Splendor - Marvel
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Every gem you take is a choice. Every hero you recruit changes the playing field. And when someone assembles the Avengers, everyone at the table looks up.
WHAT IT'S ABOUT
Splendor meets the Marvel Universe in a race for the Infinity Gems
Marc André takes his acclaimed Splendor system and re-imagines it in the world of Marvel superheroes. Renaissance gems become the Infinity Gems, nobles become iconic locations, and each card represents a character from the Marvel universe. The result is a game that retains the elegance of the original mechanism while adding a strong thematic layer and a new victory condition: the Infinity Gauntlet.
At the table, you collect tokens representing the essence of the Gems, using them to recruit heroes and villains who grant you permanent bonuses and Infinity Points. Each recruited character reduces the cost of subsequent ones, triggering increasingly powerful combos. The Avengers Assemble tile passes from hand to hand, granting bonus points to whoever meets certain conditions. When someone gathers enough power, they can claim the Gauntlet and unleash the endgame.
What they say abroad
An engine builder disguised as a superhero game, where every drafting choice truly matters.
— FroGames
Splendor Marvel knows exactly what it wants to be: accessible, fast, and surprisingly deep.
— FroGames
Splendor: Marvel
FrogScore · FroGames editorial rating · based on rules, international reviews, and play sessionsWhat you find in the box
The components that build your Marvel empire
Infinity Gem Tokens
Six types of tokens representing the essence of the Gems. Tactile, heavy, satisfying to stack. Each color corresponds to a resource type and each hero has a specific cost.
Character Cards
90 cards representing heroes and villains from the Marvel universe. Three levels of power, each with increasingly strong permanent bonuses. Art faithful to the comics, immediate recognition.
Location Cards
Iconic Marvel Universe locations replace Splendor's nobles. They grant Infinity Points to those who recruit certain character combinations. Public objectives that guide strategies.
Avengers Assemble Tile
A special bonus that passes from player to player during the game. Whoever completes certain conditions takes it, earns extra points, and puts it back up for grabs. A micro-objective that adds tension.
Recommended sleeves 90 cards in 1 size ▼
If you play often, we recommend protecting your cards with clear sleeves to make them last longer.
| Size | Quantity |
|---|---|
| 64 × 89 mm | 90 |
| Total cards | 90 |
In half an hour someone will have the Gauntlet. And you'll find out if you picked the right tokens at the right time.
A five-moment game
What happens at the table
Not the rules. The experience.
Conservative opening moves
Everyone prudently takes tokens, nobody wants to overcommit. Level 1 cards are cheap but offer small bonuses. Someone takes three tokens of the same color, someone else diversifies. The Avengers Assemble tile is there, in the middle of the table, out of reach.
The first engines start up
The first recruited heroes begin to appear. Each card gives a permanent discount on future purchases. Those who focused on a specific color start building combos, those who diversified have more flexibility. The tension over tokens becomes real: what you take is what you deny others.
The race for locations
Someone realizes a location is about to be claimed and speeds up. Others block key tokens to slow them down. The Avengers tile changes hands for the first time, and someone gains bonus points. Everyone starts counting their opponents' Infinity Points.
Level 3 cards come into play
The most powerful characters require huge investments, but are worth 4-5 points each. Someone reserves a card to block it from others. The pace accelerates: those who built the best engine buy cards almost for free, those who lagged behind must choose between defense and offense. The Infinity Gauntlet becomes tangible.
Endgame and Gauntlet
Someone claims the Infinity Gauntlet or reaches 16 Infinity Points. The final turn is a race: those who are close try to overtake, those who are far know it's over. Points are counted, conquered locations are revealed, and people laugh at tokens taken at the wrong time. It ends in exactly 30 minutes, someone immediately asks for a rematch.
How to play
The flow of each turn
Each player takes exactly one action. Fast, clean, no downtime.
You can take three tokens of different colors, or two of the same color (if at least four are available), or one wild token. Tokens in hand are limited to ten: this rule forces you to buy instead of hoarding.
You pay the token cost indicated on the card and take it. That card now gives you a permanent discount for future purchases. The more cards of the same type you accumulate, the faster your engine becomes. You also gain the Infinity Points printed on the card.
Instead of buying it, you can set aside a card from the grid or from the face-down deck. You get a wild token as a bonus. This move is used to block powerful cards from opponents or to plan future purchases. You can keep a maximum of three reserved cards.
