Marvel May Enter a Popular Genre Following an MCU Project Debut

Over the years, Marvel has dabbled in an array of genres and styles when it comes to video games. Their portfolio ranges from open-world action-adventures and turn-based strategy games with a mystical edge, to co-op live-service titles and even a select variety of VR experiences, offering something for nearly every gamer out there.

When you sift through Marvel’s gaming history over the past two decades, most of these titles take the form of third-person action games with a Teen ESRB rating or lower. While these games touch on serious themes and pack plenty of dramatic punches, they generally maintain a lighthearted vibe, which aligns with Marvel’s overall brand. However, it might be refreshing to see the company explore darker, more mature themes from time to time. For example, a particular style of horror game could be the perfect venture for Marvel in the upcoming year.

Back in November 2005, the “Crossover” storyline in Ultimate Fantastic Four comics introduced a unique concept. This narrative climaxed with Reed Richards making contact with an alternate universe version of himself and stepping into a world filled with zombified Marvel characters, setting the stage for the Marvel Zombies series that launched a month later.

Between December 2005 and April 2007, the Marvel Zombies comic series emerged as a five-issue limited series created by Robert Kirkman, known for The Walking Dead, and artist Sean Phillips. Set in the alternate Earth-2149, this series depicted a world where Earth’s heroes and villains became zombies, yet retained their cognitive abilities and superpowers. The horror element stemmed from these characters’ attempts to satisfy their newfound hunger, presenting a compelling storyline.

Since its debut, the Marvel Zombies saga has expanded into numerous sequels and spin-offs, essentially evolving into a standalone series within Marvel’s comic universe. The latest installment, Marvel Zombies: Dawn of Decay, launched in September and is scheduled to conclude in December.

In 2021, the Disney+ show What If…? took inspiration from the Marvel Zombies comics in one of its episodes, What If…Zombies? Here, the origin of the virus was tweaked to Janet van Dyne contracting it in the Quantum Realm, offering a fresh take. As Bruce Banner returns to Earth, he discovers a zombie-infested world, including familiar faces like Doctor Strange and Iron Man. The episode follows survivors attempting to find a cure. This story arc is due to continue in October 2025, under the title Marvel Zombies.

With the upcoming Marvel Zombies series, Marvel has a fantastic chance to delve into more mature themes and explore a genre they haven’t really tried before—a co-op zombie survival game. Think along the lines of a Left 4 Dead-style game, where players could team up to fight zombie hordes as their favorite superheroes or villains across iconic Marvel settings.

In this potential game, players might even battle zombified versions of beloved Marvel icons. Just like in the comics and animated series, part of the thrill would be squaring off against heroes you wouldn’t typically fight, such as Captain America or Spider-Man. This zombie theme would also allow for more intense and graphic gameplay than what we’re accustomed to seeing from Marvel games.