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Origin Story - Heroes and Villains: Review

Origin Story - Heroes and Villains: Review

Information:

Mechanics: Trick Taking, Engine Building
Player Age: 14+
Player Count: 1 - 5 Players
Time to Play: 45 Minutes 
Game Designer: Jamey Stegmaier, Pete Wissinger
Game Artist: Clémentine Campardou
Publisher: Stonemaier Games 
Year Published: 2026
BGG Weight: 1.50
Disclaimer: A review copy for the game was provided by the publisher.

Introduction:

Origin Story is a trick taking game with a very unique difference. This game also focuses around enhancing a player's engine. Before each round players will gain a new hero card. These cards enhance the player's engine or create new scoring possibilities. One new story card has been included in this expansion. For the full review of the base game click here. 

New Cards: 

Each player will also gain two super heroes and choose one in the final trick. This gives players a strategy to plan towards when building their engine but a chance to pivot if necessary. The original game included 10 of these superhero cards. This expansion adds an abundance of replayability to these cards with more than double the amount of new hero cards. Thematically though only seven are heroes.

The other 14 are supervillains. Selecting a hero or villain does not require the player to select that matching alignment on their dial. At the start of each game each player is dealt three of these cards instead of two. 

Final Thoughts:

- So much added variability to the end of game abilities. 
- Thematic touch of adding villian cards.
- Blister pack to reinforce the games existing parts not adding new content.

There is a new trend of blister pack expansions. Small amount for content with a nice affordable price tag. I personally am a fan of these kinds of expansions and Heroes and Villains is no exception to this. This is an easy choice to purchase or not it essentially adds more replayability to hero reveal at the end of the game, and a lot of replayability at that. If Origin Story is getting plenty of table time, this is an easy and inexpensive addition that's easy to recommend.

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