Marvel Snap

Players each have a deck of 12 cards. Each card depicts a Marvel character with cost, power level, and generally a special ability. At the start of each round, both players concurrently, are able put one or more card face down on one of three locations. Locations are randomly assigned for each match, and revealed one by one in the first three turns with each location having a unique effect.{{Cite news |last=Norton |first=Brad |date=18 October 2022 |title=All Marvel Snap Locations: Every unique effect explained |language=en-US |work=Dexerto |url=https://www.dexerto.com/gaming/all-marvel-snap-locations-every-unique-effect-explained-1837043/ |access-date=8 November 2022}} 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 turn of cards.

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. Additionally, the stakes double at the start of the final turn. Designer Kent-Erik Hagman, and chief development officer Ben Brode compared the mechanic to the doubling cube of the traditional boardgame Backgammon.{{Cite news |last=Tran |first=Edmond |date=19 October 2022 |title=Marvel Snap designer Kent-Erik Hagman talks smart card game design |language=en-AU |work=GamesHub |url=https://www.gameshub.com/news/features/marvel-snap-developer-interview-kent-erik-hagman-smart-card-game-design-31692/ |access-date=30 October 2022}}

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

At the time of the global release the game featured over 170 characters, with the number increasing weekly.{{Cite web |last=Norton |first=Brad |date=April 3, 2023 |title=Every card in Marvel Snap: Complete list of all iconic characters & abilities |url=https://www.dexerto.com/gaming/all-marvel-snap-characters-full-launch-roster-future-cards-1838195/ |website=Dexerto}}{{Cite magazine |last=LeBlanc |first=Wesley |date=May 19, 2022 |title=Marvel Snap, A New Collectible Card Game For PC And Mobile, Announced |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/2022/05/19/marvel-snap-a-new-collectible-card-game-for-pc-and-mobile-announced |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220519170151/https://www.gameinformer.com/2022/05/19/marvel-snap-a-new-collectible-card-game-for-pc-and-mobile-announced |url-status=live |archive-date=May 19, 2022 |magazine=Game Informer}}{{Cite web |date=31 January 2023 |title=Marvel Snap New Card Release and Series Drop Schedule |url=https://marvelsnapzone.com/marvel-snap-new-card-schedule/ |website=Marvel Snap Zone}}

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.{{Cite web |title=One dedicated Marvel Snap player has already collected every single Art Variant |url=https://www.dexerto.com/marvel-snap/one-dedicated-marvel-snap-player-has-already-collected-every-single-art-variant-2041359/ |access-date=2023-05-01 |website=Dexerto |date=January 24, 2023 |language=en}} Players can use an in-game currency to further upgrade a card’s cosmetics, which provides progression on a “collection level” reward track.{{Cite web |last=McWhertor |first=Michael |date=2022-11-23 |title=Marvel Snap will soon make it easier to get the cards you want |url=https://www.polygon.com/23475273/marvel-snap-token-shop-pool-3-4-5-new-cards |access-date=2024-09-24 |website=Polygon |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Thwaites |first=Sarah |date=2022-11-14 |title=How to increase your Marvel Snap collection level |url=https://www.polygon.com/23458590/marvel-snap-collection-levels-how-to-increase-pool-1-pool-2-pool-3 |access-date=2024-09-24 |website=Polygon |language=en-US}} Improving a collection level provides additional rewards, such as more cosmetics, in-game currency, and new base cards. New base cards may also be gained each month, on a rotating basis. 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.

Some of the more notable artists who have variants named after them include Rian Gonzales, Kim Jacinto, and Dan Hipp.{{Cite web |title=Inside the Art of MARVEL SNAP |url=https://www.marvel.com/articles/games/inside-the-art-of-marvel-snap |access-date=2023-05-03 |website=Marvel Entertainment}}

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.{{Cite web |title=MARVEL SNAP - Dominate the Marvel Multiverse in High-Speed Card Battling Action |url=https://www.marvelsnap.com/newsdetail?id=7181350141905967877 |access-date=2023-04-11 |website=www.marvelsnap.com}} This mode was released in January 2023{{Cite web |last=Bankhurst |first=Adam |date=2023-01-15 |title=Marvel Snap Will Get Its Long-Awaited PvP Battle Mode in Late January |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/marvel-snap-will-get-its-long-awaited-pvp-battle-mode-in-late-january |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=IGN |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Carpenter |first=Nicole |date=2023-01-30 |title=You can finally battle your friends in Marvel Snap |url=https://www.polygon.com/23578288/marvel-snap-battle-mode-friends-multiplayer |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=Polygon |language=en-US}}

