Marvel Rivals zombies mode can shine with these 7 upgrades ⇒ MarvelRivalsHub

If you’ve been plugging away in the new survival Marvel Rivals Zombies Mode by NetEase Games, you know it’s got serious potential. But after hours of gameplay and community feedback, it’s clear there are some issues holding it back from being something really special. These points aren’t to tear the mode down but to highlight areas where meaningful upgrades could transform it from good to great.

Source: TDTwo

What is the zombies mode in Marvel Rivals

Marvel Zombies Mode was released on October 23, 2025 as Marvel Rivals’ first full PvE co op experience. In this mode, four players take on waves of zombie enemies using a limited hero roster that includes Thor, Blade, Magik, The Punisher and Jeff the Land Shark. You fight off undead minions and bosses like a zombified Namor and the powerful Queen of the Dead.

The mode has been a hit for many fans, offering something unique compared to the usual PvP action. But it’s currently a limited time event that will only run until December 5. Making it permanent could foster a stronger, more dedicated player base.

Hero balance needs serious tuning

While some heroes like Thor, Magik, and Punisher feel well balanced, others miss the mark. Jeff is particularly underpowered, with no successful Nightmare 4 solo completions reported so far. Blade, on the other hand, is considered too powerful, especially in his Red Tree build. He’s so dominant that picking anyone else feels like a downgrade.

This imbalance makes the game less fun and kills the incentive to try different characters. A rebalance that brings Jeff up and tones Blade down would instantly improve team diversity and replayability.

Token system feels like a missed opportunity

The token system allows players to gain buffs during runs, but it’s tied to how much time or money you invest. While it’s not full pay to win, it leans close. The randomness of token acquisition makes it feel unfair.

A better system would give every player a set number of tokens per run. That would encourage strategic planning instead of making success about who grinded or spent the most.

Build crafting is shallow and repetitive

The skill trees for each character push you to commit to one path. There’s little room for hybrid builds or trying new approaches. For example, you’re either fully building Punisher’s adjudicator tree or shotgun tree, never both.

This system discourages experimentation and creativity. Worse, most abilities don’t scale well in Nightmare 4, so everyone just spams damage. If the game allowed wider builds that impacted multiple parts of a hero’s kit, runs would feel fresh each time.

A better design would limit how deep you go into any single skill tree while expanding the number of impactful perks. This gives you the chance to mix builds and focus more on decision making than following a set formula.

Spawn system is frustrating, especially on higher levels

Spawning in the middle of a battle without stun immunity often results in instant death. It’s especially annoying during boss waves where enemies or bubbles can drop on spawn zones, ending your run unfairly.

A solution would be a short “safe zone” or platform like Smash Bros, giving you full immunity for a few seconds to rejoin the fight. That way, you can recover and keep the run alive instead of watching helplessly.

Abilities and kit usage lack depth

Right now, most characters just spam their primary weapon. Abilities feel like an afterthought. One cool example is Punisher using ricochet shots to damage Scarlet Witch while she’s in her bubble, but that’s the exception.

More heroes need to have skill based mechanics that encourage thoughtful use of their full kit. This would make each match feel more interactive and reward mastery.

Blessing system loses strategy in harder modes

In lower levels, the blessings system adds excitement. But in Nightmare 4, you always get what you want. There’s no real challenge in building your run, which leads to repetitive gameplay.

Perks should be more impactful and less predictable. If you’re forced to adapt on the fly, each run becomes unique. Adding stronger but rarer perks and making rerolling more expensive would encourage that kind of dynamic playstyle.

For more detailed feedback, you can check out the original video review that inspired this breakdown here: Marvel Rivals Zombies Mode Feedback