Marvel Card Games

• 💪   Best Overall: Marvel United
• 🦸‍♀️   Best Strategy: Marvel Champions: The Card Game
• 🧩   Most Competitive: Legendary: A Marvel Deck Building Game
• 🧒   Best for Kids: Connect 4 Game: Marvel Spider-Man Edition
• 🧛‍♂️   Most Unique: Marvel Villainous: Infinite Power
• 👉   How we picked and tested

Sometimes, just watching movies and TV series isn’t enough to get your Marvel fix. If you’re looking for a fun way to dive deeper into the Marvel universe, why not try a card game?

For any Marvel fan, our top recommendation is Marvel United for its easy and fast-paced yet immersive gameplay. It features all your favorite Marvel characters like Black Widow, Captain America, Hulk, and more - plus an exciting cooperative twist!

As Uncle Ben once said: With great power comes great responsibility. We took it upon ourselves to test over 20 Marvel-themed card games, so you don’t have to! If you want to know more about how we curated this list, read the process behind our selections here.

1. Best Overall: Marvel United

Available on

• Player count: 1-4 players
• Duration: 40 minutes average playing time
• Ages: 14+

Marvel United is our top pick because it offers a unique, cooperative twist on the classic card game formula. In this game, players work together to defeat villains and complete missions. It’s a lighthearted and straightforward game that Marvel fans of all ages and skill levels can enjoy.

Why we love it

What makes Marvel United stand out among the other games is its easy-to-learn yet engaging gameplay. Despite being straightforward and fast-paced, it offers plenty of strategy and creative opportunities. With seven unique heroes and three villains, this game has a lot of variety to keep you coming back for more.

We love that this game is beginner-friendly, and even Marvel fans without prior card game experience can enjoy it. It’s also a perfect filler game when you don’t want to play for hours but still want to enjoy some Marvel action. You can play solo or with your friends, making it an easy game night choice!

However, experienced card game players may lose interest over time as this base game doesn’t have much depth. But that’s where the expansion packs come in! With additional characters, missions, and villains, these expansions allow you to enhance your game session and add more complexity to the experience.

We didn’t like how the card stock used for the cards and mission guide could be better quality. The cards feel thin, and the mission guide is easily warped, so it doesn’t lay flat on the table. But that doesn’t take away from the highly-stylized art, excellent and sturdy miniatures, and the overall immersive gameplay experience this game offers.

Ultimately, Marvel United is an excellent pick for any Marvel fan looking for a simple and lightweight action puzzle game. And with the expansions, you can make it as challenging as you want. So if you’re ready to join forces with your favorite Marvel characters, this is the perfect game!

How to play

To begin the game, place the mission guide at the center of the table. Then, decide on a Villain to face (we recommend Red Skull for new players) and place its Villain Dashboard on the slot located at the top of the mission guide. The Villain Dashboard will show you the amount of health the villain has, which is always equal to the number of players in the game. Place Health tokens on each health spot of the Villain Dashboard to track the villain’s health.

1. Setting up: Grab six locations and scatter them around the mission guide. Fill any available slots in each location with either civilian or thug tokens as indicated.

Shuffle the Villain’s Threat cards and place one face up on each of the locations at the bottom. Each card has a number that tells you how many health tokens you should put on them.

Place the rest of the tokens, which are separated into different pools, where everyone can reach them. Shuffle the Villain’s Master Plan deck and place it face down next to any Location. Then, put the Villain’s game piece in that location.

All players select a Hero and put their game piece on the opposite side of the location from the Villain. Once everyone has chosen their Hero, they shuffle their Hero deck and place it face down next to them.

Now that each player has drawn three cards from their deck into their hand, the first Villain turn can begin!

2. Villain’s turn: A game always begins with the Villain’s turn. A player draws the top card from the Master Plan deck and places it face up in front of them. This card will tell you what action to take this turn, such as moving the Villain, adding civilian or thug tokens to locations, or even activating the Villain’s special BAM! ability.

Move the Villain clockwise around the locations as instructed on the Master Plan card. When it has reached its destination, follow any instructions indicated on the card, like adding thug tokens or activating the Villain’s special ability. If there is a threat card in the place the Villain has moved to, immediately flip it over and resolve its effect.

3. Hero’s Turn: After the Villain’s turn has finished and you have resolved the Master Plan card, it’s time for the Heroes to take action!

On your turn, you should do these four steps in order:

• Draw a card from the Hero deck.
• Play a card from your hand.
• Use one of your Hero’s abilities.
• Move around the locations if desired.

