Discover an Exciting Superhero Board Game Perfect for Two Players!

Growing up in the Midwest, particularly in Michigan, learning to play Euchre was a significant part of childhood. When our Scout Leaders put a stop to our Magic: The Gathering sessions during camping trips, we turned to this classic trick-taking game to fill our downtime. Recently, the trick-taking genre has seen a surge in popularity, and one of the latest entries is Origin Story from Stonemaier Games. After diving into my superhero (and villain) origins a few times, I was reminded of my love for Euchre, even if it left me a bit dizzy.

Price	$30 / £24
Ages	14+
Game type	Trick-taking
Players	1-5
Lasts	45mins
Complexity	Moderate
Designers	Jamey Stegmaier, Pete Wissinger
Publisher	Stonemaier Games
Play if you enjoy	Fellowship of the Ring Trick-Taking Game, The Crew

Origin Story features stunning watercolor artwork that would make any board game envious. It accommodates one to five players in a competition spanning five rounds, with eight hands (tricks) per round, all aimed at scoring the most points. What sets Origin Story apart from typical trick-takers are its unique thematic elements. At the start of each round, players choose to embrace the path of a hero or a villain, each with distinct scoring methods—heroes earn points by winning tricks, while villains score by losing them. Players also draw three cards, keeping one that grants special abilities, allowing for creative alterations to game mechanics and scoring. Each card represents a super suit, gadget, power, or arch-nemesis, with a special Event card introduced at the start of the third turn and a big reveal of your hero at the beginning of the final round, adding an exciting twist.

While the theme and basic premise of Origin Story—trick-taking with superpowers—might suggest it’s a good entry point for newcomers, it’s anything but simple. The trick-taking mechanics are straightforward: a lead player plays a suit, and others must follow if they can, with a trump suit (the Heart Love cards in this case) taking precedence. However, as players gain more powers, the complexity increases, which can be a double-edged sword.

As players accumulate abilities to activate each round, it can become overwhelming to track how different powers trigger, their criteria, and their impact on scoring. For instance, a card like the Gauntlet allows a player to earn a point whenever they lead with a Strength suit card. Meanwhile, another player might have the Dexterity card, which states, “if an opponent would win a trick with a 13 and you play a 1 of any suit, you win that trick instead.” Or perhaps someone uses the Time Travel ability to restart the hand and take the lead.

Co-designer Jamey Stegmaier is a busy individual; in addition to running Stonemaier Games, he’s known for his creative contributions, including the alt-history strategy game Scythe and the surprise hit Vantage.

With fewer players, keeping track of everything can be a challenge, especially since players can choose which modifications are active each round. However, with four or five players, the game can become unwieldy. This complexity is compounded by the one-time “Event” that occurs on the third turn, which feels odd since it only happens once rather than every round, along with the superhero card effects in the final round.

Personally, I’ve found that Origin Story shines with just one other player. In a two-player game, each player controls not only their character but also a sidekick that acts as a pseudo-player. The sidekick can’t lead or earn powers but can still win tricks, although those wins don’t contribute to the hero or villain’s score. This dynamic makes playing as a villain more interesting, as they are rewarded for losing tricks. This lower player count also mitigates my main issue with the game, which is the difficulty in keeping track of everyone’s abilities during a turn.

In short, I’d recommend Origin Story as a solid addition to the best two-player board games, but it may not be ideal for larger groups.

I appreciate how thematically cohesive the game is, showcasing your character’s origin: by the end, you’re equipped with gadgets, allies, and possibly an arch-nemesis. It has a strong trick-taking foundation, but I wouldn’t suggest it for newer or less-experienced players.

Origin Story is an exciting experience, and it’s impressive that it all fits in a box the size of a complete series of your favorite Saturday morning superhero cartoon (though a slightly larger box would help with organization). There’s plenty of potential for expansion, as Stonemaier Games is known for their add-ons, and they’ve already teased new hero packs on the way.

Ratings

Criteria	Notes	Score
Game mechanics	The mix of superpowers and trick-taking works surprisingly well, and it all culminates in a fun and intriguing game that feels both new and familiar at the same time.	4/5
Accessibility	The wide variety of powers and how everything plays off of one can be a lot to sort through and figure out, making Origin Story a game that less-experienced players may feel overwhelmed by.	3/5
Replayability	There are so many possibilities for how your character build will play out, you will never create the same hero from one game to the next, meaning you will also never have quite the same game, either.	5/5
Setup and pack-down	While the box could stand to be a teeny bit bigger, all you need is to take a couple decks out, set up the boards and off you go on beginning your hero’s (or villain’s) origin story.	4/5
Component quality	Cards have a nice shuffle feel to them, and the cardboard dials are sturdy, all packed in an equally nice box.	5/5

✅ You appreciate games where theme is as important as mechanics. The superhero theme of Origin Story is cleverly integrated into its gameplay, blending form with function.

✅ You want a good two-player game. Origin Story excels in head-to-head or solo play, making it a great choice for date night.

❌ You want to play with a large group. The more players you add, the more challenging it becomes to manage.

❌ You’re looking for something simple. While the trick-taking mechanics are straightforward, the overall game can be overwhelming.

This review was based on a copy provided for evaluation.

As with all board game reviews, the reviewer ensured they were well-acquainted with the rules before conducting multiple test sessions with various player counts. This approach allowed them to observe how Origin Story’s mechanics functioned in practice under different circumstances and how the experience varied with different player numbers.