Secret Level is an animated anthology series that consists of 15 episodic standalone short stories, each of which is based on a popular gaming franchise. The series is directed by Tim Miller, best known for his work, Deadpool.
Production for the show began in August 2024, followed by the official announcement at Gamescom in the same month. It was created and produced by Miller’s Blur Studio in collaboration with Amazon MGM Studios. Dave Wilson serves as the supervising director and is an executive producer alongside Miller.
The series premiered on Amazon Prime Video on December 10, 2024. The first eight episodes dropped on the same date, with the remaining seven scheduled for release on December 17, 2024.
The voice cast includes some major names like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Keanu Reeves, Kevin Hart, Laura Bailey, Heaven Hart, Gabriel Luna, Emily Swallow, Claudia Doumit, and others who lend their voices to the show’s diverse characters.
Here is what happens in every episode of Secret Level Season 1
Episode 1: Dungeons & Dragons: The Queen's Cradle
The first episode of Secret Level follows a group of adventurers on a dangerous mission to save Solon, a young man cursed by Tiamat’s cultists. The party includes Mora, a drow paladin; Tally, a gnome wizard; Luzum, a dwarf monk; and Ahokal, an orc druid. They battle a powerful lich sorcerer, who serves Tiamat, and narrowly manage to defeat him.
The group seeks help from Oriel, a wise and noble gold dragon, to break the curse. Oriel temporarily holds back Tiamat’s influence on Solon but is overpowered and killed when Tiamat begins to manifest within him. The cultists succeed in summoning Tiamat into the physical world even though they put lots of effort into winning. The episode ends with the adventurers standing united, which prepares for a seemingly impossible fight against the five-headed dragon goddess.
Episode 2: Sifu: It Takes A Life
In the second episode of Secret Level, the narrative follows MC, a martial artist seeking vengeance for his father’s murder. Armed with a talisman that resurrects him after each death, but ages him with every revival, MC embarks on a mission to confront Sean, the crime boss responsible for killing his father. Flashbacks reveal Sean’s brutality, including the murder of MC as a child.
Throughout the episode, MC fights through Sean's gang, training after each resurrection to adapt and improve his skills. The talisman’s power enables MC to overcome fatal wounds but costs for his youth. The episode ends with MC as an old man, sitting in a dumpling shop reflecting on his life. Sharing a conversation with Li, a cook, he ponders whether his life spent pursuing vengeance was truly worth the sacrifices he made along the way.
Episode 3: New World: The Once and Future King
Episode 3 of Secret Level takes a comedic approach to the world of New World: Aeternum. The story follows King Aelstrom, voiced by Arnold Schwarzenegger, a pompous ruler who finds himself trapped on Aeternum, an island where death is temporary, and residents resurrect on the shores after dying.
Aelstrom repeatedly attempts to seize power by challenging King Zimah, played by Gabriel Luna but fails spectacularly. His failures lead to his corruption by dark magic, amplifying his ambition but rendering his efforts futile. Zimah effortlessly defeats him, dismissing Aelstrom’s attempts as insignificant. Over time, Aelstrom begins to grow as a person. He forges a prosthetic arm for his loyal servant Scaevola, using his crown and a statue of himself as materials. The episode ends with Aelstrom abandoning his quest for power.
Episode 4: Unreal Tournament: Xan
In the fourth episode of Secret Level, the plot delves into the universe of Unreal Tournament, focusing on Xan Kriegor, a robot combatant. Xan, once a formidable champion, now faces obsolescence in a world that values newer, more advanced warriors. Determined to reclaim his status, he enters the tournament arena, confronting both, human and robotic adversaries.
Despite his efforts, Xan is ultimately defeated by a superior opponent, symbolizing the relentless march of progress and the inevitability of being surpassed. This narrative explores themes of obsolescence, the quest for relevance, and the personal cost of the competition.
Episode 5: Warhammer 40,000: And They Shall Know No Fear
In Episode 5 of Secret Level, viewers are thrust into the grim darkness of the 41st millennium, where there is only war. The episode follows a squad of Space Marines from the Ultramarines chapter as they are deployed to a besieged planet overrun by Ork forces. Led by Captain Titus, the squad's mission is to eliminate the Ork Warboss and restore order.
As they navigate the war-torn cityscapes, the Ultramarines encounter relentless waves of Ork warriors, showing their superior combat skills and unyielding faith in the Emperor. The climax features an intense showdown between Captain Titus and the Ork Warboss.
Episode 6: Pac-Man: Circle
In Episode 6 of Secret Level, the story presents a dark reimagining of the classic arcade game Pac-Man. The episode begins with a humanoid man being birthed from a pod and instructed by a floating golden orb to eat or be eaten to escape a deadly maze. The man finds a sword with Pac-Man's iconic symbol and begins training to fight the maze's monsters and ghosts.
As the episode progresses, the man confronts the red ghost, Blinky, but is betrayed by the orb, which reveals itself as Pac-Man. The orb transforms, consuming the man to gain the strength needed to defeat the ghost. But, Pac-Man is ultimately stopped when the man, in his final act, disables the ability to escape the maze.
Episode 7: Crossfire: Good Conflict
In Episode 7 of Secret Level, the narrative centers on a high-stakes mission involving two factions, the Global Risk counter-terrorist organization, and the Black List group. The episode begins with a team of operatives tasked with delivering a mysterious package to a designated border. As they navigate through hostile territory, tensions rise between the team members and the local forces. The operatives face numerous obstacles, including ambushes and internal conflicts, which test their resolve and unity.
The climax reveals that the client orchestrating the mission had ulterior motives, leading to a twist that challenges the team's perceptions of their objective and alliances. The episode concludes with the operatives questioning their mission's true purpose and the ethical implications of their actions.
Episode 8: Armored Core: Asset Management
In Episode 8 of Secret Level, the plot follows a nameless pilot voiced by Keanu Reeves. The pilot is an outcast who operates a powerful mechanical suit known as an Armored Core. He receives cryptic orders through a disembodied voice, which he believes is a damaged neuron in his brain. The pilot completes missions by eliminating targets with unmatched precision and skill.
During one mission, he discovers another pilot, revealed to be an augmented human suffering from their enhancements. Despite their plea for help, the pilot crushes their skull, hinting at his drive to eliminate rivals. It concludes with the pilot questioning his purpose, paralleling the games' lore, where pilots—called Ravens—exist in dystopian societies as tools for destruction. This episode adapts key elements from Armored Core.
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Secret Level Season 1 is available on Prime Video.
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