Marvel Zombies: Heroes’ Resistance Review – Can Casual Gamers Handle It?

Marvel Zombies cooperative board game in play with heroes fighting zombie hordes

Marvel Zombies: Heroes’ Resistance promises to be the budget-friendly entry into the epic Marvel Zombies universe. But is “budget-friendly” really the right word? And more importantly: is this a cooperative game you can enjoy if you’ve never touched Zombicide? I decided to find out. Here’s my honest review of Marvel Zombies: Heroes’ Resistance.

Why Listen to Me?

Full disclosure: I had zero experience with the Zombicide series before this game. None. Which makes me the perfect test case — because Heroes’ Resistance is marketed as the gateway Marvel Zombies board game.

No comparisons to the giant Kickstarter edition or previous Zombicide boxes here. Instead, you’re getting fresh impressions from a first-time player. If you’re like me and don’t usually play co-ops, you’ll want to read this.

Before this, my co-op experience was with Robinson Crusoe, Paleo, and the occasional Pandemic-style game. But a pure Ameritrash dice-chucker full of zombies and superheroes? This was new territory.

What Is Marvel Zombies: Heroes’ Resistance?

This is a cooperative adventure board game for 1–4 players, ages 14+, set in an alternate Marvel Universe where a zombie plague infects Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Some become zombies. Others fight back.

You’ll control four heroes — always four, regardless of player count. Six heroes are available, and missions are balanced for a full team. Missions aren’t legacy scenarios; they’re replayable setups with unique layouts and goals.

The board is modular: four double-sided tiles arranged per mission map. Tokens mark objectives, zombie spawn points, and bystander locations. Then you hit the streets, and chaos begins.

How it works:

Each hero gets 3 actions per turn: move, attack, break doors, complete objectives, rescue bystanders.

After heroes act, zombies activate: they move toward the nearest hero or attack, then spawn more.

The game ends when the heroes complete all objectives — or when even one hero dies.

Simple? Absolutely. Easy to beat? Not so much.

Components – Is It Really Budget-Friendly?

Calling this a “budget” version feels misleading. Sure, the box is smaller, but what’s inside is quality.

Boards and tokens: Thick cardboard, great art straight from Marvel comics, and clear icons.

Zombies: No minis here — they’re cardboard standees. Honestly? They look fine and keep the table clear. Not every game needs a plastic horde.

Hero minis: Six of them, solid detail (not insane detail like the giant Zombicide sets, but still impressive).

One issue: hero dashboards with plastic sliders for health and power. They work, but can slip and wear the cards. On the flip side, the XP dials are smooth and satisfying.

Overall: the game looks fantastic on the table. Bright colors, thematic artwork, easy iconography.

How Does Marvel Zombies Play?

I was worried the Zombicide system would overwhelm me. It didn’t. The rules are straightforward, the rulebook clear. The only hiccup? Setup. Remembering both base and mission-specific rules takes a little brainpower at first.

Once you start, the flow is smooth. It’s not punishing like Robinson Crusoe, but it keeps tension high. You’ll win if you plan well — and lose if you don’t.

Combat is dice-driven (perfect for an Ameritrash co-op). The power system is a highlight: spend points for extra dice or boosts. It’s great… until Hulk smashes into a zombie horde and the dice betray you.

The best part? Zombie heroes: Scarlet Witch, Iron Man, Captain America, Doctor Strange. Each has thematic abilities tied to their powers. Your hero team includes Hulk, Wasp, Winter Soldier, Black Panther, Spider-Man, and Vision — all with unique skills that feel true to the comics.

Difficulty scales dynamically. When the highest-level hero levels up, zombie spawns escalate. If one player runs ahead in XP, everyone feels it. Smart design.

Downside? The usual alpha player problem. If your group has a natural “leader,” they can easily dominate decisions.

Final Thoughts – Is It Worth Buying?

Marvel Zombies: Heroes’ Resistance nails what it aims for: a streamlined entry into the Zombicide system. Easy to teach, tense, and thematic.

Does it make me want the giant Marvel Zombies Kickstarter? Not yet. There’s enough replayability here to keep me busy. But now I get the hype — and I’d happily play more.

If you want a fast-paced cooperative Marvel board game that delivers comic-book action without a mountain of plastic or a $200 price tag, this is a fantastic choice.

Big thanks to Portal Games for providing the Polish edition for review. The original edition is published by CMON.