Wouter & Ymke 
Explore the Marvel Universe with the board game Marvel United. Players get to embody their beloved Marvel characters, teaming up with others to take down notorious villains. The game features a roster of heroes like Captain America, Black Widow, Ant Man, The Hulk, and others, all united in their quest to thwart villains such as Ultron, Red Skull, and more, in a bid to protect the city.
👥 1-4 players, ages 14+
⌛ Playing time: 40 minutes
📝 Designer: Andrea Chiarvesio & Eric M. Lang
🎨 Artwork: Édouard Guiton
🏢 Publisher: Happy Meeple Games (Dutch version) (review copy provided)
In Marvel United, each player takes on the role of a Marvel superhero, equipped with their own tricks and traits. Every hero has a distinct deck of cards, depicting actions like moving, attacking, and rescuing. Additionally, each deck contains special action cards unique to that hero. Players collaborate to battle against a Marvel villain, who also has a unique set of action cards.
🏙️ The game’s central focus is the villain board, placed in the middle of the table. This board indicates the villain’s actions based on their cards and outlines the strategy to defeat them cooperatively. However, before directly confronting the villain, players must complete several tasks scattered across the city’s locations, surrounding the villain board.
🎴 Marvel United unfolds through a storyline driven by the cards played by both the heroes and the villain. The villain takes turns between every three hero cards initially, but this changes to every two hero cards once the first task is completed. To accomplish these tasks, players utilize the actions on their card and the one played before theirs. The hero miniatures navigate the locations, aiming to rescue civilians, eliminate threats, and battle thugs and henchmen. Once the dangers are mitigated, players gain the option to activate the bonus action of that location, in addition to their own actions.
🦸♂️ As soon as two out of the three tasks are completed, players can begin their assault on the villain. The objective is to defeat the villain before they overcome the heroes.
Marvel United, designed by Andrea Chiarvesio and Eric M. Lang, emerges as a family-friendly cooperative game suitable for 1-4 players. Although the box suggests it’s for ages 14 and up, our experience indicates that children as young as 8 can easily join in. The game’s cooperative nature and straightforward rules make it accessible to younger players, although reading is required for hero, villain, and location cards. The open communication format of the game allows players to assist others in understanding card functions.
🎨 The game comes with high-quality components. It includes beautifully crafted miniatures representing Marvel characters, durable cardboard tokens, and well-made cards. The box’s well-designed insert simplifies game setup and cleanup. The artwork, by Édouard Guiton, captures the essence of the Marvel series splendidly.
🤝 Marvel United is easy to play with clear actions, but winning can be challenging. Success often hinges on player decisions and the sequence of villain cards. Unfavorable combinations can quickly escalate the difficulty, while fortunate turns can lead to an easy victory. Communication and strategic planning are key; players must discuss their actions and work together to execute game-changing moves.
👨👩👧👦 The number of players doesn’t significantly impact game duration. Whether with two or four players, games typically last between 30 to 40 minutes. The villain’s actions, triggered after every second or third hero card depending on the completion of tasks, are unaffected by player count. However, fewer players mean the villain has fewer lives. The base game includes 3 villains and 7 heroes, offering a diverse range of possible matchups. Identifying which heroes are most effective against a particular villain adds to the strategic depth of the game.
💭 Marvel United is a fast-paced game where communication is crucial. Sometimes, the best move isn’t the most immediately beneficial for one player, but it can set up another player for a more effective action. Teamwork is vital to complete tasks before confronting the villain. This game is especially recommended for Marvel Cinematic Universe enthusiasts or those seeking a captivating cooperative game to enjoy with their children.
📝 Disclaimer: A review copy of Marvel United was provided by Happy Meeple Games, who recently released the Dutch version of the game.