After your turn, the next player will take their turn, and the game proceeds clockwise. Every time three Hero cards have been added to the Storyline, a new Master Plan card is drawn from the deck, added to the end of the Storyline, and resolved.

The play continues until players complete the first mission, and the Villain becomes Under Pressure. This means you must add a new Master Plan card after every two Hero cards and try to complete all missions to defeat the Villain.

End of the game: If the heroes complete two or three of the available missions and damage the Villain, the Heroes win! If players start their turn with no cards both in their deck and in their hand, or if the Villain completes the conditions stated on the Villainous Plot on their Dashboard, or when the Villain must draw a Master Plan card, but it is empty, all Heroes lose and the Villain wins.

Good luck, heroes! Start your journey and unite to save the world. You can save the world from evil with your strategic skills and brilliant minds!

2. Best Strategy: Marvel Champions: The Card Game

Available on

• Player count: 1-4 players
• Duration: 45 to 90 minutes
• Ages: 14+

Marvel Champions: The Card Game takes the classic Marvel universe and brings it to life in this cooperative, tactical, and immersive card game! Less story-based and more focused on strategic combat, Marvel Champions is a Living Card Game (LCG) perfect for die-hard Marvel fans and card game veterans alike.

Why we love it

What we love about Marvel Champions is how it requires both teamwork and strategic planning in order to win. Players must work together to reduce a villain’s hit point and thwart their schemes. Planning is key, and player turn order is essential for making sure everyone does their part in playing their cards in the most effective order.

This game has excellent replay value because of its variable scenarios and the different hero decks you can play as. Each hero deck has unique cards that players can use to counter their opponent’s moves in unique ways.

In addition, you can find all the thematic elements that you know and love from Marvel present in the game! Just in the base set, you get Throwing the Shield as an ability for Captain America, or the Spidey Sense trait for Spider-Man. And in one of the expansion decks, there is a mechanic to switch the Green Goblin back and forth from his Norman Osborne persona depending on his mental state.

A downside is that the gameplay can be too complicated for casual players, and you need ample time to grasp and understand the game’s rules and mechanics fully. We also wished the base game came with dividers because some counters and cards have no proper storage other than loosely placing them in a tray.

Overall, Marvel Champions is a fantastic game that brings the classic Marvel universe to life and introduces new players to the LCG genre. This game is perfect for fans of the Marvel universe and intense strategic card game battles!

How to play

This game is played over a series of rounds. Each round will consist of a player’s phase and the villain’s phase. In the players’ phase, each player will turn clockwise to try to defeat the final villain stage. After each player has turned, the villain either attacks the player or further advances the scheme.

Setting up the game: Begin by choosing a hero and its corresponding alter-ego. Every hero has unique cards and abilities, so choose wisely as you will want to take advantage of your hero’s strengths and weaknesses.

Set hit points accordingly for the players and the villain. You will find this at the bottom of your identity card. For example, Captain America has 12 hit points, while Spiderman has 10 hit points.

Shuffle each player’s deck and draw a starting hand that amounts to the number found on the left side of your identity card.

Next, select a villain and put their villain deck and main scheme deck in the center of the play area. Finally, set their hit points to the number found at the bottom of their identity card.

Player phase: All players take their turns in clockwise order during the player phase. On your turn, you can perform any of the following actions, in any order: change form from hero to alter-ego, or from alter-ego to hero, play an ally, upgrade, or support card from your hand, or use your alter-ego’s basic recovery or your hero’s basic attack or basic thwart power (if in hero form).

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You can also use an ally card you control to attack an enemy or thwart a scheme, trigger an “Action” card ability on a card, or ask another player to trigger an “Action.”

Villain phase: Once all players have completed their turn, the villain phase begins. During this phase, threats are placed, the minions attack, and new encounter cards to challenge the players further are added. After that, the villain attacks and advances their scheme.

Your goal is to defeat the final villain stage before they can complete their scheme. You must reduce their hit points to zero by attacking them or thwarting their schemes.

If the villain completes their scheme or if the players are eliminated, the game ends and the villain wins! However, if you can defeat the villain’s final stage, you and your fellow players are victorious!

Marvel Champions is an exciting card game that puts you at the helm of your favorite Marvel hero. With this game, you’ll experience the thrill of battling with classic Marvel villains and discover a new level of strategic play. Join the fight today!

