Marvel United

Officially Marvel United (CMON)

COOPERATIVE 1-4 PLAYER CARD-DRIVEN GAME by ERIC LANG + ANDREA CHIARVESIO (2020), publisher CMON. Players cooperatively play MARVEL SUPERHEROES (each with unique card deck) against 1 VILLAIN + MISSION objectives. Signature CHAIN-CARD PLAYING mechanic — every player's card is linked to next player's for combo bonuses. Massive Kickstarter success ($4M+ 2020); 4+ expansion 'HERO PACK' waves; X-MEN 2021, MCU 2022, TEEN VARIANT 2023 versions. Kid-friendly + accessible; also lots of PROMO KICKSTARTER MINIS.

📐Central table with location cards + villain deck + hero decks⏱~45 min🌤indoor

Quick facts

How it works

Objective

HEROES cooperatively COMPLETE 3 MISSIONS before VILLAIN WINS via THREAT track fill-up.

Rules

Basic rules

TURN STRUCTURE: HEROES take turns (in play order), then VILLAIN plays 1 CARD from its deck (automated)
Signature hero-villain alternation.
CHAIN CARDS: each HERO plays cards from hand; ICONS on card must CHAIN with NEXT PLAYER'S ICONS for BONUS EFFECTS (cooperative signature)
Signature chain-card cooperative mechanic.
ACTIONS: MOVE (change location), ATTACK (fight thugs/villain), SAVE (rescue civilians), HEROIC (special power)
Signature 4-action types.
VILLAIN AUTOMATION: villain card DEPLOYS THUGS, kidnaps CIVILIANS, does DAMAGE — no player controls villain
Signature automated villain.
MISSIONS: 3 SEQUENTIAL missions (e.g., 'defeat 5 thugs', 'rescue 3 civilians', 'defeat villain') — complete all to win
Signature 3-mission sequence.
LOSS CONDITION: VILLAIN THREAT TRACK fills up OR any hero KO'd (in default rules; house rule to be forgiving)
Signature loss condition.
HEROES: 5-6 characters per box (Spider-Man, Thor, Iron Man, Hulk, Captain America, Wolverine in first box); 100+ across all sets
Signature 100+ hero roster.
VILLAINS: Red Skull, Ultron, Thanos, Loki, Magneto, Kingpin, Dr. Doom (in various boxes)
Signature 20+ villain roster.

Scoring

Binary win/loss — heroes win if 3 missions complete before villain threat.

Win condition · Complete all 3 missions cooperatively.

Playing area

Called

Central table with location cards + villain deck + hero decks

Dimensions

60×40 cm table; modular location cards form 'city block'

Equipment

HERO MINIS + DECKS: each hero has unique 15-card deck + character-specific POWER meter
Signature hero deck + mini.
VILLAIN DECK + MINI: pre-scripted villain actions (~15 cards) that drive automated opposition
Signature villain deck + auto-plays.
LOCATION CARDS: 6 location cards form central 'city block' — heroes visit for actions
Signature 6-location block.
MISSION cards: heroes must complete 3 missions before villain WIN condition
Signature mission-completion goal.
CIVILIANS + THUGS meeples: villain places thugs; heroes rescue civilians
Signature civilians + thugs.
1 D6 DIE (rare — most decisions card-driven)
Signature 1-die minimum.

Terminology

Chain: Icons on cards must match next player's for combo bonus.
Mission: 3 sequential objectives — complete all to win.
Threat track: Villain's win condition — fills up = heroes lose.
Civilians: Must be rescued from villain kidnapping.
Thugs: Villain's minions — fought by heroes.
Hero pack: Expansion box with 1-3 new characters + villain.
CMON: Publisher (Cool Mini Or Not) — known for Kickstarter minis.

Major competitions

No formal competitive scene — cooperative game
n/a · Global tabletop community · since 2020
Kickstarter Marvel United campaigns (2020, 2021, 2022)
irregular · Global crowdfunding · since 2020

Where it is played

Governing bodies

CMON (publisher)
Founded 2001 · Belleville, NJ, USA
Marvel Entertainment (IP licensor)
Founded 1939 · New York, NY, USA (Disney subsidiary since 2009)

Famous names & records

Famous athletes

Eric M. Lang (CA, designer)
Andrea Chiarvesio (IT, co-designer)

Sources & provenance

BoardGameGeek — Marvel United— BoardGameGeek
CMON — Marvel United— CMON

Last verified 2026-08-28.verified