Mythology and fairy tales are a huge part of our homeschooling curriculum. I always have my kids reading from a book of myths or fairy tales – the stories and heroes of old are so classic and provide modern readers with background and context with which to understand and enjoy all stories more deeply. Good storytelling hasn’t changed in thousands of years!
Super hero stories have always been popular because of the archetypal characters and struggles between good and evil. We love the Marvel super hero stories and movies and love to compare these modern stories with old mythology and fairy tales. There is always so much to discuss! Right vs wrong, good vs. evil, strength vs. weakness.
The dichotomy between good and evil is something we discuss a lot through these stories, and this Marvel Villainous game provides an interesting and uncommon shift in perspective.
In this game, players choose a VILLAIN to play, not a hero.
Hela, Thanos, Killmonger, Taskmaster, and Ultron are the stars here and players work to use their sinister and twisted strengths and abilities to vanquish their Super foes with the help of their allies.
This game has a totally different feel than any other we’ve played. Each villain has its own objective, different from all the other players. Each player plays the game differently, working to accomplish different goals and using individual abilities and powers to make progress.
Players can work with opponents to thwart certain villains, so there is a lot of interaction, but everyone’s goals are different. It makes for a very interesting and fun experience, every single time!
The villains goals are as follows:
- Hela: curse enemy players’ allies with soulmarks
- Ultron: fulfill advancement cards to reveal Age of Ultron
- Thanos: collect the six infinity stones from the other players who can use their powers against him
- Taskmaster: train and strengthen allies to a strength of 5
- Killmonger: kill Klaw and Black Panther, destroy other players with explosives
Each player has his own domain, deck, fate cards, and specialty tiles (relating to their Objectives).
At the beginning of the game, players reveal their villain’s objective.
Players move to a new location on their domain each turn. Each location gives a number of different actions to perform such as gaining power, playing cards, activating powers, relocating, vanquishing, discarding cards, or protecting.
Each player has two decks of cards:
- Villain Cards (colored backs)
- Allies – kept and used for their abilities or played to defeat other characters
- Items – used for their abilities to affect other cards and actions
- Effects – used for a one time ability
- Specialty – used for ongoing abilities
- Fate Cards (white backs)
- Heroes – covers the top of any location in another player’s domain to block actions
- Items – used as above
- Effects – used as above
- Events – ongoing penalties used to hinder other villains until that villain resolves it
Players earn power and strength tokens throughout the game from The Vault to purchase villain and fate cards.
The game ends as soon as a player meets their villain’s objectives. That player is the Villainous Victor.
This game uses so many great skills. Board games are such a great way for kids to practice managing multiple objectives at one time, developing strategy, weighing choices and consequences, identifying opportunity costs, and so much more. Marvel Villainous is an intense game that challenges logical, strategic, and abstract thinking. it is also a great example of perspective in storytelling. It’s a fantastic and fun gameschooling resource!
Thanks to our favorite Ravensburger for sharing it with us!
