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Marvel Snap

Marvel Snap is a digital collectible card game developed by Second Dinner and published by Nuverse for Android, iOS, and Windows.[2] The game features a collection of different characters from the Marvel Universe.[3] The game was released on October 18, 2022, after a period of beta testing.[4]

Marvel Snap
Developer(s)Second Dinner
Publisher(s)Nuverse
EngineUnity[1]
Platform(s)Android, iOS, Windows
Release
  • Android, iOS
  • October 18, 2022
  • Windows
  • October 18, 2022 (early access)
  • August 22, 2023 (full release)
Genre(s)Digital collectible card game
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Gameplay

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Players each have a deck of 12 cards. Each card depicts a Marvel character with cost, power level, and potentially a special ability. At the start of each round, players simultaneously put one card or more face down on one of three locations. Locations are randomly assigned for each match, and each location has a unique effect.[5] At the end of each round cards are revealed and special abilities of cards trigger. Whoever has the highest power at a given location wins that location. The goal of the game is to win two out of the three locations. The game usually lasts six rounds, each of them giving an increasing "energy" to play more powerful cards.[6][7]

Players climb the game's ranked ladder by earning "cubes". A game begins with a single cube as its stakes, but a player may double the stakes at any time by "snapping", at which point their opponent has the option of retreating or acceding to the snap.[6][7] Designer Kent-Erik Hagman, and chief development officer Ben Brode compared the mechanic to the doubling cube of the traditional boardgame Backgammon.[8][9]

The actual gameplay of Marvel Snap is considered relatively simple compared to other collectible card games, and individual games typically last a few minutes.[6][9][10] However, the doubling stakes adds extra gameplay depth through betting and bluffing, while the random effect of locations forces on-the-fly adaptation to a player’s original strategy.[9]

At the time of the global release the game featured over 170 characters, with the number increasing weekly.[11][12][13]

Progression

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In Marvel Snap, players can obtain variants of some of their favorite cards through the in-game shop or season rewards. Variants are alternate versions of a base card's artwork, and do not offer any gameplay advantages as they are purely cosmetic. As of January 2023, there are over one thousand different variants in the game.[14] Players can use an in-game currency to further upgrade a card’s cosmetics, which provides progression on a “collection level” reward track.[15][16] Improving a collection level provides additional rewards, such as more cosmetics, in-game currency, and new base cards.[16] New base cards may also be gained each month, on a rotating basis.[15] Base cards are organized into pools, with the first two pool of cards acting as the initial collection for all players. After collecting the first two pools, pool 3, 4, and 5 cards become available, each with ascending rarity.[16]

Some of the more notable artists who have variants named after them include Rian Gonzales, Kim Jacinto, and Dan Hipp.[17]

Game modes

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The normal gameplay mode involves one-on-one matches where a player competes against a randomly selected human opponent. In this mode, the game employs pre-made decks that are restricted to the cards the player has unlocked. Currently, the Standard mode only offers a Ranked game mode. At the start of every month, the Ranked season concludes, resulting in a soft reset of a player's season rank. Every player loses a total of 30 ranks, rounded down to the nearest multiple of 10.

Battle Mode enables players to compete against friends by inviting them to private battles. Cubes in this mode do not contribute to your season rank; instead, they affect your health. Each player begins with 10 health, and winning a round inflicts damage on the opposing player that corresponds to the cube value. Starting from Round 5, cube values are automatically doubled.[18] This mode was released in January 2023[19][20]

Conquest is a game mode that incorporates the gameplay style of Battle Mode and introduces its own ranked system in the form of leagues. Each match, players can select which league they want to compete in, such as Proving Grounds, Silver, Gold, or Infinite. Proving Grounds is always open for play, while the other leagues require a corresponding ticket to enter. Players can obtain a ticket by defeating a series of consecutive opponents in the preceding league. This mode was released in June 2023.[21][22]

A new limited time mode named Voltage was added in October of 2024. In this game mode there was only three turns and each turn both players drew two cards and gained 2-5 max energy.

Monetization

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The game follows a free-to-play-model featuring microtransactions for the purchase of in game currency, cosmetic skins and a battle pass.[7] The game's beta release included Nexus event with loot boxes to acquire certain cards or in-game cosmetics, allowing players to gamble for new cards and skins with in-game currency or real money,[23] which sparked controversy among the player base[24] and was called out as predatory by video game journalists.[25][26] Nexus event and its loot boxes were ultimately removed from the game,[27] and in a later patch gold was refunded to anyone who bought loot boxes.[28] The current system allows players to buy a premium currency and exchange it for cosmetic skins, in-game currency, or various rotating bundles.[29]

Development

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Marvel Snap is the debut game from Second Dinner, a game development studio founded by former Hearthstone developers Hamilton Chu, Ben Brode, Yong Woo, Jomaro Kindred and Michael Schweitzer.[30][31]

