Over the years, Marvel has ventured into numerous genres and gameplay styles. They’ve dabbled in everything from sprawling open-world action-adventures and strategic turn-based games with a mystical twist to live-service co-op offerings and even several ventures into virtual reality. This diversity means there’s truly something for everyone among Marvel’s gaming lineup.
However, when you look at Marvel’s video game catalog over the last ten or twenty years, it’s clear that third-person action games with a Teen ESRB rating or lower dominate the scene. While these games can certainly dive into weightier themes and deliver a punch of drama, they’re usually framed in a lighthearted way. This aligns well with Marvel’s usual style, but occasionally veering into darker and more mature themes could provide a refreshing change. Just imagine how fitting it would be if Marvel decided to explore a horror game by this time next year.
Marvel’s ventures into gaming have been met with varying degrees of success. A prime example is Marvel Rivals, which seems to be effectively avoiding the pitfalls that plagued its predecessor, Marvel’s Avengers. This fresh take might just offer insights into a potential new path for Marvel’s horror-themed projects.
Looking to the Marvel Zombies comic, which kicked off in November 2005 during the Ultimate Fantastic Four’s “Crossover” storyline, there’s plenty of creative fodder for something scarier. In this alternate universe, Reed Richards encounters a world teeming with zombie versions of familiar Marvel heroes and villains. The comic series that spun out from there, written by Robert Kirkman and brought to life by Sean Phillips, takes place on Earth-2149. Here, a virus morphs iconic characters into undead creatures craving flesh, with the twist that they still possess their legendary powers and intellect. This setup leads to bone-chilling scenarios as these heroes and villains act on their ravenous instincts.
Since its initial run between 2005 and 2007, Marvel Zombies has spawned numerous sequels and spin-offs. The latest addition, titled Marvel Zombies: Dawn of Decay, started in September and wraps up in December, continuing to build on its legacy.
With the upcoming Marvel Zombies series set to hit Disney+ following the What If…? animated show’s episode, there’s a clear potential pathway laid for a game adaptation. This show gave fans a taste of the Marvel Zombies universe with a twist: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes didn’t catch the virus from space but from the Quantum Realm, thanks to Janet van Dyne. As Bruce Banner returns to Earth, ready to warn Avengers about Thanos, he instead faces a zombie apocalypse. Characters like Wasp, Spider-Man, and Hulk are among the survivors trying to find a cure. Fast forward to October 2025, and fans can look forward to a four-episode continuation.
Picturing a Marvel Zombies video game, one can easily envision something along the lines of Left 4 Dead. This would allow players to team up in co-op missions as a team of legendary heroes or villains fighting through iconic Marvel landscapes. As the missions progress, battling zombified versions of beloved characters like Captain America or Spider-Man would offer thrilling and unexpected encounters. Beyond just the excitement of facing these heroes turned foes, Marvel Zombies would undoubtedly bring a slightly gorier edge to the usually tasteful Marvel game aesthetics.
For Marvel, taking the plunge into more mature gaming content could be a fantastic opportunity to explore this untapped side of its universe. It would provide fans a unique avenue to engage with their favorite characters in a wildly different context, potentially paving the way for even more innovations in Marvel’s gaming library.
