While GDC 2023 might already feel like it was forever ago, clips of conference talks are now going live on the official YouTube page, with Ben Brode’s Marvel Snap explainer one of the latest to arrive. This much-anticipated presentation shares some key insights into the development of Second Dinner’s superhero card games, as well as some classic Ben Brode dad jokes. We love to see it.
Titled ‘Designing Marvel Snap’, Brode’s hour-long conference talk delves into the full history of the game, from him starting up Second Dinner alongside Hamilton Chu to the post-launch approach. Of course, a lot of us know the main beats, Brode left Blizzard and Hearthstone in 2018, took some of the best developers with him, and started up Second Dinner. For the last year, he’s gleefully delivered monthly Marvel Snap updates, serving as the face and chief development officer for the company.
One of the most interesting revelations from Brode’s presentation is how parenthood inspired the mechanics of Marvel Snap. On becoming a father, Brode realised he had much less time for games, becoming engaged with titles that offer short and snappy under-five minutes gameplay sessions like Card Monsters and Clash Royale.
Brode also goes into detail on Marvel Snap’s snap mechanic, how he took inspiration from the bet or bluff mechanics of poker’s timeless gameplay to revitalise the CCG genre while also increasing the perceived in-game stakes. He also explains how the snap system can turn a loss into something that feels like a win, with the developer choosing to make the retreat option feel like an escape rather than a loss.
If you’re a fan of Marvel Snap or Hearthstone, it’s definitely worthwhile checking out the full presentation below. If anything, just for Brode’s infamous laugh alone.
There you have it, the news that Ben Brode’s Marvel Snap GDC talk is now available to check out. For more heroes and villains, check out our Marvel Snap decks guide and Marvel Snap tier list, or for more marvellous mobile gaming, see our Honkai Star Rail tier list and Honkai Star Rail codes guide.