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MARVEL Puzzle Quest

MARVEL Puzzle Quest Game Cover
63%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
monetization, grinding
63% User Score Based on 2,704 reviews

Platforms

Playstation 3Xbox 360AndroidPlaystation 4XboxSteam DeckiPhoneWindowsPlayStationPCTabletPhoneXbox OneiPadMobile Platform
MARVEL Puzzle Quest Game Cover

About

MARVEL Puzzle Quest is a single player and multiplayer casual role playing game with fantasy and science fiction themes. It was developed by Broken Circle Studios and was released on December 5, 2013. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"Marvel Puzzle Quest" is a match-3 role-playing game featuring Marvel comics super heroes and villains. Players must form a team and battle against Norman Osborn's rise to power and restore balance to the Marvel Universe. The game features over 200 characters to collect and upgrade, including Spider-Man, Captain Marvel, and Iron Man, with a community of over 15 million players worldwide.

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63%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,704 reviews
story177 positive mentions
monetization56 negative mentions

  • Engaging match-3 gameplay with Marvel characters adds depth and strategy.
  • Regular updates and new characters keep the game fresh and interesting.
  • Can be played for free without spending money, though progress may be slower.
  • Heavy reliance on microtransactions makes it feel pay-to-win, especially for roster slots and character upgrades.
  • Game balance issues lead to frustrating experiences, particularly in PvP and event competitions.
  • Limited roster space forces players to make difficult choices about which characters to keep, often resulting in lost progress.
  • story
    845 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story in "Marvel Puzzle Quest" is often described as simplistic and lacking depth, with many players finding it unengaging compared to previous titles in the Puzzle Quest series. While the game incorporates elements from the Marvel universe, including familiar characters and events, the narrative is frequently criticized for being repetitive and poorly executed, often feeling like a thin veneer over the core match-3 gameplay. Despite these shortcomings, some players appreciate the humor and comic book feel of the storylines, though many agree that the focus on microtransactions detracts from the overall experience.

    • “Marvel Puzzle Quest combines the simple and addicting gameplay of Bejeweled with the brilliant personality of the Marvel universe.”
    • “The story boarded cartoon cut scenes feel like a comic that you uncover as you play.”
    • “The storyline is humorous and moves swiftly from battle to battle, the transitions and animations are top notch so far, and the overall design makes me want to play all the time and start collecting comics again.”
    • “Storylines are pointless and not interesting.”
    • “The story and Marvel branding don't make up for this being a fairly mediocre match-3.”
    • “The story missions try ever so hard to entertain and keep you interested but the lack of voices, new images, and basically an interesting story that hasn't been heard over and over again brings it down on its knees.”
  • gameplay
    331 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of Marvel Puzzle Quest is primarily centered around a match-3 mechanic, which many players find addictive and engaging, especially with the integration of unique character abilities and RPG elements. However, the experience is often marred by repetitive gameplay, excessive microtransactions, and a grindy progression system that can frustrate players, particularly those who do not wish to spend money. While the core mechanics are solid and enjoyable, the overall design leans heavily on monetization, which detracts from the fun and strategic depth that could be achieved.

    • “The gameplay feels smooth and intuitive, so you don’t have to fight the controls.”
    • “Incredibly addictive gameplay.”
    • “The core gameplay is decent enough, but if you have any addictive tendencies at all, this game will chew you up and spit you out.”
    • “The battles are the same every time, and the gameplay is very repetitive and chore-like.”
    • “The gameplay is dull.”
    • “It's a hugely grindy game, and you are pressured to make in-app purchases through a mechanic where you're granted new heroes pretty regularly...but they expire if you don't claim them.”
  • monetization
    233 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization model of the game has been widely criticized for being excessively aggressive and predatory, with many players feeling pressured to spend money on microtransactions to progress or remain competitive. While some users report being able to enjoy the game without spending, the overwhelming sentiment is that the high costs and constant push for in-game purchases detract significantly from the overall experience, making it feel like a cash grab. Overall, the monetization practices are seen as a major flaw, overshadowing the game's potential enjoyment.