The developers stated they used a "grocery cart" approach when designing the game, taking partial inspiration from multiple games, including Clash Royale, Backgammon and Paul Peterson's Smash Up.[9] A key aspect of development was attempting to create a deep game without introducing complicated game mechanic; developers found that the doubling "Snap!" could provide significant opportunities to bluff and counter-bluff in the game.[9] The game originally had a significant plot, but developers were not able to find any compelling story and decided complete removal of story altogether was preferable to a poor story interrupting the game.[9]

The promotional trailer for the game features Samuel L. Jackson reprising his role as Nick Fury, returning to S.H.I.E.L.D. to discover that he was informally fired and replaced with a nerdy, teenage girl.[32][33]

Esports

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Thanks to the developers' focus on accessibility and fast-paced gameplay, Marvel Snap has been the focus of several tournaments. Second Dinner hosted a community event tournament in August 2023 called "Conquerors" with a Conquest Mode’s Infinite Run, hosted by Cozy and Dekkster featuring several well-known gamers such as Attrix, Alexander Coccia, DeraJN, and Bynx.[34] Bynx won the broadcast time and DeraJN won the fastest overall time in the 48 hours after the broadcast. Marvel Snap was the focus of several other tournaments, including those hosted by ER Esports and EGL. In August 2023, the streaming platform, Twitch, announced Twitch Rivals: MARVEL SNAP Duos Showdown, an invite-only tournament, featuring a $20,000 prize pool. [35]

Reception

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According to the review aggregator website Metacritic, Marvel Snap has received "generally favorable reviews".[36]

In a review, GamesRadar+ noted the game is angled towards "a generation of players too distracted to keep track of an overly complicated metagame," while praising its approachability and replay value.[37]

The Guardian praised the game's approachable nature in combination with its complexity due to the large variety of locations and cards. The game's use of microtransactions within its monetization was also praised, as they were found to not be necessary for a positive experience within the game.[45]

By 2023, Fortune noted that Marvel Snap had become the top rated digital collectible card game, beating both Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game, and Magic: The Gathering Online.[46] By 2024, Marvel Snap had achieved 22 million downloads, and more than $200 million in revenue.[47]

Accolades

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Awards and nominations for Marvel Snap
Date Award Category Result Ref.
8 December 2022 The Game Awards Best Mobile Game Won [48]
17 January 2023 New York Game Awards A-Train Award for Best Mobile Game Won [49]
24 February 2023 D.I.C.E. Awards Mobile Game of the Year Won [50]
Online Game of the Year Nominated
Outstanding Achievement in Game Design Nominated
22 March 2023 Game Developers Choice Awards Game of the Year Honorable mention [51]
Best Debut Honorable mention
Best Design Nominated
30 March 2023 British Academy Games Awards Best Game Nominated [52]
EE Game of the Year Nominated

