MARVEL SNAP
- August 22, 2023
- Second Dinner Studios, Inc.
- 40h median play time
Marvel Snap is a wonderfully intuitive card game that is simple to play, easy to learn, and satisfying to master. Games may take just six minutes to play, but there's a depth of strategy and breadth of variance here that is truly awesome.
"MARVEL SNAP is a fast-paced, card-based combat game featuring popular Marvel characters. Players collect and upgrade cards to build their ultimate deck, and engage in strategic battles in single-player or PvP modes. The game offers a variety of challenges and events, with stunning visuals and authentic Marvel storytelling." | 230 characters.
Reviews
- gameplay2,070 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Marvel Snap is widely praised for its fast-paced, strategic mechanics that blend elements of traditional card games with innovative features like the "snap" mechanic, which adds a layer of bluffing and risk management. Players appreciate the quick match times and the variety introduced by unique locations, making each game feel fresh and engaging. However, many reviews express frustration with the game's monetization and card acquisition systems, which are seen as predatory and detrimental to the overall experience, particularly for new or free-to-play players.
“The gameplay itself is a lot of fun, matches are played quickly, and the artwork is great.”
“Excellent well-designed gameplay in terms of pacing, card balance, with the right balance of skill and chance.”
“The gameplay is fast, strategic, and incredibly satisfying.”
“Gameplay has become absolutely random.”
“The gameplay is fast, strategic, and incredibly satisfying, but the monetization has ruined the experience.”
“The core gameplay is extremely solid, but the overall experience is dragged down by a card collection system designed to keep players spending with little upside.”
- monetization1,139 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The monetization system in this game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players describing it as predatory and a blatant cash grab. Critics highlight the high costs of in-game purchases, particularly for card variants and bundles, which can reach up to $100, making it difficult for both new and returning players to access content without significant financial investment. While some players appreciate the gameplay, they express frustration that the aggressive monetization tactics overshadow the overall experience, leading to a perception of the game as more focused on profit than player enjoyment.
“The game is fun, but the monetization is absolutely predatory.”
“Great game, terrible monetization.”
“The monetization is so gross that even the most die-hard whales and content creators don't recommend buying anything.”
“Love this game's gameplay, and am a huge Marvel comics fan, but this game has a super predatory monetization system, and incredibly poor card acquisition which makes it horrendously inaccessible for new and returning players.”
“The monetization and progression system are borderline non-functional and completely hold back the great work the design team is doing.”
“Monetization has killed this game and the devs have went full swing into making a game that depends on FOMO to keep people coming back instead of making a game that's enjoyable to play.”
- graphics462 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics in Marvel Snap are widely praised for their stunning artwork and vibrant animations, effectively capturing the essence of Marvel characters and comic book aesthetics. Players appreciate the variety of card art styles and the ability to upgrade visuals, which enhances the overall experience. However, some critiques highlight issues with optimization on PC and the high costs associated with acquiring aesthetic upgrades, which can detract from the enjoyment of the game.
“The graphics are out of this world, the gameplay is insanely addictive, and the sheer amount of characters and powers you can unlock is a dream come true for any Marvel enthusiast.”
“The game's graphics are nothing short of stunning, offering a level of detail that brings Marvel's beloved superheroes and villains to life in breathtaking fashion.”
“The visuals are vibrant and full of life, staying true to the comic book aesthetic while maintaining a polished, modern feel.”
“The animated versions of cards in this game are a joke, and I've had many situations where I wanted to keep border colors to match the art style of the cards yet was forced to upgrade to unlock other cards.”
“The pc version of this game, however, is incredibly buggy and poorly optimized, with no proper user interface for pc, along with no anti-aliasing, choppy graphics, and a bunch of performance issues.”
“Graphics are so low quality and it is in portrait mode, no wide screen support and the game isn't very skill-based, it's luck; play Gwent instead of this.”
- story425 mentions
- 9 % positive mentions
- 84 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its absence, with many players noting that there is no meaningful narrative or single-player content to engage with. Instead, the gameplay revolves around repetitive daily missions and grinding for card acquisition, which many find tedious and lacking in depth. While some players appreciate the casual nature of completing missions, the overall sentiment is that the game feels more like a chore than an immersive experience, with a strong emphasis on monetization and a frustrating progression system.
“The game's plot is filled with unexpected twists and turns, offering both longtime fans and newcomers an engaging and immersive experience.”
“The visual effects are stunning, the storyline is captivating, and the performances from the cast are top-notch.”
“While the narrative isn't groundbreaking, Marvel Snap weaves an engaging original story that brings together various Marvel characters and villains.”
“The plot feels like it was written by a toddler throwing action figures together – there's a bad guy, a damsel in distress, and a bunch of heroes doing their thing.”
