Origin Story: Heroes & Villains
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The FroGames Card
You reach the last round. You choose between three destinies instead of two. You reveal the card and realize that this time you can become the villain. And still win.
WHAT IT'S ABOUT
Twenty-one new cards for the final chapter of your story
Heroes & Villains is the mini-expansion for Origin Story, the trick-taking game with tableau building by Jamey Stegmaier and Pete Wissinger. Released in July 2026, it adds 21 new ending cards to the base deck of 10: 7 superheroes and 14 supervillains. In the last round of Origin Story, you choose who you have become after your journey, and this expansion triples the options, introducing villain endings alongside hero ones.
The setup changes one thing: you now draw 3 ending cards instead of 2, all shuffled together. This means more variety, less predictability, and the real possibility of ending the game by losing tricks instead of winning them. The cards fit into the base box and integrate without additional rules.
What they say abroad
"Fixes a flaw from the base game"
It fixes a flaw from the base game
— Board Game Quest
This expansion arrives one day after the base game's release. It's too early for a consolidated verdict, but the idea is clear: Origin Story had a repetitive ending, and Heroes & Villains promises to solve it. The card will be updated once we've gathered plays and feedback.
— FroGames
Origin Story: Heroes & Villains
Origin Story includes official automa rules, and Heroes & Villains integrates into the solo setup: the bot draws 3 ending cards just like you. The experience remains valid, but the game is designed for multiplayer: trick-taking against an automa loses the tension of reading opponents.
FrogScore · FroGames editorial rating · first reading: based on rules and official presentation, updated with first playsWhat's in the deck
The four souls of the expansion
7 new superheroes
Cards that enhance the classic strategy: win tricks, accumulate points, play as a hero. They blend with the 10 from the base game for a total of 17 heroic endings.
14 supervillains
Here everything changes: cards that reward those who lose tricks, who play low cards, who overturn the logic of trick-taking. Now the villain is not a fallback choice, it's a strategy.
3 cards instead of 2
The setup changes: you draw three final options at the beginning of the game instead of two. This means you can build your tableau preparing for as many possible endings as possible, and choose at the last moment.
Total compatibility
The 21 cards fit into the base box without taking up space. No new insert, no additional rules to learn. Shuffle and play.
Recommended sleeves 23 cards in 2 sizes ▼
If you play often, we recommend protecting your cards with clear sleeves to make them last longer.
| Size | Quantity |
|---|---|
| 70 × 100 mm | 21 |
| 57 × 87 mm | 2 |
| Total cards | 23 |
🎲How to playThe rules in four steps▼
How to play
Setup and integration
Heroes & Villains does not add phases. It only changes the initial setup and the final card pool.
Take the 10 superhero cards from the base game and the 21 from Heroes & Villains (7 heroes + 14 villains). Shuffle them all together into a single deck.
Each player draws 3 face-down final cards at the start of the game, instead of the 2 from the base game. Keep them secret until round 5.
Rounds 1-4 play out exactly as in the base game: trick-taking, tableau building, ability activation. The final cards remain face down.
Round 5: choose 1 of the 3 final cards and reveal it. Activate its ability and end the game. The other 2 return to the box.
⏱️Your first gameThe chronicle, moment by moment▼
A game in five moments
What changes at the table with Heroes & Villains
Not the rules. The experience.
Three destinies on the table
Setup. Instead of two face-down final cards, you draw three. You look at the names: a hero, an anti-hero, a villain. You don't know yet which one you'll choose, but you know you can prepare for all three. The game starts with more freedom.
The plan forks
Rounds 2-3. You build your tableau by adding story cards. Usually you aim to win tricks, but this time one of your final cards rewards those who lose them. You start playing differently: low cards, avoided tricks. The others don't understand.
The villain's revelation
Round 5. Everyone reveals their final cards. You choose the supervillain. The ability says: for each trick you didn't win, you gain points. Those who dominated trick-taking look at you and realize you played in reverse for four rounds.
