The second Kickstarter project for Sentinels of the Multiverse was a combination of updating the original game and the creation of Infernal Relics, a magic-themed expansion to the core set. Like the previous expansion, Infernal Relics introduces two heroes, four villains, and two environments to the mix of components. It’s now possible to play with any two of the three expansions, meaning the base game is not essential to play. Additionally, the expansions can be played with either edition, although Infernal Relics uses the updated (H) mechanic that scales the game difficulty to the number of heroes.

Although I note this in the fine print above, it’s worth reiterating that Infernal Relics was designed in part by Richard Launius, the creator of games like Descent and Arkham Horror. He was so enamored of the original game that some of his custom additions (notably the hero Nightmist) were incorporated into this expansion. Consider that an endorsement of the game and its expansions more weighty than your humble correspondent’s.

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For those new to the game, SotM is a cooperative card game in which each player controls one or more superheroes. Each hero uses their own 45-card deck that represents his, her, or its unique powers and effects. Some rely more on equipment, while others have an impressive array of innate abilities. Relying on the mechanics of other collectible card games, the interaction of cards drives a game that does feel like comic book battle. Team members can set their allies up for greater effectiveness and absorb devastating attacks for the good of the team, while the villain’s plot unfolds and the environments throw uncertainty into the result.

Basically, the heroes try to reduce the villain to zero hit points while ensuring that at least one of them has life remaining. Each hero has an active and incapacitated side, which changes the powers they can use (this keeps KO'd heroes in the mix, albeit less effectively). A related mechanic works with the villains, who have two possible states depending on which side of their card is in play – although both sides are deadly. Certain in-game conditions make the villains flip into new menaces.

The decks for each villain, as well as the environment in which they face, are smaller than the hero decks. Still, they are self-explanatory and provide a challenge for three to five heroes (in a two-player game, each player will control two supers; a solitaire player can control the entire team).

Guest Appearances

In keeping with the theme of the game, all the new additions involve magic or the occult.

Nightmist, the granddaughter of Arkham Horror’s Joe Diamond, uses her ancestor’s Mythos relics for good. Fans of Doctor Strange will enjoy casting powerful spells from her grimoire.

The Argent Adept is quite similar to Green Lantern, although the former is the master of sound and not light. Although it takes longer to set up combinations of instruments, performances and accompaniments, it is worth the impressive array of powers that will result.

Akash’bhuta is a demon representing the force of nature, and the most powerful villain the sentinels will face in their careers.

Gloomweaver is a voodoo spirit with a cult collecting relics to summon his fiendish avatar. He can be killed by destroying them once they are found, rather than just fighting him. A game against him is like a mini-Call of Cthulhu campaign, with supers.

Apostate is a fallen angel who relies on relics to bind him and his infernal servants to our plane. Unlike Gloomweaver, he may end up sacrificing relics to prolong his presence.

The Ennead is a collection of nine foes with powers taken from Egyptian deities. This deck is the most complex to use, as you are keeping track of each foe’s powers and other card effects. I felt this was about the limit of how intricate a deck could be without detracting from play.

The Realm of Discord is a plane of chaos, where reality itself distorts to trip up the heroes.

The Tomb of Anubis is a ruin infested with pitfalls and mummies alike.

Gameplay

As I have mentioned in earlier reviews, no other game simulates a comic imbroglio like this game. The flavor text and colorful art interact to create a rich backstory of the Sentinel Comics lineup, reinforcing the theme well. Allowing more combinations of heroes, villains and environments is icing on the cake. If you can live with parsing the workings of many cards and record keeping of hit points and damage effects, any fan of superheroes will enjoy it. The only reason I give this a 9 of 10 is that I like the other expansions a bit better, including...

Shattered Timelines!