“This is when Snap turned into a boring daily grind to complete daily quests for currency.”
“Very boring and no side quests or PvE missions to do, little effort on content, very shallow compared to card games like Warpforge etc. Got bored with it within an hour.”
- grinding354 mentions
- 1 % positive mentions
- 3 % neutral mentions
- 96 % negative mentions
The reviews overwhelmingly highlight that the game is excessively grindy, particularly in terms of card acquisition and progression, often leading to frustration among players. Many express that while the gameplay can be enjoyable, the grind feels tedious and unrewarding, especially for free-to-play users who struggle to keep up with the meta without spending money. Overall, the consensus is that the game leans heavily towards a pay-to-win model, making it difficult for casual players to enjoy without significant time investment or financial expenditure.
“No grinding of boring stuff is necessary: the daily tasks are fairly easy to complete naturally.”
“I have been playing the game for less than 2 months and it's already my most played Steam game. The gameplay itself is great and refreshing, not grindy. The art is amazing, and the games are fast-paced and short, with tons of cards to unlock.”
“The card upgrades are not that grindy, though, and it's easy to get your cards upgraded.”
“There's nothing as frustrating as spending weeks grinding credits while you wait for the drop you want, cap it at 10k (why tho?), then spend it all just to not get the single card you want.”
“The game is grindy as hell and you have to sink in hours of time to even be able to get cards that put you ahead of opponents.”
“Unlocking all the series 1-3 cards takes months if you don't want to spend money on the game, and you will never own all the series 4-5 cards as grinding out a single spotlight key takes about a week.”
- music113 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its catchy and immersive qualities, enhancing the overall experience with dynamic soundtracks that change with the seasons. However, many players note that the music can become repetitive over time, with calls for more variety and options to customize the soundtrack. Overall, while the sound effects and music contribute positively to the game's atmosphere, some users express a desire for a broader selection and the ability to adjust audio settings more easily.
“The sound effects and music add to the excitement, making each match feel like a mini Marvel adventure.”
“The game's soundtrack is another highlight, perfectly complementing the high-stakes action with epic orchestral compositions.”
“The combination of strategy, a bit of randomness, beautiful art, atmospheric music, and simple yet innovative mechanics make it one of the best card games, in my opinion.”
“The music is the cheapest I've heard for years.”
“The music is so generic and bad.”
“The soundtrack is absolutely bad; it sounds like that generic 'motivational workout music' you'd expect in playlists from 2005, with very outdated sounding strings and brass instruments.”
- humor74 mentions
- 99 % positive mentions
- -3 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with many players finding the witty dialogue, funny card art, and amusing sound effects enjoyable. However, there is a strong undercurrent of criticism regarding the game's monetization practices, which some players find ironically humorous, highlighting a disconnect between the game's comedic elements and its perceived greed. Overall, while the game offers moments of genuine fun and laughter, it also invites frustration through its mechanics and pricing strategies, leading to a complex relationship with its humor.
“The dialogue is witty, true to the characters, and filled with the trademark Marvel humor that fans have come to love.”
“Honestly, the best thing about them is how funny it is when somebody reveals that they spent $40 on an emote; it's hilarious!”
“Great gameplay, fun mechanics, and funny voice lines.”
“It's not funny, but you get the idea. You want me to say it... okay, while you are shitting.”
“The humor falls flat and feels forced, making it more cringeworthy than entertaining.”
“I expected some clever jokes, but instead, it was just a series of tired clichés.”
- stability72 mentions
- 3 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 97 % negative mentions
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous reports of persistent bugs, crashes, and performance issues across all platforms, particularly on PC. Many players have noted that long-standing glitches remain unaddressed, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences. While some users have had positive experiences, the overall consensus is that the game is too buggy to be reliably enjoyable.
“Beautiful art, runs great.”
“Runs great on PC; it takes a bit to get used to the side borders, as it's obviously built for mobile.”
“It is also buggy as hell with some broken interactions lasting over a year and a ton of crashes for what shouldn't be a resource-intensive game.”
“The game is buggy to the point where the end turn or the retreat buttons will not work without restarting the game.”
“The pc version of this game is incredibly buggy and poorly optimized, with no proper user interface for pc, along with no anti-aliasing, choppy graphics, and a bunch of performance issues.”
- optimization49 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization has received significant criticism, particularly regarding its performance on PC, where users report bugs, poor UI scaling, and a lack of features compared to the mobile version. Many players feel that the monetization model is predatory and that the card acquisition system hampers the ability to build competitive decks without spending money. While the mobile experience is generally praised for being well-optimized, the PC port is seen as a lackluster adaptation that requires urgent improvements.
“I've been playing this game on mobile on and off for a long time; the game is 100% optimized for phone, not PC.”
“The game is so much fun and it runs smoothly!”
