outside the boss encounters, standard zombie enemies blur together. The escalating difficulty helps, but mid-waves sometimes drag between the exciting highlights.
⏳ Limited-Time Event & Platform Restrictions
It’s only available until November 14, making it a fleeting experience for now. Unfortunately, PlayStation 4 players can’t access it due to hardware limitations.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| A real, high-quality PvE mode | Limited-time event (for now) |
| Deep progression via Blessings & Traits | Only five heroes available |
| Seven difficulty levels with high replayability | Not playable on PS4 |
| Power fantasy gameplay | Standard waves can feel repetitive |
| Epic, cinematic boss fights | Leaves players hungry for more PvE |
🔄 How It Stacks Up: Beyond the “Junkenstein Trap”
Many feared Marvel Rivals would repeat Overwatch’s Junkenstein’s Revenge formula—fun for a weekend, forgotten by Monday. Thankfully, this mode avoids that trap entirely.
Marvel Zombies introduces long-term progression, meaningful difficulty, and leaderboards that reward skill and strategy. It’s not just an event—it’s a proof of concept showing that Marvel Rivals can thrive in the PvE space.
🏆 Final Verdict: A Glimpse at Marvel Rivals’ PvE Future
So, is Marvel Rivals Zombie Mode worth playing?
Absolutely.
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🎮 Casual players get a fun, cinematic, stress-free co-op mode.
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💀 Hardcore grinders get a serious challenge with endgame difficulty tiers and roguelike build-crafting.
This event proves Marvel Rivals has the gameplay foundation for great PvE. It’s a thrilling, gore-soaked experiment that fans have been craving—and hopefully a preview of bigger things to come, like an X-Men vs Sentinels or Ultron Invasion mode.
Before it disappears on November 14, gather your team, dive into Midtown, and start slaying. You’ll find it’s more than just a spooky side mode—it’s a sign of Marvel Rivals’ bright, undead future.
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