3. Most Competitive: Legendary: A Marvel Deck Building Game

Available on

• Player count: 1-5 players
• Duration: 45 to 60 minutes or more
• Ages: 14+

For deck-building newbies and pros alike, Legendary offers the perfect blend of comic book action and fast-paced competition. Expand your deck as you take down some of the most iconic Marvel villains, each with unique abilities and strategies!

Why we love it

We picked this game as our top competitive Marvel game because even though it is a co-op game, at its core, it is a highly competitive game. You win or lose together, but if you win, you can compare your score against the other players to see who did better! This co-op aspect is also customizable, so you and your friends can tailor it to your playstyle.

Thanks to the ever-expanding roster of heroes, villains, and schemes this game gives you to play around with, there is an excellent level of replayability. Plus, Legendary comes with a solo play that lets you play against the game, and an advanced solo mode if that’s not challenging enough.

The most significant drawback to this game? The setup takes a tedious amount of time, and we recommend looking up online guides that can visually walk you through it because the game isn’t pre-sorted. The instructions manual also only helps a little. In addition, the color schemes aren’t distinctive, and the card layouts for the villains and heroes all look the same, so separating them in each game can be a bit of a challenge.

Nevertheless, this game is an excellent choice for Marvel fans looking for a highly competitive deck-building game. Ready to take on some of the most iconic Marvel villains? Pick up Legendary today!

How to play

There are various ways you can play the game, but here is a general rundown of how it works. First, each player starts with their own set of 12 cards—made of either 12 heroes, or 12 villains. Then, you put either the stacks of heroes and villains on their spaces on the board.

Next, randomly pick one mastermind/commander card and put it on its space. After that, you pick a random scheme/mission card and follow its setup instructions.

You’ll then add a villain/adversary group to the villain/adversary deck. The more players there are, the more groups you’ll add.

Finally, each player draws five heroes/allies cards and places them on the hero/ally deck. These cards can help you defeat the mastermind/commander.

Starting the game: Now the game begins! Shuffle the villain/adversary deck and place it on the corresponding space. Do the same with the hero/ally deck. Flip over five cards from the hero/ally deck and place them into the five spaces of the HQ/Lair.

All players shuffle their deck and draw six cards from it. You are now ready to start playing! Choose a player to go first and go clockwise.

Player’s turn: On your turn, you do three things: play the top card of the villain/adversary deck, play cards in your hand and use them to recruit or right, and discard your hand and draw six new cards.

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Drawing the top card of the villain/adversary deck is always the first step, representing a challenge your team must confront. This card will have instructions for how to fight or defeat it.

After that card is resolved, you may play cards from your hand to recruit allies or fight villains. You can activate superpower abilities, and “critical hit” combos, and use points to recruit allies or adversaries.

Once you are ready, discard your hand and draw six new cards.

Goal of the game: The main goal is to attack the mastermind/commander four times successfully. Once you do, the mastermind/commander is defeated and the team wins!

Defeating villains/adversaries will earn you Victory points, and once you defeat the mastermind/commander, whoever has the most Victory points scores an individual win. If the mastermind/commander completes their scheme/plot, however, then the team loses!

If you run out of cards in your hero/ally deck or villain/adversary deck, finish the turn, and the game is considered a draw. Count your Victory points, and the player with the most points is declared the winner!

4. Best for Kids: Connect 4 Game: Marvel Spider-Man Edition

Available on

• Player count: 2 players
• Duration: 2-10 minutes
• Ages: 6+

All of the excitement of Connect 4, with your favorite Marvel character, Spiderman! This fun and simple game is an excellent introduction to the Marvel world for kids, which makes it ideal for family playtime.

Why we love it

We love that this classic game is spiced up by adding your favorite Marvel character! The themed black and red checkers, combined with the disc-dropping action and the custom Spider-Man stickers, add to the excitement and make this an excellent game for all ages.

This game is a great way to teach kids about strategy and enhance coordination skills because players must plan their moves carefully to be the first to get four in a row. If you’re looking for a great way to introduce Marvel characters to your youngsters, this game is perfect!

We want to note that the Spider-Man stickers are not glued to the checkers, so you would have to do that yourself. We also didn’t like how it wasn’t a smooth application because the checkers are textured with the number four on them.

This is a great game for any Marvel fan or kid who loves strategy games. It’s easy to set up and play, making it a great game for family game night!

