Marvel Zombies: Heroes' Resistance Board Game Review

It has been nearly 11 years since the cooperative horror game Zombicide first hit store shelves. In this game, you take on the role of a character facing hordes of zombies, trying to take them down at all costs. This concept became a huge hit among players and is now a true classic in the board game world. Publishers didn't keep players waiting long and started releasing version after version. We've seen themes like the Middle Ages, the Black Plague, the Wild West, and now, a hot new addition: superheroes from the Marvel comic book universe. Specifically, we can look forward to two games: Marvel Zombies and Marvel Zombies: Heroes' Resistance.

We'll take a closer look at the latter and compare it to other titles.

Marvel Zombies: Heroes' Resistance was created by authors Fabio Cury and Michael Shinall under the banner of CMON Limited and Guillotine Games. The Czech translation was handled by Blackfire.

You might be wondering what the difference is between Marvel Zombies and Marvel Zombies: Heroes' Resistance. At first glance, it's the size of the box. However, the fundamental difference is the gameplay. In Marvel Zombies, you play as zombie superheroes trying to kill S.H.I.E.L.D. agents and civilians. In Heroes' Resistance, it's the other way around. You play as famous superheroes trying to stop hordes of zombies along with a few infected zombie superheroes. That's not the only major change. In Heroes' Resistance, you won't find the large number of plastic miniatures typical of Zombicide. Only the main superheroes and three zombie superheroes have plastic miniatures here. The zombies use cardboard miniatures, so-called standees.

Compared to other versions, this game is for fewer players—1 to 4 players aged 14 and up—with a playtime of about 60 minutes. The higher age rating is recommended solely due to the horror theme.

Gameplay

As is customary with Zombicide, the rules include several scenarios—eight in this case. They are divided by difficulty and playtime. Before starting, you set up the game board as instructed by the rules. You choose the superheroes you want to play as. The selection includes Spider-Man, Hulk, Vision, Winter Soldier, Black Panther, and Wasp.

Experienced Zombicide players will be used to the plastic dashboard where you insert your hero board, equipment, and cards. You won't find anything like that in Heroes' Resistance; instead, the game uses plastic clips to track your hero's health and energy levels. You cannot search locations for various equipment and weapons in this game. You play as superheroes overflowing with superpowers, so you don't need any gear. Instead, you gain heroic trait cards that help you mow down hordes of zombies.

Once the game is set up and you know the victory conditions, you can start playing. Each player performs 3 actions with their hero, such as moving, attacking, opening doors, etc. Attacks are resolved like in previous versions using dice rolls. By eliminating zombies, you gain experience. The more experienced you are, the more superpowers you can use, but more and more zombies will also swarm you.

After all players have taken their turns, the enemy phase begins. According to the rules, all zombies on the map move, and then new zombies appear. However, zombie superheroes who are already infected can also enter the game, including Captain America, Doctor Strange, Scarlet Witch, and Iron Man. With the arrival of zombie superheroes, the game changes, and taking them down will really test the players, especially if there are several of them on the board.

Our Impressions

• The components, game board, and cards are of very high quality, as is standard for Zombicide. The superhero miniatures, in particular, will look lifelike once painted.
• The graphics are very nice and support the overall theme.
• Experienced Zombicide players will only need to read a few rule changes before they can start playing.
• If you don't know the Zombicide series, there's no reason to worry. The rules are simple and even children can understand them, provided they don't mind the zombie theme.
• Individual turns are fast, without unnecessary delays, so you won't get bored.
• More demanding players might miss greater complexity, and the gameplay might feel repetitive over time. However, if you're looking for a relaxing game where you'll be mowing down zombies by the dozen, this game is exactly for you.
• The scenarios are very interesting, and each offers a slightly different way to play.
• For me, the game would benefit from having at least two more superheroes. It would give the player more variety in their choices.

Verdict

The Marvel theme suits Zombicide very well. Honestly, who wouldn't want to be the Hulk or Black Panther during a zombie apocalypse? While playing, we sometimes feel like we're in a movie and toy with the idea of how awesome that film would be. The absence of plastic miniatures doesn't hurt the game at all; on the contrary, it makes it cheaper and more accessible to more players.

Overall, the Zombicide series is suitable as an entry-level game for all beginners, and Heroes' Resistance is no exception. So, whether you're a fan of Marvel, Zombicide, or just want to smash some zombies, this game is waiting for you in our shop. Hurry, before they infect everyone!

author Daniel Korčák