Do you remember in 2018 when our favorite superheroes all teamed up to fight the big bad Thanos? If so, then you probably also recall that he blew us all away with the snap of his fingers. Let’s be honest, things haven’t really been okay since that happened. The real world has experienced countless disasters. However, there are many good things that came of it. One of those things is a hit known as “Marvel SNAP”.
“Marvel SNAP” is a basic turn-based card game that is available to play for free on mobile. Wait a minute! I know it doesn’t sound very exciting. However, this game is not like the rest, I promise. The game was inspired by the devastation that Thanos brought to the universe and officially released in 2022, so it is a relatively new game.
First of all, this game is unique in its structure, and there are no other card games out there that would compare to the style of play. One game can last anywhere from thirty seconds to three minutes, but it never exceeds that! This means that you can crack out several victories in just the matter of ten minutes, depending on how good you are. The reason why matches are so short is because the developers wanted their target audience to be anyone who likes superheroes and villains. Moreover, they felt inspired to make a game that could be played while sitting on the toilet, as Ben Brode, cofounder of Second Dinner, said because he once broke his leg playing Hearthstone when the match lasted forty minutes while he sat on the toilet.
The gameplay is just as simple as the match progression. Two players face off with decks of twelve cards in order to claim the best of three locations on the table. There are only six turns in the game, with the exception of a few cards that can add or remove one turn. The first location is revealed on the first turn, the second on the second turn and the final on the third turn. Each location has four spots for cards and its own ability, which could drastically change the game. Therefore, players must strategize from turns one to three in order to maximize their power output. Power is determined by the cards that are placed at each location.
But wait, can’t players just build a deck with really high power and win every time? No, because there is also a cost system! Each turn players get increasing amounts of energy. On the first turn you get one energy, and then it increases by one each turn unless certain cards are played to change that. The energy is used to place cards that cost from zero to six energy. Generally, the higher the cost the more powerful or useful the card is. Most cards have one of two natures. “Ongoing” cards have an effect that lasts the whole game, while “On Reveal” cards have an effect that only happens once.
A lot of decks combine these types of cards to result in the best synergy. The developers were sure to make some cards work very well with others on purpose to make it easier for players. For example, all of the Spider-Man-related cards have similar abilities that have to do with moving cards from one location to another.
Personally, I enjoy the “Destroy” decks, which involve cards that destroy other cards to gain more power. Carnage gains two power for every card it destroys on reveal, and Venom gains the power of any card that it destroys. They both cost under three energy and work well with the king of symbiotes, Knull, whose power is equal to every card that was destroyed the whole game!
“Marvel SNAP” has an excellent matchmaking system, and it is very easy to rank higher. If you start losing a match, you have the option to “Retreat” in order to lose less of your rank progress. Be a good sport and don’t close the app on your opponent! They will still win, but will have to wait through each turn anyway.
The fact that such a wonderful game is free-to-play on mobile makes it even more spectacular. You can assemble the Avengers, or take the streets with the Midnight Suns. From Howard the Duck to Galactus the Devourer, “Marvel SNAP” takes all of your favorite heroes and villains and puts them on the table. Get ready to snap to dust!