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.{{Cite web |last=Zone |first=Marvel Snap |date=2023-03-26 |title=Conquest |url=https://marvelsnapzone.com/conquest/ |access-date=2023-04-11 |website=Marvel Snap Zone |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Marvel Snap Conquest mode explained: How it works, competitive tiers, rewards, more |url=https://www.dexerto.com/gaming/marvel-snap-conquest-mode-explained-2166027/ |access-date=2023-06-19 |website=Dexerto |date=June 14, 2023 |language=en}}

In July 2024, a new limited time game mode named Deadpool's Diner was added. The game mode is a tiered competition mode with ladder-climb mechanics. There are 15 tiers, each requiring a certain number of Bubs, which are comparable to casino chips. After paying the entry fee, players can go all-in and win up to double the amount of chips they started with. The game mode also has a unique automatic Snap feature that doubles the stakes three times starting at the end of turn three. Players can also Snap once to increase the stakes at any point during the match—which brings the total number of possible Snaps to five.{{Cite web |last=Baqery |first=Mohsen |date=2024-07-30 |title=Marvel Snap: Deadpool's Diner Guide |url=https://gamerant.com/marvel-snap-deadpool-diner-event-rewards-tips-guide/ |access-date=2024-12-06 |website=Game Rant |language=en}}

A new limited time mode named High Voltage was added in October 2024. In this game mode there was only three turns and each turn both players drew two cards and gained 2-5 max energy.{{Cite web |last=Baqery |first=Mohsen |date=2024-10-20 |title=Marvel Snap Adds High Voltage, a New 3-Turn Game Mode—Here's How You Can Master It |url=https://gamerant.com/marvel-snap-high-voltage-mode-guide-best-deck-tips-guide/ |access-date=2024-12-06 |website=Game Rant |language=en}}

The game follows a free-to-play-model featuring microtransactions for the purchase of in game currency, cosmetic skins and a battle pass. 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,{{Cite web |date=July 22, 2022 |title=In Closed Beta, Marvel Snap is already heavily criticized for monetization tactics |url=https://www.nenroll-nenroll.com/technology/in-closed-beta-marvel-snap-is-already-heavily-criticized-for-monetization-tactics/ |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220723130300/https://www.nenroll-nenroll.com/technology/in-closed-beta-marvel-snap-is-already-heavily-criticized-for-monetization-tactics/ |archive-date=July 23, 2022 |access-date=July 23, 2022}} which sparked controversy among the player base{{Cite web |last1=Winkie |first1=Luke |last2=Macgregor |first2=Jody |date=July 22, 2022 |title=Take one guess as to why people are mad about the new free-to-play Marvel CCG |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/take-one-guess-as-to-why-people-are-mad-about-the-new-free-to-play-marvel-ccg/ |website=PC Gamer}} and was called out as predatory by video game journalists.{{Cite web |last=Hill |first=Greg |date=July 21, 2022 |title=Marvel SNAP Update Called One Of 'The Most Predatory Monetization Schemes In Gaming' |url=https://www.cbr.com/marvel-snap-update-microtransactions/ |website=CBR.com}}{{Cite web |last=Norton |first=Brad |date=July 20, 2022 |title=Marvel Snap's greedy monetization risks killing CCG before Closed Beta even ends |url=https://www.dexerto.com/opinion/marvel-snap-greedy-monetization-risks-killing-ccg-1877265/ |website=Dexerto |language=en}} Nexus event and its loot boxes were ultimately removed from the game,{{Cite web |last=Oh |first=Terry |date=July 29, 2022 |title=Marvel Snap devs backflip on Nexus Events after community furore |url=https://www.dexerto.com/gaming/marvel-snap-devs-backflip-nexus-events-1887284/ |access-date=January 12, 2023 |website=Dexerto |language=en}} and in a later patch gold was refunded to anyone who bought loot boxes.{{Cite web |last=Norton |first=Brad |date=August 9, 2022 |title=Marvel Snap August 9 update patch notes: Nexus Event refunds, Hellcow nerf, more |url=https://www.dexerto.com/gaming/marvel-snap-august-9-update-patch-notes-1898526/ |access-date=January 12, 2023 |website=Dexerto |language=en}} The current system allows players to buy a premium currency and exchange it for cosmetic skins, in-game currency, or various rotating bundles.{{Cite web |last=Motley |first=Josiah |date=December 19, 2022 |title=Best ways to use gold in Marvel Snap |url=https://mobilebytes.gg/best-ways-to-use-gold-in-marvel-snap/#:~:text=In%20the%20game%2C%20gold%20can,through%20various%20in%2Dgame%20events. |website=MobileBytes}}

