BoardGame Verdict
78

Origin Story is a competitive trick-taking game with a superhero theme where players craft their superhero origin story. It incorporates engine building and tableau building elements, offering strategic depth in its card play. The game can be played by 1-5 players and includes a solo variant as well as team-based play.

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78

The Verdict

based on 33 reviews

Positive 0%
Mixed 0%
Negative 0%
Innovative blend of trick-taking and tableau-building
Strong thematic integration and character progression
Engaging player choices and emergent narrative
High-quality components and appealing art style
Good scalability across player counts
Upkeep can be overwhelming with more players
Art style may not universally appeal to comic book fans
Some gameplay chaos and potential for swingy outcomes
Font for numbers '1' and '7' can be difficult to distinguish
95
Zatu GamesArticle

“This game is, well, super. I challenge you not to love it; an outstanding effort from the SM team, certainly our favourite game any of us have played in our house over the last year.”

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95
The Dice Tower, Tom Vassel, Chris Yi, Mike DilisioVideo

The reviewer enthusiastically praised 'Origin Story,' highlighting its innovative trick-taking mechanics combined with unique player powers that evolve throughout the game. He particularly enjoyed the sense of strategic differentiation among players and the game's ability to deliver a satisfying experience without overstaying its welcome.

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90
Tabletop Tolson, Tabletop TolsonVideo

The reviewer highly praises Origin Story as a fast, fun, and delicious trick-taking game that effectively captures the superhero theme with clever design and amazing artwork. They express a strong desire to keep playing it and discover more of its offerings.

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90
PolygonArticleTop List

“Polygon highlighted 'Origin Story' as an enjoyable trick-taking game, noting its innovative twist on the genre and the cool design of its comic book-themed player boards.”

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90
Board Game Quest, Brandon BrysonArticleTop List

“Origin Story successfully brings new ideas to the trick-taking genre, offering a thematic and engaging experience of building a superhero's evolving powers.”

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90
Rahdo Runs Through, RahdoVideo

Rahdo enthusiastically recommends 'Origin Story' for fans of trick-taking games and superhero themes, praising its engaging art and subject matter as a must-try for this audience.

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90
Tabletop Bellhop, Sean, Deanna, and Mo TusenoVideo

The reviewer highlighted 'Origin Story' as an engaging trick-taking game with innovative power cards and resource management, commending its replayability as they found themselves playing it often, which is uncommon for review copies.

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90
TerreDice Games, TerreDice GamesVideo

The reviewer found 'Origin Story' to be a fantastic and streamlined trick-taking game that masterfully integrates its superhero-themed narrative, praising its stunning watercolor art and stellar production design, despite acknowledging that gameplay can be somewhat swingy.

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85
Drive Thru Games, Joel EddyVideo

The reviewer highly recommends "Origin Story," praising its engaging superhero theme and the unique, looser take on trick-taking games. He particularly enjoys the two-player experience, despite noting some minor swinginess and a less tight structure than other trick-taking titles.

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85
Game Boy Geek, Game Boy GeekVideo

The reviewer highly recommends "Origin Story" as a fantastic trick-taking game that successfully incorporates superhero abilities through its engaging story cards, offering a fresh twist on the genre, although they noted some minor concerns regarding card balance and potential chaos with more players.

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85
WhatBoardGameArticle

“Origin Story delivers exactly what its name promises – the birth of something new. It’s a trick-taking game that manages to tell a story, make you care about your character, and keep the table buzzing with tension and laughter.”

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85
Player EliminationArticle

“But goll-y, I can’t recall a card game this empowering. It’s a genuine uplifting experience that enacts a bit of magic.”

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