The unexpected ending
Scoring. The player who won the most tricks thinks they've won the game. Then you count your points: each lost trick counts, plus your build bonuses. You're in the lead. The table erupts.
The other game
Reshuffle. You draw three more final cards. This time they're different: two offensive heroes and one defensive villain. Every game ends in a way you've never seen. That's the point of the expansion.
🐸What to know beforehandThree honest things, from friends▼
What to know beforehand
Three things nobody tells you
Requires the base game
Heroes & Villains is a mini-expansion. Not playable on its own: Origin Story is needed to function. The 21 cards integrate into the base setup without changing rules, but they don't replace the complete game.
Doesn't solve other problems
The expansion adds variety to the ending, but doesn't touch the rest of the game. If Origin Story's trick-taking doesn't convince you, Heroes & Villains doesn't transform it: it only improves the replayability of the last round.
Zero added time
Drawing 3 cards instead of 2 doesn't extend the game. Setup remains under 5 minutes, gameplay identical. The only difference is that you have one more choice to make in round 5, and it takes you 10 seconds.
🏆Victory and defeatWhat the ending rewards▼
How it ends
How to win and how to lose
Heroes & Villains doesn't change Origin Story's victory conditions: the player with the most points at the end of round 5 wins. It changes how you get there.
Victory
- Build a tableau consistent with one of your 3 final cards (heroes: win tricks; villains: avoid tricks or reverse conditions)
- Choose the final card that maximizes your points based on how the game went
- Accumulate more points than opponents by summing tableau, tricks won/lost, and final card bonuses
When you lose
- Build a generic tableau without preparing for any of the 3 final cards: you reach round 5 without a plan
- Choose the wrong final card: for example, you reveal a hero that rewards won tricks, but you won zero
- Ignore villain strategies: if everyone plays as a classic hero and you do too, you lose the variety the expansion offers
Heroes & Villains doesn't rewrite Origin Story. It gives it the ending it deserved: unpredictable, tactical, and different every time.
💬Frequently asked questionsQuick answers before checkout▼
Frequently asked questions
FAQ about Origin Story: Heroes & Villains
Is the base game required to play?
Yes, it's mandatory. Heroes & Villains is a mini-expansion: it only adds 21 final cards to the base game Origin Story. It does not include rules, components, or trick-taking cards. It's not playable without the base game.
Does anything change in the base game rules?
No. The only difference is the setup: you draw 3 final cards instead of 2 at the start of the game. Everything else (rounds 1-5, trick-taking, tableau building, abilities) remains identical. Zero added complexity.
Are villain cards competitive or are they a trap?
According to early reviews (Board Game Quest, July 2026), villains are finally competitive: they reward alternative strategies (losing tricks, playing low cards) that were weak in the base game. They are not a trap, but they require dedicated builds during rounds 1-4.
What mechanics does Origin Story: Heroes & Villains use?
The same as the base game: trick-taking (win or lose tricks by playing cards), tableau building (build a personal ability grid), stamina management (activate powers by spending energy), drafting (choose story cards each round). The expansion only adds variety to the final cards, it doesn't introduce new mechanics.
Is it available in Italian?
This edition is in English. Origin Story is language-dependent (text on all cards), so knowledge of English is required to play. As of its release (July 2026), there are no announcements of Italian localizations for the expansion.
The people behind the game
Who invented it, who designed it, who publishes it — and what else they've done.
Origin Story: Heroes & Villains is the mini-expansion for the trick-taker with tableau building by Jamey Stegmaier and Pete Wissinger, published by Stonemaier Games in July 2026. It adds 21 new final cards (7 superheroes and 14 supervillains) to the base game, tripling the options for the final round and introducing competitive villain strategies. For 1-5 players, 45 minutes, ages 14+. Requires the Origin Story base game to function. Available on FroGames.it.
Origin Story: Heroes & Villains
Frequently Asked Questions
The answers you're looking for, no beating around the bush.
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📦Does the content of the box match what is indicated?
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