Hello, Rivals, Elias here from rivalsector.com. For months, we’ve been deep in the trenches of Marvel Rivals. We’ve pushed payloads in Convoy, we’ve contested points in Domination, and we’ve mastered the complex team-up abilities of our favorite heroes. But through all that incredible PvP action, the community has been asking for one thing, a whisper that grew into a roar: “When do we get PvE?” We’ve all seen what happens when a hero shooter promises PvE and fails to deliver. It can be a sour note in an otherwise great symphony. So, when NetEase announced a “Marvel Zombies” mode, I was hyped but also skeptical. Would this just be a reskinned bot match, or would it be something more?
Well, the patch dropped today, October 23rd. I’ve spent the last several hours diving head-first into the undead hordes of Midtown, and I’m back to report my findings. I am thrilled to say that the new Marvel Zombies mode is not just a cheap Halloween gimmick. It is a chaotic, addictive, and surprisingly deep slice of co-op action that gives me massive hope for the future of PvE in this game. So, grab your web-shooters (or… shark fins?) and let’s break it all down.
What is the Marvel Zombies Mode?
First, let’s get the essentials out of the way. “Marvel Zombies” is the first-ever dedicated PvE (Player vs. Environment) mode for Marvel Rivals. This is a limited-time event, running from today, October 23rd, until November 14th, 2025. This isn’t part of the main competitive queue. It’s a separate, squad-based survival mode where you and three other players team up to battle waves of the undead.
The premise is simple but effective. Drawing inspiration from the Marvel Zombies animated series, the zombie virus has hit Midtown. Under the guidance of a (thankfully) uninfected Khonshu, your team must infiltrate the city, survive the horde, and take down the source of the infection: the “Queen of the Dead.”
One crucial note before we go further: The official patch notes state that due to performance limitations, this mode is not available on the PlayStation 4. If you’re on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, or PC, you are good to go. This is a tough break for last-gen players, but it also tells me the devs pushed the engine hard to make this mode work, which I can respect.
The Survivors: A Hand-Picked Squad of Slayers
The first thing you’ll notice is that you cannot take your main into this fight. Instead of the full roster, we get a curated, hand-picked squad of five heroes, each with a kit that has been massively amped up for horde-slaying. This is one of my favorite parts. These heroes feel like they’ve had their power limiters removed.
Here is your survivor squad:
- Thor: The God of Thunder is in his “Awakened” state permanently. You are constantly crackling with energy, and your attacks feel incredibly powerful, calling down lightning to clear huge groups.
- Blade: The Daywalker is in his element. His abilities are modified, allowing his katanas and even his “Moon Blades” to bounce between targets, slicing through multiple zombies at once.
- Magik: This is where things get wild. Magik is in her “Darkchild” form indefinitely. You are a demonic powerhouse, teleporting around the map, opening portals, and cleaving through enemies with your Soulsword without the normal time limit. It’s as fun as it sounds.
- The Punisher: Frank Castle brings the heavy ordnance. His kit is modified to include more AoE (Area of Effect) damage and even an auto-turret, making him a critical part of locking down a defensive position.
- Jeff the Shark: Yes, you read that right. The adorable land shark is a playable hero in this mode, and he is a star. Jeff’s whole deal is charging head-first into the horde, plowing through dozens of zombies like a furry, finned bowling ball. It’s hilarious and surprisingly effective.
This restricted roster works. Instead of trying to balance 30+ heroes for PvE, the team focused on making five of them feel amazing to play. My first run as Darkchild Magik was a total power trip, and I can’t wait to master the others.
Gameplay: More Than Just a Junkenstein Clone
Okay, let’s address the elephant in the room: Overwatch’s “Junkenstein’s Revenge.” That was a fun, simple, tower-defense-style horde mode that got old pretty fast. I was worried Rivals would deliver the same. It does not.
While the base is similar (survive waves, kill bosses), “Marvel Zombies” introduces two key systems that give it massive replayability: a deep progression system and serious difficulty scaling.
This is not a one-and-done story experience. As you play, you earn access to “Blessings” and “Traits.” These are modifiers that let you customize your hero’s build for this mode. You can buff your damage, reduce your cooldowns, or add new properties to your abilities. This adds a light rogue-lite element to the formula. You are not just replaying the same mode, you are actively getting stronger and tailoring your build for higher-level challenges.
And a challenge it is. The mode features seven distinct difficulty levels. The early ones are a good time, letting you feel that power fantasy. But the highest tiers, starting with “Nightmare 1” and going all the way up to “Nightmare 4,” are a true test of skill, teamwork, and build-crafting. The Nightmare levels are “endless,” tracking your wave count and survival time. This is the endgame for the event, a leaderboard-chasing challenge for hardcore teams.
The moment I loaded in and saw my Blade had 2,000 HP, I knew this was a different game. The combat is about managing chaos. It’s about ability synergy, target priority, and using your super-charged kit to hold a crumbling line against hundreds of enemies. It feels fantastic.
The Rogues’ Gallery and The Verdict
The enemies are, for the most part, “zombies.” You’ll have your standard shamblers, some faster types, and some special infected that throw things or explode. They serve their purpose well: to make you feel cool as you mow them down.
But the real highlights are the boss fights. So far, I’ve encountered two: Zombie Namor and the final boss, the Queen of the Dead (an undead Scarlet Witch). These are not bullet sponges. They are full-on boss encounters with unique mechanics, telegraphed attacks you must dodge, and phases that require your team’s full attention. The Queen of the Dead fight in particular is a visual spectacle and a genuinely tough encounter on higher difficulties. It’s the perfect-capstone to the mission.
To make it simple, I have broken down my thoughts into a quick-glance table.
| Pros | Cons |
| It is a real, high-quality PvE mode! | It is a limited-time event (for now). |
| Surprising depth via Blessings & Traits. | The roster is restricted to only 5 heroes. |
| Seven difficulty levels offer huge replayability. | Unavailable for PlayStation 4 players. |
| Playing “amped up” heroes is a major power trip. | Standard zombie waves can get repetitive. |
| Boss fights are excellent and cinematic. | Makes me impatient for the next PvE mode. |
A Glimpse into a Brilliant PvE Future
My final verdict? This mode is an absolute win. NetEase has not just met expectations, it has exceeded them. They avoided the “Junkenstein” trap by adding meaningful progression and real difficulty, creating an event that I can see myself grinding for the next few weeks.
This is more than just a fun Halloween event. This is a proof of concept. It proves that the Marvel Rivals engine, its heroes, and its core mechanics are a perfect fit for co-op PvE. The community buzz about future modes, like fighting Ultron bots or a massive X-Men vs. Sentinels battle, no longer feels like a pipe dream. It feels like an inevitability. “Marvel Zombies” is a fantastic, gore-soaked, and incredibly fun first step.
So, get in there and start slaying. This is not an event you want to miss.
What do you think of the new Zombie Mode? Who was your first pick to play as? And what PvE scenario do you want to see NetEase tackle next? Let us know in the comments below.For more in-depth hero guides, patch note breakdowns, and all things Rivals, make sure you keep it locked right here in our Marvel Rivals category on rivalsector! Stay sharp, heroes.
