Stats:
No. of players: 1-5
Amount of time to play: 60 min
Age requirements: 8+
Set-up time: 5-10 minutes

Sentinels of the Multiverse Rules Description:

Sentinels of the Multiverse is a rock ‘em, sock ‘em fight of good versus evil. You play a super hero that must defeat the villain and manage the environment in this cooperative card game. So does this game rock or get socked?

To start Sentinels of the Multiverse each player must select a hero (or more if you have 2 or less players). You must also select a villain to face off against and the environment the battle takes place in.

There are a variety of heroes, villains and environments and each plays differently. The heroes tend to follow your typical super hero archetype. There is a speed-based, fire-based, strength-based and other standard heroes.

Once you select these elements you deal yourself four cards from your hero’s deck. Each round is played the same. The villain takes a turn, then each hero gets a turn and finally a new environment card is drawn.

On the villains turn they will tend to get minions or powers to help them damage the heroes. On your turn you will have to decide whether to deal with the minions, the villain or both.

At the start of your turn you may play a card. Cards might be one-shot attacks, ongoing effects or equipment for your hero. Next you may use one power. Then you draw a card from your hero’s deck and end your turn.

Your cards may allow you to use more powers each turn, take less damage or do extra damage.

After all players have taken a turn, you draw an environment card. And then you start the villain’s turn again.

If you knock out the villain, you win. If all the heroes are knocked out you lose.

A Quick Sentinels of the Multiverse Review:

Sentinels of the Multiverse is a fun cooperative card game. You and your fellow super heroes will have to be resourceful and work together to survive. Not that I have played many, but this is the best implementation of a comic book themed game I have played.

Sentinels of the Multiverse is not perfect. The rules are well-written but you will have to figure out some situations as not every card combo and possibility is covered. This is not to say there are blatant errors in the rules, but you may have to house-rule some things or look for answers on the internet.

The components are good and although some art is excellent some of the cards are a bit cartoony. The cards are of pretty good quality, but I really do wish the box had an insert. Be prepared to use some rubber bands.

Like most cooperative games there is some luck and gameplay could suffer from a bossy player. Sentinels of the Multiverse avoids this a bit since you should be playing your own hand and don’t need to share it with your fellow players.

Between the ten heroes, four villains and four environments there is a lot of variety and replayability right out of the box. You’ll want to give each hero a try as each plays so different and yet is so reminiscent of a famous comic hero.

This game should get some expansions. And if it does I am hoping for two things. First like I said above a better storage solution is needed and then some counters for marking it points and other game conditions. As the game is right now you must track hit points with pen and paper, poker chips or components from another game. These two additions would be awesome.

Sentinels of the Multiverse can be played solo and still just as challenging. You’ll just have a bit more to keep track of. But the solo play is enjoyable and can help you to learn the differences in the heroes.

If you enjoy comic books, you should enjoy Sentinels of the Multiverse. The theme of this game will engage you and you’ll enjoy figuring out the best card to play and how your team can defeat the villain.

Score and synopsis: (Click here for an explanation of these review categories.)
Strategy 3 out of 6
Luck 4 out of 6
Player Interaction 3 out of 6
Replay Value 4 out of 6
Complexity 4 out of 6
Fun 5 out of 6
Overall 5 out of 6