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.{{Cite web |last=Valentine |first=Rebekah |date=January 3, 2019 |title=Second Dinner raises $30 million for upcoming Marvel game |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/second-dinner-raises-usd30-million-for-upcoming-marvel-game |website=GamesIndustry.biz |language=en}}{{Cite magazine |last=Dealessandri |first=Marie |date=January 4, 2019 |title=Second Dinner gets $30m in funding for Marvel project |url=https://mcvuk.com/development-news/second-dinner-gets-30m-in-funding-for-marvel-project/ |magazine=MCV/DEVELOP |language=en}}

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.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjhsY2Zuo-c |title=Designing 'MARVEL SNAP' |date=2023-05-03 |last=GDC |access-date=2024-09-08 |via=YouTube}} 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. 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.

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.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kI_aPiGaAWY |title=S.H.I.E.L.D. Replaces Director Nick Fury With a MARVEL SNAP Player |date=October 18, 2022 |publisher=Marvel Entertainment |access-date=February 12, 2023 |via=YouTube}}{{Cite web |last=McNulty |first=Thomas |date=2022-10-18 |title=Samuel L. Jackson Reprises Nick Fury For Marvel Video Game Trailer |url=https://screenrant.com/marvel-snap-trailer-nick-fury-samuel-jackson/ |access-date=2023-04-13 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}}

On January 19, 2025, the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act (PAFACA) banned software that was deemed to be controlled by foreign adversaries. The publisher of Marvel Snap at the time was Nuverse, whose parent company ByteDance was explicitly restricted under PAFACA,{{Cite web |last=Peterson |first=Jake |date=2025-01-16 |title=All the Apps ByteDance Operates in the US |url=https://lifehacker.com/tech/apps-bytedance-operates-in-united-states |access-date=2025-01-19 |website=Lifehacker |language=en}} causing the game to be removed from American storefronts like Google Play and the App Store and preventing players from accessing the game.{{Cite web |last=Lawler |first=Richard |date=2025-01-19 |title=Marvel Snap is banned, just like TikTok |url=https://www.theverge.com/2025/1/19/24347034/marvel-snap-banned-tiktok-bytedance |access-date=2025-01-19 |website=The Verge |language=en}} The game was made available again for US players two days later, with Second Dinner saying that they were "working to bring more services in-house and partner with a new publisher".{{cite web |last1=Dinsdale |first1=Ryan |title=Marvel Snap Back Online After TikTok Ban, Devs Searching for New Publisher to Stop It Happening Again |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/marvel-snap-back-online-after-tiktok-ban-devs-searching-for-new-publisher-to-stop-it-happening-again |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |access-date=January 22, 2025 |date=January 21, 2025}} The game later returned to the App Store{{cite web |last1=Lawler |first1=Richard |title=Marvel Snap is back in the App Store |url=https://www.theverge.com/2025/1/27/24353273/marvel-snap-is-back-in-the-app-store |website=The Verge |date=January 27, 2025 |access-date=28 January 2025}} and Google Play in the US.{{cite web |last1=Mathur |first1=Chandraveer |title=Marvel Snap is reinstated on the Play Store |url=https://www.androidpolice.com/marvel-snap-back-on-google-play-store/ |website=Android Police |date=January 29, 2025 |access-date=29 January 2025}} On January 28, Second Dinner announced that US-based Skystone Games would be their new publisher, with many publishing duties brought in-house.{{cite web |last1=Prescott |first1=Shaun |title=After falling victim to the recent US TikTok ban, Marvel Snap switches to a new US-based publisher |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/games/card-games/after-falling-victim-to-the-recent-us-tiktok-ban-marvel-snap-switches-to-a-new-us-based-publisher/ |website=PC Gamer |date=January 29, 2025 |access-date=29 January 2025}}

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.{{Cite web |title=MARVEL SNAP - Dominate the Marvel Multiverse in High-Speed Card Battling Action |url=https://www.marvelsnap.com/newsdetail?id=7244443251175070469 |access-date=2023-11-11 |website=www.marvelsnap.com}} 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.{{Cite web |title=Twitch Rivals |url=https://schedule.twitchrivals.com/events/twitch-rivals-marvel-snap-duos-showdown-NRdp9 |access-date=2023-11-11 |website=schedule.twitchrivals.com}}

