Before Masters of the Universe hits theaters on June 5, Skeletor is already in your pocket with Skeletor: Until Next Time—Mattel’s first-ever self-published mobile game built around the meme-able villain of Snake Mountain.
On the week He-Man finally gets his big-screen moment, Skeletor is stealing the spotlight in a very different way: by turning Snake Mountain into an endless-runner you can play on your mobile device.
Skeletor: Until Next Time is now available to download wherever you get your apps. and it leans hard into the character that’s been meme-able for years—right down to the skull-faced energy that first made Skeletor a pop-culture punchline and a threat. The game takes the villain through an endless hellscape set around Snake Mountain and its environs. with obstacles to dodge and crevasses to traverse.
In gameplay terms, Skeletor isn’t just running—he can also fly, and he can ride his faithful feline steed, Panthor. The game also lets him call on allies from the wider Masters of the Universe universe, including the sorceress Evil-Lyn, the brutish Beast Man, and the crustaceous Clawful.
But even in a runaway endless format, the stakes stay personal. Skeletor: Until Next Time throws the accursed He-Man into the mix, along with He-Man’s allies—Man-At-Arms, Teela, and Mekaneck—so the chase never feels one-sided.
Behind the scenes, Mattel is putting a major flag in the ground with this release. Skeletor: Until Next Time is Mattel’s first-ever self-published mobile game, and it was developed in partnership with Amber.
Skeletor himself has always been built for maximum recognizability. He is the leader of an evil coterie of warriors and creatures on the planet Eternia. plotting to defeat He-Man and acquire the mystical power of Castle Grayskull from his headquarters. Snake Mountain. In some continuities. Skeletor is secretly Keldor. the uncle of He-Man’s alter ego. Prince Adam—tutored by the evil Hordak. with his body and mind warped by black magic.
In the original 1980s He-Man and the Masters of the Universe cartoon series, Skeletor’s high-pitched, cackling voice was provided by Alan Oppenheimer. He’s since been voiced by a bevy of voice actors, including Campbell Lane, Brian Dobson, Mark Hamill, and Benjamin Diskin.
Skeletor has also made the leap to live action. In the 1987 big-screen Masters of the Universe movie, he was first portrayed by Frank Langella. The source material notes that Langella rewrote most of his dialogue and still considers the part to be one of his favorite roles; even though the film was largely panned. Langella’s menacing performance is commonly cited as a high point.
Now the villain’s next screen stop arrives with the film’s wider theatrical rollout. Skeletor is next set to appear in Masters of the Universe, played by Jared Leto in his skull-faced glory. He’ll face off against Nicholas Galitzine’s He-Man when the Travis Knight-helmed film hits theaters on June 5.
Skeletor He-Man Masters of the Universe Skeletor: Until Next Time Mattel Jared Leto Nicholas Galitzine Travis Knight Panthor Snake Mountain mobile game
So it’s like He-Man but backwards?? I don’t even have time for mobile games lol
I thought Skeletor was literally the skull guy from the old cartoons, so why is he “in your pocket” now. Seems kinda weird but also I’m downloading it just to see if Panthor is actually in it.
Wait, is this the one where He-Man actually shows up? The article makes it sound like Skeletor is chasing everybody but then it says He-Man is thrown into the mix like he’s the obstacle? Kinda confused. Also “self-published” like… Mattel released it themselves? good for them I guess.
Endless runner… that’s basically every mobile game now. Dodging crevasses and flying sounds cool though. Keldor or whatever also?? I haven’t watched since I was a kid, but I swear that guy was older. Anyway June 5 theaters and now this game same week, seems like they’re trying to farm attention from the movie launch.