These days, Marvel seems to be everywhere. From the revival of the X-Men ‘97 series to the Marvel Rivals video game, their superheroes and villains are popping up across various forms of media. The tabletop scene is no exception, with Marvel having teamed up with popular games like Codenames and Magic: The Gathering. This spring, there’s yet another exciting collaboration on the way, this time featuring the X-Men in the dice-rolling combat game, Dice Throne. Having had the chance to give it a go, I’ve found that while it retains the core mechanics of previous Dice Throne versions, the fresh characters and their unique abilities breathe new life into the game. Fans eager for a new kind of superhero tabletop adventure will find this iteration intriguing.
Originally launched on Kickstarter, the X-Men Dice Throne offers slightly varied contents between the Kickstarter and Battle Chest versions available online and the retail editions I’ve explored. Differences lie mainly in the quality of the components, with Kickstarter versions boasting superior tokens and better-organized storage trays for each hero. If you’re buying from a store, you have two boxes to choose from, each featuring a group of four X-Men. One box stars Cyclops, Gambit, Rogue, and Jean Grey, while the other includes Iceman, Psylocke, Storm, and Wolverine. Both selections promise a delightful mix of fan favorites. The difficulty level for each character ranges from one to six, clearly marked on the box’s back. For newcomers, the Wolverine and Storm box is ideal, with no character exceeding difficulty level four. Conversely, for seasoned players, the set with Gambit and Jean Grey provides a greater challenge, as both characters rank at difficulty six.
In essence, the gameplay remains very much classic Dice Throne, with players rolling dice to trigger specific abilities against themselves, their opponents, or their allies. Each character board presents eight abilities, typically including one defensive, one passive, and several offensive moves. At the center lies the coveted ultimate ability, reflecting the game’s element of chance. Alongside the character board, you’ll find custom dice, a character-specific deck of cards, resource-tracking dials, and detailed character sheets. Although mastering a character’s capabilities and how they synergize might take time, the essence of the game boils down to the outcomes of your dice rolls shaping your turn. The card deck comes in handy, allowing you to manipulate your rolls or even weaken an opponent’s attack. Players take turns rolling and battling until an opponent’s life total is reduced to zero, where strategy plays a pivotal role.
Wolverine stands out with a straightforward playstyle, gaining rage—which powers up his attacks—the more he’s hit. Storm, on the other hand, can supercharge abilities for added effects and even borrow dice from others to increase her chances of rolling poker-like straights needed for certain attacks.
For those who love complexity, Jean Grey’s dual nature lets her flip between Phoenix and Dark Phoenix, tweaking passive abilities with each shift. This swap impacts whether she gathers resources or deals more damage, depending on her form. Gambit is another challenging hero, with his knack for charging cards with additional effects, requiring strategic timing to unleash their full potential. Each character’s skills echo their comic book counterparts, demanding that players invest time in understanding their unique mechanics for smooth gameplay.
While Dice Throne is often played 1v1, there are additional modes, such as King of the Hill for odd-numbered groups or team battles. Considering players take turns individually, newcomers may find 1v1 games ideal to ease into the mechanics. Those familiar with trading card games like Magic: The Gathering will find elements of Dice Throne familiar. Although dice rolls determine your abilities, the card mechanics mirror those of other trading card games, incorporating a specific turn order and timing for card play.
Before diving into Marvel Dice Throne, I hadn’t given much thought to Dice Throne when browsing board games in-store. Dice-rolling games have their charm, but tend to appeal based on one’s gaming preferences. Being a Marvel fan, this collaboration encouraged me to give it a try, and I was pleasantly surprised. If you’re passionate about Marvel’s universe and enjoy board games, X-Men Dice Throne is a fantastic addition for game nights, especially if your friends love those characters and stories too.
