These days, it’s almost impossible to escape the impact of Marvel, with their heroes and villains popping up across various platforms. From the upcoming X-Men ’97 series to video games like Marvel Rivals, the universe seems ever-expanding. Even on the tabletop scene, Marvel’s influence is undeniable, mingling with popular games such as Codenames and the iconic Magic: The Gathering. Come this Spring, there’s an exciting new crossover on the horizon—X-Men meets the dice-rolling world of Dice Throne. Having had the chance to dive into it, I found the essence remains akin to its predecessors, yet the fresh roster of characters and their unique abilities add a captivating twist. It’s a refreshing perspective for those yearning for an atypical superhero tabletop adventure.
Initially, this new X-Men version of Dice Throne made its debut on Kickstarter. There’s a distinction between the Kickstarter and Battle Chest editions available online compared to the retail sets I’ve tested. These variations mainly concern the quality of components, like tokens, and organizational elements, such as individualized storage trays for each hero. If you’re picking up the retail versions, you’ll face a choice between two boxes, each featuring four iconic X-Men. One offers Cyclops, Gambit, Rogue, and Jean Grey, while the other presents Iceman, Psylocke, Storm, and Wolverine. The decision often boils down to personal preferences, but each set offers a mix of beloved characters. Each hero’s gameplay difficulty is rated from one to six and is noted on the box. If you’re just starting out, the box with Wolverine and Storm is less challenging, as their difficulty doesn’t exceed four. Conversely, Gambit and Jean Grey are both rated at six, advising some thought on your group’s skills when choosing.
While Dice Throne retains its core mechanics—rolling dice to dictate character abilities for use on oneself, allies, or adversaries—it offers exciting new twists with each character. Each hero board features eight abilities, typically including a defensive or passive move and several offensive ones. The pinnacle is their ultimate ability, which, being a game of chance, adds an exhilarating element of difficulty. Every character comes with a unique set of dice, a character-specific card deck, resource-tracking dials, and additional character sheets. Mastering the interplay of a character’s skills takes time, but the die result often determines your strategic play. Your deck can manipulate these outcomes, potentially altering both your roll and your rival’s actions, perhaps weakening an attack or avoiding it altogether. The ultimate objective? Whittling opponents’ life to zero—simple in principle, but rich in strategy.
The diversity of characters enhances the game’s replay value. For example, Wolverine thrives under pressure, growing stronger as he sustains damage. Storm, on the other hand, can boost her skills for added effects and even borrow dice from others, enhancing her chance of rolling higher, poker-like straights needed for powerful attacks.
Tackling the higher difficulty spectrum, Jean Grey shifts between her and the Dark Phoenix, switching her passive attacks each round. She gains resources and cards one moment, then, as Phoenix, skips phases for a spike in offensive power—tricky to balance if opponents disrupt your plans. Gambit, another challenging option, kinetically charges cards for future amplified effects, demanding careful management of these resources for optimal performance. Each figure’s abilities align with their comic counterparts, enhancing the thematic fidelity.
Dice Throne can be enjoyed as a duel or expanded to include varied modes such as free-for-all or team-based matches. Because turns proceed sequentially, larger games might extend in length, especially for beginners. Starting with 1v1 matches provides a solid foundation before expanding to more dynamic group settings. Fans of trading card games like Magic: The Gathering will find this system familiar, with phases split into distinct segments such as upkeep, income, and main phases, mirroring TCG mechanics.
Despite seeing it around, Dice Throne hadn’t piqued my interest until this Marvel edition caught my eye. Dice games generally hold charm and unpredictability, yet this collaboration swayed me to explore further. If Marvel figures captivate you and you’re searching for a refreshing addition to game nights, X-Men Dice Throne fits perfectly, especially if your friends share the fandom love.
