Those who know me know that my first gaming loves took place on consoles and PCs, well before the world of board games reached my heart and monopolized almost all my leisure time.
These two media are ultimately closely linked, with the first video games inspired by role-playing games like “Dungeons and Dragons” or management games like “Civilization” alongside the first adaptations of chess, and so on. Even today, successful board games are adapted to many digital media. Digging a little deeper, we can also mention board games present in certain franchises like “Triple Triad”, a collectible card game found in the Final Fantasy VIII universe (those who know), or more recently the fabulous “Gwent” from The Witcher, which was so successful that it was itself published independently on mobile and then, in real life, via crowdfunding (the circle is complete). And what about the emergence of original games such as the 100% digital collectible card game that we no longer need to introduce, the excellent Heartstone!
It was precisely by wanting to return to the universe proposed by Blizzard that I came across, somewhat by chance, Marvel Snap. It must be said that I am not a big fan of the Marvel universe (apart from a few cinematographic or video game works) and that I started with a slightly negative a priori. I still decide to download it while waiting for yet another update of its big cousin.
Since then, I have been hooked by the Marvel Snap game system! Its successful game system, from my point of view, is an excellent mix of what has been done in the style of deckbuilding * in recent years! It is addictive and dynamic, plus the transaction system is rather well thought out and you don’t need to spend a penny to enjoy the game.
So what is Marvel Snap?
But before that, a little introduction is in order: released in 2024, Marvel Snap is a digital collectible card game available on all mobile platforms (Android and iOS) as well as on PC via the platform that needs no introduction, Steam.
In Marvel Snap, players each have a deck of 12 cards, which they build using their collection of cards earned through experience they gain throughout their games. Each card represents a Marvel character with a cost, a power level, and sometimes a special ability.
A game is played over 6 rounds during which players will have the opportunity to play a face-down card on one of the three locations simultaneously. At the end of each round, the cards are revealed and the cards’ special abilities are triggered. Each location randomly presents a positive or negative game effect. The locations are won by the player who has the highest attack value on the latter and the player who wins the most locations at the end of the 6 rounds wins the game!
Players climb the game’s leaderboard by earning “experience cubes.” A game starts with a single cube at stake, but a player can double that stake at any time by “snapping,” in which case their opponent has the option to retreat or snap in turn to quadruple the stake!
Smash Up
Smash Up seems to me to be the main inspiration for Marvel Snap. There are bases to conquer by playing cards with strength points that will be compared to other players, as well as powers that can completely change the confrontations! The particularity of Smash Up is the way each player will build their deck. The game offers a multitude of factions, each with its particularities, and you will have to choose 2 that you will mix before starting the confrontation! Who has never dreamed of leading a battalion of Dinosaur-Zombies or Pirate-Ninjas into battle?
In my opinion, the crazy atmosphere that emerges from the game’s theme is very well transcribed in the games. Very popular with a teenage audience, it will delight players of all ages and backgrounds thanks to an addictive game system! In addition, Smash Up has been enhanced with a good dozen extensions and alternative versions, including the most recent one, the Marvel version (QED)!
Star Realms Hero Realms
If there is one franchise that has managed to make a place for itself in the sun in recent years, it is Star Realms – Hero Realms! With short and intense games, it has managed to be adopted by players very quickly! Little differentiates the two titles except their opposed universes, one inspired by the clichés of space opera, the other flirting more with the Medieval-Fantasy universe.
Whether it is one or the other, players start with a limited number of cards that they will add to throughout the game, a game system that allows them to get straight to the heart of the matter while avoiding a preparatory phase of card selection.
Rather thought of at the base as a game of confrontation between two players, it nevertheless allows you to be able to confront each other with several players, for the less belligerent among you, it also allows you to play in cooperation, and even, for the most daring, to follow a campaign alone or with several players. A real all-terrain game with a strong atmosphere in its theme as in the game! In short, you can take our word for it, an excellent choice if you want to try the genre!
Mindbug
There is not much that seems to connect Mindbug and Marvel Snap at first glance, apart from the fact that they are both card games with short games. Mindbug is, in fact, similar to deckbuilding without really being one since players do not choose the cards that make up their deck. They are distributed randomly and players will discover them during the game!
It is for this last point that I still recommend Mindbug. The revelation of the bases during a game of Marvel Snap can shake up the game and if you appreciate this little adrenaline rush of the first 3 turns in the latter, you should get hooked on the philosophy of Mindbug which constantly asks you to adapt to what the game has in store for you! In addition, your opponent can use one of his Mindbugs to take control of your cards at the right moments, which can overturn your plans … don’t tell me that doesn’t mean anything to you?!
Challengers
When writing this article, I wondered how such a short board game could be adapted to physical form without it feeling like too little. Challengers succeed in this challenge by offering a tournament format! It’s unique and it allows you to keep the fun of a very short two-player confrontation while sharing the experience with several people around the table!
Behind these uninspired illustrations, hides a playful nugget that shone during the 2024 As d’Or awards ceremony by winning the prize in the “Initiate” category. At first glance, the game only offers a battle mechanic, where each player plays cards until they surpass their opponent, a confrontation lasting only a few minutes! But each end of the round will be an opportunity to enhance your deck with new cards to try to improve your draws … and that’s when the magic happens! What a pleasure to feel the excitement when drawing a card after hesitating between this or that effect and seeing that our choice paid off … or not!
Marvel Champions
How can we not mention Marvel Champions? If you play Marvel Snap for its theme, you won’t be disappointed to learn that you’ll find all the universe you love in Marvel Champions.
Forget quick games and clashing with your table mates, Marvel Champions is a cooperative game that lasts from 45 to 90 minutes. You play as iconic heroes trying to thwart the evil plans of the big bad guys of the license.
In addition to a base box full of possibilities, this evolving card game offers you a plethora of expansions to embody your favorite heroes! The cherry on the cake is that the game plays very well solo and offers game campaigns to transport you into your favorite universe!
Backgammon
And yes, as surprising as it may seem, we find a bit of Backgammon in Marvel Snap. The famous Snap system, which gives its name to the game, strongly resembles what the rules of Backgammon offer!