    • “The game may be somewhat entertaining, but the developers don't care about the quality of your gameplay and only care about what keeps their microtransactions rolling.”
    • “An addictive puzzle game to help pass the time... yes, there are in-app purchases, but you're not forced to buy. You will get stronger quicker if you purchase, but if you just grind and enjoy the game as it is, then it will be an enjoyable experience.”
    • “While the game does push microtransactions at every turn, to buy slots for heroes, to merely upgrade heroes and beyond, I still got enjoyment out of this game.”
    • “The real problem is that the monetization is absurdly overpriced.”
    • “The game would be fun if it wasn't completely bogged down by some of the worst monetization practices of any free-to-play game, which almost render it unplayable without repeatedly coughing up a bunch of money.”
    • “This game is a cash grab, pure and simple.”
  • grinding
    132 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being excessively tedious and time-consuming, often requiring players to invest significant hours or money to progress. Many reviews highlight the repetitive nature of grinding for resources, character upgrades, and event participation, with some players feeling that the game is designed to push microtransactions. While some enjoy the grind as part of the collecting experience, the overall sentiment leans towards it being a frustrating barrier to enjoyment, especially for those unwilling to spend real money.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
    • “The grind is satisfying and offers a real sense of progression.”
    • “It will take 2-3 years of farming for you to get close to the endgame.”
    • “The main reason I'm dropping the game is that daily grinding takes way too long.”
    • “Far too much grinding to get rewards, clearly obvious throughout the game that it is designed to be monotonous and frustrating unless you spend lots of money to buy resources to speed up the game and make your characters stronger.”
  • graphics
    80 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the vibrant artwork and character designs that capture the Marvel aesthetic, while others criticize the overall quality as dated or subpar, particularly on PC. Some players find the visuals immersive and appealing, enhancing the gameplay experience, but others note issues with performance and a lack of polish in animations and user interface. Overall, while the graphics can be visually striking, they are often overshadowed by gameplay frustrations and microtransaction concerns.

    • “Impressive match-three mechanics, outshines genre rivals with immersive Marvel universe storyline and stunning graphics.”
    • “The graphics are colorful and crisp, and just seeing screen caps of your favorite Marvel characters draws you into your inner child.”
    • “It feels smooth, the animations and visuals are crisp and beautiful, and everything is tuned well.”
    • “The graphics are not good.”
    • “My PC runs The Witcher 3 at 60 fps, but can barely handle 30 fps of these bad 2D graphics.”
    • “The graphics aren't anything to write home about and everything just feels slow.”
  • humor
    23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is a standout feature, with players appreciating its witty dialogue and amusing character interactions that align with the playful tone of Marvel comics. Many reviews highlight the blend of humor with engaging storylines and unique character portrayals, making the gameplay experience both entertaining and addictive. However, some players note that the humor can become repetitive, particularly in certain scenarios, while others find the developers' antics amusing despite the game's bugs.

    • “Fun free-to-play with pay-to-win elements; the story content is usually humorous and fun to follow.”
    • “The game has captured my attention and kept me rapt with excitement for hours on end, laughing at the writing as I read along about the characters I already know and love in new stories and situations.”
    • “The storyline is humorous and moves swiftly from battle to battle; the transitions and animations are top-notch, making me want to play all the time.”
  • music
    18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it generic and repetitive, often likening it to outdated tracks. While some appreciate the chill vibe it provides for casual gameplay, others feel it can become irritating and lacks variety. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as suitable but not exceptional, with sound effects being noted as decent yet unremarkable.

    • “The music is good and the sound effects are great.”
    • “The music is pretty fun to listen to, so that's a bonus.”
    • “A nice relaxing game that you can play while listening to music or watching TV or just to make time go by.”
    • “Now I'm just dancing to music that hasn't been updated since the Zune was popular.”
    • “The music is very repetitive, so that needs to be improved.”
    • “I wouldn't say it was amazing, since the music is repetitive and generic and the sound effects accompanying each power can get old once a certain power is used multiple times in a battle.”
  • stability
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is a significant concern among users, with frequent crashes, freezes, and performance drops reported, especially after recent updates. Many players experience severe glitches that hinder gameplay, such as being unable to complete matches or claim rewards. While some users note moments of stability, the overall consensus is that the game is currently plagued by bugs that negatively impact the gaming experience.

    • “At that time, there was a community manager who intervened when I had some unpleasant customer support issues, and the game was reasonably balanced, fresh, and fairly bug-free.”
    • “The game appears solid and bug-free.”
    • “Very buggy game. I like it, but I can't play because of the need to log out after every battle, and sometimes it locks at entry when claiming rewards.”
    • “Before the update, I was getting a perfect 60 fps. Now, after the update, it's 10-15 fps with numerous glitches.”
    • “It constantly crashes and freezes.”
  • replayability
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game boasts high replayability due to the regular introduction of new characters, ongoing PvP and PvE events, and the presence of guilds, which enhance player engagement. Players appreciate the variety of rewards in puzzle rounds and the excitement of tournaments, making it one of the best smartphone games for replay value. Overall, the combination of hero abilities and frequent updates keeps the gameplay fresh and interesting.