{{Video game reviews

| MC = 85/100 (iOS){{r|MC}}

| GRadar = {{rating|4.5|5}}{{Cite web |last=West |first=Josh |date=2022-10-28 |title=Marvel Snap review: 'It'll make you feel like a f**king genius' |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/marvel-snap-review/ |access-date=2022-11-05 |website=GamesRadar+ |language=en}}

| GSpot = 9/10{{Cite web |last=Watts |first=Steve |date=2022-10-26 |title=Marvel Snap Review - MCCGU |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/marvel-snap-review-mccgu/1900-6417991/ |access-date=2022-11-05 |website=GameSpot |language=en-US}}

| SN = 9/10{{Cite web |last=Mejia |first=Ozzie |date=2022-10-28 |title=Marvel Snap review: Snapping into it |url=https://www.shacknews.com/article/132874/marvel-snap-review-ios-android-mobile |access-date=2022-11-05 |website=Shacknews |language=en}}

| PCM = {{rating|4|5}}{{Cite web |last=Minor |first=Jordan |date=2022-11-04 |title=Marvel Snap (for iOS) Review |url=https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/marvel-snap-for-ios |access-date=2022-11-05 |website=PCMag |language=en}}

| IGN = 8/10{{Cite web |last=Shea |first=Cam |date=2022-11-04 |title=Marvel Snap Review |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/marvel-snap-review |access-date=2022-11-05 |website=IGN |language=en}}

| TA = {{rating|5|5}}{{Cite web |last=Musgrave |first=Shaun |date=2022-11-01 |title='Marvel Snap' Review – Where Did That Bring You? Back to Brode |url=https://toucharcade.com/2022/11/01/marvel-snap-iphone-ipad-android-review/ |access-date=2022-11-05 |website=TouchArcade |language=en-US}}

| TG = {{rating|4|5}}{{Cite web |last=Stuart |first=Keith |date=2022-11-11 |title=Marvel Snap review – superhero showdown card game is utterly compulsive |url=https://www.theguardian.com/games/2022/nov/11/marvel-snap-review-superhero-showdown-card-game-is-utterly-compulsive |access-date=2022-11-25 |website=The Guardian |language=en}}

| NME = {{rating|5|5}}{{Cite web |last=Tucker |first=Jake |date=2022-11-18 |title='Marvel Snap' review: superhero showdown |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/game-reviews/marvel-snap-review-3350760 |access-date=2022-11-25 |website=NME |language=en-GB}}

}}

According to the review aggregator website Metacritic, Marvel Snap has received "generally favorable reviews".{{Cite web |title=Marvel Snap for iPhone/iPad Reviews |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/marvel-snap/critic-reviews/?platform=ios-iphoneipad |access-date=2022-11-05 |website=Metacritic |language=en}}

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.

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.{{Cite news |last=Stuart |first=Keith |date=2022-11-11 |title=Marvel Snap review – superhero showdown card game is utterly compulsive |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/games/2022/nov/11/marvel-snap-review-superhero-showdown-card-game-is-utterly-compulsive |access-date=2023-05-18 |issn=0261-3077}}

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.{{Cite web |last=Roeloffs |first=Mary Whitfill |title='Marvel Snap' Becomes Top-Grossing Digital Trading Card Game —Beating 'Yu-Gi-Oh!' And 'Magic:The Gathering Arena' |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/maryroeloffs/2023/09/01/marvel-snap-becomes-top-grossing-digital-trading-card-game--beating-yu-gi-oh-and-magicthe-gathering-arena/ |access-date=2024-09-11 |website=Forbes |language=en}} By 2024, Marvel Snap had achieved 22 million downloads, and more than $200 million in revenue.{{Cite web |last=Szalai |first=Georg |date=2024-01-08 |title='Marvel Snap' Game Maker Second Dinner Raises $100M |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/marvel-snap-second-dinner-investment-griffin-1235782058-1235782058/#:~:text=Marvel%20Snap%20has%20reached%2022,in%202022,%20the%20firm%20said. |access-date=2024-09-11 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}

{{Clear}}

{{reflist|refs=

{{Cite news |last=Rizzo |first=Tim |date=17 October 2022 |title=Marvel Snap devs' first idea was so good they refused to believe it |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/2022/10/17/marvel-snap-ben-brode-hearthstone-interview/}}

{{Cite web |last=Zwiezen |first=Zack |date=20 October 2022 |title=Marvel Snap Is Probably The Best Digital Card Game Out There Right Now |url=https://kotaku.com/marvel-snap-review-hearthstone-ios-android-spider-man-1849679570 |website=Kotaku}}

{{Cite web |last=Parrish |first=Ash |date=19 October 2022 |title=Marvel Snap is 5D chess in six minutes or less |url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/10/19/23413064/marvel-snap-second-dinner-hearthstone-ios-android |website=The Verge}}

}}

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