“It was designed by Ben Brode, the guy behind Hearthstone, and it was designed to be a card game optimized as much as possible for quick games and taking advantage of being digital, while still having enough depth to keep it interesting.”
“An awesome game ruined by poor optimization from the devs, insane monetization from the studio, and zero consideration of the player base.”
“The client is also extremely buggy and unoptimized, and all 'performance patches' have done nothing to help that issue.”
“The PC version of this game is incredibly buggy and poorly optimized, with no proper user interface for PC, along with no anti-aliasing, choppy graphics, and a bunch of performance issues.”
- replayability44 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
"Marvel Snap" boasts exceptional replayability, driven by its diverse character roster, innovative location mechanics, and strategic depth. Players appreciate the game's controlled randomness and regular updates, which keep the experience fresh and engaging. With quick gameplay and endless opportunities for creativity, it remains a favorite among both Marvel fans and card game enthusiasts.
“The location system is a great innovation that adds a ton of replayability and has just enough RNG to spice things up, but not so much that it becomes frustrating.”
“Marvel Snap's replayability stems from its diverse roster of characters, strategic depth, and ever-evolving meta.”
“Every match is different, so that also makes it highly replayable; it's kinda hard to put this game down once you get rolling.”
“Equal parts addicting and chaotic, Marvel Snap presents its players with an absurdly entertaining CCG with perhaps a bit too much replayability in terms of grinding.”
“It comes off as simple and stupid at first, an overly basic area control game with little replayability, until you start unlocking your first cards and peeling back the layers until you realize how ingenious a battle of wits this game really is.”
“So deck variance is high, except at some top tier ranks - making the game feel very replayable.”
- emotional18 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game elicits a strong response from players, ranging from heartbreak over its monetization and grind to appreciation for its character-driven storytelling and emotional depth. While some players find joy in the fast-paced gameplay and character interactions, many express frustration with the game's predatory mechanics and the emotional toll of inconsistent progression, leading to a roller coaster of highs and lows. Overall, the emotional experience is marked by a mix of enjoyment and disappointment, heavily influenced by the game's design and monetization strategies.
“The way it weaves together various characters and story arcs is masterful, and the emotional depth adds layers to the action-packed scenes.”
“Yet over the past 6 months, my ability to enjoy and have fun in this game has felt like an emotional roller coaster with more negative experiences than there are positive ones.”
“But make sure you're in an emotionally stable place when you're playing this because the highs are highs and the lows are lows.”
- character development7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highlighted by impressive attention to detail in character designs and abilities, enhancing the immersive experience. However, some players feel that certain characters, like Hawkeye, lack depth in their development, leaving a sense of incompleteness. Overall, the visual fidelity and strategic elements contribute positively to the portrayal of beloved heroes and villains.
“What really blew me away was the attention to detail in the character designs and abilities.”
“The attention to detail in character designs, environments, and special effects is a testament to the developers' commitment to delivering a visually spectacular experience.”
“Whether you're a die-hard Marvel fan or just a casual enthusiast, you'll appreciate the attention to detail in the character designs and the faithful recreation of your favorite heroes and villains.”
“Some modes feel as incomplete as Hawkeye's character development.”
“Fast-paced game, but character development feels lacking in depth and progression.”
“Character development is minimal, leaving players wanting more from their heroes' journeys.”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in various card games is often highlighted for its blend of beautiful art and immersive music, creating an engaging experience for players. However, some games struggle with toxic elements, such as emote spamming, which detracts from the overall enjoyment. In contrast, environments that encourage experimentation and skill development foster a more positive and less competitive atmosphere, enhancing the gameplay experience.
“The combination of strategy, a bit of randomness, beautiful art, atmospheric music, and simple yet innovative mechanics make it one of the best card games, in my opinion.”
“Las Vegas atmosphere: loud, shiny, alluring, and dopamine-driven.”
“Inscryption for its wonderfully immersive atmosphere, satisfying card play, creativity, and the power fantasies you can achieve with the replayability of the Kaycee's Mod DLC.”
“They do nothing to fix an often toxic atmosphere with emote spamming.”
“Most card games, digital or otherwise, are built and balanced around a competitive atmosphere that assumes players have access to all the cards.”
Critic Reviews
Marvel Snap Review
Marvel Snap packs bold ideas, deep gameplay, a punchy presentation and lots of love for Marvel. Its approach to building a collection and randomness in gameplay won't be for everyone, but it's still well worth playing.
80%"It'll make you feel like a f**king genius"
Marvel Snap is a wonderfully intuitive card game that is simple to play, easy to learn, and satisfying to master. Games may take just six minutes to play, but there's a depth of strategy and breadth of variance here that is truly awesome.
90%Snapping into it
Second Dinner's debut effort proves to be a marvelous one.
90%