    • “Also, new characters coming out every few weeks, PvP and PvE events, and guilds make this game even more playable.”
    • “One of the best smartphone games for replay value.”
    • “Typical match-3 game, but added with hero abilities, high replay value, and constant tournaments keep it interesting!”
    • “Most of the puzzle rounds have multiple rewards (I guess to push 'replayability'), but evidently the rewards are randomized so that you could play a single round dozens of times but never get all 4 rewards.”
    • “Ps, there is no card trading which could have made this game slightly more playable.”
    • “Replayability: this game is really replayable.”
  • optimization
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews; while some players report smooth performance on their systems, others experience stuttering animations and lag, particularly after a recent update. Additionally, there are concerns that the game seems to favor pay-to-play optimization, impacting overall gameplay experience. Overall, performance varies significantly depending on hardware and updates, with some users finding it satisfactory and others encountering frustrating issues.

    • “It always runs smoothly on my PC.”
    • “This stylish game runs smoothly on my laptop.”
    • “Game performance overall is silky smooth even on my mid-end rig.”
    • “Overall game feeling is bad: stuttering animation, poor feedback.”
    • “But with the recent update to Unity, the performance is pretty janky, and the random nerfs to characters that haven't been touched in ages all of a sudden getting nerfed is so odd.”
    • “I now think this game has been optimized for pay-to-play.”
  • character development
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is criticized for lacking depth and relying heavily on pay-to-win mechanics, which detracts from the overall experience. While the character designs and writing are praised, the progression system is seen as unbalanced, forcing players to either grind extensively or spend money to enhance their characters. Overall, the game fails to deliver meaningful character growth, reducing it to a frustrating grind or financial investment.

    • “If you enjoy Puzzle Quest, you will like the mechanics; the incorporation of the Marvel license is top-notch, both with writing and character design.”
    • “The character designs are well done, and if you've played one of the previous Puzzle Quest games, you most definitely know how they play, and this one is no different.”
    • “Graphics: the character designs are interesting, and the animation is decent, especially for a free-to-play puzzle game.”
    • “The game has gone from an interesting puzzle game with character development to a blatant money grab.”
    • “Although it incorporates many of the mechanics from its namesake, and art/characters from its theme, the game seems to lack depth and character development, instead relying on grinding or payment for character progression.”
    • “The character designs are well done, but the game lacks meaningful character development.”
  • emotional
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a sense of financial anxiety and frustration, as players feel pressured to spend money to progress. Additionally, the writing is perceived as patronizing, which detracts from the overall experience and connection to the story, particularly for those unfamiliar with Marvel lore.

    • “Wholesome marvel”
    • “A boring story targeted to people who know the Marvel lore by heart, yet treating them like idiots with its pathetic writing.”
    • “The emotional depth is lacking, making it hard to connect with the characters or their struggles.”
    • “The attempts at emotional storytelling feel forced and unconvincing, leaving players disengaged.”
  • atmosphere
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is characterized by a vibrant comic-inspired aesthetic, making it an enjoyable choice for players looking to pass the time with a casual match-three experience.

    • “The visuals and atmosphere are truly captivating.”
    • “Get this game if you want to enjoy a fun match-three experience with a cool comic-inspired atmosphere.”
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182h Median play time
420h Average play time
50-700h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 24 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

MARVEL Puzzle Quest is a casual role playing game with fantasy and science fiction themes.

MARVEL Puzzle Quest is available on PlayStation 4, Steam Deck, iPhone, Windows and others.

On average players spend around 420 hours playing MARVEL Puzzle Quest.

MARVEL Puzzle Quest was released on December 5, 2013.

MARVEL Puzzle Quest was developed by Broken Circle Studios.

MARVEL Puzzle Quest has received mostly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its monetization.

MARVEL Puzzle Quest is a single player game with multiplayer support.

Similar games include MARVEL Puzzle Quest: Match RPG, Prime World: Defenders 2, Legend of Solgard, Stormbound: PVP Card Battle, Empires & Puzzles: Match-3 RPG and others.