How to play

Setting up and playing Connect 4 Game: Marvel Spider-Man Edition is a breeze and can be done in a few simple steps. To start, attach the sliding lever to the base and place it in the center of the board. Then, remove all the red and black checkers and place them on either side of the board.

Each player chooses either red or black checkers and takes turns dropping one at a time into the slots. The first person to get four of their own color in a row, either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, is the winner!

Players must use strategy to block their opponent’s path and create a row of four to win. If you want to start another round, just remove the sliding lever from the board, shake up the checkers and start again.

5. Most Unique: Marvel Villainous: Infinite Power

Available on

• Player count: 2 to 4 players
• Duration: 40 to 80 minutes
• Ages: 12+

What’s better than playing as a hero? Playing as a villain! Marvel Villainous: Infinite Power provides a unique twist on the classic card game by having you play as one of Marvel’s iconic villains.

Why we love it

Our favorite thing about this game is that it allows you to experience the Marvel world from a different perspective. Instead of typically playing as the hero, you are now the villain and have to use your unique abilities to out-scheme your opponents.

This game has excellent storytelling elements, with each villain having goals that are in theme to what we know of them from the comics and films. For example, Thanos has to collect Infinity Stones while Killmonger has to send out bombs. The stunning card artwork is also unique to each character and adds to the game’s overall aesthetic.

What we didn’t like was the fact that this game isn’t beginner-friendly at all. The rules and gameplay can be quite complex, so we recommend this game to more experienced players. In addition, compared to the Disney version, Marvel Villainous’s movers are flimsy and cheap-looking.

All in all, this is a fantastic game that can give you the unique experience of playing as a Marvel villain. If you’re up for the challenge, get your friends together and take on the roles of your favorite villains!

How to play

Players can choose one of six iconic Marvel villains - Thanos, Hela, Killmonger, Taskmaster, and Ultron – and compete to be the first to complete their villainous goal. Players will move their villains on each turn, perform actions, and draw cards.

To set up the game, each player takes their corresponding Villain Domain, mover, guide, Villain deck, Fate deck, and reference card. Place your domain in front of you, and shuffle together the Common Fate deck and the Fate decks from all Villains playing this game to create a single Fate deck. Place this deck where everybody can reach it.

The player who last read a Marvel comic book goes first. Then, play proceeds clockwise in a circle. On your turn, move your Villain from its current location to a different location in your domain, do any available actions, and draw from your villain deck if you have less than four cards.

Keep playing until one of the players completes their villainous goal! The first player to do so is the winner. Keep in mind that the Common Fate cards can be used to help or thwart your opponents, so use them wisely.

How we picked and tested

PsyCat Games is built by people who know how to have fun! We’ve been researching parties and games since 2018 and have published 400+ articles on our website. That’s why we’re confident that we know what we’re talking about!

We want you to have the best time possible and not waste your money on a subpar product. That’s why we spend over three months testing over 20 different games with groups of kids, teens, and adults. We’ve ranked the games by the fun factor, player experience, and replayability!

Our ranking is subjective, but we’ve tried our best to be as impartial as possible. However, if you stumble upon a Marvel card game that you think deserves a spot on our list, please reach out to us! We would love to hear from you.

PsyCat Games is supported by readers clicking on our affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, we might earn a commission if you buy something through our links.

FAQ about Marvel Card Games

1. Is there a Marvel card game?

Yes, there are many Marvel card games to choose from, such as Marvel United, Marvel Legendary, and Marvel Villainous: Infinite Power. Each game offers its unique take on the classic card game format, from playing as a superhero to playing as a villain.

If you’re unsure of which game to get, check out our list of the top 5 Marvel card games for more information. You can pick the right game for you depending on your skill level, what type of game you’re looking for, and more.

2. How do you play the card game Marvel?

There are a few different Marvel card games available, and each one has its own unique rules. Generally, the objective of these games is to complete your specific goal before your opponents do. You will move your character, perform actions, and use cards to battle against your opponents.

If you’re looking for detailed instructions on how to play a specific game, we recommend checking out the official website or reading the rulebook. This will help ensure that you understand the game correctly.

3. Is Marvel Midnight Suns a card game?

While Marvel Midnight Suns has a card game element to it, it is more of a story-driven RPG. It’s a video game based on the Marvel Universe and you will play various Marvel characters to complete different missions. You can use cards to battle enemies or solve puzzles, but it’s not a traditional card game.

If you’re looking for a more classic card-battling experience, we recommend checking out the games in our top 5 Marvel card games list. Good luck, and have fun!