Comic-book card game Sentinels of the Multiverse flies back into action with a Definitive Edition
“Writing and gameplay have both been stripped down and rebuilt.”
Sentinels of the Multiverse, a card game inspired by superhero comics, is being re-released in a Definitive Edition that includes new artwork and gameplay elements.
Announced via a blog post from co-designer Christopher Badell, Sentinels of the Multiverse: Definitive Edition is an “improved” version of the original board game that’s being released to coincide with the studio’s 10th anniversary. The game has apparently been in development since early 2020, with the “last half of the year” being spent on playtesting to “make sure this was the best version of Sentinels of the Multiverse that anyone had ever seen”.
The upcoming board game will feature entirely new artwork from the artist and co-designer behind the debut release, Adam Rebottaro, as well as fresh graphic design elements - with each new card being distinctly inspired by comic book styles from across the last seven decades or so.
Besides the new art, the Definitive Edition of Sentinels of the Multiverse will provide a different gameplay experience than the original. In the blog post, Badell described how the “writing and game design have both been stripped down to their core elements and rebuilt better” for the upcoming Definitive Edition, ensuring that “the game plays more swiftly and smoothly” than it did before. Sentinels of the Multiverse: Definitive Edition will come with a fresh selection of 12 heroes, six villains and six environments.
According to an interview between Badell and Polygon, there are six big-box expansions due to be released for Sentinels of the Multiverse: Definitive Edition over the next six years in addition to the core set. Further details on the content featured in the upcoming expansions are yet to be revealed.
Sentinels of the Multiverse is a co-op card game based on an imaginary publishing house that produces a series of comics that tell the stories of fictional superheroes and villains. Designed to support two to five players, Sentinels of the Multiverse presents players with a collection of different heroes to control - each with their own unique decks - as well as a selection of devious villains they must face off against. Each player takes turns to play cards into the game’s environment, utilising whatever powers are shown on that card and drawing more from the deck afterwards.
Every round begins with the villain’s turn, with the players needing to enact whatever effects are currently in play on the villain’s active cards and take damage should they be attacked. After all the players have taken their turns, the players will need to perform actions for the environment they’re occupying, with various events taking place throughout the game. This continues until the heroes have either reduced the villain’s health points to zero, or the villain has defeated all the heroes or completed their win condition.
Since the release of Sentinels of the Universe, Greater than Games has published several other board games, including co-op title Spirit Island - which has players working together to fight back against a band of aggressive colonisers - and Brew Crafters: Travel Card Game, a release based on the microbrewing industry.
Sentinels of the Multiverse: Definitive Edition will launch a Kickstarter campaign on March 30th, with backers able to pledge $50 (£36) to get a copy of the core game. Alternatively, the board game will be available at a retail price of $59.95 (£43) at Gen Con 2021, scheduled to take place from 5th to the 8th of August.