Marvel Rivals really did it: a PvE mode named Marvel Zombies is on the way.
Fans have been hoping for a PvE mode in a team-based hero shooter for years. Overwatch couldn’t make it work, but Marvel Rivals just did. The new mode, Marvel Zombies, brings co-op missions and waves of enemies into the mix. It’s a simple idea, but one players have been waiting for.
Marvel Zombies: First Look at the PvE Mode
Marvel Rivals announced a collaboration with Marvel Zombies in the form of its first-ever PvE mode, launching on October 23. In this mode, players will take on endless waves of undead enemies and even face powerful bosses, instead of fighting other players.
You’ll be able to play as Thor, Blade, Magik, Punisher, and Jeff the Land Shark, each receiving unique abilities designed specifically for this mode. Thor enters a new persistent awakened state, Magik can stay in her Darkchild form indefinitely, Blade’s Moonblades now bounce between enemies, and Jeff can plow through hordes in his swimming form.
The PvE mode features boss encounters as well, including Zombie Namor and a zombified Scarlet Witch known as the Queen of the Dead. The event is inspired by the Marvel Zombies animated series from Disney+, which itself is based on the iconic comic storyline. It’s a major step for Marvel Rivals, marking the game’s first experiment beyond its traditional PvP structure and giving players a long-requested cooperative experience.
Marvel Zombies PvE Mode Might Be Way Deeper Than We Thought
Since the initial reveal, an official trailer has shown how the Marvel Zombies mode will actually play once it launches. The footage confirms a full upgrade and loadout system, giving players more control over how their heroes perform in co-op missions.
Before each run, players can customize their characters by selecting from three ability variants per skill and enhancing weapon traits to match their preferred playstyle. Each hero has unique upgrade options that expand on their existing powers. For example, The Punisher can deploy an automated turret or activate Khonshu’s Blessing to increase his weapon damage and magazine capacity. The mode will also include several difficulty levels, allowing players to take on increasingly challenging runs. These additions make the mode more strategic and replayable, transforming it from a straightforward wave-based survival challenge into a deeper PvE experience.
Separately from the trailer, Marvel Rivals also announced on X that the event will include Halloween-themed cosmetics, featuring the Jeff O’Lantern skin for Jeff the Land Shark and Phantom Tide Namor. The Marvel Zombies mode is set to run alongside the game’s Halloween event. It hasn’t been confirmed whether the mode will remain permanently available or be limited to the season.
Player Reactions To The PvE Reveal
After the big reveal, fans were quick to share their thoughts and most seem genuinely excited to try out the new mode.
"How come Marvel Rivals always gets closer every day to the Marvel game I've always dreamed of?"
"NetEase, Guang Guang, Zhiyong, y'all deserve everything. I'm going to be playing that endlessly, not even a year in and a Pve mode. The absolute goats."
"COD zombies mode for Marvel Rivals might just be the coolest thing I’ve seen since the Ultron Strategy game mode"
"Blizzard CEO: "NETEASE WAS ABLE BUILD THIS IN A CAVE!!! WITH A BOX OF SCRAPS!!!!.""
Still, not everyone is impressed.
"It is like no one in the industry can come up with something other than more Zombies. I am so sick of Zombies. How about other people? Are you also sick of Zombies? They aren't even scary anymore, they are just bullet and melee weapon fodder; Boring."
"BRUH WHAT WE CAN ONLY CHOOSE FROM 5 CHARACTERS WHYYY?????"
And one user pointed out an important point:
"“First-ever" what are you cooking??"
That last point raises an intriguing question. The announcement called this the “first-ever PvE mode”, which might hint at more to come. For now, though, fans will have to wait and see how Marvel Zombies actually plays once it’s live and whether it delivers on the hype.
Is Marvel Zombies Here To Stay?
The announcement of Marvel Zombies still feels like a turning point for Marvel Rivals. After the recent trailer, it’s clear the mode might be much more than anyone expected. What first looked like a simple limited-time horde event now appears to be a surprisingly deep co-op experience, complete with upgrade systems, skill variants, and boss encounters that could give the game an entirely new dimension.
If Marvel Rivals can deliver on that potential, it might finally give hero-shooter fans the cooperative experience they’ve been asking for, something even Overwatch couldn’t fully achieve. The only question left is whether Marvel Zombies will become a permanent part of the game or fade away once the season ends. Either way, October 23 can’t come soon enough.
What do you think? Will you play the new PVE mode of Marvel Rivals? Let us know in the comments!
