A Parent’s Guide to Marvel SNAP

Collectible card games (also known as CCGs) are synonymous with my childhood. I still, to this day, find a special kind of joy when I pick up a couple of booster packs from the store and race home to open them. Learning how to play these various games was another special journey unto itself; diving into each games’ mechanics, discovering their cards’ abilities, and sitting at a table playing with friends. All these aspects contribute to the magic of a CCG, and it surprised me when I also found them in Marvel SNAP.

Marvel SNAP has successfully tapped into a feeling that, for me, can be difficult without a physical counterpart. However, the team at Second Dinner did it, and all without solely relying on the cultural phenomenon that is Disney’s MCU. If you’re ready to start collecting your favorite heroes and villains, keep reading to find out if Marvel SNAP is appropriate for you and your family!

Is Marvel SNAP Appropriate for Kids?

Marvel SNAP is rated T for Teen with Content Descriptors for Blood and Violence, and an Interactive Element for In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items). The blood and violence label is due to imagery in a card’s art, and when a card gets destroyed by another card’s effect. While it isn’t gratuitous by any means, it is enough that it may be something to look into if you have younger kids. As mentioned, the rating for Marvel SNAP also includes an Interactive Element for In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items), meaning the you can spend real money on in-game purchases, but you may not know exactly what you’re getting (just like a real booster pack of cards). Marvel SNAP also has a robust ecosystem that may be confusing to navigate for younger audiences. So, there is the opportunity for one to spend real money in hopes of getting that prized card. Make sure you have a conversation around in-game purchases and spending with your kids, and back it up with parental controls to avoid any surprises.

While the core gameplay involves competing against other players online, there isn’t a fully operational communication element. The only way players can interact with each other, outside of playing the game, is through emotes and pre-loaded messages like “What just happened?!” and “I am confident.” The only potential risk in communication is when it comes to other players’ usernames. If an inappropriate username gets past the game’s internal checks, a player can be reported.

Keep in mind that the age rating indicates if the content of a game is appropriate… not the intended audience. In the case of Marvel SNAP, the content will likely be appropriate for your teen, but some kids may have more trouble with the deeper strategic elements of the game.

Where can I Play Marvel SNAP and How Much Does It Cost?

Marvel SNAP is available for free download on Steam, the Google Play Store, and the Apple App Store. It requires an internet connection to play and features various microtransactions that you may want to discuss with your kids before deciding to download it.

With these in-game purchases, players can buy cosmetic items such as profile images, card borders, and visual effects, as well as game-enhancing features like new cards and a season pass, where one can also acquire new cards that can affect gameplay. While it’s possible to earn any of the 4 currencies in Marvel SNAP via playing the game, it’s worth noting that you can purchase them in-game as well. For the most part, this is housed within the in-game shop, which also features special bundles that often contain exclusive card variants and a mix of currencies and customizables at higher price points. Aside from the Collector’s Packs and Mystery Items (which both have an element of randomization to them since you don’t know exactly which card you’ll get), there is always a level of transparency when it comes to what you are purchasing. But even for the randomized purchases, you can find drop rates in the Marvel SNAP in-game store. Prices for the in-game purchases can range from $4.99 to $99.99 USD.

But overall, players are by no means required to make any purchases to enjoy the ins and outs of Marvel SNAP. I myself have spent hundreds of hours playing the game and have only spent $9.99 on the premium season pass twice since the game was released in 2022!

How Does Marvel SNAP Play?

Whether you are engaging in a quick match or ranked match, each gameplay session of Marvel SNAP starts off the same: The player is connected with a random opponent and dealt a hand of 3 cards from their deck. When the match starts, the first of three locations opens, each player is dealt a card, and the timer begins. From here on out, it is all about strategy, because there are only 6 rounds (unless someone has a Magik card), and each round you gain enough energy to play cards that cost the same number as the round itself. At least at first.

Prices for the in-game purchases can range from $4.99 to $99.99 USD.

The first three rounds also unveil the three locations, all of which have their own effects (good and bad) on both players, and the goal is to have the highest number of points at a majority of the three. As you continue on, all of these effects radically start changing the game: giving advantages, tarnishing strategies, etc. You do this for approximately 6 rounds, playing cards when you can, until there is a victor. The prize? Boosters (experience points) that upgrade your cards’ status, cubes to increase your rank, and bragging rights. And depending on whether you “Snapped” throughout the game could determine how much you’ve won or lost. That Snap is key. A “risk versus reward” system that has you betting it all on yourself, thereby doubling the number of “Cubes” the winner can earn and making it faster to rank up. Once you Snap, your opponent will have a chance to either retreat, stay, or even Snap themselves, once again doubling the stakes. While Marvel SNAP does a really great job of encouraging creativity and strategic thinking, that type of stress could really have an effect on someone if they were, for example, on a losing streak.

This is a true CCG, and one that pulls from one of the most content-rich fictional worlds ever, so every card has a special effect on the game. Playing cards that you have earned or bought can have dramatic effects on how the game plays, and since players build their own decks, no two games are alike.  The systems are fair, and the rules apply for everyone, but it can at times feel like it favors those who can truly build the “perfect” deck, and it’s possible that the drive to achieve that can be strong.

Making Sure Your Kids’ Video Game Experiences Are Appropriate

The best thing any parent can do is show real interest and get involved. Setting the ground rules for playing with others online, in-game transactions, and clear, established household rules around screentime is incredibly important, but so is downloading for yourself and going on this gaming journey together.

Since this can be a very competitive game, this might be a good opportunity to discuss the nature of competitive play for kids, especially for those who are still learning good sportsmanship. You can visit ESRB’s Family Gaming Guide for helpful tips to start these conversations.

Lastly, to back up your household rules, you may want to make sure you’re setting parental controls on your kids’ devices. Virtually every device that can play video games includes the ability to manage what your kids play based on the rating information, set screen time limits, manage with whom they can communicate online, limit or block spending, and more. We have step-by-step parental controls guides at ParentalTools.org to help you get started!

Asa is a seasoned gaming and entertainment industry professional, who has worked in various areas of the industry like consultation, news coverage, development, and more. He’s worked with companies like IGN, Take This, and The Game Awards, and has worked on titles like Weird West and Onson Master. He’s a passionate advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, and has produced content focused on promoting Indigenous representation in the gaming and entertainment industry with companies like Twitch, Kinda Funny, and Snapdragon. Aside from this experience and his work in marketing, Asa is developer of an up & coming tabletop game called, BattleVersus! which was recently featured in the SixOneIndie Showcase.