If you have recruited the characters required by a location, you take it and gain its points. If you complete the requirements of the Avengers Assemble tile, you take it from the player who has it (or from the center of the table) and gain extra points. Then it's the next player's turn.
Why it's different from the others
Six mechanics that make a difference
Dynamic Avengers Assemble tile
Unlike classic Splendor, here there's a bonus that changes hands during the game. It's not just a goal to achieve once: if another player completes the requirements, they steal it from you, creating continuous micro-races. It adds a layer of interaction that the original didn't have.
Infinity Gauntlet as an endgame trigger
You don't just win by reaching 16 points. You can also claim the Infinity Gauntlet if you have enough characters and power. This creates two parallel paths to victory and forces you to keep an eye on both. Those aiming for the Gauntlet can surprise those who only count points.
Cumulative discount system
Every card you recruit reduces the cost of subsequent ones. At first, you pay for everything in tokens; halfway through the game, you start buying cards almost for free. This exponential acceleration is the heart of the game: whoever builds the engine first dominates the final turns.
Marvel theme integrated into mechanics
It's not a superficial reskin. The locations require thematic combinations of characters (e.g., Avengers, Guardians, X-Men), the Avengers tile makes narrative sense, and the Gauntlet is the iconic McGuffin of the Infinity Saga. Those who know the theme enjoy it twice as much; those who don't still play very well.
Three levels of cards with escalating difficulty
Level 1 cards are cheap and give few points. Level 2 cards cost more but accelerate the engine. Level 3 cards require huge investments but are game-winning. The progression is clear and satisfying, and forces you to plan when to move to the next level.
Fixed duration of 30 minutes
Splendor Marvel never drags on. Turns are very quick, choices are clear, and no one gets stuck thinking for minutes. Perfect for quick game nights, to fill time between games, or to play two games in a row with a different strategy.
How it ends
How to win and how to lose
Two paths to victory, only one can be yours.
Victory
- Reach 16 Infinity Points by summing character cards, conquered locations, and the Avengers tile
- Claim the Infinity Gauntlet by completing the required character and power requirements
- In case of a tie, the player who recruited fewer total cards wins (more efficient engine)
How to fall behind
- Accumulate tokens without buying cards and end up with no engine while others accelerate
- Diversify too much without building discounts on a specific color and buy everything at full price
- Ignore the Avengers Assemble tile and leave easy points for opponents who claim it multiple times
Splendor Marvel is the perfect gateway game: rules in ten minutes, tactical depth for dozens of games. And when you assemble the Avengers right under the nose of someone who was about to beat you, you understand why it works.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ about Splendor: Marvel
Do you need to know Splendor to play it?
No. Splendor Marvel is a standalone game, and the rules can be learned from scratch in minutes. If you know the original, you'll recognize the core system, but here you'll find new mechanics (Avengers tile, Gauntlet, different conditions) that make it a standalone experience. It's not an expansion, it's a complete game.
How much does the Marvel theme matter compared to the mechanics?
The theme is well integrated but not essential to enjoy the game. The locations require thematic combinations of characters (e.g., all Avengers, all Guardians), the Avengers Assemble tile makes narrative sense, and the art is very recognizable. That being said, even those who don't follow comics will enjoy it: the mechanics work perfectly well on their own.
Does it play well with two players?
Yes, in fact many prefer it with two. The competition over tokens is more direct, every opponent's move is visible, and the tension rises faster. With four players, there's more chaos and less control, but it's still fun. The sweet spot is 2-3 players.
How long does a game actually last?
Exactly 30 minutes, rarely more. Turns are very quick (one action and pass), setup is fast, and the endgame always triggers within half an hour. It's perfect for evenings where quick games are needed or to play two consecutive games with a different strategy.
Is the edition for sale in Italian?
Yes, this Asmodee edition is completely in Italian: cards, rulebook, quick references. The names of the Marvel characters are the known Italian ones (where they exist) or transliterated. No language barrier, you can start playing right away.
Splendor: Marvel is a drafting and set collection game for 2-4 players, lasting 30 minutes, recommended age 10+. Designed by Marc André and published by Asmodee, it reimagines the celebrated Splendor mechanism within the Marvel universe: collect tokens representing the Infinity Gems, recruit heroes and villains to build an engine of permanent discounts, conquer iconic locations, and claim the Infinity Gauntlet. The Avengers Assemble tile adds a layer of dynamic competition that the original did not have, while the two parallel victory conditions (16 Infinity Points or Gauntlet) create constant tactical tension. Perfect as a gateway or strategic family game. Available on FroGames.it.
Splendor - Marvel
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