References

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  1. ^ Saver, Michael (December 27, 2022). "Made with Unity: 2022 in review". Unity Technologies. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
  2. ^ Parrish, Ash (May 19, 2022). "Marvel Snap is a speedy digital card game from former Hearthstone developers". The Verge.
  3. ^ "Marvel Snap Collectible Card Game: Introduction, Gameplay, Closed Beta, Release Date, and More". Marvel Snap Zone. May 21, 2022.
  4. ^ Partleton, Kayleigh (September 9, 2022). "Nuverse unveils Marvel Snap release date speculation". Pocket Tactics.
  5. ^ Norton, Brad (October 18, 2022). "All Marvel Snap Locations: Every unique effect explained". Dexerto. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  6. ^ a b c Rizzo, Tim (October 17, 2022). "Marvel Snap devs' first idea was so good they refused to believe it". Washington Post.
  7. ^ a b c Zwiezen, Zack (October 20, 2022). "Marvel Snap Is Probably The Best Digital Card Game Out There Right Now". Kotaku.
  8. ^ Tran, Edmond (October 19, 2022). "Marvel Snap designer Kent-Erik Hagman talks smart card game design". GamesHub. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  9. ^ a b c d e f GDC (May 3, 2023). Designing 'MARVEL SNAP'. Retrieved September 8, 2024 – via YouTube.
  10. ^ Parrish, Ash (October 19, 2022). "Marvel Snap is 5D chess in six minutes or less". The Verge.
  11. ^ Norton, Brad (April 3, 2023). "Every card in Marvel Snap: Complete list of all iconic characters & abilities". Dexerto.
  12. ^ LeBlanc, Wesley (May 19, 2022). "Marvel Snap, A New Collectible Card Game For PC And Mobile, Announced". Game Informer. Archived from the original on May 19, 2022.
  13. ^ "Marvel Snap New Card Release and Series Drop Schedule". Marvel Snap Zone. January 31, 2023.
  14. ^ "One dedicated Marvel Snap player has already collected every single Art Variant". Dexerto. January 24, 2023. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  15. ^ a b McWhertor, Michael (November 23, 2022). "Marvel Snap will soon make it easier to get the cards you want". Polygon. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  16. ^ a b c Thwaites, Sarah (November 14, 2022). "How to increase your Marvel Snap collection level". Polygon. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  17. ^ "Inside the Art of MARVEL SNAP". Marvel Entertainment. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  18. ^ "MARVEL SNAP - Dominate the Marvel Multiverse in High-Speed Card Battling Action". www.marvelsnap.com. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  19. ^ Bankhurst, Adam (January 15, 2023). "Marvel Snap Will Get Its Long-Awaited PvP Battle Mode in Late January". IGN. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
  20. ^ Carpenter, Nicole (January 30, 2023). "You can finally battle your friends in Marvel Snap". Polygon. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
  21. ^ Zone, Marvel Snap (March 26, 2023). "Conquest". Marvel Snap Zone. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  22. ^ "Marvel Snap Conquest mode explained: How it works, competitive tiers, rewards, more". Dexerto. June 14, 2023. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
  23. ^ "In Closed Beta, Marvel Snap is already heavily criticized for monetization tactics". July 22, 2022. Archived from the original on July 23, 2022. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
  24. ^ Winkie, Luke; Macgregor, Jody (July 22, 2022). "Take one guess as to why people are mad about the new free-to-play Marvel CCG". PC Gamer.
  25. ^ Hill, Greg (July 21, 2022). "Marvel SNAP Update Called One Of 'The Most Predatory Monetization Schemes In Gaming'". CBR.com.
  26. ^ Norton, Brad (July 20, 2022). "Marvel Snap's greedy monetization risks killing CCG before Closed Beta even ends". Dexerto.
  27. ^ Oh, Terry (July 29, 2022). "Marvel Snap devs backflip on Nexus Events after community furore". Dexerto. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
  28. ^ Norton, Brad (August 9, 2022). "Marvel Snap August 9 update patch notes: Nexus Event refunds, Hellcow nerf, more". Dexerto. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
  29. ^ Motley, Josiah (December 19, 2022). "Best ways to use gold in Marvel Snap". MobileBytes.
  30. ^ Valentine, Rebekah (January 3, 2019). "Second Dinner raises $30 million for upcoming Marvel game". GamesIndustry.biz.
  31. ^ Dealessandri, Marie (January 4, 2019). "Second Dinner gets $30m in funding for Marvel project". MCV/DEVELOP.
  32. ^ S.H.I.E.L.D. Replaces Director Nick Fury With a MARVEL SNAP Player. Marvel Entertainment. October 18, 2022. Retrieved February 12, 2023 – via YouTube.
  33. ^ McNulty, Thomas (October 18, 2022). "Samuel L. Jackson Reprises Nick Fury For Marvel Video Game Trailer". ScreenRant. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  34. ^ "MARVEL SNAP - Dominate the Marvel Multiverse in High-Speed Card Battling Action". www.marvelsnap.com. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  35. ^ "Twitch Rivals". schedule.twitchrivals.com. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  36. ^ a b "Marvel Snap for iPhone/iPad Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  37. ^ a b West, Josh (October 28, 2022). "Marvel Snap review: 'It'll make you feel like a f**king genius'". GamesRadar+. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  38. ^ Watts, Steve (October 26, 2022). "Marvel Snap Review - MCCGU". GameSpot. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  39. ^ Mejia, Ozzie (October 28, 2022). "Marvel Snap review: Snapping into it". Shacknews. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  40. ^ Minor, Jordan (November 4, 2022). "Marvel Snap (for iOS) Review". PCMag. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  41. ^ Shea, Cam (November 4, 2022). "Marvel Snap Review". IGN. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  42. ^ Musgrave, Shaun (November 1, 2022). "'Marvel Snap' Review – Where Did That Bring You? Back to Brode". TouchArcade. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  43. ^ Stuart, Keith (November 11, 2022). "Marvel Snap review – superhero showdown card game is utterly compulsive". The Guardian. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
  44. ^ Tucker, Jake (November 18, 2022). "'Marvel Snap' review: superhero showdown". NME. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
  45. ^ Stuart, Keith (November 11, 2022). "Marvel Snap review – superhero showdown card game is utterly compulsive". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  46. ^ Roeloffs, Mary Whitfill. "'Marvel Snap' Becomes Top-Grossing Digital Trading Card Game —Beating 'Yu-Gi-Oh!' And 'Magic:The Gathering Arena'". Forbes. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  47. ^ Szalai, Georg (January 8, 2024). "'Marvel Snap' Game Maker Second Dinner Raises $100M". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  48. ^ Romano, Sal (December 8, 2022). "The Game Awards 2022 winners announced". Gematsu. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  49. ^ Bankhurst, Adam (January 18, 2023). "New York Game Awards 2023: Elden Ring Wins Two Awards as Phil Spencer Is Honored". IGN. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  50. ^ Bankhurst, Adam (February 23, 2023). "DICE Awards 2023 Winners: The Full List". IGN. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  51. ^ Mejia, Ozzie (January 26, 2023). "Elden Ring & Stray lead Game Developers Choice Awards 2023 nominees". Shacknews. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  52. ^ "2023 BAFTA Games Awards: The Nominations". BAFTA. March 2, 2023. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
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