Marvel has dabbled in a wide range of gaming genres over the years, offering everything from open-world action-adventures to strategic turn-based games with mystical elements. They’ve explored co-op live-service formats and even ventured into virtual reality, catering to all sorts of gaming audiences.
However, when we take a trip down memory lane over the past decade or so, most of Marvel’s gaming lineup tends to focus on third-person action games, generally maintaining a Teen ESRB rating or lower. While these games can delve into serious themes and deliver plenty of dramatic moments, they often try to keep a lighthearted tone. This fits snugly with Marvel’s brand identity, of course. But wouldn’t it be refreshing if Marvel occasionally dived into darker, more adult themes? I mean, imagine a horror game from Marvel—now that’s something that could stir up excitement around this time next year.
Back in November 2005, the Ultimate Fantastic Four comics, particularly the “Crossover” run, reached a thrilling climax when Reed Richards encountered an alternate universe version of himself, stepping into a dimension filled with zombified Marvel heroes and villains. This story essentially served as a springboard for the Marvel Zombies series, launched just a month later.
Written by Robert Kirman, known for his work on The Walking Dead, and brought to life through illustrations by Sean Phillips, the Marvel Zombies series spanned five issues from December 2005 to April 2007. Set in an alternate Earth-2149, the narrative follows Marvel’s greatest heroes and villains as a virus transforms them into zombies. Unlike typical zombie lore, these creatures retain much of their intellect and superpowers, presenting a chilling scenario as they grapple with their hunger.
Over the years, Marvel Zombies has spun off numerous sequels and stories, effectively establishing itself as a staple in the Marvel comic universe. The most recent addition, Marvel Zombies: Dawn of Decay, a four-issue arc, kicked off in September and will conclude in December.
Fast forward to 2021, Marvel unveiled the What If…? animated series on Disney+. One standout episode, What If…Zombies?, draws direct inspiration from the Marvel Zombies comics. In this storyline, the Avengers are not battling an alien virus but instead face a threat introduced by Janet van Dyne, stemming from an outbreak in the Quantum Realm.
In a riveting twist, Bruce Banner, back on Earth to warn of Thanos’ looming arrival, encounters a zombie horde, including infected versions of Doctor Strange and Iron Man. The episode then follows survivors like Wasp, Spider-Man, Hulk, Black Panther, and Vision as they scramble to find a remedy for the zombie virus. This compelling narrative will continue in October 2025 with a four-episode series titled Marvel Zombies.
The upcoming Marvel Zombies series provides a unique opportunity for Marvel to explore grittier content and experiment with a gaming genre they’ve yet to tackle. Imagine a game in the vein of Left 4 Dead but set in the Marvel universe, where players can team up in co-op missions to battle the undead as iconic heroes or villains in familiar Marvel locales.
Imagine the thrill as players face off against zombified versions of beloved Marvel characters, adding a twist to the usual hero versus villain dynamic. Picture battling against Captain America or Spider-Man in an atmosphere that allows for more mature, perhaps even gorier, content than typically associated with Marvel games. The appeal of a Marvel Zombies video game lies in its ability to let players experience battles against heroes they rarely get to confront, all while embracing the intense atmosphere a zombie apocalypse setting would bring to the Marvel universe.
